“KIDS WHO HAVEN’T
NICHE ... CAN DO VERY
“It’s an extremely physical game;
however, kids who haven’t found their
athletic niche and don’t see themselves
as athletes can do very well with squash
because it requires as much brain as it
does brawn,” says Connie Barnes, director of
AussieNick, a squash experience for adults
and juniors at the Chevy Chase Athletic Club.

Barnes has operated her program at the
club since 2002. She notices that some of her
new students get a boost in self-image when
they participate in squash.

“What I’ve seen is that it’s the first time
in their lives that they have gotten positive
reinforcement for something other than their
intelligence,” she says. “They walk away with a
new sense of confidence.”
AussieNick’s junior players compete in
national and international tournaments.

Barnes says that traveling with her junior
squash players has given them maturity and
has allowed them to learn how to interact with
their peers in a setting outside of school.

Emily Kimberly’s sons started playing
squash at AussieNick last fall with their middle
and elementary schools. She says it’s been an
experience they’ve enjoyed.

“They’ve both been looking for a sport
that they can feel good at. I think this type of
sport is easy to learn, especially since they’ve
played racquet sports before,” Kimberly says.

“They’re excited to go every time.”
She adds that playing the sport has been
a great outlet for her sons, particularly since
squash is an indoor sport.

“Kids should be doing something active
every day, especially since they tend to sit
in school for such long hours. They build up
20 Washington FAMILY APRIL 2022
Left to right:
Spencer Kimberly, Austin Emmett,
Coach Lucas Norman, Neal Seth,
Lior Baskir Freedman
physical energy that they need a chance to
get out, and that can sometimes be hard in
the winter.”
A squash match is set up between two
player—or four for doubles—in a four-
walled room. It’s an accessible game as far as
equipment goes. All you need is a racquet,
some safety googles and a small rubber
ball to play.

“It’s quite easy to learn, not as difficult
as a sport like tennis. You can play a match
at an earlier stage in squash, which is a big
advantage for kids,” says Ronny Vlassaks,
director at Squash on Fire.

His squash club in Northwest Washington
hosts the youngest junior players or mini
squash players between ages 5 and 7. After
this age group, the junior stars program
accommodates kids ages 7 to 9, followed by
the middle school group.

The club also has a junior academy for more
advanced players. Vlassaks says that while
squash is an independent activity, kids bond
through their shared interest in the sport.

“Squash is an individual sport, but because



FOUND THEIR ATHLETIC
WELL WITH SQUASH .... ”
we do group training sessions, many kids
became friends through being at the same
training session,” he says.

Even when young athletes compete with
each other in matches, they find common
ground too, Vlassaks says.

“They also meet each other at tournaments
and create some type of friendship,” he adds.

Squash on Fire requires no membership
to play on its courts; even junior players are
welcome to participate. Vlassaks says that this
membership-free offering takes the pressure
off parents deciding whether to sign up
their children.

“Kids sometimes get bored and will change
— CONNIE BARNES, DIRECTOR, AUSSIENICK SQUASH
sports. If they don’t like it anymore
after a few times, they can stop,”
Vlassaks says.

At Play Squash Academy in McLean,
Virginia, director Jahangir (Jay) Naseem also
recognizes the transformations in his junior
squash students. He has seen kids go from
having no interest in any type of athletics to
working out at his facility nearly every day.

“Kids who are being bullied by other kids
can find self-confidence through squash,” he
says. “Kids come in here with no experience in
a sport at all. But with passion, love and proper
attention, they become super athletes.”
His program has expanded greatly over the
years with one facility at the McLean Racquet
& Health Club and another in Tysons Corner
that both serve a total of about 150 juniors.

Naseem welcomes all types of youth to
his program.

“Any kid can come and play squash,” he
says. “They’ll have a lot of fun and develop a
healthy lifestyle too.” n
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