1. Courts The court dimensions, lines, telltale, material, construction, and lights shall be in accordance with the specifications approved by the Executive Committee of the National Squash Tennis Association. Existing [American (hardball)] Squash Racquets courts are recognized by the National Squash Tennis Association, but a court boundary line across the back wall, 4’6” [1372mm] from the floor, is essential, and a line from the center of the service line forward to the front wall is highly desirable.

2. Racquet and ball The racquet or bat shall have a frame similar in shape to that of a lawn tennis racquet, the length including the handle not to exceed 27 inches [686mm]. The stringing shall be of gut, nylon or other kindred substance, but neither the frame nor the stringing may be of metal. The ball shall be in accordance with the specification approved by the Executive Committee of the National Squash Tennis Association.

3. Game A game shall be fifteen points; that is, the player scoring fifteen points will win the game, except in the event both players tie (a) at “thirteen all,” the player who has first reached the score of thirteen will elect one of the following before proceeding with the game: 1) “set five” making the game eighteen points, 2) “set three” making the game sixteen points, 3) “no set” making the game fifteen points or b) at “fourteen all,” providing the score has not been “thirteen all,” the player who has first reached fourteen points will elect one of the following before proceeding with the game: 1) “set three” making the game seventeen points, 2) “no set” making the game fifteen points.

4. Match Matches shall be the best three out of five games.

5. Server Before a match begins, it shall be decided by a spin of a racquet by the players as to which player shall serve first. Thereafter, when the server loses a point, his opponent becomes the server. The winner of a game shall serve first at the beginning of the following game.

6. Service The server shall stand behind the service line with both feet on the floor and not touching or straddling the line, and serve the ball against the front wall above the front-wall service line and below the 16-ft. [4877mm] line before it touches any other part of the court, so that it shall drop directly, or off the side wall, into his opponent’s court in front of the floor service line without either touching the floor service line or the center line. If the server does not so serve, it is a fault, and if it be the first fault, the server shall serve again from the same side. If the server makes two consecutive faults, he loses that point. The server has the option of electing the side from which he shall commence serving and thereafter, until he loses the service, he shall alternate between both sides of the court in serving. If the server serves from the wrong side of court, there shall be no penalty and if the receiver makes no attempt to return the ball the point shall be replayed from the proper court. When one service fault has been called and play for any reason whatsoever has stopped, when play is resumed the first fault does not stand and the server is entitled to two services.

7. Return of service and subsequent play (a) To make a valid return of service the ball must be struck after the first bounce and before the second bounce, and reach the front wall on the fly above the telltale and below the 16-ft. line; in so doing it may touch any wall or walls within the court before or after reaching the front wall, except as in (e), below. A service fault may not be played. If a fair service is not so returned, it shall count as a point for the server and he shall then serve from the other side of the court. (b) After a valid return of service, each player alternately thereafter shall strike the ball in the same manner as on the return of service, except that it may be volleyed. The player failing to so return the ball shall lose the point. (c) A ball striking the ceiling or lights or on or above any court boundary line on the fly shall be ruled out of court; if a ball should strike the back wall on or above the 4’6” line after having bounced, it shall continue to be in play. If a ball having bounced should go into the gallery or strike any construction which alters its course, a let shall be called. (d) If a ball before the second bounce hits the front wall above the telltale for the second time it is still in play. (e) In an effort to return the ball to the front wall by first hitting to the back wall, the ball may not be played to the back wall unless it has first struck the back wall, and must be so struck as to hit the back wall below the 4’6” line. (f) A player may not hit a ball twice during a stroke, but, while the ball is still in play, it may be struck at any number of times.

8. Let A “let” is the stopping of play and the playing over of the point. (a) In all cases, a player requesting a let must make his request before or in the act of hitting the ball. If a let is requested after the ball has been hit, it shall not be granted. (b) If a player endeavoring to make his play in proper turn is interfered with so as to prevent him from making such play as he would without such interference, or if the striker refrains from striking at the ball because of fear of hitting his opponent, there shall be a let whether the ball has been hit by him or not. (c) A player shall not be entitled to a let because his opponent prevents him from seeing the ball, provided his stroke is not interfered with. (d) If the ball breaks in the course of a point, there shall be a let. If a player thinks the ball has broken while play is in progress, he must nevertheless complete the point and then request a let. The referee shall grant the let only if the ball proves in fact to be broken. (e) If in the course of a point either player should be interfered with by elements outside their control, there shall be a let. (f) It shall be the duty of the referee to call a let if, in his opinion, the play warrants it. If a match be played without a referee, the question of a let shall be left to the sportsmanship of the players. (g) A player hit by a ball still in play loses the point, except that if he be hit by a ball played by his opponent before the ball strikes the front wall above the telltale, then it is a let. If however, a player is hit by a ball off his opponent’s racquet that is clearly not going to reach the front wall above the telltale, a let will not be allowed and the point shall be given to the player who was hit by the ball. However, a player hit by a ball still in play will not lose the point if because of interference a let is called.

9. Player interference Each player must stay out of his opponent’s way after he has struck the ball and (a) give his opponent a fair opportunity to get to and/or strike at the ball and (b) allow his opponent to play the ball from any part of the court to any part of the front wall or to either side wall.

10. Let point (a) A “let point” may be called by the referee if after adequate warning there is no attempt or evidence of intent on the part of a player to avoid unnecessary interference or unnecessary crowding during his opponent’s playing of a point. Even though the player is not actually striking at it, the referee may call a let point. The player interfered with wins the point. (b) If in the opinion of a player he is entitled to a let point, he should at once appeal to the referee whose decision shall be final, except when judges are present, as described in Rule 11(b). (c) A let point decision can only be made when a referee is officiating.

11. Referee and judges (a) If available a referee shall control the game in any scheduled match. His decision is final, except when there are judges present as described in Rule 11(b). (b) Two judges may be appointed by the referee or tournament committee to act on any appeal by a player to the referee’s decision. When such judges are on hand, a player may appeal any decision of the referee directly to the judges. Only if both judges disagree with the referee will the referee’s decision be reversed. The judges shall not make any ruling unless a player makes an appeal. The decision of the judges shall be announced promptly by the referee. (c) All referees must be familiar with these playing rules when officiating in sanctioned matches.

12. General (a) At any time between points, at the discretion of the referee a new ball may be put in play at the request of either player. (b) Play shall be continuous. Between the third and fourth games there may be, at either player’s request, a rest period not to exceed five minutes. Between any other games there may be, at either player’s request, a rest period not to exceed one minute. (c) If play is suspended by the referee due to an injury to one of the players, such player must resume play within one hour or otherwise default the match. (d) The referee shall be the sole judge of any intentional delay, and after giving due warning he may disqualify the offender. (e) If play is suspended by the referee for some problem beyond the control of both players, play shall be resumed immediately after such problem has been eliminated. If cause of the delay cannot be corrected within one hour, the tournament committee and/or the referee will determine when play will be resumed. Play shall commence from the point and game score existing at the time the match was halted.

January 1968