Category: Health

Last season was a special season for me. Before the start of the competition I was asked if I was interested in playing Eredivisie. Quite an honor!

If I had told me a few years ago that I would ever be in action again in the Eredivisie, I would have thought you were crazy. Don’t you have to train very hard for that? I haven’t been as active on the track for a long time as I used to be. I have known times that I was on the track every day or at least I was active in sports. At the moment maybe three times a week. Still more than stop, but to start playing Eredivisie. Best from the comfort zone. Good, never say never. After all, I have 25 years of squash experience! Stay positive Clau and a little self-confidence!

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Now that the regular league season is over, there are pictures on my Victoria ladies 1 mobile phone with the championship scale, champagne and confetti. And, I insist.
Let it affect you for a moment… So I’m on those pictures where the national champion, the champion of the Eredivisie, is posed with the scale.
I’m almost 33 years old, in the eyes of the top athlete. Isn’t it special that I can and may still experience that?! Just fill in if you see it as something positive or negative. I don’t judge about that for a moment.
Although I did have some doubts. Does it say more about squash in our country or about my talent? Anyway.

After the match we got a glass of champagne to celebrate the championship. Deserved or not, a good glass of bubbly I don’t turn down! While I was wondering whether, despite a win for the team, I had really contributed to the championship, I was told that I was helping the team out in difficult moments and was therefore a valuable addition to the team. That’s true. My first race was in Zwolle, it took three hours from Roosendaal to get there, while recovering from a big flu (bad luck, isn’t it) I went on the track because otherwise there wouldn’t be a complete team on the track. Realizing that gave me enough reassurance to be able to take a sip of my champagne and to celebrate the party! Even though I fell in with my nose in the butter.

The annoying treatment of my leg did make for a less pleasant period, but it was necessary to literally keep my elderly body going, as seen by the top sports eyes. Luckily it all went well and recovered and I can go back to work for a few years!

I don’t owe this special experience, national champion, just to myself. Also to the rest of the team. To Victoria Rotterdam, Stephen Cooke and Ronald Permentier. Thank you for the hospitality, conviviality and for the support and coaching!
Parents of children in the Dutch squash world; what answer do you give to someone who asks to tell something about yourself? “Well, I have a partner (or not), one or more children. They are in school and one of them is a (top) athlete.” Is it true that such a conversation has an impact on your child’s squash career? It often does, doesn’t it? And it’s also fun to tell. But the interviewer asked about you. I would like to ask you to think about the impact of your child’s hobby on your life and that of your family.

Imagine a random situation at home. What are the conversations about? Are they always about squash? No, no, also about other topics? E.g.; “What does the week look like?” Read: what needs to be arranged in terms of food and transportation in connection with squash training. “Let’s see what’s on the agenda this weekend”. Read: can we all go to that birthday, or do we go separately because of the tournament………………………………….. And then there are all kinds of conversations about physio, sports equipment, the importance of good food and sleep (because preparation for the tournament), holidays (or there are training camps), etc…

After all, school is the most important thing of all, right? But that’s also what squash is all about; When is the test week? Doesn’t that coincide with tournaments? Holiday training? Will they be at your school during the holidays? You have to get good grades, otherwise you won’t get permission for your tournaments abroad! What further education are you going to do? Are they flexible about training and tournaments?

I see parents who, in my opinion, are far too fanatical about their sporting child. It’s just a hobby, it’s about “the fun”. But why do I see parents who just get ugly when their child is about to lose? Or if an idiot screams when their child makes a point. Or, even worse, they grin when the opponent makes a mistake or even becomes sad. Or even worse, who don’t speak to their child if he/she misbehaves in a disgraceful way!

For us, the most important thing has always been that life experience is gained; learning to deal with winning and losing, being able to stay abroad alone, and socially with everyone about the world.