Squash

Squash Players in Action

Squash is a racket sport played by two (singles) or four players (doubles) in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball. The players must alternate in striking the ball with their racket and hit the ball onto the playable surfaces of the four walls of the court.

Squash is a popular sport in many countries around the world. The diagram on the left shows the court used in the English form of the game. Players in North America use different rules, a narrower court, and a harder ball, which moves faster. In either version of the game, the ball is served from a marked-off area to the right or left side of the court.

A squash racket can be up to 68 centimetres long. The squash ball is about the size of a golf ball. The English form of squash uses a softer ball than does the American form.

Famous squash players of the late 1900's include Susan Devoy of New Zealand, Jansher Khan of Pakistan and Jonah Barrington of the United Kingdom.

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Squash, also called squash racquets, is an indoor game that is similar to handball. However, squash is played with rackets (or racquets) and a hollow, hard black rubber ball that is about the size of a golf ball. Players use the rackets to hit the ball against the four - walls of a court. A variety of shots is possible, and the ball travels very quickly. Many people play squash for health and exercise. But it is also a serious and exciting competitive sport.

There are two forms of squash, the English and the American. The English form is mainly played in Europe and in countries that were once part of the British Empire, such as Australia and New Zealand. The American form is played in the United States, Canada, Mexico and in some South American countries. An English single court is 6.4 metres wide. The front wall is 4.6 metres high, and the back wall is 2.1 metres high. The side walls slant down from 4.6 metres at the front to 2.1 metres at the back. Doubles squash is played by two teams of two players each on a larger court.

A player may hit the ball against any wall so long as it reaches the front wall before it touches the floor. A player loses a point by missing the ball or by allowing it to bounce twice. A player also loses a point by hitting a ball above an out-of-court line on the side, back, and front walls. There is also a metal board called a telltale 48.3 centimetres high at the bottom of the front wall. A player who hits the telltale loses the point. A player can only score a point when serving. The first player to earn 9 points wins the game unless the score reaches 8 points each. If the score is tied at 8 points, the player receiving service can choose whether to play to 9 points or 10 points.

In 1966, an international federation was formed. It consisted of Australia, Britain, Egypt, India, New Zea­land, Pakistan, and South Africa. The United States and Canada later became members and agreed to play according to federation rules in world championships. Today, 60 countries are members of the federation. History. Squash is a form of a game called rackets, (also spelled racquets), which developed out of the older game of Real, or Royal, tennis. Rackets originated at Harrow School in England during the 1800's. Squash is a slowed-down version of rackets, using a softer, larger ball and a smaller court.