Following the appointment of a Head Coach in November 2024, Squash Ireland is further developing the high performance unit seeking to appoint a Junior Performance Coach and Junior Development Coach to oversee the junior performance programme and develop a pathway for developing world-class talent.
Squash Ireland is the National Governing Body for Squash on the island of Ireland. The organisation has experienced significant growth with the number of affiliated clubs, members, coaches, tournaments, and leagues increasing. A major restructuring has also taken place with the move to a strategically focused board of directors and growth in staffing from two to eight over the past 18 months.
The inclusion of squash in the LA 2028 Olympics has injected new energy and focused attention on developing a world-class high-performance programme to nurture talent and provide players with the necessary support to compete at European, World and Olympic level. Squash Ireland players have reached the pinnacle of the sport and there is a proud history of Irish players competing at the highest levels of the game.
The Junior Performance Coach and the Junior Development Coach positions are initially offered on a 12-month fixed-term contract, with the possibility of an extension and expansion of the role.
When applying by email, please include a letter of introduction detailing your skills and experience relevant to the role and your Curriculum Vitae outlining your skills and work experience. Please send these materials no later than the 22nd of January 2025 to Squash Ireland at [email protected].
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Arthur Gaskin has been appointed as Squash Ireland’s Head Coach. The appointment follows the recent publication of Squash Ireland’s High Performance Strategy, which outlines targets for the LA 2028 Olympic cycle.
Gaskin is an eight-time Irish National Champion and a four-time winner on the PSA World Tour. He competed on the PSA World Tour for 14 years and represented Ireland at multiple European and World Championships, amassing 106 caps. Gaskin was Ireland’s number one player for a 10-year period from 2009 to 2019.
An experienced coach, Gaskin has worked with some of the top junior players in the world, including multiple U.S. national champions, a U.S. Junior Open Champion, and a British Junior Open top-5 finisher. At the senior level, Gaskin coached a top female player who rose from 48th to 20th in the PSA World Rankings over a six-month period.
Gaskin has also served as the Director of Squash at PVD Squash, where he leads a team of coaches focused on growing and developing the junior programme. Additionally, he is the Head Coach at Brown University, where he coached the women’s team to a U.S. National Title in 2023 and the men’s team to back-to-back National Titles in 2023 and 2024.
Gaskin will take up the part-time role of Squash Ireland’s Head Coach on November 1st, leading the High Performance Unit to implement the recently published High Performance Strategy.
Squash Ireland CEO Scott Graham commented: “I am delighted that Arthur has accepted the Head Coach role with Squash Ireland. Arthur has exceptional experience as a player, competing on the PSA World Tour and at European and World Championships, and is a well-respected coach, having guided players into the top 20 in the world and developed talent from a young age. Arthur is clearly very passionate about the game and the high-performance structures within Ireland and will go above and beyond to ensure players have the support they need to reach their full potential.”
Arthur Gaskin commented: “I’m thrilled to accept the role of Head Coach for Squash Ireland and to work alongside Scott, the current coaches, and staff. I’m especially excited to help our top players reach their full potential, as I’m confident they can achieve the highest level with the right guidance and support. I am also looking forward to creating a pathway for our juniors to follow in their footsteps.”
Job Opportunity: Irish Squash Head Coach
Irish Squash is the National Governing Body for Squash on the island of Ireland. The organisation has experienced significant growth over the past year with the appointment of the sport’s first CEO and an increase in staff numbers from two full-time to three full-time and four part-time staff within the past 12 months. The number of affiliated clubs, members, coaches, tournaments, and leagues has all increased significantly.
The inclusion of squash in the LA 2028 Olympics has injected new energy and focused attention on developing a world-class high-performance programme to nurture talent and provide players with the necessary support to compete at European, World and Olympic level. Irish squash players have reached the pinnacle of the sport and there is a proud history of success at the highest levels of the game.
Irish Squash is seeking to appoint a Head Coach to oversee the high-performance programme, deliver upon the High Performance Strategy 2025–2028, and fully realise the potential within the Irish high-performance pathway.
Irish Squash Head Coach Job Description HERE
Applications close on the 21st of August 2024. A copy of the High Performance Strategy 2025–2028 will be provided to interested candidates.
Last Friday marked the successful conclusion of the inaugural “Squash – Supporting Children’s Physical Literacy Journey in Primary School” Teacher’s Summer Course in Ballina and Thurles. Over the week, 33 enthusiastic primary school teachers participated, learning how to seamlessly introduce the dynamic game of squash to their students while aligning with the Primary Curriculum.
The course culminated with an engaging visit to the Ballina and Thurles Squash Clubs, where teachers had the chance to try the game firsthand, meet with some club officials and explore the excellent facilities available. The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with teachers now equipped with the necessary resources and expertise to bring squash into their classrooms in the upcoming school year.
This groundbreaking initiative was made possible by the collaborative efforts of many dedicated individuals and organisations. A heartfelt commendation goes out to the course authors and tutors, namely Ivan O’Mahony, Michael Hassett, Mark Healy and to Michael McKenzie from the Mayo Education Support centre for driving the programme. Special thanks are also due to the members of Irish Squash who provided unwavering support through their commitment of time and expertise and to staff at the Thurles and Mayo Education Support Centres and for their exceptional administrative and logistical support, as well as for managing the resource pack loan scheme for schools going forward. The Directors of the three centres deserve recognition for backing the course, selecting it to run in their catchment areas, and funding the necessary provisions for tutors and participants.
The success of this course has laid a solid foundation that can be replicated in other regions across the country next summer, with additional planning and recruitment of tutors., in turn creating more opportunities to build a squash community in the schools across Ireland. This initiative not only benefits teachers and children but also fosters the growth of squash, creating a lasting impact on the sport’s future in Ireland.