Before your Tournament, eat, so that your body will have peak energy levels at match time. You cannot play at 100%,if you don't eat properly. Maybe consider researching sports nutrition!
Drink lots of water before the match. If you wait until match time, it will be too late.
The next step would be to check your gear. Make sure your racket and your strings are in good shape. Its a good idea to bring a back-up racket of the exact model and the same strings. This is because changing racket in the middle of a tournament will mess up your game.
Always bring extra shirts. As you probably know, Squash is a sweaty game, and you won’t be able to preform at your best if you feel sticky. You should bring a towel to wipe off your sweat. Also use a sweat resistant grip on your racket, so it does not slip out of your hand.
Don't be late! Being late will produce unnecessary stress, set off a bit earlier than you need to, to guarantee you’ll be on time.
When you know who you’re competing against, you should ask other people about their playing styles and weaknesses.
Before starting your tournament, you need to warm up. There is a strict five-minute time limit before the game. Hit 2-3 shots and then pass the ball. Don't keep the ball too long - it's considered rude. This is a good time, to observe your opponent, if you’ve never played them before. Every time you pass the ball, use a different shot, and see how they deal with it. You can spot weak spots before the match even starts!
When starting the match, you should start slow. Squash is all about energy. The player who runs out of energy first will lose. The goal is to wear your opponent down before your own energy runs out. If you find yourself in an uneven match in an early round, don't waste your energy. Chances are, you'll be in for a much more competitive game in the next round. If you're matched against a much weaker opponent, take it easy. Don't rush it. Use the easy game as a prolonged warm-up. On the other hand, don't waste your energy in a game you can't possibly win. In a closely-matched game, it gets down to preparation, battle plan, tactics, and nerves. Keep a cool mind and don't let the opponent force his game style upon you. You only need to win by two points.
Keep an eye on the score. This will help you conserve energy. If you are five points ahead, you don't need to run after a well-placed stop. Let it be and conserve your energy for the next point. You still lead by four points. If the opponent is ahead, you need to fight for every single point to get even. Don't let him escape. With the new rule, where each point counts, it is very hard to overcome a five-point deficit if the opponent is playing at your level, and playing a steady game without errors.
Never give up, even if the opponent leads by many points. Many games turn around, because a player with a big lead thinks he has won and stops paying attention. He starts to make errors and suddenly the game is even again. The same goes for important points. Remember: it's over when it's over, and never before. That's where the cool mind comes in. Concentrate on every single swing, on every single shot, even if you think it is an easy one. Because there are no easy shots! You can fail on the simplest of shots if you don't concentrate, and every unforced error is a free point to the opponent, and a potential point you missed. If you feel nervous, don't take risks. Play it safe, avoid loose shots, so your opponent can not attack you; play the shots you play best.
You must be patient and wait for an opportunity to attack a loose ball, rather than trying to score in every round. Return the ball into the corners close to the walls, to force your opponent away from the "T", and get yourself on the "T" in a comfortable pace.
If you’re running out of energy faster than your opponent, you are in trouble, but don't panic! You need to get your heart rate down. Do this by slowing down the pace. Play long lobs to the back corners. If your opponent starts to hit hard and low, take out the speed and lob every ball. However, don't let them volley it. These also have the effect of disturbing the pace of hard and fast hitting, aggressive players.
Stick to this simple guide and your sure to win every match! Good luck!
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