Camille Serme on how REAKT video analysis tool can help build a squash community

For anyone serious about improving their squash, training should be more than just turning up at a court and playing a few games. For some, it might be reviewing your performance and talking about what went right and wrong. For others, it may be working with a technical coach to improve specific skills. One thing I think everyone who’s determined to improve should be doing is video analysis.  

Throughout my career, I’ve worked a lot on video analysis, both after matches and in training. You don’t necessarily realise the faults you have or even the positive things you sometimes do. Years ago, trying to set something up for video analysis was a hassle, but now all of us carry high-quality recording equipment in our pocket.  

We have access to tools like REAKT, where you can record your training and instantly send your training sessions to your coaches for analysis and correction. It’s as easy as putting your smartphone in camera mode and filming yourself. You’ll see, progress will come faster.  

But technology isn’t just about making the coach-athlete relationship more effective. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will help highlight flaws in our technique or identify improvements we can make in our positioning. 

Timelines containing our videos in an organised manner can help us look back and see progress. And technology can provide a data-driven approach to our training that wasn’t available when I started my squash journey. These tools will help players push the boundaries and levels of what’s achievable in squash. 

Now that I’m on the other side of my career, I’m often asked whether I have any regrets. The answer is no – but there is something I wish I’d realised earlier: the mind needs training as much as the other squash components (tactical, physical and technical). 

I didn’t call on my mental trainers enough or only contacted them when things weren’t going well. But you have to work on your mind every day in training! There are always aspects, challenges and states of mind that you can work on daily.  

I’d like to pick up on this point because, in my opinion, an athlete needs to surround himself with the right people, or at least people he trusts. I’ve been lucky enough during my career to have competent professionals and good people. But I know that not everyone is so lucky, for different reasons: geographical, financial, etc. That’s where technology is going to make a big difference to squash.  

Access to coaching teams and advanced tools used to be limited to elite professionals. Thanks to smartphones and tools like REAKT, it’s now much easier for anyone to find the right technical coaches, physical trainers, yoga coaches, mental trainers, or even medical staff for any questions about prevention or injuries. 

It’s exciting to be involved in an app that prioritises the needs of squash. That’s partly down to two of their founders being passionate about the sport. But it’s also because they know that even casual squash players can improve faster through video analysis and benefit from some tips from squash pros.  

I love giving tips and feedback to people when they send a video analysis request. It’s rewarding igniting that lightbulb moment where someone suddenly sees that little tweak they need to make to grow as a squash player.  

I know there are some exciting developments with the tool in the pipeline. Already you can use the app to hire people like myself, Auguste Dussourd or Victor Crouin to give you feedback through the app. In a future release, squash players will be able to give each other feedback on their videos, so you can get regular feedback from a squash-playing friend anywhere in the world.  

I think this combination of technology alongside building a more collaborative squash community online is really going to help squash grow as a sport – especially in non-traditional squash countries.  

Much has been made recently about the declining number of people taking up squash. It may be that gyms feel they can make more money repurposing squash courts for small group fitness classes – but I’ve also heard about how the sense of community within squash has changed in recent years.  

I think that’s where websites like SquashMad and technology like REAKT can help squash grow, by helping new squash players improve and feel the sense of belonging that comes with being part of the squash community.  

So while the pessimists and doomsayers might think otherwise, I think how we interact with technology will shape the future of squash. And not just for training, but as a participation sport.