Officiating with Confidence: A Guide for Women in Squash

Officiating with Confidence: A Guide for Women in Squash

By Hope Prockop

Introduction
The 2025–26 season is underway, and soon hundreds of passionate women will gather in Seattle for the Howe Cup. Along with spirited match play and healthy competition, every participant will also take a turn serving as a referee or marker. For some, that prospect can feel daunting—but it doesn’t need to.

Women make excellent officials. We are natural communicators, multi-taskers and decision-makers, often delivering with grace. It is possible to officiate matches with players ranked higher than yourself. This is the case in 100% of PSA events. Many of us balance competing demands daily and bring empathy and clarity to challenging situations. Sitting in the referee’s chair or marker’s seat is not just about enforcing rules—it’s about showing leadership. And when women lead, we inspire others to step forward as well.

With more than a decade of experience officiating juniors, college athletes and professionals across multiple continents, I’ve felt it all—nerves, embarrassment, calm, confidence and pride. My goal now is to help ease that anxiety for others and show more women that officiating is a space where we not only belong, but can also lead. Officiating is here to stay, let’s meet the movement together!

Rules
Rules are the framework that keep matches safe and fair—and they are the referee’s strongest tool. Confidence comes from knowing where judgment applies and where the rules are absolute.

Rules that require judgment
This is where officials can feel the most pressure: making a call in the heat of the moment. The three main decisions are Yes Let, No Let and Stroke. Read a full outline of the official rules here.

When making a decision, consider

  • the degree of interference
  • the player’s effort
  • safety
  • continuity of play

If unsure about a decision or a dispute, it is acceptable to issue a Yes Let. Rules provide the framework, but interpretation can be nuanced and sometimes lead to uncomfortable differences of opinion. Making these calls can feel intimidating—especially with teammates, coaches, or crowds watching—but consistency matters more than perfection. Offer a rules-based explanation if needed, and remember, referees should respond to only one appeal.

Clear Cut Rules

Some rules leave no room for interpretation. Here are a few of the most common.

  • Injury time limits: 3 minutes for self-inflicted injury, 5 minutes for self-inflicted blood, 15 minutes for contributed injury and reasonable time for contributed blood.
  • Code of Conduct: From a warning to a match decision, COC covers unsportsmanlike behavior such as racket abuse, verbal abuse, time wasting or trying to influence the referee.
  • Intervals: Players receive 2 minutes between games. Clear, fixed and non-negotiable. The time interval change is a new rule effective 9/1/25.

Managing player behavior

It is never acceptable for players to speak or gesture the decision they feel is correct. Doing so is considered influencing the referee (which is against the rules) and should be addressed with Code of Conduct. This protects both the official and the match.

The rules empower referees and markers to keep play safe, fair and continuous.

Roles
Officiating is more than applying rules; it’s managing the entirety of the match. The referee makes all decisions to ensure play is safe and there is a fair outcome to each rally.The marker works in partnership by calling the score accurately and audibly and making line calls as well as down/not up. Together, they share responsibility for steadying the match, especially when emotions rise.

Reminders

Most referees and markers feel nervous at times. Like playing squash, officiating is a skill that develops with practice. Players deserve a fresh perspective and an unbiased set of eyes. Players, too, play a role in creating a positive match environment. Cooperation, gratitude and forgiveness go a long way in making matches run smoothly and presenting a sport we can all be proud of. For safety, eyeguards are mandatory, even in the shared warm-up. It will help to have a spare ball on hand in case the ball is lost or gets broken. An official’s lack of preparation should not result in delay of play.

At large events like Howe Cup, unexpected things may happen: an injury, a court delay, or even a moment when you freeze with everyone watching. Remember, you’re not alone. There are always people nearby – fellow officials, organizers, even players who want to help.

With much of the season ahead, many of us will soon take on the role of referee or marker. It may feel daunting, but it’s also a chance to lead, support fair play, and strengthen the spirit of the game. From league nights to national championships, this responsibility is part of our sport all season long. I hope your comfort and confidence grows with each match you participate in.

Resources