The use of the word "shall" in the rules indicates compulsion and the lack of any alternative. The word "must" indicates a required course of action with considerations to be taken into account if the action is not carried out. The word "may" indicates the option of carrying out or not carrying out the action.

1. THE GAME

The game of Singles Squash is played between two players, each using a racket, with a ball and in a court, all three of which meet WSF specifications (see Appendix 5).

2.1 Only the server scores points. The server, on winning a rally, scores a point; the receiver, on winning a rally, becomes the server.

2.2 A match shall consist of the best of three or five games at the option of the organisers of the competition. The player who scores nine points wins the game, except that on the score reaching eight-all for the first time, the receiver shall choose, before the next service, to continue that game either to nine points (known as "Set one") or to ten points (known as "Set two"). In the latter case the player who scores two more points wins the game. The receiver shall clearly indicate this choice to the Marker, Referee and the opponent.

The Marker shall call "Game ball" to indicate that the server requires one point to win the game in progress or "Match ball" to indicate that the server requires one point to win the match.

3. THE WARM-UP (see definition in Appendix 2)

3.1 Immediately preceding the start of play both players shall be allowed onto the court of play for a period of five minutes to warm-up together.

After two and a half minutes of the warm-up, the Referee shall call "Half time" and the players shall change sides unless they have already done so. The Referee shall also advise the players when the warm-up period is complete with the call of "Time".

3.2 In the warm-up both players must have equal opportunities of striking the ball. A player retaining the strike for an unreasonable time is warming up unfairly. The Referee shall decide when the warm-up is unfair and apply Rule 17.

3.3 Either player may warm the ball up during any interval.

3.4 The players may warm the ball up to playing condition after any interval at the discretion of the Referee.