Introduction to Squash Rules

Rule 17 - CONDUCT ON COURT

Idea by Clive Pollard

Do you have any comments on the content or any suggestions ?

Please fill in our comments form

17. CONDUCT ON COURT

17.1 If the Referee considers that a player's behaviour is disruptive, intimidating or offensive to the opponent, an official or a spectator, or could in any way bring the game into disrepute, the Referee shall penalise the player.

(see Guideline 15) 17.2 Offences with which the Referee shall deal under this rule include audible and visible obscenities, verbal and physical abuse, dissent to Marker or Referee, abuse of racket, ball or court, and coaching, other than during the interval between games. Other offences include significant or deliberate physical contact (Rule 12.12.1) and excessive racket swing (Rule 12.4), unfair warm-up (Rule 3.2), late back on court (Rule 7.4), dangerous play or action (Rule 16.3.1.3) and time wasting (Rule 7.6).

  Definitions helpful for this Rule:
audible obscenity - includes any word considered blasphemous (against a religion) or of a sexual nature; difficult when player uses own language which is not that of Referee; in some countries, use of the f... word is considered worthy of the award of a Conduct match, whereas in other countries the f... word and other similar words are more tolerated;
visible obscenity - typical example is rubbing hand along racket handle (simulating male masturbation and meaning the slang 'wanker');
verbal abuse - includes expressions such as "you're useless", "typical wrong decision - again!", "learn the Rules, idiot", etc.
physical abuse - (attempting to) assault the Referee, Marker, opponent or spectator by physical violence;
dissent - continual disagreement with Referee's decisions;
abuse of racket - for example, breaking racket against court wall, floor or own body; throwing racket to floor, or at Referee;
abuse of ball - includes hitting ball wildly out of court after hearing Referee's decision; expressly breaking ball;
abuse of court - includes closing the court door violently; breaking part of the tin; damaging surface of wall;
coaching - from outside the court during games.

Guideline 16

17.3 The Referee shall apply one of the following penalties for these and any other offences:

  • Warning (called a Conduct Warning).

  • Stroke awarded to opponent (called a Conduct Stroke).

  • Game awarded to opponent (called a Conduct Game).

  • Match awarded to opponent (called a Conduct Match).

 

17.3.1 If the Referee stops play to give a Conduct warning, the Referee shall allow a let. 

 

17.3.2 During a rally, if an incident occurs warranting the award of a Conduct stroke, the Referee shall stop play if it has not already stopped and award a stroke. The award of the Conduct stroke becomes the result of the rally.

  17.3.3 If the Referee awards a Conduct stroke as a result of an incident between rallies, the result of the completed rally stands, and the Conduct stroke award is additional to the score but without further change of service box.
 

17.3.4 If the Referee awards a Conduct game, that game shall be the one in progress or the next game if one is not in progress, in which latter case the interval between games shall not apply. The offending player shall keep any points already scored in the game awarded.


Continue ?

Read on - Rule 18

Return to Rules index