Contents
Scoring: PAR-11, uncapped
Every rally scores a point for whoever wins it, server or not. Games to 11, two clear points — at 10-all you play on until someone leads by two, with no cap (unlike badminton's 30). Matches are best of 5 games (best of 3 is an authorised alternative). Worth knowing when reading old books: hand-out scoring (to 9, server-only points) ruled until 2009 — it is historical, and any tactical advice written for it is out of date.
The serve: one ball only
At least one foot fully inside the service box (not touching its lines) at the moment of striking; the ball must hit the front wall above the service line and, if not volleyed, land in the opposite back quarter. There is no second serve: a fault loses the rally outright. The safe return — the one the canon teaches first — is the straight length down the wall.
The interference tree: no let, let, stroke
Two players, one space: Rule 8 gives the striker four entitlements — fair view of the ball, direct access to it, room for a reasonable swing, and freedom to hit to any part of the front wall. When interference occurs and a player asks for a let, the referee decides by branch:
| Situation | Decision | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| No real interference, or minimal interference with access kept | No let | The rally stands — no replay |
| The obstructed player could not have made a good return | No let | Same — an appeal does not rescue a lost ball |
| Real interference, the player was making every effort and could have returned | Let | The rally is replayed, no point |
| The opponent did not make every effort to clear | Stroke | Point conceded to the obstructed player |
| The obstructed player would have hit a winning return | Stroke | Same |
| Swing affected / a clear shot prevented | Let or stroke | Depending on whether the swing was hindered or the shot prevented |
| « Turning » (playing a ball that has passed around the body), danger | Let | Safety first — the referee must always consider danger |
The distinction to hammer home at club level: stroke = a point, let = a replay. Confusing them corrupts the score — and hides why clearing after your shot is a match skill, not politeness.
The conduct ladder and the clock
Conduct follows an ordered four-step escalator, cumulative across the match: conduct warning → conduct stroke → conduct game → conduct match (Rule 14 — a referee may jump straight to a higher rung for a serious offence). Since the 2025 V1.2 edition, « attempting to influence the referee » is a listed conduct offence, alongside a new diving rule and a pre-existing-blood rule. The times are fixed and enforceable: 4-minute warm-up (change sides at 2), 1 minute after the warm-up, 2 minutes between games, 2 minutes for an equipment change; injury and bleeding carry their own durations by cause.
Frequently asked questions
Who referees at club level?
Is the tin always the same height?
What did the 2025 edition change?
Sources
WSF — World Squash Singles Rules 2025 V1.2 (in force 1 Sep 2025): Rule 2 (scoring), Rule 5 (serve), Rules 6 and 9 (good return, tin, out-line), Rule 8 (interference — the full tree, turning, danger), Rule 14 (conduct), Rules 7/13/15 (timing); the Conduct on Court Guidelines. The DSQV publishes the German translation (Squash-Spielregeln); every federation in Paak's markets plays WSF rules — squash has no rulebook schism. Scoring history: hand-out until 1988 (Worlds), PARS-15 1989–2003, PAR-11 universal since April 2009. · Paak's squash corpus, file 01 (rules and governance) — verified September 2026.