Inspiring sustainable success | Squash Australia’s high performance strategy
Published Wed 18 Dec 2024
Following the recent positive funding announcement by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Squash Australia is pleased to present its 2032+ High Performance Strategy - Inspiring Sustainable Success.
This week’s appointment of Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and two-time World Doubles Champion Ryan Cuskelly as an AIS Gen32 Coach at the National Performance Centre is another step on the road to delivering the strategy.
The storied history of squash in Australia goes a long way to setting the platform for the high performance strategy to be built upon. There is a competitive advantage to be gained from our unrivalled expertise in the sport, the prospect of squash’s Olympic debut in 2028 and a commitment to winning well and contributing to Australia’s 2032+ strategy.
With that in mind, Squash Australia has taken an honest look at the barriers to Australia returning as an international force in squash.
These include the level junior players are competing at prior to entering senior ranks and the number of athletes taking advantage of the world-class daily performance environment at the National Performance Centre (NPC) at Carrara on the Gold Coast.
“We have received a significant vote of confidence from the AIS with the investment they’ve provided to deliver our strategy,” said Robert Donaghue, Squash Australia CEO. “The NPC is a key part of this strategy and with the increase in support and resourcing we are putting around the NPC, it is the daily training environment where Squash Australia supports athletes with Olympic ambitions.
“It is evident from our sport and many others around Australia that a dedicated high performance centre for elite athletes provides the best possible environment for athletes to reach their full potential.
“We have a world class team of coaches at the NPC, led by Stewart Boswell and Jenny Duncalf, which has been bolstered by the addition of Ryan Cuskelly, and we fully believe in the model we have put in place to drive success.”
The ‘What It Takes To Win’ model (WITTW) which drives the high performance strategy is centred around three interrelated requirements a player must meet to achieve a top 10 ranking: Factors of Squash Performance (including technical, physical, tactical, and playing style), Competition Results and Time.
The WITTW model has been critical in setting up the national squad structure which starts at Next Gen and Junior Talent Squads, progressing through to National Senior Squad members who are either internationally-based or utilising the NPC.
“At all levels of the national squad structure we maintain three key principles which we believe are positive, sustainable and reflect the WITTW model,” said Donaghue. “Being athlete-centred is at the core of the HP program; remaining connected with our highly-regarded alumni means current players have mentors or supporters who know what it takes to be the best; and ‘aspiring to inspire’, living the Win Well values of excellence, belonging, connection and courage.”
The 2032+ High Performance Strategy is broken down into four strategic pillars: Structure & Personnel, National Performance Centre, International Support and Events.
Each of these pillars have been assigned KPIs and have been broken down into the LA 2028 Mission and 2032 Mission.
“Led by our High Performance Director Lachlan Johnston, every decision we make and every plan we implement in the HP space is driven by the Inspiring Sustainable Success strategy,” said Donaghue.
“A lot of work has gone into creating this strategy through looking at other successful high performance programs around Australia in the Commonwealth and Olympic sports which face the same challenges we do.
“The support of the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport have been critical in guiding our strategy and implementation, and the support of the Australian Olympic Committee, Commonwealth Games Australia and the state institute network should not be understated.”
