Rules changes this season

Below you can find a summary of the key rule changes outlined by World Squash Officiating for the 2025–26 season, effective 1 September 2025. If you'd prefer to read it for yourself, find the link here.

Referees will now:

• Enforce fair play more robustly, including making “attempting to influence the referee” an explicit conduct violation. Respect for officials is being elevated as a core principle.

Key updates:

• Access to the ball: Simplified terminology replaces previous confusing modifiers like “unobstructed” and “direct.” Players must clear after follow‑through and opponents must be given fair view, access, space to swing, and freedom to strike any part of the front wall.

• Swing Interference: Now divided into two situations—if a swing was or could have been affected by opponent position, a let is allowed; if the swing was prevented, a stroke is awarded. Prior rule (8.9.3) has been removed.

• Turning: Expanded definition—turning occurs when rotation causes loss of sight of the ball or opponent, or when the ball passes behind the player. Interference during turning now clarifies outcomes: a stroke if prevented despite opponent’s effort; a let if opponent had no time to avoid; no let if player turned to create a let request.

• Conditions of Play: Consolidated rules on distraction, fallen objects, and court conditions. New specifics address wet court areas caused by a player—play must continue or the rally conceded; no let may be requested if play continues, unless conditions become unsafe. Referees may halt play and penalize deliberate advantage.

• Timing & Injury Adjustments: 1-minute interval between warm-up and play (down from 90 seconds); 2 minutes between games and for equipment changes. Injury recovery time now starts with referee announcement, with reduced maximums for certain categories: contributed or opponent‑inflicted (up to 15 min, previously up to 30 min), self-inflicted remains up to 3 min, and self-inflicted blood injuries up to 5 min

If anything's unclear, or if you'd just like to talk through what this means... feel free to chat with one of the coaches at camp!