Local Call: Sharing the Ball

This past January, the rules of squash singles were adjusted to limit the warm-up to a maximum of four minutes, replacing the previous rule of five minutes. Players must change sides after two minutes unless they have already done so. Importantly, the rule also emphasizes that the players must share the ball. Penalties can be applied to those hitting too many consecutive balls to themselves: “The players must have equal opportunities to strike the ball. A player retaining control of the ball for an unreasonable time is warming up unfairly.” The referee may impose a conduct warning or any of the other possible penalties (conduct stroke, conduct game or conduct match) to a player who is violating the rule.