The Background Check 
When I was a little younger, some fifteen years ago, I remember going to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for the first time.

It was then that I first began to understand the wall beater of the modern game.  Walking through the entry of a squash centre in Queensland, I could hear from a distance, but as clear as a bell, the sound of a ball being hammered, with an occasional tone of a drop shot. Not knowing which guys were destroying that poor ball was enough intimidation to illicit at least some respect.

When all was revealed, there stood one of my favourite players of all time, Brett Martin, and beside him, Whitey. Brett hit the ball so hard with ease, just using wrist half of the time. Watching him play made me think, "that looks easy!" But to my dismay, and skinny arms, it wasn't. Adjacent was a tall, young kid, hitting almost or as hard but looking more like a wounded bird in distress. Not at Brett's level yet, but, you could see 'Bird Man' was something special. 

I watched Whitey play a few times before at the Nationals, and there was always a crowd being enthralled. You never knew what he would do next!  Of course you knew he would go for the nick, but, would he make it or put another hole in the tin?

A roller coaster ride has less thrills and spills of unpredictability. His consistency to stay focused, or mental fatigue, in nice terms, is the "monkey on his back". Final or first round, he went for the quick winner once he felt physically pushed, and this personal battle is a reflection of his ranking and match performances on month-to-month basis. 

Born the fifteen of July 1973 in Mt. Isa Queensland, his parents owned a squash centre. Forming his own game became a lot easier in such an environment. Whitey's Father and Mother are the first coaches under whom he and his older brother David flourished. When I asked John "Surely you must have had some other coaching or influence to date?" White replies, "Besides my parents, Joe Shaw was my coach before and after I left the AIS I also learnt a lot from Brett Martin by watching and speaking with him."

To this day Whitey still receives text and voice mail messages before games from his Father, words of support, tactics, and what he thought Whitey did well in prior matches. P.S.A's live streaming of matches is a godsend for the both, allowing up-to-date responses and a presence in his corner no matter how far apart they may be.

Whitey's brother David was a highly ranked junior for some years, who also looked and played quite similar.  If David had continued playing at a top level, I have little doubt 'The White's' would be one of the most feared hardball and squash doubles teams of all time - fear would also extend to being hit by ball or racket.

Once he had begun to blossom as a junior, John became part of the elite group associated with the AIS for four and a half years. Up until the end of the 90's, Australia produced a plethora of successful and extremely talented male and female players. Whitey, in some respects, is the last truly unique player from that era to hold his own against the world's best.

However, one main criticism from a number of players and their personal coaches who over the years have been part of the A.I.S, was their unrelenting tenacity to alter a "young star's" technique regardless of being good enough or being invited into an elite group and pedigree. But not Whitey!

Coaching him is pointless when it comes to changing his technique, or tactical play. Tactically it's possible to have some influence as a coach, though understanding his train of thought is what it basically comes down to. Mental strength has always been his up hill battle. He is who he is, and possibly it was a strike of good fortune that he wasn't solely drawn into his admiration for his coaches Geoff Hunt and Rod Martin; he filtered out what he didn't agree with.

Although, from the first day on-board training was heavily based on strength and fitness.   The squash coaching he received was on changing his swing. Having only been on court personally with Geoff and Rod a maximum of five times each, John admits that " They even strapped my hand to the racket."

That didn't last long, and White said many times " that I can hit a hundred balls down each wall no problem.  I can play every shot you can play, so teach me how to play tactically, not just how to swing. I won't and don't want to change if I'm comfortable."

Confessing, he states, "I tried many times and I couldn't hit the ball. They just kept trying, doing the same thing but in a different way. The only coaching to me was on technique."

Before moving abroad, John was told he would not be selected for an A.I.S scholarship, due to more money going into younger players and four years is a normal turn over period for scholarship holders. Though, Rickets and Boswell have been scholarship holders for over 8 years.

But Whitey, quietly mentioning, is the last world number one to come out of the A.I.S and thinks the last is highly possible out of his group and since. Giving no hope to Boswell or the young hopeful, Cameron Pilley, who has had many problems with the AIS that have concluded by the breaking of all ties.

Whitey reflects: " It takes more than fitness and for the younger, brains is needed in abundance." I step in, "Be fair mate, that's what everyone said about you in your younger days!"  Whitey: " Yeah, exactly."

Now based in the U.S.A for the past 3 years, Whitey has lived all over the globe in order to play pro squash. In the late 90's he first moved to St. Niklas, Belgium due to a coaching job. The decision to base himself away from home was a normal move made by a lot of pros. Especially Aussies! To support yourself as a squash pro and live "Down under" remains virtually unheard of.

After one year, he packed his bags and moved to Den Haag, due to the sudden boom of top male pros in Holland. John explains, " A mate and player, Billy Haddrell suggested the move. It was a better training environment, nice place to live, and easier to travel from. I played leagues in Holland, Belgium, Germany, France, and the UK, plus tournaments. I won my first big PSA event in Belgium while based in Holland. That was a big help, it was my first real high point and made life a little easier." 

Then in 2000 to Nottingham where it all started to come together under the guidance of his physical trainer Vaughn Williams along with the support of his family.

Since his move back to the US, Whitey has been in seven PSA finals and won four, all in the States. The move is quite logical since his wife Susie is American and the majority of the events he plays, and most other pros considering, are on the continent. Traveling for only one day allows for more time with his kids, of which he can't get enough! Although there are some negative factors which John explains, " The training is not as good because there aren't as many good players around, but I have learnt how to keep fit and look after my body, which is most important to me now in my career."
 

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