Squash Rules

The game of squash is played with rackets and soft hollow balls. It is played in the 'singles' as well as 'doubles' format. Deemed as the healthiest sport and recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the game of squash awaits incorporation in the Olympics. Confluence of many different sports led to the development and evolution of squash in its today's form.

Rules for Squash
The rules of squash are easy to understand. The following points would explain the squash rules and regulations regarding playing and court dimensions.

Basic Rules
The game of squash is played in an indoor court with dimensions as, 9.75 (length) x 6.4 (width) meters. The playing area is divided into two halves across the length; it leads to the formation of front and back half. The back half of court is sub-divided into left and right sections. Both the left and right sections have service boxes marked inside them with dimensions, 1.6 x 1.56 m. The court is surrounded by walls on all the 4 sides. A 4.57 m high line called 'outline' marked on the front wall defines the playing area. The outline is 2.13 m on the back wall. Lines on the front and back wall are connected with slanting lines across the side walls. There is a 1.83 m high service line on the front wall, just below the outline. The 'tin' (metal coated area on the front wall) serves as the net; it is 19 inches high from the base/ground level.

Squash Rules of Play
The game of squash is a bit similar to tennis. However, there are few differences in the method of playing. Let us understand these differences through the rules mentioned below.

• The play area or the area in which ball can be hit, spreads across all the walls however, below the outline. Balls hitting the tin are considered as 'out'.
• One can serve either by standing in the left or right service box (at least one feet should be in the box). It is necessary that the ball after hitting the front wall, drops in the opposite quarter of the court. The ball should not hit any of the side-walls while it is being served.
• The ball should be struck in such a manner that, it hits the front wall above the service line and below the outline.
• During the course of play, the ball may hit any of the four walls below the outline; it is not considered as an out. One has to pick up (hit back) the ball before it bounces the second time after hitting the front wall.
• To score a point, one should first gain the service. No points are awarded to the receiver; it is only after the roles (receiver to server) are changed, that one can look for scoring points. Only after a player becomes the server, he/she is in a position to score points.
• In the game of squash, 11 points constitute a single game; at the professional level, squash is played in a 'best-of-five' (games) format.
• Interfering opponents from playing their strokes is forbidden. Obstructing the opponents in point-scoring situations is termed as interference. The point is played once again, if interference occurs.
• A rally in which the point being scored remains undecided is termed as 'let'. The point has to be played again and service done from the same box as earlier.

The squash rules presented in the article should help in understanding this game in a better manner. Squash being the healthiest game in the world, should be promoted and players need to be encouraged to learn it.