KZN Open Squash Tournament 2022 - Day 1
The first day is done. 2 matches under the belt.
Due to the data privacy laws in South Africa I am unable to name opponents so I shall refer to them as their seeds.
For u14, @mpaya is seeded no 2 for the tournament and played the no 3.
The scores were 11-5; 11-4; 11-3 to @mpaya.
The second match @mpaya played the no 6 seed and the scores were 11-9; 11-3; 11-2 to @mpaya.
He was hitting shots that were not working and pulled the game right with scores of 6-9 to his opponent right up to the needed 11 to win the first game. I was proud of him for making this change and mentally working the game plan out in his head in order to govern the play. This is a much needed step in the right direction of mental play.
This is what the final figures look like from the round robin in this group.
It appears only one match tomorrow as the one opponent is not playing. Then the finals are played against the other group.
So happy with the results so far!
@chociscorpipro (will add you here too as a quick see to how he is doing 😁, it is nerve wracking to watch sometimes 😂)
Excellent stuff. Please be careful of what tags you use as Leofinance has nothing to do with this post. This could result in downvotes so please double check next time.
@cryptoandsports thank you so much.
Still learning this and got the advice from someone else the other day. Any advice like what you are saying is welcomed.
The learning curve has been so steep but eventually took the stance that this is how I learned other platforms so the ‘struggle’ will be worth it in the long run.
Just keeping an eye out for you and if there is anything you are unsure about just ask. This place is not easy but once you understand everything (takes months) it is well worth the effort.
Well win or lose, the real winning is in how the game is played, with diplomacy, good grace and most of all fun!
Smash on @mpaya!
Yes! This is so true. His coach instills this in all the kids.
Tomorrow if @mpaya and the no 1 win their first 2 matches they will land up in the finals together. They have been there many times and train together.
I will write a story on this, because the way they have fun is remarkable.
That's great! That's a good coach!
Is the coach also teaching @mpaya to play smart as well as hard?
As in the best Tennis player is not the one that smashes the ball every hit, but plays strategically to place the ball where the opponent cannot get to it too easily- even if that means a soft hit...
Well if they get to the finals together and train together then they should be abgood match and it will be a good game (and this is where @mpaya will need to play smart...)
Hello @chocolatescorpi 😁
Yes, his coach is teaching these kids mental skills too. The level of play at the finals that @mpaya went into was phenomenal. He and his one training partner came up together and just took off trying to outsmart each other. It was lovely to watch.
They both speed the ball up and then play slow shots and lob, boast, drop, hit just above the tin. Crazy play. We as parents will encourage them to sit together and point out strengths and weaknesses to help each other improve.
That's great to hear that the coach is teaching them all types of play.
And play that like is not only very entertaining for the spectators and players, but also mentally stimulating, having to think so quickly, literally on your feet too!
Did you guys get to video their games so they can watch them back later?
When I was young, my family and I used to play Squash every Sunday and in comps (mum and dad took us out of Sunday school to play. Best thing they could have ever done for us!) Actually I grew up in a small dairy farming town with nothing else to do but play sports, so I also ended up playing Tennis, Hockey, Softball and Basketball (and many other sports) for years, though Tennis was my longest and first to go to and still is.
Actually I still play with my tennis racquets that I bought in the early 80's...and have carried the 2 of them around Australia, the USA and The UK with me for the past 35+ years too....🤣 I actually went to summer camp in upstate New York as a Tennis coach for all ages and even successfully taught a squash player to play tennis! 😃
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