Squash

General Information

• Squash is an individual sport.
• Eligibility: Carleton students, alumni, faculty, staff, and gym members.
• All participants must be registered and check in before matches.
• Governed by World Single Squash Rule Book + Carleton-specific rules.
• Fighting and disruptive behavior are strictly prohibited.

Rules

1. Players

• Matches are played 1 vs 1.

2. Time

• Matches begin 5 minutes past the hour and last up to 60 minutes.
• Continuous play is expected; 90-second breaks allowed between games.

3. Boundaries

• Standard squash court used.

4. Scoring

• Best of 5 games.
• Each game to 15 points (win by 2 if tied at 14).
• Point-a-rally (PAR) scoring system.
• If time expires, the player leading wins.

5. Warm-up

• 5-minute warm-up (2.5 minutes per side).
• Ball must be warmed up before play resumes after delays.

6. Good Return

• Ball must hit front wall above tin and below out line.
• Side/back wall contact is allowed before hitting front wall.
• Faults include: “Not Up,” “Down,” and “Out.”

7. Service

• First server decided by racket spin.
• Server alternates service boxes after each point won.
• Good serve: ball hits front wall above service line and lands in opposite back quarter.

8. Rallies

• Players alternate hitting until one fails to return.
• Rally ends if ball hits opponent before reaching front wall.
• Safety is paramount—do not strike ball if risk of injury exists.

9. Turning

• “Turning” occurs when a player follows or lets the ball pass around them before hitting.
• If ball hits opponent after turning, rally is awarded to opponent.
• If unsure, stop play—“Let” may be called.

10. Further Attempts

• Players may retry hitting after a miss.
• If second attempt would be good but hits opponent → Let.
• If not good → rally lost.

11. Interference

• Players must avoid obstructing opponent’s access, view, or swing.
• Interference outcomes:
  • Let: if opponent tried to avoid interference.
  • No Let: if interference was minimal or return impossible.
  • Stroke: if opponent didn’t avoid interference or return would be winning.

12. LETs

• Rally replayed; server serves again from same box.
• LETs allowed for:
  • Ball touching foreign object.
  • Safety concerns.
  • Receiver not ready.
  • Ball breaks during play.

13. Bleeding, Injury & Illness

• Bleeding must be stopped before continuing.
• Injury caused by opponent → injured player wins match.
• Self-inflicted injury → 3 minutes to recover or concede a game.
• Shared fault → 1 hour recovery allowed.
• Illness (e.g. cramps, asthma) → player must play or concede a game.
• Vomiting on court → opponent wins match.