VICTORIAN MASTERS SQUASH ASSOCIATION INC

GENERAL PENNANT BY-LAWS

Grades 1-7

Grades 9-14

VICTORIAN MASTERS SQUASH ASSOCIATION INC.
GENERAL PENNANT BY-LAWS

DEFINITIONS
(a) “The Pennant Committee” means the Pennant Committee of the Association controlling the competition.
(b) “The Association” means the Association controlling the Pennant Competition.
(c) “The General Committee” means the General Committee of the VMSA.

1. INTERPRETATION OF BY - LAWS
The Pennant Committee is responsible for the interpretation of the By-Laws. However, the General Committee is the final
authority for such interpretation.

2. PENALTIES FOR BREACH OF BY-LAWS
(a) The Association has the power to impose penalties for the breach of any of these By-Laws, by any of the following
forms: disqualification, suspension, fine, the awarding of any rubber or match to the opposing team, and/or the deduction
of points already scored. The Pennant Committee will adjudicate on all matters relating to breaches of the By-Laws. The
Pennant Committee is to meet and adjudicate within seven (7) days of a request for adjudication.
(b) The Pennant Committee may elect to forward the matter to the VMSA Tribunal. The Tribunal will consist of three (3)
persons from a possible panel of seven (7), all pre-approved by the General Committee. The Tribunal is to meet and
adjudicate within seven (7) days following the request from the Pennant Committee. All parties relative to the
adjudication must be present at the time of the Tribunal hearing.

3. PROCEDURE FOR PROTESTS ALLEGING BREACHES OF BY - LAW
Protests alleging breaches of these By-Laws must be lodged in writing with the Pennant Committee within seven (7) days of
the occurrence of the alleged breach.

4. FINES / PENALTIES
The following fines may be imposed for infringements:
Incorrect Result: Loss of points
Ineligible or unregistered player: Loss of points
Incorrect playing order: Loss of points
Individual walkover: Court costs for both players
Team walkovers: $100 plus all court costs
Failure to officiate as markers / referees at finals: $100
Failure to attend compulsory meeting: $50
Withdrawal of nominated team after grading: $50
Late payment of team entry fee: Points won will not be credited.
An appeal may be lodged.
Non-payment of fine: Penalty as determined by Pennant Committee

5. PROCEDURE FOR APPEALS AGAINST DECISIONS
(a) Any appeal against an interpretation or decision by the Pennant Committee or General Committee under these By-Laws
must be lodged in writing with the Secretary of the General Committee within seven (7) days from notification of such
decision.
(b) Any appeal against a decision by the VMSA Tribunal must be lodged in writing with the Secretary of the Victorian
Squash Federation within seven (7) days from notification of such decision.
(c) If an appeal against disqualification or suspension is correctly lodged, the disqualified or suspended team or
person will not be debarred from taking part in matches until the appeal has been heard. Should the appeal not be upheld
the decision of the Pennant Committee or the VMSA Tribunal shall be enforced as from the date of the original notification
of the decision to the disqualified or suspended team or person, or such date as the Association decides.

6. PENALTY FOR NON-PAYMENT OF FINES
(a) Any team or person not paying the full amount of any fine imposed under these By-Laws to the Treasurer of the
Association within thirty (30) days after notification of the imposition of such fine shall, unless it has been appealed
within the specified time of 7 days, be penalised under the provisions of By-Laws 2 and 4.

7. POWER TO DEMAND INFORMATION
The Pennant Committee has the power at any time to demand information regarding the circumstances under which any match
has been played, or any matters relating thereto.

8. MEMBERS TO PROVIDE OFFICIALS AND COURTS AS REQUIRED
(a) All teams in the Pennant Competition are required to make available referees and markers for the finals series of
the Pennant Competition.
(b) The Association may require venues at which VMSA pennant matches are played to make courts available for the
finals series of the competition.

9. RULES AND ETIQUETTE OF THE GAME
Matches shall be played under the rules of the game of Squash as determined by the World Squash Federation, the
interpretation of which shall rest with the Pennant Committee unless otherwise indicated by these By-Laws and players
shall observe the etiquette of the game and refrain from unseemly or improper behaviour on and off the court while present
at a pennant match and its associated events.

10. ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS
(a) All pennant players must be registered members of the VMSA, that is:
i) Full Member who has attained the age of 35 years and who pays annual subscription, has voting rights at all
General Meetings, is eligible to stand for election as an Office Bearer, is eligible for selection in State Teams, and
receives other benefits of full membership (e.g. receipt of “Masters Voice” and reduced tournament entry fees); or
ii) Associate Member whose name/date of birth must he included on team entry forms, or if a late registration,
name / date of birth / order of merit number advised to the appropriate Pennant Co-ordinator. Each nominated player must
be 35 years or over for men and 30 years and over for women, and agree to abide by the Rules, By-Laws and Philosophy of
Masters.
(b) All required registration details of players added to teams after the commencement of the pennant season must be
provided on the fax results sheet unless previously supplied to the Pennant Committee.

11. FINANCIAL REQUIRMENTS
The financial requirements shall be determined annually by the Pennant Committee and there will be an entrance fee for
each team entered.

12. TRANSFERS AND LIMITATION OF PLAY IN COMPETITION
No player having been nominated to play for any club or for any team shall be allowed to transfer to another team during
a season.

13. TEAM ENTRIES
Team entries for Pennant competition must be in the form laid down by the Association and be submitted to the nominated
officer by the date set down with the entry fee enclosed. All nominated teams must include a minimum number of 4 regular
players in team position order, and if possible, should include a woman. Alternate players can be nominated in original
team entries.

14. POWER TO RESTRICT TEAMS, GRADE TEAMS AND DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF GRADES
(a) The Association has the right to restrict the number of teams, refuse entry, and decide the grading of teams.
(b) If at the time of grading the number of teams entered in the competition does not divide into and exact number of
grades and sections, a maximum of one bye in a section shall be allocated, or a three round season played.
(c) Any team withdrawing from the competition after the gradings have been determined shall forfeit their team entry
fee and shall be fined as per By-Law 4.
(d) A Premiership team will not be automatically promoted to a higher grade for the following season unless it is
considered to be of a suitable standard.

15. ORDER OF MERIT
(a) Prior to the commencement of the first round of the competition a list must be submitted comprising all eligible
Masters players in overall Club order of merit through the grades.
(b) No alteration to the graded order of players will be permitted, except as provided for in By-Law 16.
(c) Any new player who was not included in the team’s original nominations for the grading must be registered on the
fax results sheet or have been approved by the Pennant Committee. Such inclusions will not be permitted to strengthen a
team beyond the standard of the particular grade.
(d) Any new player included in the team after teams are graded and advised to Clubs, will be graded as an alternate
at the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 positions with the existing players. Alternate players in each of these positions must
be ranked in order of merit, e.g. 2A, 2B, 2C. Alternate players may play above their graded position, in the correct Club
order of merit, but they cannot play below their graded position.
(e) Where a player from a team of a lower grade is called upon to play in a team of a higher grade the player must
play in accordance with approved Club order of merit described in Clause 15 (a) above.
(f) A player cannot play twice in the same round for any other team in the same grade.

16. ALTERATION TO ORDER OF MERIT
(a) The Pennant Committee has the right to alter the order of merit of any team at any time. No alteration to order of
merit will be permitted without the permission of the Pennant Committee.
(b) If a team considers that their order of merit needs adjusting, details of the proposed adjustment must be
submitted to the nominated officer by the Club Co-ordinator of that team before the last match of the first half
(or first third if a 3 round season) of the pennant season, or by the date nominated by the Pennant Committee.

17. DUTIES OF HOME TEAM
The home team shall supply the court, in accordance with By-Law 22, and at least one new squash ball of a type approved
by the Pennant Committee. The home team shall provide supper for the visiting team. Liquid refreshments are the
responsibility of each player, whether at home or away (See also By-Law 30)

18. COMPOSITION OF TEAM AND SELECTION OF OPPONENT
Four registered players from each team shall compete and each player shall play a rubber against one of the opposing team.
The members of each team shall be arranged in the order consistent with the order of merit of their team, and in every
case No. 1 player of one team shall play No. 1 player of the opposing team, No. 2 play No. 2, etc.

19. PENNANT MATCH PROCEDURE
(a) Captains must advise their opposing captains of the composition of their teams before commencement of any match.
(b) Each rubber shall be the best of 5 games played according to the rules of Squash and these By-Laws.
(c) The playing order MUST be decided by the tossing of a coin. The team captain winning the toss shall nominate the
players for the first rubber and thereafter captains alternate choice of subsequent rubbers. Subsequent rubbers must be
nominated when either player of the rubber in progress has won 2 games. All eight players nominated for the match should
be present at the commencement time unless otherwise agreed by team captains.

20. DISPUTE OVER PLAYING ORDER
In the event of a dispute over the playing order of a team, the match shall be played under protest, and the Pennant
Committee shall determine the matter on receipt of a protest submitted according to these By-Laws

21. NIGHT OF PLAY
Masters Pennant matches are to be played on Thursday nights.
(a) Where Clubs cannot meet this requirement, a letter of request justifying another night must be forwarded with
their team entries.
(b) Requests for matches to be played other than on the designated night must be approved by the Pennant Match
Committee. (Match to be played within 2 weeks of original date set down.)
(c) In the event that the match is not played, the court costs are the responsibility of the team, or both teams,
defaulting, and must me paid to the court/centre without delay. Further premiership points may not be allocated until
such debt is settled, and points not so allocated will not necessarily be re-instated. Dispute must be submitted to the
Pennant Director.

22. STARTING TIME AND PLACE FOR PLAYING MATCHES
All matches shall be played at the places approved by the Association and shall commence at the time stated in the current fixture. If play is not commenced within 15 minutes of the time laid down, the team offended against may claim the rubber by default. Fifteen minutes grace shall be allowed after each rubber for the succeeding rubber to start. If play does not commence at the expiration of such grace, the team offended against may claim the particular rubber or rubbers also. However, if a rubber is played after the expiration of the 15 minute period of grace, the team offended against must advise the team at fault of its intention to claim that rubber prior to the playing thereof, otherwise the result of the playing of the rubber shall stand. If both teams default in entirety, the match shall be cancelled.

23. VARIATION IN PLACE AND DATE OF PLAY
No alteration shall be made in places and dates set down unless with previous consent of the Pennant Committee. Should a match not be played as so arranged, then the team in default shall be deemed to have been defeated, provided however, that the question as to whether the team is in default or not shall be decided by the Pennant Committee.

24. POWER TO ORDER REPLAY OR ALTER TIME OF MATCH
The Pennant Committee has the power to order any match to be replayed, either wholly or in part, and to alter the time for playing any match.

25. MARKING AND REFEREEING
Marking and refereeing of pennant matches shall be carried out by the members of each team or by accredited referees unless otherwise agreed by the team captains, or as directed by the Pennant Committee. A person from each team, nominated by their respective team captain, shall officiate at each rubber, the roles of marking and refereeing being altered for each consecutive rubber. If the captains fail to agree, the roles of marking and refereeing of the first rubber shall be decided by the toss of a coin.

26. INJURIES – CONTINIUITY OF PLAY
In the event of injury to a player, the provisions of Rule 16 of the Squash Rules of the World Singles Game (1997) shall generally apply.

27. SUBSTITUTE PLAYER IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Where a match has commenced, and a team member nominated as per By-law 19 is unable to commence their rubber, due to sudden illness, accidental disablement or any good and sufficient reason, a substitute player may take his/her place, providing that:
(a) The opposing captain agrees
(b) Proposed substitute is eligible under these By-laws. If no substitute player is approved a forfeit shall be given.

28. MATCH AND INDIVIDUAL WALKOVERS
(a) If any team receives a match walkover from any other team, it shall be awarded all rubbers, games and points.
(b) In the event of a default occurring in any match which has commenced, the team not defaulting shall be awarded all uncompleted rubbers, games and points.
(c) In the event of a walkover of an individual rubber being given before a match commences, the players in the team giving the walkover must move to the higher positions, thus giving the walkover at the No. 4 position.
(d) In the event of a walkover of an individual rubber being given in a match which has already commenced, the team not defaulting shall also be awarded all rubbers, games and points competed for by the players at lower positions in the two teams. The Pennant Committee may waive this ruling if the circumstances causing the walkover are deemed to be of an extreme or sound nature.
(e) Each team which forfeits or grants a walkover will pay for each rubber forfeited or lost by walkover, an amount equal to 25% of the cost of hiring the court for a complete pennant match. The collection of such fees is the responsibility of the court owner.

29. POSTPONED OR ABANDONED MATCHES
(a) In the event of a match being postponed after play has commenced all rubbers already decided shall stand.
If a match is abandoned due to circumstances that make play impossible, such as electrical blackout, those rubbers already decided shall stand if a match result has been achieved. The winning team will also gain two additional premiership points. However if no match result has been achieved, premiership points awarded on the night will be shared, with three points awarded to each team

30. PROCEDURE FOR CONVEYANCE OF CORRECT RESULT
(a) The home team shall be responsible for faxing the match results to the Results Officer.
(b) The match result must be recorded on the official fax form for the competition and must be a correct and complete record.
(c) Such result forms shall be signed and certified correct by a member of each team and must be faxed no later than 9:30am on the morning following the match.
(d) The Association may also require match results to be telephoned to the Results Officer, or their delegate, prior to a specified time limit.

31. ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY IN FINALS
(a) To be eligible to play in the finals series of a Grade, a player must have played at least 6 matches in a 14 week season in the original nominated team, assuming no byes occur. Under special circumstances, however, the Pennant Committee may sanction the playing of players who have not qualified under this By-Law, in any match of the finals series.
(b) If players are unavailable for finals, their positions must be filled by the remaining available eligible players of the team. Teams may then seek prior approval from the Pennant Committee for a reserve player to fill the subsequent vacancy. Reserves will be expected to be provided from teams in lower grades and they must play in the correct Club order of merit. Reserve players must be eligible to play in finals, as per By-Law 31(a). In the situation where there is no lower graded team in the Club then special circumstances may apply. The inclusion of players under this By-Law will not be permitted to strengthen the team.
(c) No player however may play in the same final match in two grades.

32. PREMIERSHIP POINTS
For all matches played during the competition one point shall be awarded for each rubber won and two points shall be awarded for a team win. To decide the winner of any match, rubbers shall be counted first, then the games and, if necessary, points.
The pennant premiers at the conclusion of the home/away matches shall be decided by a finals system as nominated by the Association prior to the commencement to the season. The finals system may include a final (3), (4) or (5) knockout series, the Page System, or whatever is decided, conditional that only 5 (maximum) teams are involved in the play-off.

33. PROCEDURE IF TEAMS HAVE EQUAL POINTS
IN the event of two or more teams being equal on premiership points at the conclusion of the home/away matches, the final order of such teams shall be determined by comparing the rubbers won to rubbers lost for each team and if they be equal, the proportion of games won and lost shall be compared. If teams are still equal then points won and lost shall be compared. Any match walkovers, together with the corresponding match other teams involved in the calculation played against this team which had given the match walkover, shall be excluded from the calculation.

34. DRAW IN FINALS SERIES
In the event of a draw (i.e. equal rubbers, games and points) in a semi-final, preliminary final or grand final, the same players who played the final rubber will play one deciding game after a 15 minute break. The team that wins this deciding game is the winner of the match.
 

35. REFEREEING/MARKING DUTIES IN FINALS SERIES
(a) Except as provided for in By-Law 35(b) and subject to the decision by the Pennant Committee on the finals system to be played (as per By-law 32):
i) In a grade where 8 teams have played the season the team finishing 8th shall control both the Elimination Final (4v5) and the Qualifying Final (3v2), the team finishing 7th shall control both the 1st Semi Final (winner elimination final v loser qualifying final) and the 2nd Semi Final (1 v winner qualifying final), the team finishing 6th shall control the Preliminary Final (winner 1st semi final v loser 2nd semi final), and the losing team of the elimination final shall control the Grand Final (winner 2nd semi final v winner preliminary final).
ii) In a grade where there are 7 teams and a bye, the team finishing 7th shall control both the Elimination Final (4v5) and the Qualifying Final (3v2), the team finishing 6th shall control both the 1st Semi Final (winner elimination final v loser qualifying final) and the 2nd Semi Final (1 v winner qualifying final), the VMSA committee shall provide both referees and markers for the Preliminary Final (winner 1st semi final v loser 2nd semi final), and the losing team of the elimination final shall control the Grand Final (winner 2nd semi final v winner preliminary final).
iii) In a grade where 6 teams have played a 15 week season, the team finishing 6th shall control both the 1st Semi Final (3v4) and the 2nd Semi Final (1v2), the team finishing 5th shall control the Preliminary Final (winner 1st semi final v loser 2nd semi final), and the losing team of the 1st semi final shall control the Grand Final (winner 2nd semi final v winner preliminary final).
(b) In the event of a team being scheduled to referee and mark a team from its own Club, the Pennant Committee reserves the right to rearrange the order as set down in By-Law 35(a). Where possible such notification shall be indicated on the results of Round 14, however, the Pennant Committee may find it necessary to make changes after that date and shall telephone the captains of the teams concerned.

36. PENNANT DELEGATE MEETINGS
The VMSA Committee may call pennant meetings when considered necessary.
A representative from all Clubs with teams nominated to play Masters Pennant must attend. Non-attendance will be penalised as per By-Law 4.
 

TURNING

Turning occurs when:
• The striker has physically followed the ball around and turned, or
• The ball has passed around the striker
and the striker strikes the ball to the right of the body after the ball has passed to the left (or vice-versa).

Turning does not only happen on return of service.

It is not necessary for the ball to have struck either side or the back wall for turning to apply.

An example of non side wall turning might be a cross-court drive from, say, the right side of the court which passes the striker to the right. The striker then allows the ball to go through to the back wall and on its rebound, hits the ball to the left of the body (in other words the striker, if a right hander, allows the ball to go past the forehand and strikes it on the backhand.) The striker must be careful that the ball does not hit the opponent or the Referee will award a stroke to the opponent.

If the striker has turned but chooses not to continue the rally and asks for a let, this is not an ‘automatic’ let situation. The Referee must be satisfied that both:
1. The striker would have been able to make a good return  e.g. If, as the striker turns, the ball dies in the nick and no return was possible, no let would be allowed.
And
2. There must have been a reasonable fear of the ball hitting the opponent. e.g. If the opponent is against the back wall of the court, the striker is not likely to hit the opponent, but if this did happen, the return was not likely to be a good return. Thus, no let.

The Referee does not allow a let if the Referee decides that the act of turning was to create the opportunity to appeal rather than attempt to play the ball. e.g. A service return where the receiver had plenty of time to back away from the ball and play the return down the wall, but instead chooses to follow the ball around and turn, then asks for a let (perhaps to get a short break if obviously tiring). If the Referee believes that the turning was to “create the opportunity to appeal” then no let is allowed and the receiver loses the stroke.

Opponent hit by the ball after turning
If the striker turns and hits the opponent with the ball going directly to the front wall, the Referee awards a stroke to the opponent unless the opponent made a deliberate movement to intercept the return, in which case the Referee awards the stroke to the striker. The opponent of a striker who has turned has no right to appeal for a let.

If the referee decides that a player is intimidating the opponent by constantly turning and hitting the ball dangerously, the Referee should apply the provisions of the Conduct on Court Rule.

A return made after turning can be a winning return.

Interference and turning
If after turning, the striker encounters interference, the striker may stop play and appeal. The Referee should award a stroke to the striker if deciding that the opponent did not make every effort to avoid the interference and the striker could have made a good return.

e.g. Receiver turns and follows the ball around. As the receiver is about to hit the ball, the opponent moves into the receiver’s back swing. The Referee awards a stroke to the receiver.

ABBREVIATED RULES OF SQUASH

BASED ON THE 2001 RULES, EFFECTIVE 1st MAY 2001

This abbreviated version of the World Squash Singles Rules is to help players to understand the basics.
All players should read the complete Rules. The Rule numbers in brackets in each heading refer to the full Rules.
** Denotes a rule that has been changed. Players should read the full rules of squash to become familiar with these changes.
The Rules with changes underlined can be viewed at: www.worldsquash.org/rules.htm

** THE SCORING (Rule 2)
A match is the best of five games. Each game is to nine points, unless the score reaches eight-all.
At eight-all the receiver (non-server) has to choose to play either to nine points (known as “Set One”) or to ten points (known as “Set Two”). (There is no requirement that a player needs to be two points ahead to win a game).
Only the server scores points. When the server wins a rally he or she scores a point; when the receiver wins a rally he or she becomes the server.

** THE WARM-UP (Rule 3)
Before the start of a match, the two players are allowed up to 5 minutes (2½ minutes on each side) to warm up “themselves and the ball on the match court”
When the ball has been changed during a match, or if the match has been resumed after some delay, the player’s warm-up the ball to playing condition.
Either player may warm up the ball during any interval during the match.

** THE SERVICE (Rule 4)
Play commences with the service. The player to serve first is decided by the spin of a racquet.
Thereafter, the server continues serving until losing a rally, when the opponent becomes the server and the server becomes “hand out”.
The player who wins the preceding game serves first in the next game. At the beginning of each game and when the service changes from one player to the other, the server can serve from either service box. After winning a rally the server then continues serving from the alternate box.
To serve, a player stands with at least part of one foot on the floor within the service box. For a service to be good, it is served directly onto the front wall above the service line and below the out line so that on its return, unless volleyed, i.e. reaches the floor within the back quarter of the court opposite the server’s box.

** GOOD RETURN
A return is good if the ball, before it has bounced twice on the floor, is returned correctly by the striker onto the front wall above the tin and below the out line, without first touching the floor. The ball may hit the side walls and/or back wall before reaching the front wall.
A return is not good if it is “NOT UP” (ball struck after bouncing more than once on the floor, or not struck correctly, or a double hit); “DOWN” (the ball after being struck, hits the floor before the front wall or hits the tin) or “OUT” (the ball hits a wall on or above the out line)

** CONTINUITY OF PLAY (Rule 7)
Play is expected to be continuous in each game once a player has started serving. There should be no delay between the end of one rally and the start of the next one.
In between all games an interval of 90 seconds is permitted.
Players are permitted to change items of clothing or equipment if necessary.

**RALLIES (Rule 8)
After a good service has been delivered, the players hit the ball in turn until one fails to make a good return.
A rally consists of a service and a number of good returns. A player wins a rally if the opponent fails to make a good service return of the ball or if, before the player has attempted to hit the ball, it touches the opponent (including racquet or clothing) when the opponent is the non-striker.
NOTE: AT ANY TIME DURING A RALLY A PLAYER SHOULD NOT STRIKE THE BALL IF THERE IS A DANGER OF HITTING THE OPPONENT WITH THE BALL OR RACQUET.
IN SUCH CASES PLAY STOPS AND THE RALLY IS EITHER PLAYED AGAIN (“A LET”) OR THE OPPONENT IS PENALISED.

** HITTING THE OPPONENT WITH THE BALL (Rule 9)
If the player strikes the ball which, before reaching the front wall, hits the opponent, or the opponent’s racquet or clothing, play stops.
If the return would have been good and the ball would have struck the front wall without first touching any other wall, the striker wins the rally, provided the striker did not “turn”.
If the ball either had struck, or would have struck, any other wall and the return would have been good, a let is played.
If the return would not have been good, the striker losses the rally.

** TURNING (Rule 9)
If the striker has either followed the ball round, or allowed it to pass around him or her – in either case striking the ball to the right of the body after the ball has passed to the left (or vice-versa) then the striker has “TURNED”.
If the ball strikes the opponent after the striker has turned, the rally is awarded to the opponent.
If the striker, while turning, stops play for fear of striking the opponent, then a let is played.
This is a recommended course of action in situations where a player wants to turn but is unsure of the opponent’s position.

** FURTHER ATTEMPTS (Rule 10)
A player attempting to strike the ball, and missing, may make a further attempt to return the ball.
If a further attempt would have resulted in a good return, but the ball hits the opponent, a let is played.
If the return would not have been good, the striker losses the rally.

** INTERFERENCE (Rule 12)
When it is his or her turn to play the ball, a player is entitled to freedom from interference by the opponent.
To avoid interference, the opponent must try to provide the player unobstructed direct access to the ball, a fair view of the ball, space to complete a swing at the ball and freedom to play the ball directly to any part of the front wall.
A player, finding the opponent interfering with the play, can accept the interference and play on, or stop play. It is preferable to stop play if there is a possibility of colliding with the opponent, or of hitting him or her with the racquet or ball.
When play has stopped as a result of interference the general guidelines are:
The player is entitled to let if he or she could have returned the ball and the opponent has made every effort to avoid the interference.
The player is not entitled to a let (i.e. loses the rally) if he or she could not have returned the ball, or accepts the interference and plays on, or the interference was so minimal that the player’s access to and strike the ball was not affected.
The player is entitled to a stroke (i.e. wins the rally) if the opponent did not make every effort to avoid the interference, or if the player would have hit a winning return, or if the player would have struck the opponent with the ball going directly to the front wall.
 

** LETS (Rule 13)
A Let is an undecided rally. The rally does not count and the server serves again from the same box.
In addition to lets allowed as indicated in the paragraphs above, lets can be allowed in other circumstances. For example, a let may be allowed if the ball in play touches any article lying on the floor, or if the striker refrains from hitting the ball owing to a reasonable fear of injuring the opponent.
A let must be allowed if the receiver is not ready and does not attempt to return the service, or if the ball breaks during play.

** DUTIES OF PLAYERS (Rule 15)
Rule 15 provides guidelines for players. For example 15.6 states that deliberate distraction is not allowed. Players should read this rule in full.
Some of the 8 sub sections deal with situations related to matches under control of officials (Referee/Marker). The use of officials is not covered in this abbreviated version.

** BLEEDING, INJURY AND ILLNESS (Rule 16)
If an injury occurs which involves bleeding, the bleeding must be stopped before the player can continue.
A player is allowed a reasonable time to attend to a bleeding wound.
If the bleeding was caused by the opponent’s action, the injured player wins the match.
If the bleeding recurs no further delay is allowed, except that the player can concede a game, using the 90 seconds period between games to attend to the wound and stop the bleeding.
If unable to stop it, the player must concede the match.
For injury not involving bleeding, it must be decided whether the injury was either caused by the opponent or self-inflicted or contributed by both players.
If caused by the opponent, the injured player wins the match if any recovery time is needed.
If self-inflicted, the injured player is allowed 3 minutes to recover and then must play on, or concede a game using the 90 seconds rest period between games to recover.
If contributed by both players, the injured player is allowed an hour to recover.
A player who is still ill must play on or can take a rest period by conceding a game and using the 90 seconds interval to recover.
Cramps, feeling sick and breathlessness (including asthma) are considered illnesses.
If a player vomits on court, the opponent wins the match.

** CONDUCT ON COURT (Rule 17)
Offensive, disruptive or intimidating behaviour in squash is not acceptable.
Included in this category are: audible and visible obscenities, verbal and physical abuse, dissent, abuse of racquet, court or ball, unnecessary physical contact, excessive racquet swing, unfair warm-up, time wasting, late back on court, deliberate or dangerous play or action and coaching (except between games).