Squash4schools: Demo at DDA Siri Fort Sports Complex, N Delhi

About 80 school kids had their first look at the game on 15 April 09. And they sure enjoyed it. Each was given a chance to hit the ball, get a feel of the racket and run around in the court. Since most had their black school shoes on they had to get on-court in their socks!!

This was a 90 minute demo session with one school. More of this will be attempted all over Delhi in the coming days leading upto summer vacations 09.

These demo's have shown that kids love the game. However, the following are the stumbling blocks to popularizing Squash and making it a sport of the masses:

• Very few schools in India have squash courts....leading to low recall value in kids
  
• In the absence of long term sponsors parents find the game expensive...especially in terms of getting motivated to finance their child's love for the game over a period of time
• DDA Complexes provide a great option. However, the security issue of children gets in the way. Not many parents want their kids to move out of the school boundary too often...even under proper supervision
• Low visibility in the media. Sadly, the tag of being the Healthiest Sport as indicated by the Forbes magazine has not been utilized to the full by various squash associations to reach schools and parents. This needs to be taken up on a war footing.
  

Inspite of all these factors lovers of the game need to keep at it. Parents who themselves play the game and those whose kids play it well and often, need to volunteer to do their bit.

It is in everybody's interest to popularize this amazing game. Not only is it good for mind & body, it is one sport that can easily plug-in into an individuals life-style...thereby ensuring sustainability, fitness and good health right through ones life span.