-- By Hunt Richardson
The Sports Club/LA, 202-974-6635

6) After hitting your shot, recover immediately to the” T”, or best central position. The sooner you recover, the more relaxed you will be, and the less energy will you spend overall.

7) Always watch the ball. All the information is there. You can better read your opponent's swing and anticipate where the ball will go. During rallies, keep your eyes on the ball, no matter where it is. Your reaction time will improve.

8) Make your opponent run. Hit the ball as far from your opponent as possible. If you cannot do that, then hit the best possible shot. Avoid daring shots unless forced to hit them.

9) Volley whenever possible. It will make your opponent rush.

10) Vary the pace and height of your shots. Changing the rhythm of the game can be unsettling to your opponent. When out of position in the frontcourt, lob to buy time to recover. Careful with the out lines!

The New Rules of Squash: What is Truly New?
(April 2001)

ATTENTION SQUASH PLAYERS AND REFEREES!

I wish to share some things that I learned while attending an Advanced Squash Refereeing Seminar conducted by Rod Symington, a university professor in British Columbia who is also a World Squash Federation Referee (Emeritus). The seminar was conducted during the United States National Squash Championships in Seattle, Washington, which were held over the weekend of March 15-18, 2001. Dr. Symington was the Head Referee of the Championships. 15 other Squash Referees ranging from State to National Level also attended the seminar.

U.S. squash players owe a deep debt of gratitude to Dr. Symington for his tireless, decade-long effort to educate them about the Rules. I got my first opportunity to become a USSRA certified Squash Referee at a Basic Rules and Refereeing Seminar sponsored by the NCSRA that Symington gave in Washington, DC in July 1992. Since then, six different, high-level referees have assessed me perhaps 20 times while I worked professional and world-class matches all over the US. To pass or get a “signature” from a top referee, candidates must demonstrate that they can mark correctly and make correct decisions on player appeals for interference.

The World Squash Federation requirements are strict. The assessors are stringent and unforgiving as they closely scrutinize candidates for tiny errors in judgment and marking skills under match conditions that are often stressful. Each candidate for National Referee status must pass a minimum of five assessments by at least two International or World Referees. Two or more of the five matches must be rated as A+ (or difficult) matches, i.e. have any combination of high level tournament play between top-ranked players, a hostile and vocal crowd, and at least 20 appeals with 12 correct, difficult decisions (during the 2000 Tournament of Champions, I was successfully assessed by another Canadian named Barry Faguy during a marathon, two and a quarter hour match between Peter Marshall and Paul Johnson. There were 86 appeals!)

Nearly nine years ago, Rod Symington was the first person to show me the importance of having a thorough and systematic understanding of the Rules of Squash, so it was fitting that he was the one to give me the final signature in Seattle that resulted in my becoming a US National Referee.

The seminar was timely and important, because the new Rules of Squash go into effect on May 1, 2001. At present, the USSRA and its Districts (including the NCSRA) are making a concerted effort to educate all squash players about the new Rules of the game, and to increase the number and status of Referees in the U.S. in general. (For more information about refereeing, and to see the new Rules of Squash, go to the USSRA's rules page.)

An important topic that Symington presented at his seminar was "The New Rules: What is Truly New?" He presented the summary of the new Rules in two parts: "Clarifications of the Wording of Present Rules" and "New Rules". Here I have quoted directly from the seminar handouts, and added a few comments. I have received permission from the Professor to quote him verbatim (thanks, Rod!)

A. CLARIFICATIONS OF THE WORDING OF PRESENT RULES

NOTE: All the items in this section are improvements to existing wording. They are NOT new Rules.

1. Warm-up must be fair. Referee to intercede if it is not. Players may not hog the ball and hit it to themselves unfairly (Rule 3.2).

2. Service Rule now states what a good serve is. Previously the Rule stated only what a fault is (Rule 4).

3. Referee may ask player for reason for appeal (Rule 11and Rule 13).

4. Player must provide direct access “after completion of a reasonable follow-through” (Rule 12.2.1).

5. Player has freedom to hit the ball “with a reasonable swing” (Rule 12.2.3).

6. A player's excessive swing can contribute to interference (Rule 12.4 and Rule 12.10).

7. Player must make every effort to get to and play the ball. Player may not endanger opponent (Rule 12.7.2).

8. Minimal interference in seeing, getting to and playing the ball = “No Let” (Rule 12.7.2).

9. If a player's swing is “prevented”, “Stroke” to player (Rule 12.8.2).
a) Minimal interference with reasonable swing = no let.
b) Slight interference with swing = let.
c) Prevention of swing = stroke.

10. Guidelines on what constitutes “minimal interference” (G6).

11. Description of difference between “minimal interference” and “slight racquet contact” (G7).

12. “Duties of the Players” are now collected into a new Rule 15.

13. Referee must speak loudly (Rule 20.1) and has control of crowd (Rule 20.3).

14. Definition of “early appeal” (G10).

15. Guideline on how to behave as a single official (G17).

16. Enhanced flowchart for “Referee's Line of Thinking” (Appendix 4.1).

B. NEW RULES

1. Players must change sides at “Half Time”, if they haven't already done so (Rule 3.1).

2. Player turning and hitting ball that hits the opponent loses the rally! (Rule 9.1.2).

3. Player turning “unnecessarily” loses the rally (i.e., “No Let”) (Rule 9.2.3).

4. Stroke possible against an opponent who does not make every effort to avoid interference when a player turns (Rule 9.1.2 and 9.2.2.2), or on a player's second attempt (Rule 9.1.3 and 10.3.2)

5. Player distracted: if distraction interrupts a winning return = stroke (Rule 13.1.3)

6. Bleeding Rule (Rule 16) has been amended significantly:
a) Referee must stop play immediately.
b) Bleeding must be stopped and wound covered.
c) Time permitted at Referee's discretion.
d) If bleeding caused solely by opponent, match to injured player.
e) NEW: If bleeding recurs, player shall lose one game and take 90 seconds to stop bleeding.
f) NEW: if covering falls off, the preceding applies, unless bleeding has stopped.

7. Entire Rule 16 (Bleeding, Illness, Disability and Injury) has been rewritten.

8. New Flowchart for Referees in regard to Bleeding, Illness, Disability or Injury.

9. Several New Definitions (Appendix 2).

Some Exercises to Protect Your Back
(June 2000)

Recently, a squash player with five years' experience wrote a question on the Talk Squash page of the USSRA web site about minimizing back spasms while doing lunge drills in the front of the court. I responded and he gave me permission to quote his query, as follows:

"I have a question about proper footwork. I am a self taught player with five years in the game. I do not have access to a regular squash pro, so whatever bad habits I have stay with me. I have recently started to run drills with a top "A" player in my club who insists my footwork is limiting my game. He does not like that I go into both front corners with my right foot. He says that, as a righty, I should plant with my right foot only on the backhand and plant with my left foot on my forehand. When we boast/drop and drive drills for both strokes, my shots look cleaner on the forehand doing it his way, but I am developing back spasms for the strain of lunging on my left leg. I would like to invite opinions on what proper footwork is. I have seen top players, pros included, doing both. "

Here is my answer:

Your description of your back strain indicates that when using the proper footwork (left foot forward in the front right corner, when hitting a drive or drop off your partner's boast) you are probably bending your waist too much and not bending your legs enough.

Ease up a bit on the speed and do the drills slower, by yourself, at a speed where you can feel the legs doing more of the work. Cut back on the high speed, repetitive footwork drills, and do more lunge work on court and in the gym. Ask a trainer or your pro (if he/she understands basic biomechanics) how to do them properly.

Also, be sure you are not holding up your head when going for a low ball. Dropping your head, or even snapping it down slightly just prior to hitting the ball, keeps the momentum of the movement flowing better. As you recover from your shot, push back with the lead leg and stay low at the waist as you raise your head. The head weighs 10-12 pounds and should be used as a source of momentum and proper coordination. Not using it properly can put more strain on your back.

Watch videos of Chris Dittmar, who was #2-3 in the world while Jahangir and Jansher were #1/2. He snapped his head and in my opinion had some of the best lunges in the game, which were particularly impressive because he was heavy for a squash player. Dittso also rode the indoor bike a LOT.

Back problems are extremely common among squash players, so strengthen the legs in new ways that are a little easier on your body. Take your time and don't push it too soon. After several months, your form and strength should be better. Last, do a lot of proper situps and back hyperextension exercises to strengthen the lower back. Again, a good trainer (or your pro) can show you some simple floor exercises that you can use in your home or while training in the club. The overall effect will be to strengthen your legs and trunk, which is the "power zone" where most of the strains and stresses of squash movement are centralized.

The "Pro Tips" Inaugural
(May 2000)

For this first article, I wish to help the 'club player' by focusing on a fundamental tactic which can always be improved upon, and is often neglected in practice and match play. I draw on Geoff Hunt, who was the only Australian ever to win the prestigious British Open, and who won it an impressive eight times. Hunt's aggressive, high-pressure style drove fear into the hearts of his opponents. His ability to concentrate was legendary. Many times he defeated squash legend Jonah Barrington, who won six Open crowns. Hunt's run ended in 1982 at the age of 33, when an 18-year-old Jahangir Khan defeated him in the British Open final. Hunt defeated Jahangir in 1981 in the first of their two Open final matches. After Hunt retired from competitive squash, Jahangir won an astonishing total of ten consecutive Open titles, which confirms that Hunt could only be beaten by perhaps the greatest player of all time, and a much younger one at that.

In Chapter Two of the book Geoff Hunt on Squash (1974, Cassell and Company, edited by Alan Trengove), Hunt outlines his 'ten fundamentals of squash.' You may have seen them on the walls of many squash clubs, where they are posted like the Ten Commandments. Following are excerpts on Hunt's Fundamental #1:

'Hit the Ball To a Good Length'

'When I began to learn squash as a boy, my father [whom Hunt writes was an active A League player] made me hit the ball along the side walls of a squash court for the first three months before he would allow me to attempt any other sort of shot. The object was to develop good length almost as a reflex action. I have been grateful for that grounding ever since.

'What is good length? It is hitting the ball to the front wall with sufficient judgment to make it bounce at the back of the court behind the service box...the ball should never fail to reach the back wall. Ideally it should bounce once and then die in the back of the court.

'Good length comes with practice. It can be attained by hitting the ball either hard or softly, the determining factor being the trajectory on to the front wall. The decision to hit hard or not can sometimes be problematical; a very hard hit ball may bounce too far forward off the back wall and rob a player of length, whereas the softer shot, particularly in matches against good volleyers, may be cut of in mid-court. One of the many fascinations of squash is this subtle conflict between the need for pace and the need for softness.'

'My own usual pattern is to hit the ball firmly to just beneath the cut line (the middle red line on the front wall) with the intention of making it bounce on the floor near the back of the service box. If I find the ball is bouncing short I aim higher on the wall...

'The objective in hitting to a good length is to confine one's opponent as close to the back wall as possible. He has to be moved out of the dominating position on the squash court, the position...known simply as the T. When the ball falls short he needs only to take one step sideways from the T to reach it. He has not expended any effort, and he is set to play an attacking shot. He cannot be nearly so aggressive from the back of the court.'

Hunt Richardson's comments:

Hitting to a good length is often at once good DEFENSE and OFFENSE. When hit within a foot of the side wall, it gives a player TIME (defense) to get into position in the middle of the court (for offense). It FORCES the opponent to RISK striking the ball at an uncomfortable distance from the body (offense). When hit very close to the side and back walls (i.e., in the back corners) it can result in an ungettable shot (offense).

Often club players have never studied better players, who continuously use good length as their bread-and-butter and their chief tactical weapon. As a result, when hitting balls from the back of the court, the club player aims too low on the front wall. This allows his opponent to cut off the ball, which forces the poor player to expend excess energy in reacting quickly to the opponent's shot. Why does he hit poorly from the back of the court? I believe there are three main reasons: 1) lack of understanding of the effectiveness of a simple, good shot; 2) improper stroke technique; and 3) absence of practice.

Geoff Hunt has made a good case for hitting to a good length. Technique can be improved immediately by bringing the racket UP and BACK extremely early, that is AS one is moving to the ball, and not AFTER one has moved the feet into the striking position. Players should take note of when they are preparing their racquets, and endeavor at all costs to do so as early as possible. Additionally, keep the racquet face open much more than usual when striking the ball. This by itself often does the trick.

Last, players will benefit immensely by practicing their length alone or with a partner for 10 minutes. 'Perfect practice makes perfect.' Since old habits die hard, and since muscle memory is often difficult to overcome in the middle of a hard match, try hitting the ball by yourself in a court. Hit 20 shots at a MEDIUM pace high enough to clear the cut line and bounce on the floor right on the back of the service box. NOTE TO NARROW COURT PLAYERS: the back of the service box in an international width court (21 ft.) corresponds to the middle of the service quarter circle. Since the narrow court allows an opponent to more easily cut off your length shots than in a wide court, aim higher, softer and deeper into the back corner. I learned this from a terrific Pakistani player named Raheil Qureshi, who was the Head Pro at my club some years ago. It works!