The Fisher Cup Format and Rules 

First round
The format for this round is similar to the one used for World Cup Soccer.  The field has been organized into four groups of four players each.  Each group (box) will be assigned one court, and will play a double round-robin, with each player in the group playing two games against each other player in the group.  The beginning service for each game will be determined by a spin of the racquet.  Alternatively, the Tournament director may choose to assign two courts for each group.  At the end of the round-robin, the two players with the best records will advance to the next round.  [ Note: If a player who advances to the 2nd round withdraws, due to injury or for any other reason, his place in the 2nd round will be taken by the player with the best 3rd-place record, even if that player was not in the same group as the withdrawn player]

Alternative: the tournament site director may choose to assign two courts for each group. This will enable play to be continuous.  If a director does this, he (she) will notify those boxes.  This will require one box playing after the other and non-playing referees.

Divisions with 2 4-player and 1 5-player box:  The 3 players with the best records in the 5-player box advance.  The 2 players with the best records in the 4-player box advance.  The player with the next best record in either of the 4-player boxes advances.

Second round
The same format as the first, with two groups of four players, each group playing a double round-robin.  The two players with the best records in each group will advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals and finals
Traditional match format, with two players going head-to-head, playing best 3-out-of-5 games.

Refereeing
As this is a tournament all matches will be refereed.

Match Times
As we are attempting to play 12 individual games on each court of the first two rounds, it is critical that all players arrive on time so that the matches can begin and that there is a referee available.

Game Scoring
All games will be played with 9-point scoring, according to the international rules of squash.

Order of Play
Suggested order of play:

3 vs. 4 (1 refereeing)
1 vs. 2 (3 refereeing)
1 vs. 4 (2 refereeing)
2 vs. 3 (4 refereeing)
1 vs. 3 (2 refereeing)
2 vs. 4 (1 refereeing)

5 Player Box:
Suggested order of play:  Needs at least one non-player referee.

Court#1           Court#2           Referee
1vs. 2                3 vs. 4                  5
1 vs. 3               2 vs. 5                  4
2 vs. 4               1 vs. 5                  3
1 vs. 4               3 vs. 5                  2
5 vs. 4               2 vs. 3                  1

This is a suggested order of play.  It is not magic.  The critical thing about the order of play is that the play keeps moving along so that all the matches can be played.

Tie-Breaking Rules
In selecting players to advance from the first to the second round, and from the second round to the semi-finals, if two or more players are tied in terms of the number of games won within the four-player group, the following tie-breaking procedures will be use.

1. Total point differential within the group;
2. Head-to-head game results within the group;
3. Head-to-head points within the group;
4. Flip of a coin.  (If two players are tied, they may elect to play a third game instead of flipping a coin.)

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