It was founded in the 19th century, by Harrow School, it was originally called squash racquets. They came up with the idea when young school pupils couldn't compete with the older boys for space on the racquets courts. So they invented their own version of the game using a rubber ball instead of a hard one.
RULES
• The basic principle is to keep hitting the ball against the front wall until your opponent cannot get it back any more.
• You must keep one foot in the service box when you serve.
• You need to hit the front wall between the service line and the out line, and make the ball land in the area behind the short line, but on the opposite side of the court.
• You must hit the wall above the board and below the out line.
• The ball is only allowed to hit the floor once before each shot,
• It can hit as many walls as the player wants.
• If you fail to hit the ball before it bounces twice, or fail to hit the ball into the floor before it hits the front wall, or hits it outside the out line, then you lose the rally.
• You will lose a rally if the ball hits you or your clothing before you strike the ball.
SCORING
• you can only score points when you are serving.
• When the player receiving serve wins a rally they become the server.
• If you are facing serve, you need to win two rallies to register a point.
• A match consists of five games, to win a game you must reach nine points.
• During points, a player can be impeded or unsighted as they try to play their next shot, and can ask for a let.
• If the referee decides this is deserved, he or she can order the point to be replayed, or award the rally to the player who has been affected.
TACTICS
The best way to win a game of squash is to make the opponent do the running.
Keeping the ball low makes it less likely your opponent will reach it before it bounces twice.
EQUIPMENT
Players use a different ball depending on their standard.
Double Yellow - extra super slow; competition standard
Yellow - super slow
Green or white - slow
Red - medium
Blue - fast
Modern racquets are usually made of composite materials such as kevlar and graphite, you can choose from a range of brands such as Dunlop Squash and Head.
They are 70 cm (27 inches) long, with a maximum strung area of 500 square centimetres (approximately 80 square inches) and a weight between 110 and 200 grams (4-7 ounces).
GETTING INVOLVED
There are thousands of clubs across the country and equipment is relatively cheap. Mini Squash also teaches youngsters how to play the game.
All you need - indoor trainers, racquet and a ball.
REMEMBER!
Book a court - Courts can be booked easily, whether they are at specialist squash venues, gyms or sports centres.
