Getting Started with Squash
The rules of squash can be confusing for players new to the sport, with ‘lets’ and ‘strokes’ awarded to players in certain circumstances. At OutPlay Squash our overriding advice is to always err on the side of caution. If you think there is even the slightest chance of hitting your opponent with the ball, your racket, or your body, make every possible effort to stop play and ask for a ‘let’. Tell your opponent why you stopped and then replay the rally.
Please note that at OutPlay Squash sessions a ‘let’ must always be given if a player has stopped because they think they were at risk of injury, or of injuring their opponent.
Below is an England Squash quick guide to starting squash, and you can read the basic rules here.
Safety and Eye Protection
Thankfully serious injuries are rare in squash in general, and also in OutPlay, however due to the nature of the game there is always the risk of being hit by a ball from an unexpected angle – especially when playing beginners or engaging in multi-player activities such as drills and coaching. For this reason we strongly recommend the use of eye protection at all times by all players. OutPlay has eye protection available at all of our regular sessions for you to use if required – just ask to use them!
If you wear normal glasses, please check that they are suitable for playing squash – the size, shape, and material of some normal glasses may actually make injuries worse. If you need to get prescription eye protection, or want to buy a normal pair of eye protectors, make sure that they meet the required standards (BS7930:1) as described in the England Squash eye protection information below.
Detailed Rules of Squash
For those wanting to really get into the detailed rules of squash, the latest World Squash singles rules are below.
Please note that at OutPlay Squash sessions a ‘let’ must always be given if a player has stopped because they think they were at risk of injury, or of injuring their opponent.