The US U23 Squad will be managed, organized and coached by
Mike Puertas, current US No.1, US Men's team member and former
World No.35 and Natalie Grainger, WISPA President, current
World No.4, a former World No.1 and US Junior Women's Coach.
The goal of the US U23 Squad is to help players make the
transition from a top junior player to a full National team
member and/or PSA or WISPA touring pro. "This program
will form the bridge that will encourage American players
to flourish and thus increase our opportunity to field stronger
and more successful senior National Teams," explains
Kevin Klipstein, CEO of the USSRA. "We are thrilled to
have the expertise of Mike and Natalie, such high profile
coaches, to head this fantastic new program. The USSRA is
focused on becoming a major force in international squash."
The coaches will be looking to fill the Squad from members
of the US Junior Men's and Women's Squads as well as from
the ranks of the top US collegiate players, but to be eligible
for this US U23 Squad, one must be a US citizen and under
the age of 23. The Squad will be limited to 10 men and 10
women in order that it will be a successful and streamlined
program.
Goals and Benefits:
A note from the coaches... Our aim is to help Squad members
maximize their potential. We hope to achieve this by offering
the opportunity to work with coaches that have international
experience at the very highest level, matches with PSA and
WISPA tour players at squads, instruction from strength trainers
and physiologists, and sessions with sports nutritionists
and psychologists. All these professionals will be able to
help and advise squad members on the training techniques,
nutrition, surviving on the tour and sponsorship, which is
everything that a player requires to be successful.
Other benefits:
Membership to PSA and WISPA, valued at $200 and $125 respectively
(country and regional).
Coaching at predetermined pro tour stops in the United States.
An opportunity to represent the US at the 2006 World University
Games in Hungary Aug 29th - Sept 2nd this year. In order to
be eligible for the 2006 World University Games, contenders
must compete in the US U23 Closed Championship to be held
in Greenwich, CT on April 21st-23rd, 2006.
The USSRA would like to host an inaugural World U23 Championship.
WISPA has an official U23 World Ranking List as well as a
Young Player of the Year Award. Current players on that ranking
list include Nicol David (Malaysia), World No.1, Omneya Abdel
Kawy (Egypt), World No.8, Jenny Duncalf (Eng), World No.10
and Allison Waters (Eng), World No.12.
PSA players include the current British U23 Champion and World
No.2, James Willstrop, Peter Barker (Eng), World No.21, Borja
Golan (Spain) and Eric Galvez (Mexico), World No.47 and No.49,
Aamir Khan (16 yrs old from Pakistan), World No.53. And our
own Julian Illingworth (USA), World No.96 and Chris Gordon
(USA), World No.97.
A biannual tour modeled on the South African Knights tour
to England. Squad players will compete against club teams
and other official National U23 sides in Test Matches at various
clubs in a chosen country. We are looking at South Africa,
England and Australia to stage our first trips, which will
take place over two weeks. This will be a great experience
that will also serve to toughen our future elite for the challenge
of becoming a full US Men's and Women's team member.
We are extremely excited about this new program to create
a strong foundation from which we build our US Teams. If you
are interested in supporting the program or becoming a member
of this elite squad, please contact Mike or Natalie. All information
is available from the USSRA too.
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