The Cambridge-Arlington Squash Team
The Cambridge-Arlington Squash Team is a brand new public school squash team in Massachusetts, open to students from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and Arlington High School. The team is registered as part of the National Scholastic League, officially recognized by US Squash, and now have a team page on Club Locker (hub of all things squash).
As part of the Scholastic League, our athletes will compete in matches against area teams, including Brookline, Wellesley, Needham, Concord/Carlisle, Acton/Boxborough, SquashBusters, and possibly also some private schools. We are also eligible to compete in the National Interscholastic Team Championships at the Arlen Specter Center in Philadelphia (aka the “mothership” of squash).
No previous experience is required to be eligible for the team, just enthusiasm!
Practices
Pre-season practices (TBD- Thanksgiving)
Weds, 4-6pm
Fri, 6:30-8:30pm
Sat, TBD
We encourage all players to attend pre-season practices! These are valuable sessions, especially for novice players, and will get you acquainted with our coaches, the game, and help you improve your skills quickly… so you can start having fun!
In-season Team practice schedule (post-Thanksgiving – Feb break)
Weds, 4-6pm
Fri, 4-6pm or 6:30-8:30, TBD
Sat, 10am-12pm
Sun, TBD
Practices will involve a combination of themed drilling, conditioned games and match play. All fundamentals will be covered.
Players should come appropriately dressed and bring a squash racket, non-marking court shoes (no black soles), safety glasses/goggles, a water bottle, and towel. (We can loan rackets and safety glasses to players who do not have them.)
We expect players to do their best to attend scheduled practices. We understand students are busy and that conflicts may arise – any player who needs to miss a practice should inform coaches ahead of time.
Courts
Practices will be held at:
Harvard University’s Murr Center
65 N. Harvard St, Boston
The Murr Center is right across the JFK Bridge from Harvard Square, an easy 25-min walk from CRLS, and on the 66/86 bus routes. It is also convenient to drop off students in the parking lot, and paid parking is available.
We are grateful to Harvard Squash for allowing us to share their courts at the Murr, home to Harvard’s top-ranked Men’s and Women’s Varsity teams. All players are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous and respectful manner at all times, to respect Harvard property, and adhere to all rules and regulations. Poor conduct/behavior may result in dismissal from the team.
Matches
Our team will field 7 players for each match.
Regular in-house “challenge matches” between team members will determine the seeding ladder.
Coaches will determine the roster for each match. Our goal is for all team members to get to play matches against opponents of similar ability, and to enjoy fair and fun competition.
We will do our best to schedule matches on our regular practice days (W, F, Sat). However, we may also schedule some matches on other days. The team will play both Home and Away matches.
Our match schedule will be posted on our Team page in Club Locker.
Let's go!!
Friday, Oct 18, 6:45pm: first meet-up at the Harvard Murr Center.
Coming Soon: Zoom Info Session for Students & Parents!
We will have a short presentation followed by a Q&A session.
Our Coaches
We are extremely fortunate to have highly qualified and experienced coaches who are volunteering to lead our team!
Naji Khan is a former professional player, current squash pro and Racquet Sports Director of the Cambridge Athletic Club. Previously he worked at the Harvard Club of Boston, Back Bay Racquet Club, Waverley Oaks Athletic Club, Boston Racquet Club, and Boston Sports Clubs. Naji is a highly sought-after coach who comes from a long line of distinguished squash players comprising the world famous “Khan Dynasty of Squash.” He is also a CRLS alum and an ardent supporter of public school squash.
Ali Merchant is an Arlington HS parent and active 5.0+ league player. He formerly served as assistant coach of the MIT Varsity team.
Assistants
Andrew Frishman is a CRLS parent and former varsity college player and juniors coach. Jonathan Henke is a CRLS parent and former player and coach. Additionally, our more experienced team members are expected to help our novice players.
Team Contacts
Tien-Yi Lee is our team manager, webmaster, and parent liaison at CRLS. If you have questions, or would like to receive updates about the team, please contact her by email.
Andrew Frishman is our financial manager and parent liaison at CRLS.
Milo Miller (9th grade) is our player coordinator for CRLS. He loves squash because “the angles!” and it’s “like tennis + chess but way more fun.” He believes more kids should have access to the sport, or “at least know it’s not just a vegetable.” Milo is a MA top 10 player in his age division and competes on the junior tournament circuit.
Abbas Merchant (9th grade) is our player coordinator for Arlington HS. He is excited to introduce the exhilarating game of squash to more kids. Abbas is a MA top 10 player in his age division and competes on the junior tournament circuit.
Join Us!
Are you interested in learning more about squash? Are you a student who might be interested in joining our team? We welcome questions, new players, volunteers, and enthusiasm. No previous experience necessary.
Our Story
Squash has been called the “ultimate sports game.” Its fast-paced nature can help improve cardiovascular health, agility, and hand-eye coordination, and builds physical fitness, mental stamina, and discipline. Additionally, squash enhances strategic thinking as players need to adjust their tactics constantly during each game. In match play and tournaments, squash’s unique system of peer refereeing promotes sportsmanship and helps build new friendships. Squash is a great game for high school students because it’s social, relieves stress (hit a ball against a wall, as hard as you can, it’s satisfying), and most of all, it’s fun! An “all-ages” game, squash can help students establish a lifelong appreciation for physical activity.
Unfortunately, squash has often been considered an “elitist” sport due to its association with private clubs and private schools. Limited court access and lack of area teams has made it historically difficult for public school students to participate. However, this is changing! Squash is an increasingly popular youth sport, and US Squash is actively promoting its growth in public schools.
Milo Miller, CRLS 9th grader, fell in love with squash at age 11, “because, the angles!” When he learned that MA Squash was willing to help us start a new public school team, he immediately said, “Let’s do it.” He wanted all his friends to be able to try his favorite sport. A few days later, he had obtained the support of Harvard Squash’s varsity coaches, interest from kids on the tennis team, and an Arlington parent/player who volunteered to coach. So we ran with that!
In our local squash community, we have experienced overwhelming support for the establishment of our Cambridge-Arlington team. From the Board of MA Squash to coaches at Harvard, MIT and Tufts, to squash pros in Acton and Wellesley, and parents in Somerville, Brookline and Newton (not to mention Cambridge and Arlington), people are rooting for us!
With its inclusion in the 2028 L.A. Summer Olympics, squash is poised to enter the world stage, and its profile, appeal, and popularity will undoubtedly grow. We are proud that our CRLS and Arlington HS program will help to diversify the sport, with our students serving as ambassadors for public school squash and helping to improve its accessibility and visibility in our local communities.
FAQ
For Parents:
Is the Cambridge-Arlington squash team a real team?
Yes, we are a real team! We are officially recognized by US Squash, the sport’s national governing body. At this time we are not an “official” CRLS or Arlington HS varsity team, meaning that we do not operate under the umbrella/budget of the Athletic Director of either school (this is one of our goals for the future). Our team is generously funded by grants from US Squash and MA Squash.
What equipment does my child need to play squash?
Each player needs a squash racket, non-marking court shoes (no black soles), and protective glasses/goggles for safety. Players should wear comfortable, breathable clothing and bring a water bottle and towel. We will provide equipment for any player who is not able to provide their own.
Is it hard to learn to play squash?
As with any sport, improvement takes practice! But because squash takes place in an enclosed court, it is relatively accessible to beginners — players are usually able to get the hang of the basics pretty quickly and can start playing games and having fun. (Less ball chasing than tennis!) At more advanced levels, players need quick reflexes, hand-eye coordination and stamina, and strategy becomes increasingly important.
What will my child gain from playing squash?
Playing squash can equip students with a variety of valuable skills. It enhances physical fitness, including cardiovascular endurance, strength, agility, and overall health due to the game’s fast-paced nature. Students also improve their hand-eye coordination and reflexes as they learn to hit the ball accurately while moving. Squash also fosters strategic thinking, requiring players to engage in tactical planning and quick decision-making. Regular practice instills discipline, focus, and the ability to concentrate under pressure. While often played individually, a squash team promotes collaboration and sportsmanship, teaching students to support their peers and handle both victories and defeats graciously. As players improve, they build confidence in their abilities, making squash a beneficial activity for personal development.
We don’t live in Cambridge or Arlington. Can my child join the team?
This is technically possible, please enquire.
What does a juniors match look like?
Well, it depends on the players. This game is from a BU15 Gold-level tournament match, with two evenly matched 4.5-rated players. The 5-game match took 45 minutes.
About Squash:
What is US Squash?
US Squash is the national governing body for the sport of squash in the United States. It oversees the sport at all levels, from recreational play to professional competition. US Squash helps develop youth and college squash programs, organizes national championships, and manages rankings and ratings for players through Club Locker. Its mission is to grow the sport’s community across all age groups and skill levels.
What is Club Locker?
Club Locker, developed by US Squash, is a comprehensive online platform used to manage all aspects of the sport of squash. It serves as the central hub for player statistics, league organization, tournaments, matches, and events. Every “official” squash match played is recorded on Club Locker. Every registered player, from novice to pro, has a record of their matches, ratings, rankings, and progress.
How does a squash match work?
In a squash match, two players take turns hitting a ball to the front wall inside of an enclosed court. The objective is to win points by making the ball bounce more than once before your opponent can return it. Matches use the point-a-rally (PAR) system, where each rally results in a point, and games are played to 11 points (must win by 2). The first player to win 3 games (best of 5) wins the match.
How does a squash team match work?
In a squash team match, each team fields 7 players, seeded by skill level. Players face their corresponding seed on the opposing team (e.g., #1 vs #1). Matches are best-of-5 games. The team that wins the majority of individual matches (4 out of 7) wins the overall team match. Matches are usually played in order, starting from lower-ranked players to higher-ranked ones.
An individual best-of-5 squash match between two novice players may typically last 15-30 minutes. For more advanced players, matches may last 45-60 minutes.
Squash ratings are numerical values used to measure a player’s skill level, typically ranging from 1.0 (beginner) to 7.0 (professional). They are calculated based on match results, factoring in wins, losses, and the skill level of opponents. The higher the rating, the better the player. Ratings help ensure fair matchups in leagues and tournaments by allowing players of similar abilities to compete against one another. Unlike rankings, which are based on points from tournaments, ratings directly reflect a player’s individual performance and skill. Check out this cool table of how ratings correspond to levels of play.