Squash Intramurals

Basic Rules of Squash

Service

• The first serve is decided by the spin of a racquet
• The server keeps serving, alternating service boxes, until he/she loses the rally
• When serving, the server must have part of one foot in service box
• Only one serve allowed and the ball must be hit before bouncing
• Serve must hit front wall first, above cut line and below top line
• Ball must land in opposite back quarter of court on first bounce and may hit side/back walls before/after the floor

Rally

• Receiver may hit the serve on the volley or before second bounce
• The ball is hit alternately by each player
• The ball must hit front wall, before the floor, between the tin and top line—the ball may hit side/back walls before/after front wall
• The ball is out if it hits on or above the top line, the ceiling, or the tin

Scoring

• Matches may be the best of five or three games, each going to 9 points
• A point is won by the server if he/she wins the right to serve only
• If non-server wins rally, he/she wins the right to serve only
• First player to 9 points wins the game, tie break at 8-8
• Tie Break: at 8-8 the receiver elects either a one point or a two point tie breaker, one point means first to nine wins game and two points first to ten

Fair Play

• After striking the ball, players must not impede each other—space must be allowed for the opponent to play the next stroke, as well as giving a fair view of the ball
• Excessive back swings and follow throughs must be limited to avoid injury
• A “stroke” may be awarded if a player is deliberately impeded or prevented from a winning stroke
• If in doubt, hold back, call for a “let” and replay the point