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Liz Irving Part 4
"Simply the best coach in the world" - Nicol David |
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NICOL DAVID
TALKS ABOUT LIZ AND AMSTERDAM
From the Start...
"The main reason I could come to Amsterdam is having funding from
the National Sports Council of Malaysia. Without their
support, even the thought of becoming a professional squash player
would not have occurred to me. They are the main source of why I’ve
done so well.
From a very young age, they supported me and up to now
really. I can’t see how I could have done it otherwise, and I am
fortunate enough that Liz was here willing to take me on board, and
I haven’t looked back since.
Malaysia thought this was the way forward, and I made the most of
what they gave me, and performed to the best of my abilities.
Back to Basics...
At 17, straight after school, I came here just to have a look for a
month or so, just to get the feel of how it is, and I just loved it.
I had seen a few other places, but when I came here, it just clicked.
Already, the very little time I stayed here the first time, I
learned so much, things I would have never even thought of, and she
just opened my eyes to a whole new dimension of the game and that
was the transition I needed. I had to take that step to move here,
two years later. Yes, it took a while…
 At
the beginning, we shared a flat with Sharon Wee, that was set
for us by the Malaysian government. It was great to have Sharon with
me, to have somebody with her experience. It was much better that
being on my own!
And I basically started from… scratch! We went back to all the
basics of technique, positioning, and everything that squash should
be, elements I was not fully exposed to while I was in Malaysia at
the time. That was exciting times for me.
The simplest things, technically, I really needed Liz, she is the
one that made me technically with my squash. If it wasn’t for her,
the consistency and what I can do on a court wouldn’t happen right
now. The speed that I had, well, that was the only thing I could
bank on before.
She saw I didn’t have to keep running around, that it could be a
good tool if I was to use it well, and working on really good
positioning. And yes, now, I’m even faster, because I position
myself well and I work on my volleys and being stronger to then
dominate as much as I can…
How long in Amsterdam ?
I manage to stay here about 4 to 6 months in the year, probably more
in the first part of the season – where there are less tournaments –
than in the second part.
Amsterdam is a nice big town, everyone knows everybody, it’s a very
friendly atmosphere, very chilled, and when I come back to
Amsterdam, I’m fully focused on my training, it’s my priority, I
feel that nothing will come in my way, I have all the time in the
world to just keep training and keep going and going, that is my all
focus.
People just let me do my things here, that’s the luxury of being in
Amsterdam… |
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Liz is...
Liz is so easy going, chilled, and at the same time, serious, and
puts 100% into what she does, she knows… Her experience alone
translates when she talks about squash, when she dispenses all her
coaching advice, on and off court.
She’s got so much wisdom on the game that you really get hooked on
what she knows. You just trust her right away, and you think, this
is how I’ve got to do it.
She also has steps she can see the players going through. If she
sees a player, she can say, OK, if the player follows what I can
offer, I can probably take the player to this point. That allows you
to give you an idea of where you are, where you are going, and to
set goals for yourself.
And you think "ok, if I stick to it, and really put all my heart and
soul into it, it will all come together." I just trusted her and had
full faith that she was the coach for me.
She is very patient on court with me and with all the squash
players, she’s got a big heart, and she just never stops giving, all
of us, giving us a chance to get better at what we are doing without
actually changing us in who we are, just making us better.
She makes our strong points stronger, reinforces them, and corrects
our weaknesses. And that’s a skill, you know?
Not many coaches can do that, because they only know what they’ve been taught and want
that knowledge to be enforced onto the players, but with Liz, it’s
more the fact that she sees a player and sees what she can help with
without changing that person into something else.
She just wants to make the best of what they are capable of and she
is still doing that with me!! |
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Second to none ...
What Liz has set up here in Amsterdam, you can’t find it anywhere
else. She puts her heart and soul into everything, she is also a
perfectionist in many ways, she wants to make it right for me and
for all the players that come and work with her. She wants to give
the best and cover every aspect of a squash player's needs. And for
personal growth as well, because that’s what makes you a better
squash player.
The people she brought in to work in the academy are on the same
wavelength, on the same mode as herself, the team would never work
if the dynamics were not there. She doesn’t take just anybody, she
puts a lot of emphasis and time into finding those people to get
involved, that’s not an easy task.
She also relates to all her players. And she does all that on her
own, she doesn’t have any kind of support from any association or
anything. She just goes in, and does it herself, covering all
expenses. Because she loves it. And because she wants to see us do
well. She believes in what she does, and it shows in performance,
and results. She never takes credit for anything because in her
mind, she is there to assist and to give. And it’s up to us if we
fully utilise what she and her team are offering us.
Also, to have that openness to say you know what, there are some
experts out there that can do certain things that I know about, but
I would like them to look after my players as well. So she gives us
the best opportunities, facilities, even coaches. Some of us have
been to Sarah Fitz-Gerald or Vicky Cardwell, who are of the
same Australian upbringing.
Liz is happy for them to come on board to give pretty much the same
advice, but in a different way, and she sees that as a part of
growth, not like a threat, as if we were going to move somewhere
else.
A lot of coaches don’t see things that way, and it’s truly
unheard of to be honest! You don’t find that kind of coach often,
and that's what makes Liz stand out from the rest.
The best coach in the world basically." |
With Andrew
Davidson SquashCity manager & Geoff Miller, director
Liz
in 3 words
"Trustworthy, bighearted,
very humble, respectful, knowledgeable..
yes, that’s my three words, too many words"
Nicol David
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