World Squash RULES 4-6
 
 
4. THE SERVICE

4.1 Play commences with a service and the spin of a racket decides the right to serve first. Thereafter, the server continues to serve until losing a rally, whereupon the opponent becomes the server and this procedure continues throughout the match. At the commencement of the second and each subsequent game the winner of the previous game serves first.

4.2 At the beginning of each game and each hand the server shall choose from which box to serve and thereafter shall serve from alternate boxes while remaining the server. However, if a rally ends in a let, the server shall serve again from the same box.

If the server moves to the wrong box, or either player is uncertain of the correct box for serving, the Marker shall announce the correct box. The Referee shall rule on the correct box if the Marker is uncertain or incorrect, or there is a dispute.

4.3 To serve, a player shall release the ball from either a hand or the racket and then strike it. Should the player make no attempt to strike it after that release, the player shall release the ball again for that service.

4.4 A service is good if all the conditions in Rules 4.4.1 - 4.4.5 are met:

4.4.1 the server has part of one foot in contact with the floor within the service box without any part of that foot touching the service box line (part of that foot may project over this line if it does not touch the line) at the time of striking the ball;

4.4.2 the server, after releasing the ball for service, strikes it correctly on the first or further attempt before the ball falls to the floor, touches a wall, or touches anything the server wears;

4.4.3 the server strikes the ball directly onto the front wall between the service and out lines;

4.4.4 unless volleyed by the receiver, the first bounce of the ball on the floor is in the quarter court opposite the server's box without touching the short or half court lines;

4.4.5 the server does not serve the ball out.

4.5 A service which does not meet the requirements of Rules 4.4.1 - 4.4.5 is not good and the Marker shall make the appropriate call.

The calls are: 
"foot-fault" for Rule 4.4.1
"not up" for Rule 4.4.2
"fault" for Rule 4.4.3 if the ball strikes a side wall first or
the front wall on or below the service line but above the
board
"down" for Rule 4.4.3 if the ball strikes on or below the board or on the floor
"fault" for Rule 4.4.4
"out" for Rule 4.4.5

A service in which the ball is considered to have struck the front wall and a side wall simultaneously is not good and is called "fault".

4.6 The server must not serve until the Marker has completed calling the score. The Marker must call the score without delay. If the server serves or attempts to serve prior to the Marker completing the calling of the score, the Referee shall stop play and require the server to wait until the Marker has completed calling the score.

 
5. THE PLAY

After the server delivers a good service, the players return the ball alternately until one fails to make a good return, the ball otherwise ceases to be in play in accordance with the rules, a player appeals, or the Marker or Referee makes a call.

 
6. GOOD RETURN

A return is good if all the conditions in Rules 6.1 - 6.3 are met.

6.1 The striker returns the ball correctly before it has bounced twice on the floor.

6.2 The ball strikes the front wall above the board, either directly or via side wall(s) and/or the back wall, without first touching the floor or any part of the striker's body or apparel, or the opponent's racket, body or apparel.

6.3 The ball is not out or down

 
 
 
 

 CONTACT:  SP Webmaster     Magazine Editor