Squash Rules

While the full squash rules are quite lengthy and complicated, the basic squash rules that you need to know to play a game of squash are pretty simple.

I will give you an outline of squash rules here that should enable you to play a squash game for fun without any problems and without boring you with the full, in depth rules of squash.

 

Squash Equipment

To follow the official squash rules, 2 players must play on an official squash court and use an approved squash ball.

 

Squash Scoring

Generally, a squash match is played to the best of 3 or the best of 5 games.

  • There are two types of scoring in squash:
    • Point a rally – Normally played to 15 points and a point is won on every rally.
    • The player who wins a point serves on the next point.
    • If the score is 14 all then the player who reached 14 first can decide whether to play to 15 or 17.

 

  • International  or traditional scoring –
    • A point can only be won by the player who serves.
    • When the sever loses a rally, the serve moves to the other player.
    • Played to 9 points.
    • If the score is 8 all then the player who reached 8 first can decide whether to play to 9 or 10.

 

How to win points in squash

When one player either does not serve within the rules of squash or does not successfully return the ball, the other player gains a point

 

Squash Serve

The server is generally decided at the start of a squash game by spinning the racket or tossing a coin.

The server continues to serve until they fail to serve correctly or lose a rally.

The first time you serve, either at the beginning of a game or after your opponent loses his serve, you can choose which side to serve from. After that, you must alternate the side of th squash court that you serve from.

c. The ball must be served direct on to the front wall between the service line and the out line, so that on its return, unless volleyed, its first bounce lands within the back quarter of the court opposite to the Server’s box.

d. A service is a fault: (i) If at the time of striking the ball the Server fails to have at least one foot in contact with the floor within the service box, and no part of that foot touching the line surrounding the service box (called a foot-fault ).

 

Squash Play

After a good service has been delivered, the players return the ball alternately until one or other fails to make a good return, or the ball otherwise ceases to be in play, in accordance with the rules.

NB: If any part of the ball touches the out line the ball is deemed out or if the ball hits the tin or the floor on its first bounce the ball is deemed down. Similarly, if the ball bounces on or before the short line from a service, the serve is deemed a fault.

 

A Good Return

A return is good if the ball, before it has bounced twice on the floor, is returned by the striker on to the front wall above the tin, without touching the floor or any part of the striker’s body or clothing, provided the ball is not hit twice, down or out.

 

Squash Lets

A Let is an undecided stroke, and the service or rally in respect of which a Let is allowed, shall not count and the Server shall serve again from the same box.

  • A let may be allowed:
    • If the striker refrains from hitting the ball owing to a reasonable fear of injuring the opponent.
    • If the striker, on the way to playing the ball incurs sufficient interference to impede their access to the ball when the striker would have otherwise played a good shot.
    • If the Referee is asked to decide an appeal and is unable to do so.
  • A Let shall be allowed:
    • If the Receiver is not ready, and does not attempt to take the service.
    • If the ball breaks during play.
    • If an otherwise good return has been made, but the ball goes out on its first bounce.
    • If the ball in play touches the receiver or anything carried or worn by the receiver whilst on the way to the side wall or back wall in anticipation that the ball would have reached the front wall and hence been a good return.

 

How strokes (points) can be won in squash

  • A player wins a stroke:
    • If the server fails to make a good serve (See point 4 on the Service).
    • If the opponent fails to make a good return of the ball in play.
    • If the ball in play touches the opponent or anything carried or worn by the opponent whilst on the way to the front wall.
    • If a player drops the racket, calls out or in any other way distracts the opponent, and the Referee considers that such occurrence has caused the opponent to lose the stroke.
    • If the ball hits the ceiling or any object outside of the court.

 

Freedom to play the squash ball

After playing a ball, a player must make every effort to get out of the opponents way.

That is:

  • A player must make every effort to give the opponent a fair view of the ball, so that it may be sighted adequately for the purpose of playing it.
  • A player must make every effort not to interfere with, or crowd, the opponent in the latter’s attempt to get to, or play, the ball.
  • A player must make every effort to allow the opponent, as far as the latter’s position permits, freedom to play the ball directly to the front wall, or to either side wall.

 

Squash Warm-Up

Immediately preceding the start of play, a period not exceeding five minutes shall be allowed on court for the purpose of warming-up.