So You Think You Know the Rules?

Take the test below and see how you do.

By Rod Symington, W.S.F. Referees and Rules Committee

Rod Symington is on the WSF Rules and Referees Committee and is a consultant on Rules and Refereeing to the USA. He has also been the Tournament Referee for, among others, the Women's Worlds, Pan Am Games, and Junior Men's and Women's Worlds. To contact Rod with questions or to enquire about clinics and his Squash Rules for Players, email him at symingto@uvic.ca

The squash season is well under way, and it is probable that some of the following situations have occurred. Were they dealt with correctly?

1. During a rally a player's watch falls off. What should the Referee do?
a) Let play go on until the rally ends.
b) Stop play immediately.
c) Let play continue as long as the watch
does not interfere with play.

2. What is the correct decision at the end of the rally in the above situation?
a) Let.
b) Player who won the rally wins the stroke.
c) Stroke to the opponent of the player who
lost the watch.

3. During a rally a player's eyeguards fall off, but he bends down immediately, picks them up, puts them back on and plays on. What should the Referee do?
a) Allow play to continue.
b) Stop play immediately and award a let.
c) Stop play if he/she felt there was some danger.
d) Stop play immediately and award the stroke to the opponent.

4. During a rally the ball hits the gap between the door and the floor and stays there. What is the Referee's decision?
a) Let.
b) Stroke to the player who hit the shot; the ball
is, in effect, a dead nick.

See below for answer to Question 5

5. After the end of a game both players leave the court. When the player who lost the game returns to the court she finds that the ball is broken and informs the Referee. What should the Referee do?
a) Order the players to replay the last point of the previous game
b) Order the new game to begin.
c) Ask the Tournament Referee for a ruling.

6. After the match is over, a player picks up the ball and hits it (with some force) towards the Referee. What should the Referee do?
a)Ignore the episode
b)Issue a Conduct Penalty
c)Throw the ball back at the player

ANSWERS:
No. 5: Once you leave the court you are saying in effect: "I accept the result of that game." There is then no further appeal. If you wish to appeal, don't leave the court (Rule 14.4).

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