Squash is a well-loved sport that is played by millions of individuals. However, what season sport is squash?

Many people believe that they can play squash whenever they want, regardless of the season. While this is definitely true, playing squash in the summers can lead to excessive sweating and dehydration, and you might even have a hard time playing your best game.

Squash is a winter sport. This is why most official tournaments, such as the National Team Championships, occur from early to mid-November and continue till late February. Since squash is very similar to HIIT training, playing it in the winter increases your chances of winning without feeling too burnt out.

Of course, squash can still be played anytime during the year. However, when the sun comes out, people prefer playing other sports like tennis since they enjoy the sun. In opposition, indoor sports like squash become more popular when the weather gets too cold outside.

In this article, we will help you understand why squash is played in the winters, along with its advantages and how it benefits the human body.

What Season Sport is Squash?

When winter arrives, it becomes harder to get out of the house. In fact, even individuals who play squash regularly have trouble mustering up the motivation to step out of their warm homes and into the cold. Hence, it becomes difficult to make it to your squash practice on a harsh November morning.

However, the good thing is that squash is played indoors. Even though you have to step out of the house and into the cold, it is only for a short while until you reach the stadium where squash practices occur. Most local sports clubs are swarming with squash players as soon as it becomes too cold for any other sport and the temperatures start to drop.

Squashers love feeling the burn that the sport brings. Every half an hour, they burn approximately 500 calories. Squash allows individuals to build power and flexibility in their core, as well as in their legs. Moreover, there is always a short break between rallies and a long break in-between games. These breaks mimic the advantages of a HIIT workout, increasing cardiovascular function and ensuring that the heart remains healthy and functioning. The best part is that you can play a wonderful squash game for 45 minutes while thoroughly enjoying yourself and counting it as your workout for the day.

Why do People Play Squash in the Winter?

Regardless of the weather, people like staying active. Otherwise, energy levels start to drop low, and feeling irritated becomes part of your everyday routine. However, playing a squash game indoors with your buddies keeps you sharp, especially if the game is competitive.

Squash requires you to stand in a red box, keep an eye out on the opposite corner, and hit the ball as hard as you can so that it bounces against your opponent’s corner. The action of swinging the racquet and hitting the ball with it with all your power releases serotonin in your brain. Even though by the end of the game, you might find yourself feeling exhausted, you will also feel energetic and almost euphoric.

Squash is a wonderful sport to be played in the winter. You forget that it is dark, dreary, and cold outside and end up having the best time with your friends. The best part is that in squash, you can continue playing while holding up a conversation with your opponent at the same time. Once you are done with your game, you can take a shower, dry off, and get a hot chocolate with your partner to get the full feel of winter.

How to Get into the Routine of Playing Squash in the Winters

Forbes published an article in 2003 where squash was listed as one of the healthiest sports that ensure muscle strength and endurance, as well as calorie burn and flexibility. According to the Professional Squash Association (PSA), squash is one of the toughest sports out there.

One thing to keep in mind is that squash and tennis are very similar to each other. In squash, your racquet is a little smaller than the one used in tennis, but in both sports, you have to hit the ball back and forth with a partner. Moreover, both sports have singles and doubles, but squash does not require a net between the two opponents. The idea is to stand side-by-side with each other and hit the ball on the wall with power till one of the players fails to hit the ball back or misses.

Every time you successfully hit the ball on the wall, a point is added to your name. However, the catch is that the ball has to bounce on the front wall. It doesn’t matter if it has bounced on the surrounding walls, but as long as you manage to hit the front wall, you should be able to score a point. Usually, each game has five sets, and it can last anywhere between 40 to 60 minutes.

While stepping out of your house in the winter can seem like a burden, staying indoors while it snows will only make you feel depressed, sad, and lethargic. This is why squash, an indoor game, gains so much popularity as soon as the temperatures start to drop. To ensure that you manage to get yourself to a squash court, you can make plans with a friend who will motivate you to leave your house. Moreover, book the court in advance so that it becomes harder for you to cancel at the end minute.

Keep in mind that squash increases cardiovascular function and keeps your fitness in check. It will help you maintain a healthy weight while increasing flexibility and toning your arms and back muscles. Partaking in this sport will only bring you a range of benefits, keeping you active and ensuring that you are in a good mood at all times.