WORLD SQUASH

FEDERATION

Houston Squash Racquets Association

To be made available to participants at all HSRA/USSRA sanctioned tournaments

REFEREES’ STATEMENT

During this event the match referees will apply the following guidelines:

1. Under Rule 17 (Conduct on Court) the Referee is instructed to penalize behavior that is “disruptive, intimidating, or offensive”. Thus any form of obscenity whether audible, mouthed or gestured, will not be tolerated and will be immediately penalized. This will also apply to any expression that the Referee considers to be blasphemy. There is no excuse for such behavior, even in the heat of the moment.

It is important for you to realize that the Referee does not have to issue a warning first but may apply any level of penalty (Warning, Stroke, Game, Match) on the first occurrence, depending on how the Referee views the severity of the situation.

2. Referees will not award a let for minimal interference (Rule 12.7.1 and Guideline G6), nor will they award a stroke unless it is truly merited. We hope that this will promote matches that flow, with a minimum of stoppages.

3. Whilst referees will be doing their utmost to get all decisions correct there will inevitably be times when the players disagree with the Referee’s decision.

In such circumstances, please refrain from any antagonistic comments. It would be appreciated if you could simply ask for a short explanation, which will be given.

If a discussion is prolonged, the Referee will consider this to be an unnecessary delay of the game and will apply the provisions of Rule 17 (Conduct on Court).

This does not mean that an amusing quip or comment, even if mildly directed towards the Referee, will be regarded as an offence.

4. The position from where the Referee and Marker have to officiate is not always ideal. This often reduces their ability to determine whether pick-ups are good or not, particularly at the front of the court, or whether the ball may have clipped the top of the tin, or may have hit above the out line on the back wall. The referees would greatly appreciate players’ honesty in declaring promptly if their shots are ”not up”, ”down”, or ”out”, etc.

Referees look forward to continuing the dialogue between themselves, players and players’ representatives at this event. Please feel free to contact any member of the WSF Referees & Rules Committee to make your views known.