1.0 The Rules
The game of
Singles Squash is played between two players, each using a racket, with a ball
and in a court.
2.0 The Scoring
2.1
Only the server scores points. The server, on winning a rally, scores a
point; the receiver, on winning a rally, becomes the server.
2.2
A match shall consist of the best of three or five games at the option of the
organisers of the competition. The player who scores nine points wins the game,
except that on the score reaching eight-all for the first time, the receiver
shall choose, before the next service, to continue that game either to nine
points (known as "Set one") or to ten points (known as "Set
two"). In the latter case the player who scores two more points wins the
game. The receiver shall clearly indicate this choice to the Marker, Referee
and the opponent.
The Marker shall
call "Set one" or "Set two" as applicable before play
continues.
The Marker shall
call "Game ball" to indicate that the server requires one point to
win the game in progress or "
3.0 The Warm Up
3.1
Immediately preceding the start of play both players shall be allowed onto the
court of play for a period of five minutes to warm-up together.
After two and a
half minutes of the warm-up, the Referee shall call "Half time" and
the players shall change sides unless they have already done so. The Referee
shall also advise the players when the warm-up period is complete with the call
of "Time".
3.2
In the warm-up both players must have equal opportunities of striking the ball.
A player retaining the strike for an unreasonable time is warming up unfairly.
The Referee shall decide when the warm-up is unfair and apply Rule 17.
3.3
Either player may warm the ball up during any interval.
3.4
The players may warm the ball up to playing condition after any interval at the
discretion of the Referee.
4.0 The Service
4.1
Play commences with a service and the spin of a racket decides the right to
serve first. Thereafter, the server continues to serve until losing a rally,
whereupon the opponent becomes the server and this procedure continues
throughout the match. At the commencement of the second and each subsequent
game the winner of the previous game serves first.
4.2
At the beginning of each game and each hand the server shall choose from
which box to serve and thereafter shall serve from alternate boxes while
remaining the server. However, if a rally ends in a let, the server shall serve
again from the same box.
If the server
moves to the wrong box, or either player is uncertain of the correct box for
serving, the Marker shall announce the correct box. The Referee shall rule on
the correct box if the Marker is uncertain or incorrect, or there is a dispute.
4.3
To serve, a player shall release the ball from either a hand or the racket and
then strike it. Should the player make no attempt to strike it after that
release, the player shall release the ball again for that service.
4.4
A service is good if all the conditions in Rules 4.4.1 - 4.4.5 are met:
4.4.1
the server has part of one foot in contact with the floor within the service
box without any part of that foot touching the service box line (part of that
foot may project over this line if it does not touch the line) at the time of
striking the ball;
4.4.2
the server, after releasing the ball for service, strikes it correctly
on the first or further attempt before the ball falls to the floor, touches a
wall, or touches anything the server wears;
4.4.3
the server strikes the ball directly onto the front
wall between the service and out lines;
4.4.4
unless volleyed by the receiver, the first bounce of
the ball on the floor is in the quarter court opposite the server's box without
touching the short or half court lines;
4.4.5
the server does not serve the ball out.
5.0 The Play
After the server
delivers a good service, the players return the ball alternately until one
fails to make a good return, the ball otherwise ceases to be in play in accordance
with the rules, a player appeals, or the Marker or Referee makes a call.
6.0 Good Return
A return is good
if all the conditions in Rules 6.1 - 6.3 are met.
6.1
The striker returns the ball correctly before it has bounced twice on
the floor.
6.2
The ball strikes the front wall above the board, either
directly or via side wall(s) and/or the back wall, without first
touching the floor or any part of the striker's body or apparel, or the
opponent's racket, body or apparel.
6.3
The ball is not out.
7.0 Continuity of Play
After the server
delivers the first service, play shall be continuous so
far as is practical. However,
7.1
at any time the Referee may suspend play owing to bad light or other circumstances
beyond the control of the players and officials, for such period as the Referee
shall decide. The score shall stand. If another court is available and the
original court remains unsuitable for play, the Referee may transfer the match
to it.
7.2
There shall be a 90 second interval between the end of the warm-up and the
commencement of the first game and between all games. Players may leave the
court during these intervals but must be ready to play prior to the expiry of
the 90 second interval.
By mutual consent
of the players, play may commence or resume prior to the expiry of the 90
second interval.
7.3
If a player satisfies the Referee that a change of equipment, clothing or
footwear is necessary, the player may leave the court to effect the change as
quickly as possible but must do so within 90 seconds.
7.4
When 15 seconds of a permitted 90 second interval remain the Referee shall call
"Fifteen seconds" to advise the players to be ready to resume play.
At the end of 90 seconds the Referee shall call "Time".
It is the
responsibility of the players to be in a position to hear the calls of
"Fifteen seconds" and "Time".
Should one or both
players not be ready to resume play when "Time" is called, the
Referee shall apply Rule 17.
7.5
If a player is injured, ill or disabled the Referee shall apply Rule 16.
7.6
The Referee, on deciding that a player has delayed play unreasonably, shall
apply Rule 17.
7.7
If an object, other than a player's racket, falls to the floor of the court
while a rally is in progress the requirements are:
7.7.1
the Referee, on becoming aware of a fallen object,
shall stop play immediately;
7.7.2
a player becoming aware of a fallen object may stop
play and appeal.
7.7.3
If the object falls from a player, that player shall lose the rally, unless
Rule 7.7.5 applies or the cause is a collision with the opponent. In the latter
case the Referee shall allow a let, unless the player appeals for a let because
of interference in which case the Referee shall apply Rule 12.
7.7.4
If the object falls from a source other than a player, the Referee shall allow
a let unless Rule 7.7.5 applies.
7.7.5
If the player has already made a winning return when the object falls to the
floor, that player shall win the rally.
7.7.6
If a dropped object remains unnoticed until the end of the rally, the result of
the rally shall stand.
7.8
If a player drops a racket, the Referee shall allow the rally to continue,
unless interference occurred (Rule 12), the ball touched the racket (Rule
13.1.1), distraction occurred (Rule 13.1.3), or the Referee applies a conduct
penalty (Rule 17).
8.0 Winning a Rally
A player wins a
rally if:
8.1
the opponent fails to deliver a good service (Rule
4.4);
8.2
the opponent fails to make a good return (Rule 6),
unless the Referee allows a let or awards a stroke to the opponent;
(G4)
8.3 the ball touches the opponent
(including anything worn or carried), without interference, when the opponent
is the non-striker, except as is otherwise provided for in Rules 9 and 10. If
interference occurs then the provisions of Rule 12 apply. In all cases the
Referee shall make the decision;
8.4
the Referee awards a stroke to the player as provided
for in the Rules.
9.0 Ball Hitting the Opponent and a player Turning
9.1
If the striker hits the ball which, before reaching the front wall, hits the
opponent (including anything worn or carried), play shall cease. The Referee,
in addition to considering possible infringement of Rule 17, shall assess the
ball’s trajectory and shall:
9.1.1
award a stroke to the striker if the return would have been good and the ball
would have struck the front wall without first touching any other wall, unless
Rule 9.1.2 or 9.1.3 applies;
9.1.2
if the striker turned, award a stroke to the opponent,
unless the opponent made a deliberate movement to intercept the return, in
which case the Referee shall award the stroke to the striker;
9.1.3
if the striker’s return is a further attempt, allow a
let, provided that Rule 9.1.2 does not apply;
9.1.4
allow a let if the ball either had struck or would
have struck any other wall before the front wall and the return would have been
good, unless Rule 9.1.5 applies;
9.1.5
if deciding the return would have been a winning
return, award a stroke to the striker;
9.1.6
award a stroke to the opponent if the return would not
have been good.
9.2
If the striker turns:
9.2.1
the striker may, before striking the ball, out of fear
of hitting the opponent with the ball, stop and appeal. The Referee shall:
9.2.1.1 allow a
let, if deciding that there was a reasonable fear of the ball hitting the
opponent and the striker would have been able to make a good return unless Rule
9.2.3 applies or
9.2.1.2 not allow a let, if deciding that the striker could not have
made a good return.
9.2.2.
The striker may, because of interference, stop play and appeal. The Referee
shall:
9.2.2.1 allow a let, if deciding that the striker is unable to
complete an attempt to play the ball because of interference by the opponent or
9.2.2.2 award a stroke to the striker, if deciding that the opponent
did not make every effort to avoid the interference on turning, or
9.2.2.3 not allow a let, if deciding that the striker could not have
made a good return regardless of the interference.
9.2.3
The Referee shall not allow a let if deciding that the act of turning was to
create the opportunity to appeal rather than an attempt to return the ball.
10.0 Further Attempts to hit the ball
If the striker
attempts to strike the ball and misses, the striker may make further attempts.
10.1
If, after being missed, the ball touches the opponent (including anything worn
or carried), the Referee shall:
10.1.1
allow a let, if deciding that the striker could
otherwise have made a good return, or
10.1.2
award a stroke to the opponent, if deciding that the
striker could not have made a good return.
10.2
The Referee shall allow a let if any such further attempt is successful but
results in a good return being prevented from reaching the front wall by
hitting the opponent, including anything worn or carried.
10.3
The striker may, because of interference on the further attempt, stop play and
appeal. The Referee shall:
10.3.1
allow a let, if the striker is unable to complete a
further attempt to play the ball provided a good return was possible; or
10.3.2
award a stroke to the striker, if deciding that the
opponent did not make every effort to avoid the interference on the further
attempt; or
10.3.3
not allow a let, if deciding that the further attempt
would not have resulted in a good return.
11.0 Interference
11.1
The player whose turn it is to play the ball is entitled to freedom from
interference by the opponent.
11.2
To avoid interference the opponent must make every effort to provide the player
with:
11.2.1
unobstructed direct access to the ball after
completion of a reasonable follow-through;
11.2.2
a fair view of the ball on its rebound from the front
wall;
11.2.3
freedom to hit the ball with a reasonable swing;
11.2.4
freedom to play the ball directly to any part of the
front wall.
11.3
Interference occurs if the opponent fails to fulfil any of the requirements of
Rule 11.2, even though the opponent makes every effort to fulfil those
requirements.
11.4
A player’s excessive swing can contribute to interference for the opponent when
it becomes the latter's turn to play the ball.
11.5
A player encountering possible interference has the choice of continuing to
play or of stopping and appealing to the Referee.
11.5.1
A player seeking a let or a stroke should appeal by saying "Let
please".
11.5.2
Only the player whose turn it is to play the ball may appeal. The player must
appeal either immediately the interference occurs or, when clearly not
continuing play beyond the point of interference, without undue delay.
11.6
The Referee shall decide on the appeal and shall announce the decision with the
words "No let", "Stroke to (name of player or team)", or
"Yes let" (see flowchart in Appendix 4.1). The Referee alone makes
all decisions, which are final. The Referee, if uncertain of the reason for an
appeal, may ask the player for an explanation.
11.7
The Referee shall not allow a let and the player shall lose the rally if the
Referee decides:
11.7.1
there was no interference or the interference was so
minimal that the player’s fair view of the ball and freedom to get to and play
the ball were not affected;
11.7.2
interference occurred but either the player would not
have made a good return or the player has not made every effort to get to and
play the ball;
11.7.3
the player moved past the point of interference and
played on;
11.7.4
the player created the interference in moving to the
ball.
11.8
The Referee shall award a stroke to the player if:
11.8.1
there was interference, which the opponent did not
make every effort to avoid, and the player would have made a good return;
11.8.2
there was interference, which the opponent made every
effort to avoid, but the opponent’s position prevented the player’s reasonable
swing and the player would have been able to make a good return;
11.8.3
there was interference, which the opponent made every
effort to avoid, and the player would have made a winning return;
11.8.4
the player refrained from hitting the ball which, if hit, would clearly have
struck the opponent going directly to the front wall; or to a side wall but in
the latter case would have been a winning return (unless in either case turning
or further attempt applies).
11.9
The Referee shall allow a let if there was interference, which the opponent
made every effort to avoid, and the player would have made a good return.
11.10
The Referee shall not award a stroke to a player who causes interference with
an excessive swing.
11.11
The Referee may allow a let under Rule 11.9 or award a stroke under Rule 11.8
without an appeal, if necessary stopping play to do so.
11.11
The Referee may also apply Rule 17 when interference occurs. The Referee shall,
stopping play if it has not already stopped, apply an appropriate penalty if:
11.11.1 the player made significant or deliberate physical contact
with the opponent;
11.11.2 the player endangered the opponent with an excessive swing.
12.0 Lets
In addition to
lets allowed under other rules, the Referee may or shall allow lets in certain
other cases. A player should request a let by saying "Let please".
The Referee, if uncertain of the reason for an appeal, may ask the player for
an explanation.
12.1
The Referee may allow a let if:
12.1.1
the ball in play touches any article lying on the
floor (see Rule 15.3);
12.1.2
the striker refrains from hitting the ball onto any of
the walls including the back wall owing to a reasonable fear of injuring the
opponent;
12.1.3
the Referee determines that an occurrence on or off the
court distracted either player. A player appealing for distraction must do so
immediately the distraction occurs. Notwithstanding the above the Referee may
award a stroke to a player who has been distracted if that player could have
played a winning return but for the distraction;
12.1.4
the Referee determines that a change in court
conditions affected the result of the rally.
12.2
The Referee shall allow a let if:
12.2.1
the receiver is not ready and does not attempt to
return the service;
12.2.2
the ball breaks during play;
12.2.3
the Referee is unable to decide an appeal;
12.2.4
a player makes an otherwise good return but either the ball lodges in any part
of the playing surface of the court, preventing it from bouncing more than once
on the floor, or the ball goes out after its first bounce.
12.3
If the striker appeals for a let under Rules 12.1.1 to 12.1.4, the Referee
shall allow a let only if the striker can make a good return. For a non-striker
appeal under Rules 12.1.1, 12.1.3 and 12.1.4 this is not a requirement.
12.4
If the striker attempts to play the ball, the Referee may still allow a let
under Rules 12.1.1, 12.1.3, 12.1.4 and 12.2.2.
12.5
The appeals requirements of Rule 12 are:
12.5.1
a player’s appeal is necessary for the Referee to
allow a let under Rules 12.1.2 (striker only), 12.1.3, 12.2.1 (receiver only)
and 12.2.3;
12.5.2
a player’s appeal or Referee intervention without
appeal is applicable to Rules 12.1.1, 12.1.4, 12.2.2 and 12.2.4.
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The Question ... |
The Answer ... |
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1. Did interference occur ? |
The striker has four basic rights, and interference has occurred if the opponent fails to provide him with any of these, even if he has made every effort to do so: |
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If no interference has occurred, or the interference was so minimal that the player's view of and freedom to get to and play the ball were not effected, then it's NO LET, otherwise move on to no.2 |
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2. Could the obstructed player have reached the ball and made a good return ? And was he making every effort to do so ? |
If either answer is NO,
then it's NO LET, |
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3. Did the obstructed player move past the point of interference and play on? Or create the interference in moving to the ball? |
If the answer to either question is YES, then it's NO LET, otherwise move on to no. 4 |
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4. Did the obstructing player make every effort avoid the interference ? |
If he didn't, then it's a STROKE, otherwise move on to no.5 |
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5. Did the interference prevent the player's reasonable swing? |
If YES, then it's a STROKE to the player, otherwise move on to no. 6 |
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6. Could the obstructed player play a winning return? |
If YES, then it's a
STROKE, |
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7. Would the obstructed player have struck the opponent with the ball going directly to the front wall or, if going to a side wall, would it have been a winning return? |
If either answer is YES, then it's a STROKE to the player. |