Sport
Squash
- players
- 2
- minutes
- 45
- years
- 8+
In the box
Rackets, ball, enclosed court
Official rules (PDF, federation's site)
Box details
- Origin
- Traditional game, with no specific designer or publisher
- Mechanics
- DexterityReal-Time
Where to buy it
Near you
In a shop
Within 50 km.
The basics
Two players, in an enclosed court, take turns hitting the ball against the front wall, above the tin, so that the opponent cannot return it. The ball may bounce only once on the floor before it is played, and every rally won scores a point, whoever served; a game is won at 11 points with a two-point lead. The match is the best of five games.
The rules, step by step
Setup
2 players, 9.75 × 6.40 m court, Rubber ball
- Two players in an enclosed court 9.75 metres by 6.40.
- A rubber ball, whose coloured dot shows its speed.
How to play
Always the front wall, Above the tin, 1 bounce at most
- The ball must always reach the front wall, above the tin.
- It may bounce only once on the floor before being returned.
- Interfering with your opponent leads to a let, or to a point (stroke) if the interference was avoidable.
Scoring
1 point per rally, Game to 11 points, 2-point lead
- Each rally won scores a point, whoever served.
- A game is won at 11 points with a two-point lead.
End of the game
Best of 5 games, 3 games to win
- The match is best of five games, so first to three games.
Going further
Frequently asked questions · In the same family
Frequently asked questions
What is the idea?
Two players take turns hitting a ball against the front wall, in an enclosed court. The ball may use the side and back walls, but must always hit the front wall.
How are points scored?
Point-a-rally scoring (PARS): every rally won scores a point, whether serving or receiving. A game is played to 11 points, with a two-point lead.
Where must the ball bounce?
On the front wall, above the bottom line (the "tin") and below the out line. Between shots, it may bounce only once on the floor.
What are a "let" and a "stroke"?
When one player gets in the other's way, the rally is replayed (let) or the point is awarded to the obstructed player (stroke) if the shot was clearly prevented. Managing space is central.
How many games to win?
The match is best of five games (first to three).