Extract from World Squash Singles Rules 2019
Section 8
8.1After completing a reasonable follow-through, a player must make every effort to
clear, so that when the ball rebounds from the front wall the opponent has:
8.1.1a fair view of the ball on its rebound from the front wall; and
8.1.2unobstructed direct access to the ball; and
8.1.3the space to make a reasonable swing at the ball; and
8.1.4the freedom to strike the ball to any part of the front wall.
Interference occurs when the player does not provide the opponent with all of these requirements.
8.2A striker who believes that interference has occurred may stop and request a let, preferably by saying “Let, please.” That request must be made without undue delay. Notes:
that request may be considered, even though that player is not yet the striker. 8.3 The Referee, if uncertain about the reason for a request, must ask the player for an
explanation.
8.4 The Referee may allow a let or award a stroke without a request having been made, stopping play if necessary, especially for reasons of safety.
8.5 If the striker strikes the ball and the opponent then requests a let, but then the ball goes down or out, the opponent wins the rally.
8.6 General
The following provisions apply to all forms of interference:
8.6.1 if there was neither interference nor reasonable fear of injury, no let is allowed;
8.6.2 if there was interference but the striker would not have been able to make a good return, no let is allowed;
8.6.3 if the striker continued play beyond the interference and then requested a let, no let is allowed;
8.6.4 if there was interference, but it did not prevent the striker from seeing and getting to the ball to make a good return, this is minimal interference and no let is allowed;
8.6.5 if the striker would have been able to make a good return but the opponent was not making every effort to avoid the interference, a stroke is awarded to the striker;
8.6.6 if there was interference that the opponent was making every effort to avoid and the striker would have been able to make a good return, a let is allowed;
8.6.7 if there was interference and the striker would have made a winning return, a stroke is awarded to the striker.
In addition to Rule 8.6, the following provisions apply to specific situations.
8.7 Fair View
Fair View means enough time to view the ball and prepare to strike it as it returns from the front wall.
8.7.1 If the striker requests a let for lack of fair view of the ball on its return from the front wall, the provisions of 8.6 apply.
8.8 Direct Access
If the striker requests a let for lack of direct access to the ball, then:
8.8.1 if there was interference but the striker did not make every effort to get to and play the ball, no let is allowed;
Note:
Every effort to get to and play the ball should not include contact with the opponent. If any contact that could have been avoided is made, Rule 15 (Conduct) must be applied.
8.8.2 if the striker had direct access but instead took an indirect path to the ball and then requested a let for interference, no let is allowed, unless Rule 8.8.3 applies;
8.8.3 if the striker was wrong-footed, but showed the ability to recover and make a good return, and then encountered interference, a let is allowed, unless the striker would have made a winning return, in which case a stroke is awarded to the striker.
8.9 Racket Swing
A reasonable swing comprises a reasonable backswing, a strike at the ball and a reasonable follow-through. The striker’s backswing and follow-through are reasonable as long as they do not extend more than is necessary.
If the striker requests a let for interference to the swing, then:
8.9.1 if the swing was affected by slight contact with the opponent who was making every effort to avoid the interference a let is allowed, unless the striker would have made a winning return, in which case a stroke is awarded to the striker;
8.9.2 if the swing was prevented by contact with the opponent, a stroke is awarded to the striker, even if the opponent was making every effort to avoid the interference;
8.9.3 where there has been no actual contact and the swing has been held by the striker for fear of hitting the opponent, the provisions of 8.6 apply.
8.10 Excessive Swing
8.10.1 If the striker caused the interference by using an excessive swing, no let is allowed.
8.10.2 If there was interference but the striker exaggerated the swing in attempting to earn a stroke, a let is allowed.
8.10.3 The striker’s excessive swing can contribute to interference for the opponent when it becomes the latter’s turn to play the ball, in which case the opponent may request a let.
8.11 Freedom to strike the ball to any part of the front wall
If the striker refrains from striking the ball because of front-wall interference, and requests a let, then:
8.11.1 if there was interference and the ball would have hit the non-striker on a direct path to the front wall, a stroke is awarded to the striker, unless the striker had turned or was making a further attempt, in which case a let is allowed;
8.11.2 if the ball would first have hit the non- striker and then a side wall before reaching the front wall, a let is allowed, unless the return would have been a winning return, in which case a stroke is awarded to the striker; or
8.11.3 if the ball would first have hit a side wall and then the non-striker before reaching the front wall, a let is allowed unless the return would have been a winning return, in which case a stroke is awarded to the striker.
8.12 Further Attempt.
If the striker requests a let for interference while making a further attempt to strike the ball, and could have made a good return, then:
8.12.1 if the non-striker had no time to avoid the interference, a let is allowed.
8.13 Turning
Turning is the action of the player who strikes, or is in a position to strike, the ball to the right of the body after the ball has passed behind it to the left or vice versa, whether the player physically turns or not.
If the striker encounters interference while turning, and could have made a good return, then:
8.13.1 if the swing was prevented, even though the opponent was making every effort to avoid the interference, a stroke is awarded to the striker;
8.13.2 if the non-striker had no time to avoid the interference, a let is allowed;
8.13.3 if the striker could have struck the ball without turning, but turned in order to create an opportunity to request a let, no let is allowed.
8.13.4 When the striker turns, the Referee must always consider whether the action was dangerous and rule accordingly.
APPENDIX 1 - DEFINITIONS
APPEAL | A player’s request to the Referee to review a Marker’s call or lack of a call, | |
or to appeal that the ball is broken. | ||
ATTEMPT | Any forward movement of the racket towards the ball. A fake swing is also | |
an attempt, but racket preparation with only a backswing and no forward | ||
movement towards the ball is not an attempt. | ||
BOX, SERVICE-BOX | A square area on each side of the court bounded by the short-line, a side | |
wall and by 2 other lines, from where the server serves. | ||
CORRECTLY | When the ball is struck with the racket, held in the hand, not more than once, | |
and without prolonged contact on the racket. | ||
DOWN | A return that hits the tin or the floor before reaching the front wall, or hits | |
the front wall and then the tin. | ||
FAIR VIEW | Enough time to view the ball and prepare to strike it as it returns from the | |
front wall. | ||
FAULT | A serve that is not good. | |
FURTHER ATTEMPT | A subsequent attempt by the striker to serve or return a ball that is still in | |
play, after having already made one or more attempts. | ||
GAME | A part of a match. A player must win 3 games to win a best of 5-game match | |
and 2 games to win a best of 3-game match. | ||
GOOD RETURN | A return that is struck correctly and that travels to the front wall either | |
directly or after hitting another wall or walls without going out, and that hits | ||
the front wall above the tin and below the out-line. | ||
HAND OUT | A change of server. | |
LET | The result of a rally that neither player wins. The server serves again from | |
the same box. | ||
MATCH | The complete contest, including the warm-up. | |
NOT UP | A return that: | |
a player does not strike correctly; or | ||
bounces more than once on the floor before being struck; or | ||
touches the striker or the striker’s clothing. | ||
OUT | A return that: | |
hits the wall on or above the out-line; or | ||
hits any fixture above the out-line; or | ||
hits the top edge of any wall of the court; or | ||
passes over a wall and out of the court; or | ||
passes through any fixture. | ||
QUARTER-COURT | One of two equal parts of the court bounded by the short-line, a side wall, | |
the back wall and the half-court line. | ||
RALLY | A good serve followed by one or more alternate returns until one player fails | |
to make a good return. | ||
SERVICE-BOX | See BOX, SERVICE-BOX. | |
STRIKER | A player is the striker from the moment the opponent’s return rebounds from | |
the front wall until the player’s return hits the front wall. | ||
TIN | The area of the front wall covering the full width of the court and extending | |
from the floor up to and including the lowest horizontal line. | ||
TURNING | The action of the striker who strikes, or is in a position to strike, the ball to | |
the right of the body after the ball has passed behind it to the left or vice | ||
versa, whether the striker physically turns or not. | ||
Note: Shaping (preparing) to play the ball on one side and then bringing the | ||
racket across the body to strike the ball on the other side is neither turning | ||
nor making a further attempt. | ||
WINNING RETURN | A good return that the opponent could not reach. | |
WRONG-FOOTED | The situation when a player, anticipating the path of the ball, moves in one | |