Squash Auckland's Women in Squash Coaching Programme

Squash Auckland have been supporting clubs to run a Women in Squash Coaching for three years now. The clubs that have participated in this initiative have seen more women join their club and an increase in women's interclub teams.

Squash Auckland provide a resource for clubs to run a six-week course coaching programme to encourage new members but also to retain existing members, who might not stay if they did not have some coaching. The group coach approach makes it affordable and fun.

Clubs are encouraged to offer follow-up incentives to the participants such as reduced memberships, women's only tournaments, women's club nights etc.

Some clubs that have been involved include Papakura, Belmont Park, Titirangi, Royal Oak and Manurewa - Squash NZ's Club of the Year 2011.

How does it work?

Clubs run the programme differently, based on their community's individual needs. An example though is Franklin Squash Club's Women's programme, which features

• Six-week coaching programme for women only
• costs $60 but if the women joins, that amount will be deducted from their membership
• free squash racket!
• the club is also running Women's-only sessions every Thursday 10.30am-12pm
• visit http://www.franklinsquash.org.nz/ for more details

To find out more about this programme, please contact Steve Hodges at Squash Auckland on development@squashauckland.co.nz or visit the Squash Auckland website www.squashauckland.co.nz