Squash Camp Activities: Drills and Games

Squash camps work best with a mix of skill-building and play. Activities should be varied to engage all ages and levels, blending simple drills with games.

Many summer camp programs put as much weight on teamwork and bonding as on technique. A well-rounded camp day alternates on-court skill sessions with off-court games and challenges so campers stay engaged and keep learning.

The sections below cover on-court drills, on-court games, off-court team-building and fitness activities, and sample schedules for day, weekend, and week-long camps.

On-Court Drills and Games

Coaches work one-on-one or in groups to guide campers through drills and mini-games on court. Skill drills help beginners hit the ball consistently, while games add an element of competition.

Examples include:

• Front-Wall Rally (Length Drill): A group drill where players take turns hitting straight drives to the front wall, moving forward and back to keep the rally going. This builds consistency and stamina. Campers start close to the back wall and gradually move forward each hit, focusing on keeping control of the ball.
• Target Practice: Place a cone or marker on the court (floor or wall) and ask players to hit the ball so it strikes the target. This trains placement and precision. One version has players try to hit a target on the floor after a front-wall shot. Aiming at small targets sharpens focus and improves shot accuracy.
• Accuracy and Consistency Drills: Solo or partner exercises, such as hitting the ball repeatedly to a fixed spot on the floor, develop hand-eye coordination. Campers can pick a point on the court floor and continuously hit to that spot. Repetition builds control. Once comfortable, they can pair up and rally the ball off the floor between each shot.
• Volley and Kill Drills: Practice volleys and volley kills by having players feed each other balls in the front court without letting the ball bounce. You can turn this into a game by alternating forehand and backhand volleys, or by setting up a casual "volleyball" style rally that bumps the ball off the front wall. These drills sharpen reflexes and encourage quick footwork near the tin or nick.
• Ghosting: Practice movement without the ball. Players start at the T, move quickly to a corner as if retrieving a shot, return to the T, and repeat across all four corners. This builds footwork, court coverage, and fitness, and it works well as a conditioning element for older or more advanced campers.
• Mini Matches and King of the Court: Use short scoring games to mix practice with play. For example, hold 2-vs-2 doubles games to 3 points, switching teams quickly so everyone plays. In King of the Court, one player holds the court and plays the next challenger; the winner stays on and the loser rotates out. In a simple mini-match format using traditional scoring, you only score when serving, and the receiver who wins the rally takes the serve. This gives campers a taste of competitive play in a friendly format.
• Conditioned Games: Modify the normal rules of a game to target a specific skill, for example only allowing shots played to the back two-thirds of the court, or only counting points won with a volley. Conditioned games let campers practice a particular shot or movement in a match-like setting.
• Interactive Wall Games: If your facility has an interactive squash wall or video projection system, squash-themed video games can engage all ages. Systems such as interactiveSQUASH include games like Tic Tac Squash, where players light up three areas in a row to win, and a paint-splatter mode that leaves colourful marks where shots land. These games give instant visual feedback and are designed to suit all ages and skill levels.

Each drill or game can be scaled up or down. Use soft balls or shorter courts for young beginners, and increase pace or complexity for teens and adults. The goal is to develop shots (drive, volley, boast, drop) while keeping the atmosphere fun and inclusive.

Off-Court Team-Building Activities

Team games off the court build camaraderie and let players relax. They focus on cooperation, communication, and team spirit.

Good examples include:

• Capture the Flag: Divide campers into two teams and mark each team's flag location. Teams try to sneak into the other side's area, grab the flag (or a bandana) and return it without being tagged. This classic game encourages teamwork, communication, and strategy.
• Obstacle Course Challenge: Set up a relay course using cones, ropes, hula hoops, or fitness equipment. Teams work together to complete tasks, for example carrying a bucket of water without spilling, solving a quick puzzle, or crab-walking under an obstacle. An obstacle course tests coordination and group problem-solving. Tailor the challenges to age: younger kids can do simple balance tasks, while teens take on tougher physical obstacles.
• Human Knot: Campers stand in a circle, each grabbing hands with two different people across the circle. The group then untangles itself back into a circle without letting go. This builds communication, patience, and teamwork, and it makes a good quick icebreaker on the first day.
• Scavenger Hunt: Hide a list of items or clues around the camp area, indoors or out, for teams to find within a time limit. Clues can be squash-themed, for example "find a red squash ball under a chair", or general. Working in teams to interpret clues and search promotes collaboration.
• Tug of War: A contest of strength and teamwork. Using a sturdy rope, split campers into two balanced teams and mark a centre line. On "go", teams pull together, and the first team to drag the opponents across the line wins. This high-energy game builds team spirit and suits all ages.
• Balloon Tower: Give small teams balloons and tape and ask them to build the tallest freestanding balloon tower in a set time. This encourages creative planning and cooperation, and it is a common design challenge in camp programs.

These group activities do not involve a racquet, but they reinforce the social and collaborative side of camp. They can be run outdoors or in a gym or lobby between squash sessions, with the emphasis on teamwork.

Off-Court Fitness Activities

Even off-court, squash camps keep players moving. Fitness-focused drills keep energy high and work on strength, agility, and endurance.

Ideas include:

• Fitness Circuit and Task Stations: Set up four to six stations with different exercises (for example push-ups, jumping jacks, lunges, planks, shuttle runs). Campers rotate through the stations. For variety, use a deck of cards or coloured balls to assign the next station, for example drawing a card suit to pick a station and a number to set the reps. This keeps workouts unpredictable and engaging.
• Tag Games: Classic tag and its variations work well for agility. Examples include Partner Tag (you may only tag your assigned partner) and Blob Tag (when tagged, players link arms and continue tagging as a growing chain). Frozen Tag (tagged players freeze until rescued by teammates) and team-versus-team tag are other options. Tag games improve speed, reaction time, and group bonding.
• Mirror Warm-Ups: In pairs, one camper leads and the other mirrors the movement. The leader does exercises (lunges, high knees, knee bends, jumping jacks) for 20 to 30 seconds while the follower mirrors, then they switch. This active warm-up builds coordination and works for all ages.
• Find-the-Cone Relay: Place cones around the gym or court. On "go", each camper runs to find any unclaimed cone, holds a position over it for a set time (for example a straddle hold for 10 seconds), then returns and tags the next player. This keeps kids moving and challenges them physically. Adjust the difficulty by changing the hold time or the number of cones.
• Balloon and Ball Juggling: Using a light object (a balloon, hacky sack, or squash ball), challenge small groups to keep it off the ground. Campers can toss a balloon or bounce a hacky sack between partners without dropping it, counting consecutive hits, or stand in a circle and volley a balloon around. This builds hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. As a variation, kids can try to keep a squash ball in the air with their racket, solo or cooperatively.
• Relay Races: Traditional relays (sprint relays, shuttle runs, or balancing a squash ball on a racquet while running) are reliable favourites. For example, have campers balance a squash ball on their racket and race to a line and back. This mixes fitness with racquet control.

These fitness activities fit into warm-ups, cool-downs, or breaks between lessons. They keep campers active, build endurance, and give a break from the court while still relating to squash skills such as coordination and speed. Small-sided handball or mini-volley games in a hallway, bumping a ball against a wall, are other options.

Sample Camp Formats

Day Camps (1 Day): On a single-day camp (4 to 6 hours), balance focus and fun. A morning warm-up might be dynamic, for example mirror-partner exercises or a quick tag game.

Then run two or three short skill sessions, for instance a drill on straight drives to the front wall, a serve-return drill, and an accuracy challenge like target practice. After lunch, hold brief matchplay, for example round-robin doubles to 3 points, and a team game such as a small Capture the Flag or balloon volley.

Finish with cool-down stretches or a team cheer. The key is to rotate activities every 30 to 45 minutes so kids stay engaged.

Weekend Camps (2 to 3 Days)

Over a two-day weekend, each day can have a theme or progression. For example:

• Day 1: Fundamentals (forehand and backhand drives, court positioning) in morning drills, followed by games such as King of the Court or a King and Queen of the Court ladder. In the afternoon, introduce volley drills and play shorter scrimmages. Cap the day with an evening team-building activity such as a scavenger hunt.
• Day 2: Start with a fitness challenge (a station circuit or tag games) to wake up. Focus drills on serves, boasts, and drop shots. End the camp with a mini-tournament or round-robin, where players of similar level pair up for short matches. For example, run doubles games to 5 points, rotating partners so everyone plays each other. Award small prizes to make it festive. Throughout the weekend, include at least one off-court activity like the human knot or balloon tower each day. A final friendly all-star match or relay race sends campers home in good spirits.

Week-Long Camps (5 Days)

A full-week program can build day by day. A possible structure:

Each day mixes on- and off-court elements. Mornings might be on-court drills and games, while afternoons could start with an off-court fitness circuit or team challenge, followed by match play.

Week-long camps let skill-building accumulate. Campers often form teams for squad challenges by midweek, and coaches can give personalised feedback.

In all formats, keep sessions age-appropriate. Young children need shorter activities and simpler instructions, while teens and adults can handle longer matches and technical drills. Rotating activities (drills, games, off-court fun) every 20 to 45 minutes helps maintain energy and focus.

By blending skill development with cooperative games, camps give players of every age a chance to enjoy themselves while improving on court.