Serve
- To start the match, the right to serve is decided by the spin of the racket.
- The server can choose the service box in either side of the court.
- The server must stand with one foot in the service box.
- He/She drops the ball or throws it in the air and hits it before it touches the floor/walls directly to the front wall between the service line and the out-of-court line, so that it lands in the back half of the opposite court on its return from the front wall.
- Only one serve is allowed
- The server must alternate the serve from each side of the court if he/she continues to score a point. He/She continues to serve until he/she loses the rally. Then the opponent becomes the server and he/she has the right to serve from either side of the court.
Rally
After a correct serve, players alternate hitting the ball until the rally ends. That is when one of the player :
- fails to play the ball before it bounces more than once on the floor
- hits the ball into the tin
- hits the ball into the floor before it reaches the front wall
- hits the ball twice in succession
# The ball can strike the back or side walls in any combination in its flight towards or away from the front wall.
Scoring
Principal Scoring : Point-a-Rally (PAR) to 11
Either player may score points. Each game is played to 11 points. The player who scores 11 points first wins the game except that if the score reaches 10-all, the game continues until one player leads by two points.
Alternative Scoring :
- PAR 15
- Server Only Scores (the previous standard scoring system)
Terms
- Boast: A shot played so that the ball hits the side wall before hitting the front wall.
- Lob: A shot played so that the ball hangs high in the air and falls almost vertically to die in the back corners.
- Drop Shot: The drop shot is a delicately placed stroke that lands close to the front wall.
- Volley: A ball hit before it bounces, either on the forehand or backhand side.
- Length & width: In squash, the players will try to hit the ball close to either walls (width) and to the back of the court (length).
- Nick: It is the junction between two walls or between the wall and the floor where the ball dies immediately.
- T-position: It is the area at the junction of the short line and the half-court line.
- Let: When one player interferes with the other's choice of movement to the ball or with the other's clear path for movement, he/she can call out loud 'let'. When a let is called and given, the rally does not count and is replayed. Stroke to (Name of the player): A call made by the Referee when one player interferes with the other's choice of movement to the ball or with the other's clear path for movement. The player named is to be awarded a stroke and wins that rally.
- Not up: When the ball is not struck correctly by the server or striker; OR when the ball bounces more than once upon the floor before being struck by the striker: OR when the ball touches the striker or anything he wears or carries other than his racket.
- Down: When the ball hits the tin or board.
Health Warning Statement
If you are feeling unwell or having symptoms including but not confining to dizziness, nausea, increased or irregular heartbeat, chest discomfort with lightheadedness, sweating, shortness of breath prior to your attendance or taking part in any squash events, you should refrain from participating in the said activity or event. If you are having any of the above-mentioned symptoms during any squash events or competitions, or in the event of experiencing any discomfort or illness, you should immediately stop the activity and seek medical advice/treatment. Strenuous exercises are not suitable for those who are pregnant or who have contracted influenza; or are suffering from chronic illnesses; and after having taken medicine or alcohol.