Match Procedures

Both men's and women's teams play by the World Squash Federation rules and guidelines. The same basic match procedures apply whether teams are competing in dual matches, round robin competitions, or tournaments.

1. Team Warm-ups

   Coaches must mutually agree upon arrangements for team warm-ups in advance. Ideally in dual-match play, the visiting team should have access to the match courts beginning 45 minutes before match time for their 30-minute warm up. The home team may warm up prior to the visiting team on the match courts or on additional non-match courts.

2. Exchange of Line-ups

   Coaches must exchange line-ups simultaneously at least one hour before match time. Exchanging line-ups before the match gives coaches time to review the line-ups, make inquiries about them, and state any protests before the match begins.

3. Introductions

   Before the match begins, both teams should gather on one court for introductions. The teams should line up opposite each other along the side walls of the court. Each team should line up in ladder order, starting at the front wall with the number one player, followed by the number two player, and so on, in descending order of play.

4. Order of Play

   Unless otherwise agreed to by a team's league, if five courts are being used for the match, the even-numbered matches (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) will play first. The odd-numbered matches (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9) will play in the second shift. If three courts are being used, matches 3, 6, and 9 will play first, followed by matches 2, 5, and 8, and then by matches 1, 4, and 7.

5. Pre-match Warm-up

   The purpose of the warm-up is to bring the ball to playing temperature; the players should be ready to play before stepping on court. The warm-up should last no longer than 4 minutes. The referee should keep track of the time; call "half-time" at 2 minutes, indicating that the players should switch sides; and call "time" at 4 minutes.

6. Time Between Matches

   If five courts are being used for the match, there will be up to a 15-minute break after the completion of the first match. If three courts are being used for the match, the players should be ready to begin their warm-up on court within three minutes of the completion of the previous match on that court.

7. The 90-Second Break

   A player may have at most 90 seconds of break time between games and between the warm-up and the start of the match. The 90-second break is when players are coached. During this time either player may hit the ball. Other than these 90-second periods play is continuous.

8. Marking and Refereeing

   The marker and referee for each match will be players from the respective teams. Players from the home team will referee for the even-numbered matches and mark for the odd-numbered matches. Players from the visiting team will mark for the even-numbered matches and referee for the odd-numbered matches.

9. Coaching

   Only official college or university coaches and teammates may coach a player in intercollegiate match play. Coaching may take place before a match begins and during the 90-second intervals between games. A coach may not speak to, or reprimand, an opposing player during the course of play or during the 90-second breaks.

10. Reporting Results

    The home team must submit match results online on the same day as the match was played. When two teams are playing at a neutral site, the winning team is responsible for submitting the results.

11. Delays

    In the case of an unavoidable delay of a match, the head coaches must meet prior to the original match start time and agree on a new start time. If yet another adjustment is required, the coaches will meet again and readjust the start time.

Team Line-ups

Team line-ups must be based on order of merit, with the best player at number one, the second-best player at number two, and so on. The most accepted and traditional method of establishing an order of merit is the challenge ladder system.

Match Location & Venue Control

Location of Matches

Unless agreed upon by both teams, a match must be played in the United States.

Control of Home Venue

It is the responsibility of the home coach to control the venue (crowd control and proper playing conditions of the facility, i.e., clean courts, lighting, etc.) to provide for a fair and competitive match. This includes preventing the verbal or physical abuse of players, markers, referees, visiting team members, spectators, and coaches.