Squash (sport) facts for kids
Squash court
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| Highest governing body | World Squash Federation (WSF) |
|---|---|
| First played | 1830 at Harrow School, London, England, United Kingdom |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Semi |
| Team members | Singles or Doubles |
| Mixed-sex | Separate competitions (mixed sometimes in leagues) |
| Type | Racket sport |
| Equipment | Squash ball, squash racket, goggles |
| Venue | Indoor or outdoor (with glass court) |
| Presence | |
| Olympic | No |
| Paralympic | No |
| World Games | 1997, 2005 – present |
Squash is a fast-paced sport played by two players (or sometimes four in doubles). Players use a racket to hit a small rubber ball against a wall. The main goal is to hit the ball so your opponent cannot hit it back before it bounces twice on the floor. It's a great way to get exercise and have fun!
Contents
Playing equipment
The ball
The squash ball is made of rubber and is hollow. It bounces more when it gets warm from being hit a lot. Squash balls have different colored dots. These dots show how fast the ball will bounce.
- Balls with two yellow dots are the slowest.
- Balls with one yellow dot are a bit faster.
- Green or white dots mean the ball is average speed.
- Red or blue dots mean the ball is very fast.
The racket
A squash racket looks a bit like a tennis racket. However, it is usually lighter and smaller. The size of rackets has changed over time. Today, they can be a bit larger. The biggest allowed racket head size is 500 square centimeters.
How to play squash
The rules of the game
Squash games are usually played to at least 11 points. To win a game, a player must be ahead by at least two points. Games can keep going until one player gets that two-point lead. A match is won by the first player to win three games. This is called "best of five games."
Scoring points
You score a point when you hit the ball against the front wall, and it bounces twice before your opponent can hit it. You also score a point if your opponent hits the ball too high (called "out") or too low. If the ball hits the "tin" (a low metal strip on the front wall), it's also out.
Starting a point
Every point starts with a serve. The server must stand in one of the small service boxes. They hit the ball to the front wall above a special service line. The ball must then land in the back quarter of the court on the opposite side from where they served.
When players get in the way
Sometimes, a player might block their opponent from reaching the ball. If this happens, the player who was blocked can ask the referee for a "let." This means the point is played again.
If a player stops their opponent from swinging the racket safely, it can be dangerous. The blocked player can ask for a "stroke." If the referee agrees, the blocked player wins the point. If the referee thinks the player could not have reached the ball anyway, they might say "no let." This means the point ends as it would have without the request.
Famous players
Squash has had many amazing players. One of the most famous is Jahangir Khan. He was a top player for 25 years. He won many matches, including beating Rodney Martin in a final. Many people think he is the best squash player ever.
Today, many top squash players come from Egypt. Some of these include Ramy Ashour, Mohammed El Shorbagy, and Amr Shabana. England also has strong players like Nick Matthew and James Willstrop.
Images for kids
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Squash Played at the Pyramids of Egypt.
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Old and new style squash rackets
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A squash ball
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Glass Squash Court
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The glass show court used at the 2011 US Open Squash Championships hosted by Drexel University at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. 2 points during the Semi Final between James Willstrop and Nick Matthew in 2011:
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Jansher Khan of Pakistan Record Eight Times Winner of the Squash World Open, Record Four Times Winners of the World Super Series and Guinness World Records.
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Nicol David; widely regarded as the most successful Malaysian squash player ever.
See also
In Spanish: Squash para niños
