Squash (sport)

Squash [ skwɔʃ ] (of English. (To) squash, squeeze, crush ) is a non-return - sport that with two players ( singles ) or four players ( doubles), is played in a squash court. In this special squash balls and squash rackets are used. The aim of the game is to hit the ball so that the opponent can not reach him before he touches the ground for the second time.

Squash is like Ricochet, American handball or racquetball one of the few non-return game in which the opponents use the pitch together and the side walls are included in the game.

2.1 pitch
2.2 squash ball and racket
2.3 rally
2.4 Impact species 2.4.1 charge
2.4.2 Long Line
2.4.3 Boast
2.4.4 Cross
2.4.5 stop
2.4.6 Volley

2.6.1 Current counting to 11
2.6.2 Former counting methods

3.1 PSA World Tour
3.2 league play

History

Distribution in Germany

Squash originated in the mid-19th century in England and spread from there first in the Commonwealth. The first German squash courts were built in the 1930s by Siemens in Berlin.

Right upturn experienced squash until the 1970s in Germany. The number of squash plants ( " Squash Center" ), which are largely operated commercially, took in Germany from about 20 in 1975 to almost 1,000 in 1990. In the 1990s, the growth rates stabilized. In the years before 2005, a slightly decreasing trend in the number of plants was evident. In parallel with the number of plants, the number of players developed. After the squash boom in the 1980s, the number of intensive squash operated Germans in 2004 was at 0.6 million. A total of 1.92 million German to pursue the sport occasionally.

Worldwide growing squash continue, for example, in Eastern European countries and the USA. Countries with a high number of players are England, Australia, Egypt and the United States.

Olympic games

Squash is despite vigorous attempts by the world governing body, the World Squash Federation (WSF ), not an Olympic sport. In addition to sports, golf, rugby, karate and squash rollerblading in 2005 stood as a new Olympic sport for the 2012 Games in London to choose from. Criterion for inclusion of a new sport is the exclusion of a sport already included in the program. First, softball and baseball were dropped from the calendar, while squash and karate the free places were awarded on the first ballot for the games. In the final vote, in which the two sports the official part of the Olympic program should be selected, but lacked the necessary two-thirds majority.

Also in 2009 could squash the expected participation at the Olympic Games in 2016 not reach: The Executive Board of the IOC had nominated at its meeting of 13 August 2009 in Berlin, the sports golf and rugby for the final vote. Both were confirmed by the General Assembly of the IOC. For the Olympic Games 2020, the World Association launched a renewed campaign. At the IOC session in September 2013, in which also the venue of the games set and the IOC president is elected, the decision will be made whether new sports such as squash can be added to the program.

The game

Field

Squash is in an area bounded by the four walls of room 32 feet ( ≈ 9.75 m ) in length and 21 feet ( ≈ 6.40 m ) wide, called the Court played. Very rarely there are special courts with greater width 25 feet (7.62 m), where double can be played. On the walls of the court, as the front wall ( front wall ), rear wall and side walls are referred to, there are red marks that limit the playing field. In addition, on the front wall is a 17 inch ( ≈ 43 cm) high limiting attached, referred to as Tin. It is usually provided with a sheet metal cover, the audible rattle in the ball - hitting a ball on there, it's out of bounds. The back wall is mostly made of shatterproof safety glass to allow the spectators and the referee a clear view of the Court. The flooring is usually hardwood. Championships are often held in courts, where all four walls are made of glass. This makes it a larger audience possible to follow the game.

Squash ball and racket

The squash ball is made of rubber, has a diameter of 39.0 to 40.5 mm ( about the size of a table tennis or a golf ball ) and weighs 23.5 to 24.5 grams. The ball is hollow and contains a drop of liquid, this creates a positive pressure on heating. The ball must be warmed up so that it reaches its full ability to jump. Usually squash balls are black; for games that take place on a GlassCourt be used because they are easier to see, both for the players and for the audience basically white balls.

Beginners are generally recommended quick squash balls, advanced riders can use more slower because the slow balls are little jump off the ground and so difficult to achieve. Professionals are able to bring himself very slow balls at high speeds, when playing with beginners, however, succeed with slow balls hardly rally. For official competitions only very slow balls are used, which are marked with two yellow dots. Nowadays, manufacturers use besides colored markings with dots and balls for beginners or experts that are larger in diameter.

Squash balls reach in matches between professional players speeds of up to 200 km / h For advanced players who do not yet have the precision of a club player, it is therefore strongly recommended to wear eye protection. In some official competitions is wearing eye protection, usually in the form of a plastic glasses required. This includes all international junior and double competitions. In Germany, this obligation applies only to the double.

The ball is kicked with special squash rackets, badminton, but are heavier than lighter than tennis rackets. You can weigh 90 to 250 grams, as a rule, they weigh about 130-160 grams. Previously had the racquet almost circular clubhead and consisted primarily of wood. Today, the head shape is oval, the material with increasing racket quality mainly of graphite / carbon.

Rally

The ball must touch on directly or indirectly to the front wall after each stroke. As indirectly applies a path on the side and rear wall. After that, the ball can not be more than once on the ground, but as often impinge on the rear wall or side walls, before being beaten back by playing partner. A ball is considered in the "off " when it touches the walls above there attached red boundary lines, the boundary line itself or the Tin.

Impact types

Surcharge

The surcharge is always running from one of the two service courts. Here, the server shall stand with at least one foot in the service box. After the service the ball must hit the front wall above the service line and on the other side, in the district of the opponent pay. At first serve, the player can choose the impact side free, but must then switch sides after each point profit. When the server serves loses the rally, the opponent receives the right to serve. Unlike other racquet sports the ball can be thrown at the squash court for the impact with the bat.

Longline

The longline (or longline, dt long line) is the most basic impact on the squash court. Here, the ball on a direct path is hit to the front wall, so he just flies back line in a.

Boast

When Boast the ball on one of the side walls is hit to the front wall. In the best case, a Boast meets in the opposite corner of the court, just above the tin and then falls into Nick ( edge between the side wall and floor).

Cross

In contrast to Long Line of the Cross is struck from one side of the court to the front wall and then flies to the other side. The trajectory here takes approximately the shape of a "V".

Stop

At the stop ball the ball is flipped so that it touches the front wall just above the tin and then - in the best case only a few inches away from the end wall - touches the ground. A stop ball can fall into Nick under certain circumstances.

Volley

The volley serves to make the game more quickly and to let the opponent think no time to rest or. Here the ball after the impact of the opponent is taken directly from the air without touching the ground before. More experienced players can also play a " Volley Nick" by hitting the volley ball and it then falls into Nick. A volley Nick is no longer to be returned in the rule.

Letball

If a player 's turn to play the ball, he has the right to adequate space without interference from the enemy. To avoid interference, the opponent must try to provide the players unobstructed access to the ball, to allow a good view of the ball and a reasonable strike movement to play the ball directly to any part of the front wall.

A player who feels disabled may take disability into account and continue playing or stop play. Is there a danger of colliding with the opponent or to meet him with bat or ball, it is preferable to stop the rally.

If the rally is interrupted because of a disability, the following general guidelines apply:

The player has the right to a let (ie the rally is repeated ), if he had the ball can bounce back, but the opponent has blocked the path to the ball.
The player receives a let if the ball hits the player after he has taken a side wall or before he had taken such.
The player has no right to a let ( he loses the rally ) if he did not have the ball can bounce back or the disability was so low that the player access to the ball and the shock were not affected.
The player has no right to a let if he has taken the impediment into account and still wanted to hit, but the ball due to an error (eg, the ball goes out of play ) could not hold in the game.
The player has the right to a " Stroke" ( he wins the rally ) if the player has a profitable return could attach or if the player would hit the opponent with the ball on a direct path to the front wall.

Let A must be granted if the receiver is not ready when serving and no attempt undertakes to accept the surcharge. Moreover, if the ball goes over the broken game when the ball is trapped in an otherwise good return anywhere in the court and thus can not jump up on the floor or the ball goes after the first popping up in the "off" or if - as always - during the rally, another ball is in play (for example, from an adjacent court flown over ).

The American Professional Association announced on 2 August 2010 that he has the Let deleted from the rules. During the tournaments within the U.S. Pro Tour, players are now only possible directly in the event of disability a point ( Stroke ) awarded to get or to lose the rally.

Counting

At each counting method is generally considered that a game is played over three winning sets, that is, the player who can win the first three sets, the game decides for himself. This applies to all official competitions. However, there is also a variant of over two winning sets which is primarily played on smaller or private tournaments in the preliminary rounds.

Currently counting to 11

It is counted every point, no matter who had the right to serve. For normal set win the player needs 11 points. With the score at 10:10 a tie-break is played. Here the player wins who first 2 -point lead has (eg 13:11, 19:17, etc.).

This counting is applied since the abolition of the way of counting to 15 in the men's professional field as well as in the German 1st and 2nd Bundesliga. Since September 2005, it also applies to the German ranking tournaments. From 1 April 2009, the Point-a - rally scoring system ( PARS = Type of counting to 11) is, according to WSF decision of 18 November 2008 the world's official counting. With the start of the squash season 2008/2009 the DSQV and its affiliated state associations have adopted the PARS - counting for the entire game operation.

Former counting methods

Here, only the player can achieve a point having the right to serve. The right to serve has the player who won the last rally of its own. A set usually ends at 9 points. At the score of 8:8 decides the receiver, if the set is played to 9 or 10. Until April 1, 2009, this counting method was common in the non- professional area.

This way of counting is also called " American" because it was used at the initial time of squashs especially in America. Here, each point is counted for the player, who won the rally itself. Such counting is therefore also called " Point -A- Rally" (English " Rally" = rallies ). The sentence usually ends with 15 points. For the record profit a margin of two points is required: If the score of 14:14 is reached, the receiver decides whether to continue to 15, or whether an extension until 17 is played. The movement ends when a player reaches 17 points first 15 or upon renewal. Thus a 15:14 and a 17:16 is possible without the previously required projection of 2.

Referee

Official game in national and international leagues or tournaments must be controlled by a referee. Its responsibilities include the recording, and exclamations of the current object, the decision whether a ball has been, as well as the decision-making when a player asks for a let. He is also responsible for ensuring that the players put a reasonable behavior on the day. If a player stand out by shocking behavior, it is the referee allowed it to pronounce sentences. He can, however, only choose from four options: a verbal warning, one of the opponent Awarded penalty point, the opponent awarded a penalty rate and the immediate disqualification. What penalties pronounce a referee, is left to its discretion. So he can theoretically express several warnings against a player. Usually a referee positioned on the squash court inside the front door in order to have the best possible view of the playing field. Allow it to local conditions, it can also sit on a high chair. In general, only one referee is used for international tournaments. However, there are variants with three arbitrators: a main referee and two assistants who independently optionally can overrule the main referee in player appeals.

Tournament mode

PSA World Tour

The PSA World Tour is the tournament series in professional squash. In the tournaments in this series world ranking points can be obtained, which would be calculated according to the category of the respective tournament. The most important category is the PSA World Series, which will be completed each year with the PSA World Series Finals.

In addition, the PSA will host the annual World Championship for Men and Women. The World Championships Men 's and women's teams, and all at the Junior World Championships are organized by the World Association WSF.

League operation

In Germany, the German Squash Federation ( DSQV ) organizer of the national leagues. The other leagues are organized by the regional associations. Players can in this case be reported only for a club in Germany, but for other clubs in other countries.

Rugby sevens Natural rubber Tiebreaker Professional Squash Association World Open (squash) European Squash Individual Championships

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