Refs and Rules
Comment
In or out? Squash must use tech to end side wall line conjecture
Picture the scene. The back end of the fifth at the LA Olympic men’s final. A lengthy rally, no player wanting to give an inch, let alone a mistake....
Comment
Players at odds with squash’s hardline Olympics approach – but rules need tightening
It was 22 long years ago when then International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge came away at odds with player attitudes towards the match...
Comment
Will PSA squash directives damage or improve the sport?
Squash is a-changin’. In these modern times of becoming an Olympic sport, the season-opening Egyptian Open has seen updated directives -- and it’s important...
News
Squash to use AI to find ‘accurate outcomes’ to referee decisions
Some referee decisions in the world game will be decided by technology in real-time after the sport’s officiating body signed a deal with a...
Features
‘Players say ‘no way’ and get penalised – we shouldn’t make squash refereeing robotic’
Squash Mad speaks to top players and seeks their verdict on the referee rule changes sweeping onto the PSA World Squash Tour
Is there another...
News
World squash appoints police officer as full-time referee
World Squash Officiating has appointed Jason Foster onto the panel of full-time professional referees on the PSA World Tour.
Foster, an 11-time National Police Champion,...
News
US television chiefs tell squash to stop player chat with referees
In the first signs of change since squash was given Olympic status last October, 'strict' American TV bosses have told squash to cut out...
Interviews
Squash deep clean: World No 1 Ali Farag backs referee directives
World No. 1 Ali Farag has welcomed the PSA’s initiative to try and address some of the blights -- including blocking and dissent --...
News
Gingell and Santamaria named first professional squash referees
Roy Gingell and Andrea Santamaria have been appointed as squash’s first ever full-time professional referees.
World Squash Officiating (WSO) - the organisation dedicated to the...
Interviews
‘More structure’: Victor Crouin on referees, directives and squash technology
French squash star Victor Crouin has admitted he will wait to see the “consequences” of Lee Drew’s appointment as head of World Squash Officiating,...
News
Squash continues aim for pro referees and ‘free-flowing sport’
Lee Drew, the head of World Squash Officiating (WSO), wants to professionalise refereeing as he bids to develop a global message of communication and...
News
Mostafa Asal to fly to UK for workshops with Willstrop and Drew
Mostafa Asal will fly to the UK later this month to work on his movement with former world squash No.1 James Willstrop -- and...
News
Squash power plays, sudden death enhance 2023 World Tour Finals
The twists and turns of the best-of-three short format will be further enhanced at the PSA World Tour Finals with the addition of power...
Interviews
Squash closes in on first professional referees
The man responsible for driving the high standard of squash officiating across the world has revealed that the sport is “not far off” having...
Comment
Decisions, decisions: What the stats tell us about squash’s ‘interference offenders’
JAMIE ABBOTT, co-founder of squash data business Cross Court Analytics, crunches the numbers on refereeing decisions in the men’s and women’s games.
Two feisty rivalries,...
Interviews
World Squash Officiating denies referees told to avoid ‘yes lets’
Lee Drew says there is a “misconception” among players that squash officials have been instructed to avoid awarding lets on the PSA World Tour.
A...
News
Squash stars call for return of ‘simple let’
World squash tour players have backed calls for more "collaborative discussions" surrounding the current issue of lets - or lack thereof.
World No 34 Aly...
Features
Nick Matthew exclusive: squash referees can learn many lessons from rugby
Every year, watching the Six Nations makes me marvel at the way rugby union is officiated – and compare it to the refereeing in...
Coaching and Development
Nick Matthew exclusive: ‘Coaches who try to influence referees should be banned’
I attended the recent British Junior Open in Birmingham and came away with many observations which caused me concern. But let me begin with...
Comment
David Pearson Exclusive: Referees need to show they’re in charge but not act like headmasters
Officials need to be in much better positions, make themselves heard, and don't allow any backchat
By DAVID PEARSON- Squash Mad Guest Columnist
In his second...
News
Lee Drew lands new role as PSA referees’ boss
Leading coach Lee Drew revealed as the first-ever PSA Refereeing Director
By MICHAEL CATLING - Squash Mad Chief Reporter
LEE DREW has landed a key role...
Refs and Rules
US Open: You the ref
Thanks to Jamie Davis for sending through this video clip from the US Open clash between Alison Waters and Donna Urquhart.
The Australian gets a...
Alan's Archive
Blog: Selby stirs up a toxic argument
PLAYERS AND REFEREES: COLLISION WARNING
Interesting to see Daryl Selby take issue with some points in a recent Squash UK Blog concerning the often-bitter divide...
Features
BLOG: A whole new bawl game
By ALAN THATCHER
So, former England football captain John Terry was found not guilty of using racist abuse during his ugly confrontation with Anton Ferdinand.
The...
News
Pakistan row over age tests
This is an astonishing story from The News website in Pakistan, where a row has erupted over methods of testing junior players to determine...
Coaching and Development
BLOG: Let there be light
By ALAN THATCHER
It's obvious that Joe McManus, the Commissioner of the US-based Pro Squash Tour, is not going to pack up his bags any...
Coaching and Development
Blog: Turning on the backhand
I have been enjoying a thread of posts on the Let's Talk forum at Squashsite concerning the act of "turning" on a serve.
As a...
News
World record: The match lasting 31 hours!
From the Basingstoke Observer
Two Basingstoke squash players have beaten the world record for the longest match ever played.
Super-fit Grant Ward, 29, from Basingstoke, and...
Alan's Archive
Blog: Mayans would have made top referees
Just reading an article in the Daily Mail about a game played by the ancient Mayan civilisation which had rules similar to squash.
The report...
Features
PSA: Razik walks off court to hand Cuskelly Vancouver title
By ANDREW DENT
New South Welshman Ryan Cuskelly celebrated the biggest win of his career when Canadian opponent Shahier Razik stormed off court in the...
Coaching and Development
ESR: New Level 1 courses and coaching seminars
Coaching news from ESR
There is a Level 1 Coaching Course starting in January at Finchley Manor. http://www.englandsquashandracketball.com/find/courses/100
A series of Coaching Seminars is coming up,...
Coaching and Development
BLOG: Colour clashes should be avoided
BY ALAN THATCHER
Whatever happened to the clothing rules at major tournaments, designed to prevent players taking to the court in identical colours?
Sorry to have...
News
World Open: Nicol David feels at home
Nicol David’s bid to win the World Open a record sixth time carried her to a notable revenge and to the semi-finals in her...
Coaching and Development
WSF: Courting a new generation of female players
Squash Courts A New Generation Of Female Players On World Squash Day
Squash is all set to attract a new generation of female players thanks...
News
WSF: Pakistan Federation chief punished
WSF Penalises Pakistan Federation Chief
7 October 2011
The World Squash Federation (WSF) has taken action against Pakistan Squash Federation Honorary SecretaryIrfan Asghar for bringing both the sport...
Alan's Archive
ALAN’S ARCHIVES: Alan on Egypt’s success
VERBATIM - Alan Thatcher on EgyptPublished by: SquashZAG on 21st May 2010
Everybody wants to know the Egyptians’ secret. The answer is simple: numbers, with...
ESR
British Open heads for Hull, via the O2 Arena
The British Open is back on the calendar and it's coming to Kent!
England Squash and Racketball announced today that the finals of the British...
Canary Wharf Classic
Referees need help with long-distance vision
Here's my response to Steve Cubbins' article on referees in his new Blog On The Tyne, headlined How Many Referees Is Enough?
Source: www.cubbins.info
Steve
Some...
News
WSF: New logo is off the wall!
WSF Unveils New Corporate Logo
20 September 2011
The World Squash Federation today launches a bold new visual identity.
The WSF's new corporate logo is intended to achieve...
Coaching and Development
PSA: Video referees here to stay
PSA To Roll Out Video Review For All TV Events
8 September 2011
After extensive trials at recent major PSA World Tour events, the Professional Squash Association is...
News
WSF: Germany to host referees’ conference
Germany To Host 2011 WSF Refereeing Conference
The 13th World Squash Refereeing Conference will take place in Paderborn in August, immediately preceding theMen's World Team Championship being...
News
REFS AND RULES: Blocking and trapping
From The Squasah Official
By BARRY FAGUY
This is reworked from an earlier article from years ago about this very important subject – the group of...
Canary Wharf Classic
REFS AND RULES: Newsletter gems
It's always a pleasure to receive Barry Faguy's online newsletter, The Squash Official, produced for squash referees in Canada but thoroughly deserving of a...