Why play squash?
Voted by Forbes Magazine as the world’s healthiest sport across a broad range of criteria, squash is a fun, fast and exciting sport that is easy to learn and can be played all year-round – no matter your age, skill level or gender. Research has shown that playing an equivalent of 30 minutes of squash can burn 517 calories. Playing squash has also been proven to help you live longer. This means squash is the perfect sport to provide lifelong total well-being – no matter if you are five, thirty five or sixty five.
Squash is a safe non-contact sport that does not need expensive equipment. It can be practised alone or played with 2 (singles), 3 or 4 (doubles) people and is one of the easiest sports to participate in. Unlike many other sports, squash is gender neutral and gives equal opportunities for males and females to participate, enjoy and achieve. Squash is also one of the most widely played sports in the world – played in more than 185 countries by 20 million people on nearly 50,000 courts. Apart from the various professional and amateur tournaments, it is also a Commonwealth Games sport.
Benefits of playing squash
Playing squash is the perfect way to meet the New Zealand Physical Activity Guidelines and also receive the following health results:
- Develops agility
- Sharpens hand-eye coordination
- Compels flexibility
- Pinpoints concentration
- Imposes strength and fitness
- Boosts heart and lung health
- Coaches social skills
- Improves self-confidence
- Ensures mental well-being
- Alleviates stress