How Louisville Community Squash Is Growing The Game

By VOICE-TRIBUNE • Photos By Matt Johnson

Louisville Community Squash is on a mission to grow the sport of squash in the city while keeping it accessible to everyone. As the first facility of its kind in the country, it serves as a training ground for competitive players, a welcoming space for beginners, and a hub for community-focused programs. 

In this Q&A, we talk with the team behind Louisville Community Squash about their approach to coaching, the programs available, and what’s coming up next at this dynamic and inclusive facility.

VT: How would you describe the mission of Louisville Community Squash, and what sets it apart from other athletic programs in the area?

LCS: Louisville Community Squash is passionate about developing squash in Louisville while making it accessible to everyone in the community. The center is the first of its kind in the country, and provides access to local schools that come into practice and to play school matches. Louisville Collegiate School’s very own varsity boys team competed in the High School National Squash championships in Philadelphia this past February and finished in 32nd place in the whole of the country! This is remarkable when you look at the number of schools in the northeast that have had long-established squash programs and with access to way more courts and competition. Louisville Collegiate School also sent the very first ever middle school girls’ team in Kentucky to the middle school national championships this past January. 

We offer the opportunity for anyone to pay as you go, for just $15 per person per hour, you do not need to be a member to play here. We do offer very competitive memberships for those who want to become a member and enjoy a great number of benefits. We offer memberships to students, individuals, and families. We are also the home of Louisville Squash +, which is a 501C3 which is starting the very first ever urban squash program in Louisville. We hope to transform the lives of 8-10 kids in year 1 by introducing squash to them twice a week and we will also help them with their education. We also have Zenith Squash Academy based out of our center. The academy is aimed at players who want to take their game to the next level, compete in national tournaments, and gain a national ranking. This is run by our very own Director of Squash, Lee Scott.

VT: What’s your coaching philosophy, and how do you inspire players of all ages and skill levels to reach their potential?

LCS: Our coaching beliefs are to make every session fun and exciting for the kids and the adults. Whilst at the same time for the more serious players, pushing them to be the best they can. We have children playing from as young as 5 years old and adults up to 80 years old. We want to see everyone improve and fall in love with this fantastic sport. The passion and energy we give in every session helps inspire everyone to improve, seeing everyone with a big smile on their face is what we love to see.

VT: What kind of squash programs do you offer for beginners or those completely new to the sport?

LCS: We run weekly after-school programs for students in grades 1-4. We are also the home of the Zenith Academy, which has weekly sessions with four different levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Elite. We hold weekly boys, girls, ladies, and men’s drop-in sessions too. All of these sessions are available to beginners, intermediates, and advanced players. We offer ladies adult night every Tuesday from 7:00-8.30 p.m. and men’s adult night every Wednesday from 7:00-9:00 p.m., again this is open to all standards and a great way to play with different players. We have community open squash every Sunday afternoon from 1:00-4:00 p.m., and this is open to anyone who would like to join in. These are fun sessions with a variety of levels. 

VT: How do you balance competitive training with maintaining a fun and inclusive environment for families and casual players?

LCS: We ensure that everyone is working to the best of their ability, and of course we have players at different levels, so this varies. Once someone gets to a certain level, we group them with players of a similar standard so they can enjoy some competitive competition.

We are consistently having students recruited to play squash at fantastic colleges and this is really helping everyone to work hard to achieve their goals! 

VT: How does the virtual golf lab enhance the overall experience for members? Do athletes use it as a cross-training tool? 

LCS: Our members love the golf simulators as they provide consistent practice, detailed swing analysis, and the ability to experience various courses and conditions. Our putting green has its own rough area to practice chipping onto the greens. We also have school teams utilizing it to improve their games and it is perfect for any day of the year. 

VT: What are some of the most exciting developments or upcoming events at Louisville Community Squash? 

LCS: Louisville Community Squash is hosting“OutSQUASHCancer” on May 13. This event will benefit Hope Scarves, and we will be offering free instruction and gameplay while supporting all types of cancer warriors with each step and swing. We invite people to come and try squash, all skill levels are welcome, and equipment is provided. If you’re just curious, come down and watch and enjoy some light bites, drinks and camaraderie. For more information please visit: tinyurl.com/4j5mx8v9 

On May 22nd, we have a national squash league match between our very own Louisville Colts and the Atlanta Tornados at 7:00 p.m. The Louisville Colts team will consist of Leonel Cardenas (Mexico) world #17, Matius Knudsen (Colombia) world #77, and Ben Smith (England) world #80. 

The Atlanta Tornados team has Miguel Rodriguez (Colombia) world #22, David Baillargeon (Canada) world #75, and Mohamed Sharat (Egypt) world #112. 

For anyone wishing to purchase a ticket, please email: lscott@loucol.com 

VT: If someone is curious about joining but unsure where to start, what would you say to encourage them to come check it out? 

LCS: For anyone wanting to try Squash, please feel free to drop by our facility anytime. We also recommend going to: Louisville Community Squash online where you will find more information about memberships, lessons, clinics, and more!