The 2024 JETS Squash STELLAR NSW Junior Novice Championships welcomes all novice and beginner junior squash players to participate in a skills-based tournament set for December 14-15th, 2024. The event will be hosted at MAASH Sports and Fitness, located at 1 Trafalgar Place, Marsfield.

This event features multiple divisions to accommodate players with varying skill levels. There are 7 divisions to choose from; including Starter, Novice, Improving Novice, Progressive Novice, Transitional Novice, and Intermediate. Additionally, there is an Emerging division for the strongest players.

The tournament director will review your chosen division and may make adjustments after consulting with you. If you're unsure about your initial selection, there's no need to be concerned.

This event offers an excellent opportunity for novice players to gain valuable tournament experience while competing against players of similar abilities. You won't be pitted against state-ranked elite players, ensuring a fun competition. There will coaches assigned to each court who will give players advice and support during their matches. In between matches there will be popcorn, fairy floss, soft serve ice cream, slushies and games such as giant jenga, giant connect 4, air hockey, table tennis.

Participation in this event includes the following:
• A tournament shirt
• Coaching support during your matches
• Drink
• A goodies bag filled with surprises
• Trophies and prizes

Here's an overview of the event format:
• Matches follow the Point-A-Rally (PAR) format.
• The competition consists of the best of 5 games.
• Each game concludes when a player reaches 11 points.
• Players are guaranteed a minimum of 3 matches.

To help you determine your skill level and the appropriate division to choose, here are some descriptions for your reference:

STARTER Division 7
• Targeting 5 -9 year olds who have just started playing
• Player cannot consistently serve or return the serve
• Modified rules, 2 serves, 2 bounces, serve above cut line and bounces anywhere on other side of court
• Player can bounce the ball to serve
• Use Karakal big ball

NOVICE Division 6
• Player can serve consistently but return of serve is very inconsistent
• Player is starting to hit the ball more regularly and is occasionally hitting the ball into back part of the court
Player occasionally has rallies of up to 6 shots but cannot get balls out of the back corners
 
IMPROVING Division 5
• Player is serving consistently and is returning the serve more consistently
• Rallies are starting to develop, tactics are now being understood and attempted within rallies
• Rallies can now go between 5 and 10 shots
• More shots are being aimed at the back corners
• Player is still struggling to get balls out of the back corners

PROGRESSIVE Division 4
• Player can serve and return the serve consistently
• Player can occasionally has rallies of more than 10 shots
• Player can get some shots out of the back corners and are hitting tighter deeper balls into back corners
• Player is in contention for representative honours at Green Shield
• Player is starting to play Bronze and Silver AJST events regularly

TRANSITIONAL Division 3
• Player is starting to construct rallies and using strategies within the games
• Player can hit the ball harder with greater accuracy
• Player is now starting to play Silver and Gold AJST events regularly
• Player is on the threshold of state junior team selection

INTERMEDIATE Division 2
• Player is consistently playing rallies with much better control and accuracy.
• Player is playing internal senior competitions or senior tournaments
• Player is able to follow and implement coaching instructions for short periods within games.
• Player is starting to play Gold and Platinum AJST events
• Player is in line to be selected for state representation

EMERGING Division 1
Division for the strongest players

This event is also a Squash Australia and Squash NSW sanctioned Junior Bronze event.