Team USA’s top junior, college and professional prospects are in the midst of the second week of the inaugural US Squash Academy, the first program of its kind in the U.S. at Trinity College in Connecticut.
The approach to the Academy is multi-layered, combining several major components of US Squash’s rapidly evolving elite development programs and bringing them together. These components include the Elite Athlete Program (EAP), prospective EAP athletes—primarily U.S. players competing in collegiate squash, the top junior prospects nationally across age divisions and the Junior Team USA players.
The Academy incorporates two separate one-week squads for junior Team USA players, ages Under 11, Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and the World Championships team members. The Junior Team USA squad are preparing for the World Junior Championships in their third and final team session before traveling to Poland next month. The younger age divisions will prepare for the developmental Pan American Junior Championships and the Battle of the Border programs taking place in August 2016.
US Squash Academy has provided an environment for U.S. collegiate athletes to train as if professionals, while receiving coaching education instruction to prepare them for a potential career in squash after college. Through exposure to the U.S. National Coaching staff, the athletes will be more prepared should they choose to successfully pursue the EAP upon graduation.
Fed by US Squash’s Regional Squad program which engages thirty of the best coaches across the country to work with elite junior players regularly, the Academy is expected to provide the foundation for future excellence for Team USA.
US Squash Academy Director Gilly Lane is leading the inaugural program. Follow @TeamUSASquash and @GLSquash on Twitter for more updates.
Great work by @TeamUSASquash academy this week! I have one of the best jobs in the world! Pleasure to work with players who pursue a passion
— Gilly Lane (@GLSquash) July 15, 2016
24 of USA’s best juniors at the US Squash Academy this week. Inspired speech by @SquashLuv !! pic.twitter.com/LYIcvrtjVK
— Team USA Squash (@TeamUSASquash) July 12, 2016
