The Search for a
Swedish World Champion
A Plan to Develop Swedish World Class Squash Players
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
The Mission Statement
This programme will produce a
Swedish World Class
squash player
by 2021
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
The Plan
 To identify and recruit young Swedish squash players who show
they have the right attitude and commitment.
 To develop them into World Class performers.
 To coordinate their development as serious athletes with their
education and parents.
 To develop players as individuals, not as a team.
 Players who achieve the necessary standard should be
committed to representing Sweden in national teams.
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
Personnel
 Fredrik Johnson – Consultant & Mentor
The last Swedish squash player to reach true World Class level and a great
example of how to do it. Still producing World Class performances at age group
events.
 John Milton – Programme Coordinator
Former Swedish National Coach and England High Performance National Coach.
Has developed many players from junior stage to world class, including 5 world
top 10 ranked players. Consultant coach to the Swedish Squash Federation.
 Alexander Ovendal – Physiological Consultant
Based in Stockholm and an expert in working with athletes from various sports to
improve their fitness and physiological wellbeing. Current assistant national coach
to the Swedish men’s team.
 Johan Jungling – Federation Liaison Adviser
Former European top 4 ranked junior player and senior national team player.
Swedish Squash Federation board member.
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
The Structure
Individual
Coach
Personal
Fitness
Trainer
Regional/Na
tional
Coach
PLAYER
Nutrition
+
PROGRAMME
COORDINATOR
Mental
trainer
Physio
Massage
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
The Long Term Athlete Development
It takes 10,000 training hours – approximately equivalent to 10
years – to reach World Class level.
(Malcolm Gladwell, “Outliers”, 2008)
That’s 10,000 focused training hours, not just time spent hitting a
ball.
1 hour of solo practice is worth 30 minutes of the focused 10,000
hours; 1 hour practicing with another player is worth 45 minutes; 1
hour working with a high level coach is worth 1½ hours.
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
The Long Term Athlete Development
 There are 5 different stages of the Long Term Athlete
Development
FUNdamental
Learn to
Train
Train to
Train
Train to
Compete
Train to Win
 This plan will be working with players in the last 3 stages
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
The Long Term Athlete Development
 A player involved in a Long Term Athlete Development scheme
will be supported in finding the right balance between training,
education and social time – a complete holistic environment.
 Players must learn to take responsibility for themselves and not
rely on the programme doing the work for them.
 The player must possess the qualities of a potential World Class
athlete in terms of attitude and commitment.
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
Training – Individual 1
Technical
Tactical
Programme
Coordinator
PLAYER
Mental
Individual coach
Physical
Lifestyle
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
Training – Individual 2
Technical
Tactical
Mental
Physical
Lifestyle
 The Lifestyle of an athlete is the
foundation upon which
everything else is built.
 The programme will
mentor the players to
take responsibility for
every aspect of their
career.
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
Training - Squad
Regional/National
Coach
Regional + National
squad training
Elite Programme
Players
Domestic +
International
squad training
Programme
Coordinator
PLAYER
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
Experience
 The only reason to train is to improve performance in
competition.
 Training is set by what is noticed in competition.
 A player must learn how to train effectively in order to learn how
to train to compete.
 The aim is to develop a player who can compete at the highest
level as a senior player – in other words, a long term plan.
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
Experience
 Tournament experience at junior levels should be measured by
the quality of performance rather than outcome results.
 By the transitional period between junior and senior levels,
players should be training to win and maximising their
performance in competition.
 Valuable experience is gained by competing – in training and
playing.
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
Competition
PLAYER
Individual
coach
Domestic
Junior
Tournaments
Domestic
Senior
Tournaments
Swedish
National Team
Events
Programme
Coordinator
Domestic
League
Matches
ESF
International
Tournaments
PSA/WISPA
Tournaments
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
Who?
 Players will be selected on to the
programme through interview.
 Players must show the potential
qualities required to be champions:
 Dedication – to put the time in
 Discipline – to do the work
 Determination – to succeed
 Desire – to want to do it
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
starts with a Winning Programme
The Search for a Swedish World Champion
Is it the right way…?
…it’s the only way