Squash is a great year-round sport for every season; spring, summer, winter, fall. Whether it’s a freezing cold outside, or blazing hot noon, there is never a bad time for playing squash. This post is for those wanting to stay active during the winter when lethargy and the cold air keep us in our homes.
Is squash a winter sport?
Squash is an indoor sport
This is probably the most obvious reason for why it’s convenient to play squash in the winter. During hot summers, squash clubs are air conditioned with cooling systems, while central heating is used in colder climates to keep a comfortable ambience at the club. During mild winters (10-20 degrees celsius), even if the central heating is off, the body gets quite comfortable after warming up and hitting the ball for some time.
Being sealed off from the outdoors, the squash court is never disturbed by rain, snow, wind, or tornadoes.
From Anaerobic to Fresh Air
The cardiovascular system undergoes considerable exertion during a session of squash. One of the greatest feelings after playing is that fresh air you inhale when you go outside after your work out. During winter, the air is crispier and the coolness is refreshing. Make sure you are dry before going outside to not catch a cold.
Active Mind and body for the rest of the day
While this is true during the summers as well, the endorphins released during and after a fun session of squash keep your mind and body alert for the rest of the day. This will help with managing that winter lethargy that has us reaching for the comforter every time. If you are a morning person to begin with, you’re going to have a great day. If you happen to play during the evening, then that squash session will keep you active and productive for another few hours before bed time.
What to do if squash courts are closed?
Squash for Winter Hydration
Many of us consume less water during the winter due to generally lower levels of thirst. We also don’t feel the need for any water intake since we do not sweat in colder weather. By playing squash in the winter, we force ourselves to consume lots of water and keep our hydration levels up. Our organs will thank us for playing squash.
Which Squash Ball to play with during Winter
Based on the post about the squash ball, we normally use single-dot, and double-dot squash balls which have different levels of bounce. Squash players would default to a double dot ball as this is what they are most familiar with. However, if it’s super cold and a double dot ball requires a lot of effort to make hot or keep warm, you should consider playing with a single-dot ball. Attaining a playable level of bounce would be easier with a single yellow dot ball. This would also help minimize dead time between games that is spent getting the ball hot enough to continue.
It is still possible to play squash in sub-zero conditions. In fact it was the extreme winters of Canada and America that resulted in the development of the North American Court and Hard Ball Squash. The hard ball, although used primarily for doubles, is a good way to play squash in the coldest conditions. Perhaps they should build some squash courts in Antarctica.