The Sport of Squash
Introduction
Squash is a fast-paced game that is played by two players (singles) or four players (doubles) in a court made of four walls with a small ball that is hollow (1). The game is played using a racquet where the players are expected to alternate as they hit the ball against the four walls. The game requires a player to be both mentally and physically skillful to be a pro.
History of Squash
The sport of squash originated from the early game of tennis. The game was started by the invention of a racquet by the Dutch. The rackets that were an outdoor version of tennis was a game where players were hitting the ball onto one or two walls. As the game became famous, the Britons constructed numerous rackets courts and the game spread in British colonies. Fives was another version of ancient tennis that was similar to the rackets, and both were played in the same court. In 1830, the students from the Harrow School in London combined both Fives and Rackets to form the squash. Initially, the squash courts built in Harrow School were dangerous to the players, as they were close to chimneys, drain pipes, and other distracting equipment. The students first used a rubber ball which was smacked onto the walls. After its invention in Great Britain, the game was played for a decade without official rules and standards. Rules and regulations of the game were put in place in 1928, in Great Britain, when the Squash Racquets Association was formed. The game of squash gained popularity and eventually spread to the United States, Canada and globally. By 2013, there were more than 50,000 courts constructed in 185 countries and nearly 170 million people who play squash globally. In the United States, the squash courts are available in clubs, universities, and private residential homes (2).
Playing Equipment
There are two prerequisites in a squash game: the racquets and a squash ball. The racquets making standards are governed by the set rules and regulations of the squash game. Initially, the racquets were made using wood and gut strings. As the game evolved, the rules of the game changed, which included the making of the modern racquet. Today, racquets are made of graphite or other metal alloys and synthetic strings. The racquet should have a length of 686 mm and width of 215mm; the strung area is 500 centimeters square and weight of 150 grams. The rules on squash balls require a ball to be 40.5 mm diameter and 25 grams in weight. The balls are made of rubber with a hollow sphere in the center. The balls to be used in a given match highly depend on the experience of the players involved, as well as the temperature of the court. The rules of squash also state that male players should wear shorts and t-shirt while female players wear skirts or sports dress and a t-shirt. The eye protections such as goggles are also recommended for new players or double players (1).
Squash game rules and playing guides
Service
The decision regarding which player serves first is reached by the spin of a coin or racquet. The server’s feet should not step on the service line box but should be within the service box as the player hits the ball. The server should alternate the position with the opponent after every serve. If the server loses the point by committing any of the service faults, the opponent becomes the server, and the game continues (3).
Play
After a good service is delivered, the players smack the balls onto the front walls in turns. The ball should hit the walls area between the tin and the outline. The ball should not hit the floor after the service before hitting the wall. If the ball hits the outline or top of the tin, it will be out. Similarly, the ball should not bounce for the second time on the floor after hitting the wall. The player should return to the center of the court after making a shot and should not deliberately obstruct an opponent’s movement. A return is considered good if the opponent successfully returns the ball on to the front wall before it makes a second bounce on the floor. The ball should hit above the tin and not touch the floor or the player’s body. Lets are allowed in various circumstances during the game. For instance, a let is allowed, if the striker fails to hit the ball due to fear if the referee decides to allow it as per the rules or the receiver is not ready (3).
Scoring
The scoring system in the squash game has been changing over time since its invention. However, the current scoring system which is widely accepted globally is point a rally scoring (PARS). In PARS, the winner of the game takes 11points. If the game is held at a tie of 10-10 points, the game should continue until one of the players leads by two points to win the game. In PARS, players may receive a point regardless of whether one was serving or returning the ball. When the servers win a rally, they score a point and continue serving. If the player who receives the ball wins a rally, he/she will score a point and become the server. The points are also awarded as the game progresses if the receiver does not hit the ball to the front wall before it bounces twice (3).
Referee
The referee is the one who ensures that the players in a squash game follow the rules of the game. He is given power over the squash players and makes all decisions on the court such as interference or awarding points. The modern rules of squash involve three referees. The central referee, however, makes all decisions such as giving scores, issuing warnings, among others. The other side referees assist the central referee in making decisions during the game. The referee ensures that the game is played smoothly with strong etiquette and discipline (4)
Dynamic court movement
Skilled tactical movements in the court are crucial for a player because it helps them to cover the court fast and efficiently and helps the players to position themselves well for the next shot. The players who have good movement skills rarely find themselves out of the position. They easily keep the ball in play. One key tactic for good movement skills is to dominate the “T” area. The T area is the intersection between the red lines in the center of the court. The player should return the shot and move quickly back to the ‘T’ prior to making the next shot. This tactic enables the player to access all parts of the court at ease when receiving the opponent's shot. Another important strategy is to keep the movement smooth and unhurried. This helps the players to create plenty of time for themselves in retrieving the opponent's shot. It also helps the players to maintain balance and to move at a reasonable distance from the ball. It is advisable to combine quick, short steps, shuffle steps as moving sideways in the court. It helps in easy movement and being in the best position to strike the ball. Another key strategy is to learn how to change the direction of the ball. This enables the player to unbalance the opponent and creates more time for them to react.
Health benefits of playing squash
Squash is the healthiest game to play. It helps in having the best cardiovascular workout. It is estimated that a squash player may burn 600 to 1000 calories in an hour. In addition, rallies help in building muscular strength and enabling the endurance in the lower body. Squash also helps in increasing flexibility in the back and abdomen. This is because of lunges, turns, and twists involved in the game. Other health benefits include stress release, improved concentration, and general physiological well-being (5).
Conclusion
The sport of squash has gradually evolved and has become one of the most played sports globally. This fact is evidenced by the proposal of including it in the Olympic Games of 2020. The rating by Forbes magazine of squash as the healthiest game nowadays is another boost to the general acceptance of the game. However, the game still experiences low awareness, especially in the developing countries. This reduces the competitiveness of the game globally, and this may seem to be the main reason as to why the game is not yet included in Olympic Games. The game has also been criticized by some researchers who claim that it is not suitable for older men with heart diseases. However, squash remains one of the best sports in the world with numerous benefits to individuals and the nations en masse.
References:
1- Squash Canada (2011). Rules of the game. Retrieved on 8th December 2014 from http://www.squash.com/en/rules-game#
2- World Squash Federation (2012). History of squash. Retrieved on 8th December 2014 from http://squash2020.com/history-of-squash/
3- England Squash & Racketball (2010). Rules of Squash. Retrieved on 8th December 2014 from http://www.englandsquashandracketball.com/play-squash-and-racketball/rules-of-play/squash
4- Worldsquash.org (2010). Abbreviated rules of squash. Retrieved on 8th December 2014 from http://www.worldsquash.org/ws/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/RulesAbbreviated.pdf
5- Forbes Survey (2013). Squash Healthiest Sport. Retrieved on 8th December 2014 from http://www.squashplayer.co.uk/sp_latest/forbes_survey.htm
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