Who are the Spirit of Squash Coaches?

Coaches

LESTER CANTEM

Lester is the cornerstone of Spirit of Squash's community projects. He has been playing squash for over 20 years and is a qualified UKCC L1 and L2 Squash Coach registered with England Squash and Racketball. He is well experienced in organising squash leagues and tournaments.

Lester is fully CRB checked and has undergone training in First Aid in the Workplace and the Safeguarding and Children and Vulnerable Adults.

He is keen to promote squash participation for all ages and at all levels from complete beginners to advanced players.

He is currently undertaking studies for his UKCC L3 squash coaching qualification as part of his continued professional development.

Lester also encourages players to try their hand at Racketball, one of the fastest growing racket sports in the UK. Starting in 2011 and due to develop through 2012, Lester will lead several new, innovative and exciting initiatives for squash at the Sobell and Finsbury Leisure Centres. These include beginner courses, squash taster sessions at open days, racket and equipment demo days, a 'find-a-partner' forum, individual and group coaching.

At the start of 2012, Lester has spearheaded a mini-squash initiative in several schools in North London in collaboration with Spirit of Squash and England Squash and Racketball. Each initiative will lead into school holiday courses and will culminate with a competition and festival day at either the Sobell or Finsbury Leisure Centres. The first festival day is scheduled for late March at Finsbury.

Contact Lester: 07894 552894 &

CARL GEORGE

Carl has been playing squash for over 20 years and was encouraged in 2003 to get his coaching qualifications due to work he was doing with juniors at The Woodford Wells Club. He is a qualified UKCC L3 Squash and Racketball Coach with England Squash and Racketball. This qualifies him to coach both adults and juniors. He has plenty of experience organising squash leagues and tournaments as well.

Carl is fully CRB checked, has undergone training in First Aid and the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.

He is keen to promote squash participation for all ages and at all levels, from complete beginners to advanced players and will be encouraging players to try their hand at racketball as well.

Starting in 2011 and due to develop through 2012, Carl will assist his fellow coaches with several new, innovative and exciting initiatives for Spirit of Squash. These include beginner courses, squash taster sessions at open days, racket and equipment demo days, a 'find a partner' forum, one to one coaching and mini-squash for kids both in the holiday programme and during the term.

Contact Carl: 07980 810290 &

TREVOR GRANT

England Squash & Racketball Licenced Coach, UKCC Level 3. Based in South London Trevor runs programmes at the Sobell (N7) and Finsbury (EC1) Leisure Centres.

RETHA JACOBS

Retha has been playing for the last 15 years and has recently completed her UKCC Level 2 squash coaching qualification following years of coaching experience in South Africa.

Retha is fully CRB checked and has First Aid and Child Protection Certificates along with a degree in human movement science and cardiovascular physiology. She continues to work as a personal trainer and coaches (squash and racketball) at the Britannia Centre, Oasis and the Finsbury Leisure Centre.

MARTIN SHIPPEY

Martin has been playing squash for over 30 years, enjoying basic club level squash for many of them, until discovering that receiving good coaching increased both the skill level and enjoyment of the game tenfold.

While serving as chairman of Stamford Squash Club from 2005 to 2010 he played in several of the club's local and county league teams and successfully instigated a regular Junior's Club, to encourage local children to take up the sport.

Before moving back to London in 2010 Martin achieved his Level 1 Certificate in Coaching squash (requiring enhanced disclosure CRB checks and completion of the NSPCC Child Protection Awareness programme), and is delighted to be able to assist in introducing youngsters to the most exciting game in the world.