A Lifelong Journey Through Squash and Education

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with David Hughes, one of Open Squash’s beloved coaches, our Director of Squash Operations, and a veteran of the squash world, for a conversation on our "Boast About It" series. David’s journey with squash is as diverse and fascinating as our beloved sport itself. From his early days in Kenya to becoming a highly respected coach in New York City, David’s story is one of passion, community, and a lifelong love for the game.

David's introduction to squash wasn't in the typical North American setting. He recalls, "when I was seven years old, my dad took it into his head to pick everybody up and move us to Nairobi, Kenya". This move was more than just a change of scenery; it was where David first encountered squash, switching from badminton, "which was what we played in Calgary, to playing this new game that nobody we'd never heard of".

His father, who also became a squash enthusiast, was his "only coach" and a major influence. David’s father also started a junior program in Ottawa, and later in Guyana where he coached Richard Chin, who is now the squash professional at New York’s Harvard Club. The impact of David’s father continues, as the program in Guyana, "is still in use…and they still win the Junior Caribbean championships on a regular basis".

David’s early squash experience was also during a time when "the old game with the old wooden racquets playing to nine, you know, hand in, hand out" was still dominant— showing how much the game has evolved. 

David's life has been a blend of squash and education, both as a player and a teacher. He achieved a high level of play, reaching "probably five" in the Canadian rankings, though he didn't pursue a professional tour. His professional life also saw him teaching English in various countries. He lived in places like “Tokyo… India… Tunis, Tunisia, [and] Barcelona”. In all these places, David found ways to incorporate squash into his life, noting, "if there was a court and somebody standing on it, I would go and help".

Reflecting on his career, David agrees that he’s been an educator his whole life, either teaching English or teaching squash. "Squash is a little bit like a language in the sense that there's really no end to what you can learn," he said. He also notes that "practice makes perfect". And both practices are "sort of an endless journey".

David’s coaching style is tailored to different age groups. With kids, he emphasizes fun and engagement, noting "most kids just want to run around, and you have to find ways to structure the fun so that it's actually practicing something that's going to be useful to them later on.” He notes that Open Squash’s junior coaches like Josh Easdon and Ashgar Abbas are “magicians with kids” and that he has “no idea where they get their ideas from, but they work amazingly well”.

When coaching adults, David focuses on “troubleshooting” since "most adults come to lessons… with something that needs fixing." He explains that “adults will just absorb it because they have a…motivation to fix whatever is giving them trouble.” David prefers the intrinsic motivation of working with adults, just because he finds it easier to keep their attention. 

Why Squash?

David believes that “everywhere I've ever gone, there's a community of squash players, and it's an instantaneous little network of friendly people”. This sense of community and shared passion is something he values. David encourages those new to squash to give it a try. He explains that it is a sport that “you can learn it at any point in your life. …you can pick up a racquet at 35, you can pick a racquet 45, and you can learn to play, and you can get great exercise and make friends". He adds that it is a "great journey," with "challenges that you can overcome…skills that you can learn, and it’s super healthy."

David’s international experiences have also given him a unique perspective on the game. He contrasts the typical North American squash scene, which is what "people think of when they think of squash" with other parts of the world where it may be “a rickety cement block thing with no ceiling and no air conditioning or heating and maybe a concrete floor". He explains that the people who play squash in such settings are often very different from "those who work on Wall Street.”

He also notices cultural differences in how league play is approached, contrasting the communal aspect in Toronto where players “would drive out to this club play. Then there would be dinner at the club, beer at the club” with the more individualistic approach to league matches in New York. Although of course Open Squash’s mission is to ensure that league play is as social as possible, we also offer round robin play, clinics, and social activities to ensure that players get to make friends as well as play the game. 

Reflecting on his journey, David acknowledges that "there's no way we could have imagined any of that" when he began playing squash. He didn't know as a junior that he "could come to the U.S. on a on a squash scholarship”. Despite pursuing other paths, squash has always remained a constant. When asked why he keeps coming back to squash, he says, “first of all, I’m better at squash than anything else”. He clarifies, “there's a level of comfort and confidence…I feel like I pretty much know what is going on, on a squash court…. I can almost always help”.

Agreed! If you’d like to book a lesson with David, you can easily do so here.