If you are looking for an exciting and envigorating workout to get rid of the frustrations of modern day living, Squash is the game for you. The best way to get started is to join a club, choosing one which caters for beginners as it is important to find someone of you own standard to play with. The Club coach/manager will help you here and many of the clubs run beginners coaching sessions, leagues, tournaments and social events which will provide the opportunity to meet potential Squash partners. Most clubs have junior membership and run tournament and programme for their young members.

Squash is played on a court which is enclosed by four walls on an unsealed, hardwood, sprung floor. The tin or board at the base of the front wall is all that remains of the net used in other racket sports from which squash developed. The first enclosed squash courts were built between 1860 and 1890 and were made entirely of wood. There are two lines on the front wall, the cut line (480 mm from floor) and the out-of-court line (4620mm from floor). The out of court line continues along the other walls. On the ground there are the half court line, the short line and the service boxes from where the service is hit.

The most basic rule of squash is that the ball must hit and rebound off the front wall above the tin and below the out-court line. It can be hit directly to the front or rebounded off the side or back walls. Only the server can score. If the receiver wins a rally, he or she wins the service and the opportunity to score. A match is usually the best of five games. The player who reaches nine points first with a margin of two wins a game.

Joining the Squash League is an ideal way to improve your game and meet new friends.