By Sheldon Anderson
US Squash Rules & Referee Committee Chairperson
Have you ever questioned a call during a match as a player or spectator? If so, you are well on your way to being one of the people whose job it is to inform two opposing players chasing a small projectile in a confined space what you saw in the hopes of assuring a fair outcome. In other words, a referee.
If you are a recreational, tournament or professional player, knowing the rules makes you a better referee and player. For US Junior players, attaining a year-end ranking requires each player to be certified as a club level referee, illustrating the importance placed on new players learning the rules.
To gain a better understanding of the rules or to become a US Squash certified referee, I encourage you to attend a US Squash referee certification clinic, conducted over a three hour period, concluding with an open book exam of 75 questions. If you are interested in hosting a clinic, contact US Squash and suitable arrangements can be made. Successful completion of the test with a score of 80% or better qualifies you to be a US Squash Club Level referee. You may take the exam online and use all of your books and knowledge to answer the questions (but that is clearly not as much fun!)
US Squash currently has four levels of certification: Club, State, Regional and National. The process and requirements to upgrade to each level are also listed on the website. There are advanced clinics available, covering many rules of the game, available to your Local District Association. The key ingredient to becoming a better referee is experience, and it all starts with learning and applying the rules.
As a referee, I have had the privilege of representing my country, participating and interacting with some of the greatest players of the game and giving back to a sport that has been so good to me. As our sport grows, the support structure must be developed and grow at the same rate. It is truly an exciting time to be involved in US Squash. I encourage you to further develop your understanding of the rules and hope to see you outside the court in the future.
