What Happens If The Ball Hits You In Squash?
Whether you’re an experienced player or are new to squash, being hit by the ball is a common occurrence, given that people are hitting a ball around in a confined space. However, knowing the rules is crucial. So, what happens if the ball hits you in squash?
What happens when the ball hits you in squash depends on what direction the ball was traveling in before it hit you. This can happen in many ways, and the outcome depends on the ball’s direction when it hits the opponent.
Whether you’re a regular player or new to the sport, you may wonder what happens if the ball hits you in squash. Knowing the rules and familiarizing yourself with squash etiquette is helpful because you will need to respond immediately when this happens. This article explains more about this.
What Is The Rule For When The Ball Hits You In Squash?
Being hit by the ball while playing squash is inevitable, given that two people are hitting a ball in a confined space. The trick is in knowing what to do when this happens.
There are various ways a ball can hit a player, and what happens next depends on the circumstances of that particular incident.
Ideally, there will be an umpire present who will officiate over such decisions. In their official capacity, an umpire will decide what the results should be and explain this to the players.
While an umpire will help with these decisions, it is critical for players to show each other the respect that’s due and be honest and upfront about whether the ball would have made contact with the front wall. This is the determining factor in most of these situations.
An umpire is not always present, in social matches or where players play practice games. In that case, the players will need to agree on the result. If they disagree, they will replay the point.
Hopefully, all players abide by squash etiquette, which is to do everything you can to stay out of the line of your opponent’s ball. This includes ensuring you steer clear of the ball by not letting your clothing, body parts, or racquet interfere with the shot’s trajectory.
In some cases, this cannot be helped, so the umpire or players will decide on the appropriate course of action. But players are expected to demonstrate the intention to keep out of the ball’s way as much as possible.
It would be frustrating if you played against someone who did not respect this etiquette and routinely obstructed the ball. This would detract from the enjoyment of the game and compromise the integrity of the game.
However, most often, players respect each other enough to stay out of each other’s way when playing and find common ground in deciding the outcome of interference.
As mentioned above, there can be numerous outcomes to a ball hitting a player in squash. These can be divided into the following categories, which will be explained in detail below: if the ball would have been good and if the ball would not have been good.
What Happens If The Ball Would Have Been Good?
There are three scenarios in which the ball would have been good had it not made contact with the other player.
These include when a player serves, and the ball makes contact with the opponent before hitting the wall. The second is when the ball hits an opponent during a rally before making contact with the wall, and the third is when the ball comes back off the wall after a shot is made, and hits the opponent.
Regarding the first example, if both players can see that the ball would have been good if it had not made contact with the other player before hitting the front wall, then the player who hit the ball is awarded a stroke. A stroke in squash means they will win the point.
The player who won the point will continue serving, alternating to the other service box. The game will continue as usual from this point.
Regarding the second example, if the ball in play hits an opponent on its way to the front wall and would have been good, the player who hit the ball wins the point and the player who was hit by the ball loses the point.
Regarding the third example, if the ball hits a player after it bounces off the wall, the player who is hit by the ball loses the point. This is the case whether the ball hits the person who hit it or is receiving it.
What Happens If The Ball Would Not Have Been Good?
Like the examples listed above, there are three scenarios for when a ball hits a player, including when a player is serving or when a ball in play hits one of the players, either on its way to the wall or on its way off the wall.
Regarding the serving example, if the ball was traveling in the direction of one of the side walls or up into the top of the court and would not have made contact with the front wall when it hit the other player, it is a let. This means the players will replay the point.
Whichever player was serving will continue to serve from the same box, and they will replay the point.
When a ball in play hits one of the players, whether it was going to the wall or bouncing off it, if it was not going to make contact with the front wall, for example, by going in the direction of the side wall or up into the air, then the player who hit the ball loses the point.
Conclusion
Being hit by a ball while playing squash is inevitable at some stage. It happens among social and professional players. Knowing how to respond when this happens is critical to the enjoyment and sportsmanship of the game.
