Cambridge-Arlington Squash Team
The Cambridge-Arlington Squash Team is a brand new co-ed public school squash team in Massachusetts, open to Cambridge and Arlington public school students. The team is registered as part of the National Scholastic League, officially recognized by US Squash, and now has a team page on Club Locker (hub of all things squash).
As part of the Scholastic High School League, our players 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).
Squash is a winter season sport. No previous experience required, all levels welcome. Please note: space is limited! Open to students in grades 8-12 (priority given to HS students), all students must be registered to be considered for the Team. Coaches will determine final rosters and may assign players to specific practice days/times as necessary.
Practices
In-season Team practice schedule (post-Thanksgiving – Feb break)
Weds, 4-5:45pm
Fri, 4-6pm
Sat, 10am-12pm
Sun, TBD
Coaches may assign players to specific practice days/times as necessary.
Location: Harvard 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 visitor parking is available.
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.)
Practices will involve a combination of drills, games and match play. All fundamentals will be covered. We expect players to do their best to attend scheduled practices. Any player who needs to miss a practice should inform coaches ahead of time.
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.
*Note: this is not a Harvard University event and is not controlled, presented, or supervised by Harvard University or any of its schools or programs.
Matches
Our team will field 7 “official” players for each match. (More players may be rostered if the opposing team also has additional players.)
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 have opportunities 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.
Watch
What does a juniors match look like? This game is from a BU15 Gold-level tournament match, both players rated 4.5. The 5-game match took 45 minutes.
"Not Just a Vegetable."
Open House / Info Sessions
Never played squash? Come try it out! (We’ll provide loaner equipment, but please wear court shoes if possible.)
Contact Us
We welcome questions, new players, volunteers, and enthusiasm.
Coaching
We are extremely fortunate to have highly qualified coaches and assistants who are volunteering to lead our team!
Naji Khan is the squash pro and Racquet Sports Director of the Cambridge Athletic Club, and a highly sought-after local coach. 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.
Andrew Frishman is a CRLS parent and former varsity college player and juniors coach.
Additionally, our more experienced team members are expected to help our novice players.
Team Contacts
Tien-Yi Lee is our team manager and CRLS parent liaison. All questions can be directed to her at: cambridgesquashalliance@gmail.com
Milo Miller, captain, 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, co-captain, 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.
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?
Yes, this is possible. Please send an email to enquire.
Can my middle schooler join the team?
High school students are given priority for our programs, but Cambridge public middle school students may join our Club program if we have open spots available. In some circumstances 8th graders may play for the CA Team, this is up to the discretion of the coaches.
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.