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ABBREVIATED RULES ON SQUASH
This abbreviated version of the
World Singles Squash Rules is to help players to understand the basics. The Rule
numbers in brackets in each heading refer to the full Rules. For the complete
set of rules please visit: http://www.worldsquash.org/rules.html
THE GAME (Rule 1)
The game of singles squash is
played between two players, each using a racket with a ball and in a court. |
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THE SCORING (Rule 2)
A match is the best of five games. Each game
is to nine points, unless the score reaches eight-all. At eight-all the receiver
(non-server) has to choose to play either to nine points (known as "Set One") or
to ten points (known as "Set Two"). (There is no requirement that a player needs
to be two points ahead to win a game). Points are scored only by the server.
When the server wins a rally he or she scores a point; when the receiver wins a
rally he or she becomes the server.
THE WARM-UP (Rule
3)
Before the start of a match, the two players are allowed up to 5
minutes (2½ minutes on each side) to "warm-up" themselves and the ball on the
match court. When a ball has been changed during a match, or if the match has
been resumed after some delay, the players warm-up the ball to playing
condition. The ball may be warmed up by either player during any interval in the
match.
THE SERVICE (Rule 4)
Play commences with a service.
The player to serve first is decided by the spin of a racket. Thereafter, the
server continues serving until losing a rally, when the opponent becomes the
server and the server becomes "hand out". The player who wins the preceding game
serves first in the next game. At the beginning of each game and when the
service changes from one player to the other, the server can serve from either
service box. After winning a rally the server then continues serving from the
alternate box. To serve a player stands with at least part of one foot on the
floor within the service box. For a service to be good, it is served directly
onto the front wall above the service line and below the out line so that on its
return, unless volleyed, it reaches the floor within the back quarter of the
court opposite to the server's box.
GOOD RETURN (Rule 6)
A
return is good if the ball, before it has bounced twice on the floor, is
returned correctly by the striker onto the front wall above the tin and below
the out line, without first touching the floor. The ball may hit the side walls
and/or the back wall before reaching the front wall. A return is not good if it
is "NOT UP" (ball struck after bouncing more than once on the floor, or not
struck correctly, or a double hit); "DOWN" (the ball after being struck, hits
the floor before the front wall or hits the tin) or "OUT" (the ball hits a wall
on or above the out line).
RALLIES (Rule 8)
After a good
service has been delivered the players hit the ball in turn until one fails to
make a good return. A rally consists of a service and a number of good returns.
A player wins a rally if the opponent fails to make a good service or return of
the ball or if, before the player has attempted to hit the ball, it touches the
opponent (including racket or clothing) when the opponent is the non-striker.
NOTE: AT ANY TIME DURING A RALLY A PLAYER SHOULD NOT STRIKE THE BALL IF THERE IS
A DANGER OF HITTING THE OPPONENT WITH THE BALL OR RACKET. IN SUCH CASES PLAY
STOPS AND THE RALLY IS EITHER PLAYED AGAIN ("A LET") OR THE OPPONENT IS
PENALISED.
HITTING AN OPPONENT WITH THE BALL (Rule 9)
If a
player strikes the ball, which, before reaching the front wall, hits the
opponent, or the opponent's racket or clothing, play stops. If the return would
have been good and the ball would have struck the front wall without first
touching any other wall, the striker wins the rally, provided the striker did
not "turn". If the ball either had struck, or would have struck, any other wall
and the return would have been good, a let is played. If the return would not
have been good, the striker loses the rally.
TURNING (Rule
9)
If the striker has either followed the ball round, or allowed it
to pass around him or her - in either case striking the ball to the right of the
body after the ball had passed to the left (or vice-versa) - then the striker
has "TURNED". If the opponent is struck by the ball after the striker has
turned, the rally is awarded to the opponent. If the striker, while turning,
stops play for fear of striking the opponent, then a let is played. This is the
recommended course of action in situations where a player wants to turn but is
unsure of the opponent's position.
FURTHER ATTEMPTS (Rule
10)
A player, after attempting to strike the ball and missing, may
make a further attempt to return the ball. If a further attempt would have
resulted in a good return, but the ball hits the opponent, a let is played. If
the return would not have been good, the striker loses the rally.
INTERFERENCE (Rule 12)
When it is his or her turn to play
the ball, a player is entitled to freedom from interference by the opponent. To
avoid interference, the opponent must try to provide the player with
unobstructed direct access to the ball, a fair view of the ball, space to
complete a swing at the ball and freedom to play the ball directly to any part
of the front wall. A player, finding the opponent interfering with the play, can
accept the interference and play on, or stop play. It is preferable to stop play
if there is a possibility of colliding with the opponent, or of hitting him or
her with racket or ball. When play has stopped as a result of interference the
general guidelines are: The player is entitled to a let if he or she could have
returned the ball and the opponent has made every effort to avoid the
interference. The player is not entitled to a let (i.e. loses the rally) if he
or she could not have returned the ball, or accepts the interference and plays
on, or the interference was so minimal that the player's access to and strike at
the ball was not affected. The player is entitled to a stroke (i.e. wins the
rally) if the opponent did not make every effort to avoid the interference, or
if the player would have hit a winning return, or if the player would have
struck the opponent with the ball going directly to the front wall.
LETS (Rule 13)
A let is an undecided rally. The rally does
not count and the server serves again from the same box. In addition to lets
allowed as indicated in the paragraphs above, lets can be allowed in other
circumstances. For example, a let may be allowed if the ball in play touches any
article lying on the floor, or if the striker refrains from hitting the ball
owing to a reasonable fear of injuring the opponent. A let must be allowed if
the receiver is not ready and does not attempt to return the service, or if the
ball breaks during play.
CONTINUITY OF PLAY (Rule 7)
Play
is expected to be continuous in each game once a player has started serving.
There should be no delay between the end of one rally and the start of the next
one. In between all games an interval of 90 seconds is permitted. Players are
permitted to change items of clothing or equipment if necessary.
BLEEDING, INJURY AND ILLNESS (Rule 16)
If an injury occurs
which involves bleeding, the bleeding must be stopped before the player can
continue. A player is allowed a reasonable time to attend to a bleeding wound.
If the bleeding was caused solely by the opponent's action, the injured player
wins the match. If the bleeding recurs no further delay is allowed, except that
the player can concede a game, using the 90 second period between games to
attend to the wound and stop the bleeding. If unable to stop it, the player must
concede the match. For an injury not involving bleeding, it must be decided
whether the injury was either caused by the opponent or self inflicted or
contributed to by both players. If caused by the opponent, the injured player
wins the match if any recovery time is needed. If self-inflicted, the injured
player is allowed 3 minutes to recover and must then play on, or concede a game
using the 90 second rest period between games to recover. If contributed by both
players, the injured player is allowed an hour to recover. A player who is ill
must play on or can take a rest period by conceding a game and using the 90
second interval to recover. Cramps, feeling sick and breathlessness (including
asthma) are considered illnesses. If a player vomits on court, the opponent wins
the match.
DUTIES OF PLAYERS (Rule 15)
Rule 15 provides
guidelines for players. For example 15.6 states that deliberate distraction is
not allowed. Players should read this rule in full. Some of the 8 sub-sections
deal with situations related to matches under the control of officials
(Referee/Marker). The use of officials is not covered in this abbreviated
version.
CONDUCT ON COURT (Rule 17)
Offensive, disruptive
or intimidating behaviour in squash is not acceptable. Included in this category
are: audible and visible obscenities, verbal and physical abuse, dissent, abuse
of racket, court or ball, unnecessary physical contact, excessive racket swing,
unfair warm-up, time-wasting, late back on court, deliberate or dangerous play
or action and coaching (except between games).
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