Squash Rules for Spectators
A game of squash is essentially a duel between two warriors. It is played at high speed in a very confined space - and with some dangerous weapons (two racquets and a projectile) - so rules are needed to make the game both fair and safe. After all, even in war there are rules.
But in essence, the game needs only one rule: 'Hit the ball and get out of the way'. To get out of the way as quickly as possible is not only fair play, it is also self-preservation. If this rule did not exist, there would be blood on the court.
As you watch the game, see if the players follow this rule. If they don't, the referee will penalise them. It's the only way of keeping the play clean and safe and of protecting the players from serious injury.
When a player has hit the ball, he must move quickly out of the way in order to give his opponent three things:
i) A direct line to the ball
ii) Enough room to swing the racquet (backswing and follow through)
iii) The entire front wall to hit to.
If the opponent feels he hasn't been given all three of those things, he may stop play and call 'let'. If the referee agrees that he didn't have all three requirements, he will win the rally. (The referee will say 'stroke to player X'.)
The three most common reasons why a player stops play and asks for a let are because
he believes:
i) The opponent is blocking his direct line to the ball
ii) The player has no room to swing the racquet
iii) The opponent is blocking part of the front wall.
However, if the player calls 'let', and the opponent was out of the way (but still close), the referee will say 'play a let', and the rally will be replayed.
Occasionally, the referee will answer an appeal for a 'let' with the words 'no let'.
This means that, in the referee's opinion, the player would not have been able to
reach the ball. 99.99 percent of the time the player will disagree with this decision,
and the ensuing 'discussion' can be very interesting and enlightening for the spectators!
Each game goes to eleven points (a point is scored every rally), but if the score
reaches ten-all, a player has to win by two points (e.g. 12-10, or 14-12).
What to watch for: In the professional game, the players' best weapon is the drop-shot,
which is often an outright winner. But this can also be a risky play, because if
the drop-shot is not tight to the wall, the player may be caught unable to get out
of the way quickly enough - and this will result in a stroke being awarded against
him for blocking the incoming opponent's line to the ball, or for preventing his
swing. Most points will be won in this kind of a situation in the front corners
of the court.
The action will be fast and furious. From where you are sitting, see if you can
make the calls as well as the referee does - who is probably sitting just a few
seats away from you (he's the one with the red face and the sweaty palms). It's
not as easy as you might think!
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