Rule 5 email

Player comments spark these articles.  The original comment was about an incident in which a player requested a let but was unable to abort the swing.  This series looks at some variations of that incident.

One of the underlying factors is that squash can be very fast.  The incident happened in the front half of the court.  A well-struck ball travels at 100 mph or more (about 150 feet/s).   The doubles court is 45 feet long.  The time between ball strikes can be far less than one second.  It is a challenge for a referee to judge if a player could get to a ball or react to strike the ball.  The closer the play is to the front wall, the quicker events unfold.

The players and the ball are all moving, and the situation may change dramatically in tenths of a second.  The referee reflects on the moment when a let is requested.

The situations in this series of scenarios are similar. The timing of lets and the striker's action can change the outcome from no let to let or point.

Rules Bundle

The rules bundle has evolved over the years and now includes a few parts.

• 15 rules.
• Definitions of words in the rules and guidelines were added as Appendix 1.
• 20 Guidelines were added as Appendix 2 to help understand the intent of the rules.
• ACE is an acronym for A Complete Explanation and Interpretation of Squash Doubles Rules.  It was written by Tony Swift and Mike McGorry to further explain the rules, which has been revised to keep up with rule changes.  The content ranges well beyond the Rules. 
  • Within ACE are two sections: 8 Assumptions and 20 Situations.
  • In 1990 a two page document was handed out to players at tournaments.  A more formal set of rules in the 90’s was maybe 10 pages.  The current rules bundle posted on WSF is over 90 pages.

Significant topics are not included in the 15 rules.  The advice/opinions are not consistent throughout the various parts of the rules bundle. Finding answers to FAQs is a tiresome and too often futile process.

Rule bundle quotes for the 5 scenarios in this email

Rule 7(e).

No Let shall be allowed on any stroke a player makes unless he requests such before or during the act of striking or striking at the ball or immediately after doing so in the event of an obstructed swing.

Lynn.  You have to ask for a let.  Several instances state that an audible request is required for a let to be considered.

Guideline 8 Making every effort and minimal interference

Paragraph 2.

However, it is equally important for the player to make every effort to get to and play the ball. If the player does not make every effort to get to and play the ball, that is a significant factor in the Referee’s assessment of whether or not that player could have reached the ball and made a good return.

Lynn:  An opponent may be in your way to the ball, but you must demonstrate that you could get to the ball.

Paragraph 6 (last).

However, when interference has occurred, the Referee shall not refuse a Let in situations in which the player was clearly making every effort (albeit short of physical contact with the opponent) to get to and play the ball and had demonstrated to the Referee the ability to reach the ball.

Interference with the Striker’s Swing and Reasonable Fear of Hitting the Opponent

3. If the striker stops play for fear of hitting the opponent and the opponent, though close to, does not prevent the striker’s reasonable swing, the Referee shall allow a let under Rule 7 (c) (2) – reasonable fear of injury.  As long as the opponent does not prevent a reasonable swing, a Let is the appropriate decision.

Lynn:  There is a difference between preventing a swing and too close for safety and comfort.

G11 Timing of Requests for a Let

Paragraph 4.

If there is interference in the act of playing the ball, which includes a reasonable backswing, hit and reasonable follow – through, an appeal is justified. The Referee shall consider whether the opponent was crowding and not allowing freedom to play the ball in deciding whether to allow a Let or to award a Point.

Lynn:  Interference of swing includes the entire motion.  This is a bit tricky when the interference is on the follow-through.  If the striker changed the swing is an important factor.  Similarly with the back-swing.  If the striker continues with the swing the interference has less significance.

G20 Point Rule – Rule 6 Interpretation

a. Ball struck back at one’s self: When you hit a ball back at yourself and your opponent refrains from striking it and calls Let, he/she should be awarded the Point, irrespective of whether or not he/she could have struck the ball for a winner.  It is also a Point if the opponent hits the player with the ball going to the front wall. The intent here is to penalize the person for his own bad shot which placed him in this poor position. This Point rule (Rule 6(a)(4)) also applies when a player hits a bad “reverse corner” or short “philly-boast” since it was his own poor shot which caused interference.

Lynn: The main concept is the previous striker is interfering.  The ball's path is not significant except for a ball coming off the back wall.

b. Depriving an opponent of a winning shot or failure to use reasonable efforts to clear: There appears to be a misconception by some players who get caught in the front 1/3rd of the court by their partner’s poor shot. They argue that since they did not hit the ball back at themselves, their opponent should not get a Point – Wrong!!! No matter who hit the poor shot, or from where, if your position, either by refusing or being unable to clear, deprives your opponent of a clear opportunity to attempt a winning shot, a Point should be awarded.

Interference

ACE p44

A player may also appeal against interference or obstruction.  This must be done at the time of the interference otherwise he loses the right to appeal.

Lynn:  Timing the request for a let is a key factor.

Could Obstructed Player Have Reached The Ball?

ACE p52

This is an important question and one which requires a judgment decision based on the circumstances.  The Referee must be satisfied that the player could have reached the ball, not only by the direction of his movement but also by his speed and ability.  His speed may well deteriorate as the game progresses when his fitness deserts him.  So what might be a positive answer early in a match, could become a negative one toward the end of a long five game match.  The Referee must adjust his decision to take into account the ability of the player, at the time, to reach and successfully play the ball.

If the player could have reached the ball and made a good return and was making every effort to do so, the Referee goes to the next question in the Line of Thinking.

Lynn:  A let will be considered only if the striker is making sufficient effort and would have been able to reach the ball.  An opponent in the striker’s path to the ball is not automatically a violation.

Freedom of Stroke

ACE p54

However, there are some occasions when it is not possible to stop the shot completely because of the speed with which the stroke is played.  It is difficult to stop the shot once the stroke has reached the downswing position and it is impossible to stop the shot when the interference occurs as the ball is being struck

Lynn:  There is general agreement that the striker should abort or withhold a swing when they request a let.  There is nothing specific found that there is a penalty to do so.  It should be acknowledged that the speed of the game sometimes prevents us from doing the proper thing.  Players run into each other.  Players get whacked by a racquet.  Players inadvertently hit the ball.  Players get hit by the ball.  When viewed from behind the glass, it is often easier to see what might have been done.