1. Squash South Africa Marking & Referee Course
Uitsig Squash Club
10 February 2018
Add in the venue and date of your course
Version 1.0

2. About your course presenter
Paul S Vermaak
Provincial Referee, Central Gauteng
Ref’ing for over 8 years
Major Tournaments Refereed:
Various league(s) & Club Tournaments
Gauteng Open/ Closed (Junior, Senior and Masters events)
SACDs/SACF’s, Jarvis/Kaplan (≥5yrs)
SA Nationals, SA Open
Gauteng & Pretoria PSA’s
World Masters
Musa Malinga
Provincial Referee, Northerns coordinator
Ref’ing for over 2 years
Major Tournaments Refereed
Gauteng & West Rand Open/Closed (Junior, Senior and Masters events)
Bull Ring Invitational
Jarvis/Kaplan
West Rand PSA
Add some information about yourself so that people attending know a bit about you and your refereeing experience

3. Learning Outcomes
Know the role of and the correct terminology used by a Marker
Know the role of and the correct terminology used by a Referee
Know the correct times allowed for various intervals during a game of squash
Know the rules relating to the serve
Understand the basic rules relating to interference on court
Know the different categories relating to injuries and the times allowed for recovery (including for bleeding)
Have a basic knowledge of the Conduct Rule and when it can be used
Ask the group what they are hoping to learn from the course.
Write these on a piece of flip chart paper so we can make sure most of their questions have been covered in the course at the end

4. What this course doesn’t cover
This course will not make you a qualified Referee!
Complex interference situations
Detailed information regarding illness, injury and bleeding
Detailed information about the Conduct Rule
Emphasise the fact that doing this course and exam does not make you a qualified Referee but is one part of the criteria. Anyone interested in becoming qualified should speak to you at the end of the course

5. Scoring Point a Rally (PAR)
The winner of the rally scores 1 point and serves to begin the next rally
Play to 11 points
At 10-all, play continues until a player leads by 2 points e.g or 13-11
Play best of 5 games
How do you score a point in squash?
Who keeps a record of the score?
Ask the group what scoring system is used in squash
PAR to 11 - this is what the exam will be based on
PAR to 15
Hand in / Hand out
How do you score a point?
ball bounces twice before opponent hits it
opponent hits the ball out or down
awarded a stroke
Who keeps a record of the score? Marker & Referee

6. Duties of the Marker Announce the match
Welcome to the [Tournament Name/League Name] [Round/String] match between [Player Name] from [Club/Team/Country] to serve and [Player Name] from [Club/Team/Country] to receive. Best of 5 games, love-all
Introduce each game
e.g. [Player surname] leads by 1 game to love. Love-all
Call the score at the end of each rally
Announce the result at the end of each game
e.g. 11-9, game to [Player surname]. [Player surname] leads by 2 games to love
Repeat the Referee’s decision after a player’s request for a let
e.g. YES LET, 3-all
Announcing the match can also be more simple “Player A to server, Player B to receive, best of 5 games, love-all”

7. Duties of the Marker (cont.)
The Score
Server’s score is always called first
If the score is equal, the correct wording is “ALL”
E.g. LOVE-ALL or 2-ALL
DO NOT use “EACH” or “TOGETHER”
At 10-ALL, play continues until one player is 2 points ahead
E.g or 13-11
The Marker indicates this by saying
“10-ALL: a player must win by 2 points”
When dealing with complete beginners, it might be useful to show on a flipchart or a whiteboard how to right the score down correctly.

8. Duties of the Marker (cont.)
GAME BALL indicates that one player requires one point to win the game
MATCH BALL indicates that one player requires one point to win the match
NOTE:
DO NOT split the score when the server has game or match ball
RIGHT “10-6, Game Ball” or “10-6, Match Ball”
WRONG “10 Game Ball 6” or “10 Match Ball 6”
WRONG “10 Game Point 6” or “10 Match Point 6”

9. Duties of the Marker (cont.)
To Call
Comments
FAULT
All errors on the serve are called as fault (foot-fault, serve below cut line, serve out of court). Wrong to say “down” or “cut serve”!!!
DOWN
When the ball is hit directly into the tin or on to the floor (one word, one action)
NOT UP
Double bounce on the floor or double hit on wall / racket (two words, double action)
OUT
Wrong to say “out of court”
HAND OUT
Change of server (not “hand in”)
Could do group exercise here. Split group into 3 or 4 and give them labels with NOT UP, DOUBLE, DOWN, OUT OF COURT, OUT, FAULT, FOOT FAULT, CUT, HAND IN, HAND OUT. Then, write scenarios on flip chart paper and they have to decide which is the correct call from the Marker.
e.g. ball bounces twice, serve hits the out line, serve hits the service line, change of server

10. The Referee’s Decision is FINAL
Duties of the Referee
To keep score
To award LETS, Strokes and NO LETS when a player appeals for interference
To rule if a player appeals against the Marker’s call or lack of call
To enforce all rules relating to time
To enforce all rules relating to illness, injury and bleeding
To apply Rule 15 (Conduct) if a player’s conduct is unacceptable
The Referee’s Decision is FINAL

11. Duties of the Referee (cont.)
To Call
Comments
STOP
To stop play.
TIME
To indicate that a period of time prescribed has elapsed.
HALF TIME
To advise players of the mid-point of the warm-up period.
15 SECONDS
To advise the players that 15 seconds of a permitted 90 second interval remain.
YES LET
When allowing a let, following a player’s appeal for a let.
NO LET
When disallowing a player’s appeal for a let.
STROKE TO
(player or team name)
To advise that the player named is to be awarded a stroke
LET/ PLAY A LET
To advise that a rally is to be replayed in circumstances where the wording “Yes Let” is not applicable. (May be accompanied by an explanation).

12. The Warm-up Q. How long is the warm-up? 5 minutes
Q. When must the player’s change sides during the warm-up?
After 2½ minutes
Q. Does play start as soon as possible after the warm-up?
A. NO - 90 seconds
Q. What constitutes a fair warm-up?
A. Hitting the ball to yourself 2 or 3 times before hitting a cross-court to your opponent
Use these questions to stimulate some discussion, especially the last question around a fair warm-up
Can go a little further with the last question and explain that the Referee can use Rule 15 (Conduct) to penalize any player who is warming up unfairly.

13. The Serve
The server chooses which side to serve when he has won the serve
While retaining the serve, the server must serve from alternate boxes
The server must wait for the Marker to call the score before serving
The server must not serve before the receiver is ready
What must happen for a serve to be classed as good?
The server must drop or throw the ball and strike it before it touches anything else
When the server hits the ball;
One foot must be in contact with the floor inside the service-box;
With no part of that foot touching any boundary of that box
The ball must be struck directly to the front wall
The ball must hit the front wall between the service-line and the out-line
The ball must bounce in the opposite quarter-court without touching any line
The ball is not served out

14. Intervals Q. How long is the interval between games? A. 90 seconds
Q. How about the interval between games 4 and 5?
Q. Can players strike the ball during any interval?
A. Yes
Q. Can watching player who’s playing the next game strike the ball during any interval?
A. No
Ask these questions to see if the course attendees know the answer.
Emphasise that the interval between games 4 and 5 is still 90-seconds (it used to be 2 minutes a long time ago which some people may still think is applicable)

15. Interference (Rule 8) Q. What is: A STROKE? A LET? A NO LET?
Q. How does a player appeal to the Referee for a Stroke or Let?
A. “Let, please”
STROKE - player appeals to the Referee the Referee decides that there was sufficient interference to award the point to the player appealing
LET - player appeals and the Referee decides that the rally should be replayed
NO LET - player A appeals and the Referee decides that there was insufficient interference so player B takes the point

16. Interference (Rule 8) (cont.)
The outgoing player must make EVERY EFFORT to clear their shot so that the opponent has:
A Fair View of the ball on its rebound from the front wall
Unobstructed Direct Access to the ball
The space to make a reasonable swing at the ball
The freedom to strike the ball to any part of the entire front wall
The incoming player must make EVERY EFFORT to get to and play the ball
Explain these 4 requirements clearly and simply to ensure the group understands them.
Emphasize “EVERY EFFORT”

17. Interference (Rule 8) (cont.)
General Points
No interference or no reasonable fear of injury
= NO LET
Interference but the striker would NOT have been able to make a good return
Striker played beyond the point of interference
Minimal interference
Opponent not making every effort to avoid interference
= STROKE TO STRIKER
Opponent making every effort to avoid interference
= YES LET
Interference and striker would have made winning return

18. Clip 2 - Swing Prevented
Interference - Racket Swing
Swing PREVENTED so stroke to Darwish
If the interference only AFFECTED the swing then YES LET

19. Further Attempt Turning
Striker requests a let for interference while making a further attempt to strike the ball and could have made a good return
= YES LET
Turning
Turning is the action of the player who strikes, or is in a position to strike, the ball to the right of the body after the ball has passed behind him to the left (or vice versa), whether the player physically turns or not.
Briefly explain the Turning Rule explaining about physical and virtual turning then use the images on the next slide to illustrate this situation.
Emphasise that if the player turning strikes the ball and hits their opponent then it is a stroke against them.
Turning example

20. Ball Hitting a Player
The ball hits the non-striker and the return was going directly to the front wall
= STROKE TO STRIKER
The ball hits the non-striker and hit or would have hit any other wall Before the front wall
= YES LET
The ball hits the non-striker and the striker had turned
= STROKE TO NON-STRIKER

21. Appeals What the Referee’s decision is if:
Marker’s call or lack of call was correct
= result of rally stands
Marker’s call was incorrect
= YES LET
Marker made no call on a return that was not good
= award rally to other player
Referee is uncertain whether the return was good
Referee is uncertain whether the return was good but the Marker’s call interrupted a winning return by the other player
= STROKE TO OTHER PLAYER
NOTE: wait until the end of the rally to appeal a Marker’s call or lack of call
All appeals decided by the Referee

22. The Ball Fallen Object The ball breaks during a rally = YES LET
Player stops play to appeal that a ball is broken but the ball is not broken = award rally to the other player
If the receiver, before attempting to return the serve, appeals that the ball is broken, and it is, the Referee, if uncertain when it broke, must allow a let for the previous rally
Fallen Object
A player who drops a racket may pick it up and play on
If a player drops any other object without any contact with the opponent, the opponent wins the rally
Juniors are likely to ask about eyewear falling off. Eyewear falls under the second point above so the opponent wins the rally

23. Distraction
Either player may request a LET because of distraction but must do so immediately
If distraction was caused by one of the players then:
If accidental, a LET is allowed
If deliberate, Rule 15 (Conduct) must be applied
If the distraction was not caused by one of the players, a LET is allowed

24. Illness & Injury
A player who suffers an illness must either continue play immediately or concede the game in progress and take the 90-second interval between games to recover
If a player vomits on court, the match is awarded to:
The opponent
Reason?
Court is unplayable
Illness
Injury
Cramp
Nausea
Asthma Attack
Dizziness
Sprained ankle
Bruising/swelling caused by being hit by a racket/ball
Broken bones
Get the group to shout out examples of an illness and then an injury to understand the difference

25. Categories of injury Self-inflicted Contributed Opponent-inflicted
Accidental
Deliberate or dangerous
Ask for examples of each category of injury
e.g.
Self-inflicted - twisting your own ankle, bruising from running into the wall
Contributed - accidental collision between the players resulting in a muscle strain
Opponent-inflicted - striker accidentally hits opponent using excessive swing
Opponent-inflicted - striker deliberately hits opponent

26. Categories of Injury (cont.)
Self-inflicted
3 minutes recovery time
May also concede the game and take the additional 90-second interval between games
Only one game may be conceded
If additional recovery time is required, the player must concede the match
Contributed
15 minutes recovery time
Referee may allow an additional 15 minutes
If the player is unable to continue, match is awarded to the opponent

27. Categories of Injury (cont.)
Opponent-inflicted - Accidental
Injured player is allowed 15 minutes to recover
If the player is then unable to resume play, the match is awarded to the injured player
Opponent-inflicted - Deliberate
If the injured player requires ANY recovery time, the match is awarded to the injured player
If the injured player is able to continue immediately then the match continues (Conduct rules are applied to the opponent)

28. Bleeding
Whenever bleeding occurs, play must stop and the player must leave the court immediately to attend to the bleeding
The player is allowed a reasonable time to stop the bleeding
Play may only resume after the bleeding has stopped
If the bleeding is caused a result of the opponent’s deliberate or dangerous action, the match is awarded to the injured player
If bleeding re-occurs, no further recovery time is permitted and the player must concede the game in progress, using the 90-second interval for further treatment. If the bleeding has not then stopped, the player must concede the match

29. Conduct Neither player may request a change of any Official
Players must not behave in a manner that is;
unfair,
dangerous,
abusive,
offensive or
in any way detrimental to the sport
If a player’s conduct is unacceptable, the Referee must penalize the player with a Conduct Warning, Conduct Stroke, Conduct Game or Conduct Match as appropriate.
The Referee can award the penalty as follows:
Conduct Warning player A for receiving coaching during play
Conduct player A, Stroke to player B for time wasting
Discuss with the group what situations might constitute using the Conduct rule. Unacceptable behaviour includes:
Audible or visible obscenity
Verbal, physical or any other form of abuse
Unnecessary physical contact, which includes pushing off the opponent
Dangerous play, including an excessive racket swing
Dissent to an official
Abuse of equipment or court
Unfair warm-up
Delaying play, including being late back on to court
Deliberate distraction
Receiving coaching during play

30. Summary
The Marker is responsible for announcing the score and making the appropriate call when the ball is not good
The Referee is responsible for deciding on any appeals by the players and enforcing all rules relating to time. The Referee’s decision is final.
The OUTGOING PLAYER must make EVERY EFFORT to clear the ball and allow the incoming player a fair view of the ball, direct access to the ball, space for a reasonable swing and freedom to hit the ball to the front wall.
The INCOMING PLAYER must make EVERY EFFORT to get to and play the ball
There are 3 different categories of injury, each with differing recovery times
The Conduct Rule (Rule 15) can (and MUST) be used to penalize unsportsmanlike behaviour on the court

31. Any Questions?

32. Useful Resources Squash SA website for refereeing resources
Marking sheets
How to become a qualified referee
List of referees in SA
Refereeing structure
Who to contact regarding refereeing
WSF Website
Singles Rules 2014 | V pdf
Introduction to the Rules of Singles Squash 2014 | content/uploads/2015/11/150601_Rules-of-Singles-Squash-2014-V pdf
International Doubles Rules 2015 | Final.pdf
Sanctioned Protective Eyewear |