How to Referee Squash
Let & Stroke Decisions, Interference Rules, the 3-Referee System, Video Review & Match Management
Last updated: April 6, 2026
A squash referee's primary role is making let, stroke, and no let decisions when players interfere with each other in the confined court space. At club level, a single referee watches from above the back wall. At professional level, a 3-referee system is used — one central referee makes the call, two side referees can overrule via majority vote. Video review is available at elite events. The referee also manages serve faults, ball warm-up, time between games, and conduct penalties.
The Referee's Role and Positioning
The squash referee occupies a unique position in sport — they are responsible for adjudicating complex interference decisions in a confined space where two players move at high speed, often within centimetres of each other.
Positioning: The referee sits or stands on an elevated platform above the centre of the back wall, looking down the length of the court toward the front wall. This position provides the best overview of player movement, ball trajectory, and potential interference situations. The referee must maintain concentration throughout the match, as interference can occur on any rally.
Primary responsibilities:
- Making let, stroke, and no let decisions when players appeal for interference.
- Calling faults on serves (ball below service line, wrong quarter, foot faults).
- Calling outs (ball above out line on any wall, ball hitting the tin).
- Judging whether the ball bounced twice before being struck ("not up" or "down").
- Managing time between games (90-second intervals).
- Issuing conduct warnings and penalties for unsporting behaviour.
- Deciding whether a ball is broken and needs replacement.
- Managing the warm-up ball period (5 minutes total, 2.5 per side).
Calling protocol: The referee announces decisions clearly and audibly. Standard calls include:
- "Yes, let" — rally replayed.
- "Stroke to [player name]" — point awarded.
- "No let" — no interference, rally stands.
- "Fault" — serve fault, point to receiver.
- "Not up" or "Down" — ball bounced twice before being hit.
- "Out" — ball above out line or hitting the tin.
Understanding Interference: The Core of Squash Officiating
Interference is the defining concept of squash officiating. Because two players share the same court space, situations regularly arise where one player's position or movement affects the other's ability to reach and play the ball. The WSF rules outline specific principles for judging interference:
The striker's rights: The player about to hit the ball (the striker) has the right to:
- Unobstructed direct access to the ball after completing a reasonable follow-through.
- A fair view of the ball — the opponent should not obscure the striker's line of sight.
- Freedom to hit the ball with a reasonable swing to any part of the front wall.
- Freedom to play the ball directly to the front wall — the opponent should not be in the path between the ball and the front wall.
The non-striker's obligations: The player who has just hit the ball (the non-striker) must make every effort to provide the striker with these four rights. This means:
- Moving out of the way as quickly as possible after hitting the ball.
- Not standing in the path between the striker and the ball.
- Not standing in the path between the ball and the front wall.
- Making a genuine effort to clear, even if it requires significant physical effort.
When does interference occur? Interference occurs when the non-striker's position or movement prevents the striker from exercising any of their four rights. The striker must then decide whether to:
- Play on — attempt the shot despite the interference (they lose the right to appeal).
- Stop and appeal — by saying "Let please" and stopping play.
If the striker plays the ball despite interference and wins the rally, the result stands. If they lose the rally, they cannot retroactively claim interference.
Making the Decision: Let, Stroke, or No Let
The let/stroke/no let decision is the most complex and consequential call in squash. The referee must assess multiple factors simultaneously and decide within seconds.
LET — Rally replayed (no point awarded): A let is the appropriate decision when:
- The striker could have reached the ball and made a good return.
- There was genuine interference — the non-striker was in the way.
- The striker made every effort to reach the ball and was not simply looking for a let.
- The striker was not in a position to hit an outright winner or the ball directly to the front wall.
- The interference was unintentional and the non-striker made a reasonable effort to clear.
STROKE — Point awarded to the obstructed player: A stroke is awarded when:
- The non-striker failed to make every effort to clear out of the path.
- The interference prevented the striker from hitting a winning shot to the front wall.
- The ball would have struck the opponent on its direct path to the front wall (not via a side wall).
- The non-striker was in a position where the striker could not safely swing without risk of hitting the opponent.
- The non-striker turned (moved to play the ball on the wrong side) or made excessive movement to the ball, creating danger.
NO LET — Rally stands as played: No let is the correct decision when:
- There was no genuine interference — the striker had a clear path to the ball.
- The striker could not have made a good return regardless of the opponent's position.
- The striker created the interference by moving into the opponent's path.
- The striker did not make sufficient effort to reach the ball.
- The interference occurred after the striker had already played (or failed to play) the ball.
Key principle: The referee must consider what would have happened if the interference had not occurred. Would the striker have reached the ball? Could they have made a good return? Would the return have been a winner? This hypothetical assessment is what makes the decision so challenging.
The 3-Referee System
At the professional level (PSA World Tour, World Championships, major events), squash uses a 3-referee system to improve decision accuracy on interference calls.
How it works:
- Central referee — sits above the back wall in the traditional position. Makes the initial call on all decisions (lets, strokes, no lets, faults, outs).
- Two side referees — positioned at court-level positions with different viewing angles. They independently assess interference appeals.
- When a player appeals, the central referee makes the initial decision.
- Each side referee then indicates whether they agree or disagree with the central referee's call using an electronic voting system.
- The majority decision stands — if both side referees disagree with the central referee, the call is overturned.
Decision outcomes:
- 3-0 agreement — all three referees agree. Clear decision.
- 2-1 — majority rules. The decision of two referees overrides the third.
Why 3 referees? Interference decisions in squash are among the most subjective in sport. A single referee's viewing angle may not capture every nuance of the interaction between two players moving at speed. The 3-referee system provides:
- Multiple viewing angles.
- Protection against individual bias or error.
- Greater player confidence in the fairness of decisions.
- Statistical data showing that 3-referee decisions have higher accuracy than single-referee calls.
The 3-referee system has significantly reduced player disputes and improved the perceived fairness of officiating at the professional level.
Video Review Technology
Video review was introduced to professional squash to complement the 3-referee system and provide an additional layer of accuracy.
What can be reviewed:
- Let/stroke/no let decisions — the most common use. Players can request a video review of an interference decision they disagree with.
- Ball down (not up) — whether the ball bounced twice before being hit.
- Tin decisions — whether the ball hit the tin (the metal strip is 43cm high, and marginal calls are common).
- Out-line decisions — whether the ball struck above the out line on any wall.
How it works:
- A player who disagrees with a decision says "Video review, please."
- The central referee reviews the footage on a monitor.
- Multiple camera angles are available, including high-speed replays.
- The referee makes a final decision based on the video evidence.
Limitations:
- Players typically have a limited number of unsuccessful reviews per match (varies by tournament rules). If the review changes the decision, the review is not counted.
- Video review is only available at venues with the necessary camera infrastructure — primarily PSA Platinum and Gold events, World Championships, and major international competitions.
- The review process adds time to the match, so it is used judiciously.
Impact: Video review has improved decision accuracy, reduced player frustration, and increased spectator understanding of interference calls by showing replays on venue screens.
Match Management: Warm-Up, Timing & Intervals
Beyond interference decisions, the referee manages the practical flow of the match according to WSF rules.
Pre-match warm-up:
- Total duration: 5 minutes shared between players.
- Each player has 2.5 minutes to hit the ball and warm it up.
- The referee signals the halfway point and the end of the warm-up.
- If the ball breaks during the warm-up, a replacement is warmed up.
Between-game intervals:
- Players receive 90 seconds between games.
- The referee announces "15 seconds" as a warning before time expires.
- The referee then announces "Time" — players must be ready to resume.
- If a player is not ready at "Time," the referee can issue a conduct warning.
Injury and bleeding:
- If a player is injured, the referee assesses the situation.
- A 3-minute injury timeout may be allowed (once per injury in the match).
- Bleeding must be stopped before play resumes — the referee can require the player to leave the court for treatment.
- If a player cannot continue, the match is awarded to the opponent.
Ball changes:
- If a player believes the ball is broken, they can request the referee inspect it.
- A broken ball is replaced, and the new ball is warmed up (typically 2-3 minutes of hitting).
- If the ball was not broken, the request counts as a time delay.
Equipment issues:
- Players receive reasonable time to fix equipment (replace a broken string, change shoes, clean goggles).
- Excessive time is penalized under the conduct system.
Conduct Warnings and Penalties
The referee enforces the WSF Code of Conduct through a graduated penalty system.
Conduct Warning (first offence): The referee announces: "Conduct warning, [player name], for [reason]." No point penalty — it is a formal warning that the behaviour has been noted.
Common reasons for conduct warnings:
- Time-wasting — taking too long between rallies, slow to return to the service box.
- Audible obscenity — swearing or abusive language audible to the referee, opponent, or spectators.
- Visible obscenity — offensive gestures.
- Arguing with the referee — persistent or aggressive disputing of decisions.
- Dangerous play — excessive follow-through, deliberately hitting the ball at the opponent, intimidating behaviour.
- Unnecessary physical contact — pushing, blocking, or body-checking the opponent.
Conduct Stroke (second offence for same behaviour): The referee announces: "Conduct stroke, [player name], for [reason]." A point is awarded to the opponent.
Conduct Game (third offence or extreme behaviour): The referee announces: "Conduct game, [player name], for [reason]." An entire game is awarded to the opponent.
Match default (extreme cases): In cases of violent conduct, refusal to continue, or repeated extreme behaviour, the referee can default the match — awarding the entire match to the opponent.
Important: Conduct penalties are cumulative within a match but reset between matches. A player who receives a conduct warning in game 1 and commits another offence in game 3 receives a conduct stroke (second step), not another warning.
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