Squash is a racket and ball sport played by two players in a four-walled court. The ball is small and rubber and the rackets are much lighter than tennis rackets. When someone talks about a game where people strike the ball off the wall with rackets, it's mostly squash.
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The first version of the game similar to squash was created at the beginning of the 18th century in a prison. Later in 1830, it began to spread to London schools. An interesting fact is that the squash court was available on titanic on the premium deck.
The players play on a special, closed court by hitting the ball with a racket from the front wall following the rules. Very important are serves, front and rear strikes, and appropriate strike tactics. Squash is often compared to tennis, but it differs from it in terms of court size and structure, racket structure, and ball size. A squash match lasts up to three sets won. Each set lasts up to eleven points, except where both players score ten points. In this case, the winner is the one with the advantage of 2 points. Below is a link to a short video describing the rules of the game.
What are the advantages of playing squash?
First of all, it strengthens the body and improves its overall condition. It is a very dynamic and demanding activity that allows you to burn up to 800 calories in an hour.
Squash is a game for two people, which makes it a great way to spend time with family or friends, and available all year round, regardless of the weather.
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Squash and the Olympics
This is a controversial topic in the world of this sport. WSF - The world squash federation has been trying for years to add squash to the Olympic sports list. Karate, baseball + softball, surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing, and breakdance are sports that got to the Olympics before squash. Many athletes and sports journalists are shocked by the committee's decisions every year and express their indignation on social media. Many professional squash players declare that they would not play in the Olympics due to years of ignorance. Below is the cover of the 1975 Squash Player magazine. It shows how long this battle lasts.
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Moreover, squash is a very spectacular and dynamic sport for the spectator. In conclusion, I recommend watching the attached video from the game of professionals.
1. Have you ever played squash or are you planning? If so, what are your impressions?
2. What do you think about squash at the Olympics?
3. Do you enjoy watching squash as a spectator?
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squash_(sport)
https://thesquashcompany.com/rules-of-squash/
https://www.worldsquash.org/
https://psaworldtour.com/news/view/6186/psa-players-react-with-frustration-to-paris-olympics-exclusion
https://titanic.fandom.com/wiki/Squash_Racquet_Court
I’ve never played squash but many times I’ve thought about trying it. I’ve also never had an opportunity to play tennis except for table tennis. When I was young I used to have table tennis at home and played a lot with my dad but when he didn’t have time to play with me I often played something like squash on the table. One side of it was folded and I was playing alone so it was my kind of squash. I don’t know if it has its name for table tennis but for me, it was entertaining and playable.
ReplyDelete1. Unfortunately I have never played squash, but I have noticed that it is a quite popular sport among young people. I did not plan to start playing squash and honestly didn’t think about it. I prefer water sports and gyms.
ReplyDelete2. In my opinion, any sport could be held at the Olympics. In my opinion there should be no restrictions.
3. It's hard for me to say, I've never been interested or involved in it.
1. I have never played squash, but I’d love to try, it seems really fun! I always enjoy playing new sports, so maybe I’ll try squash one day. I tried playing tennis once, is it as similar to squash as it seems?
ReplyDelete2. I think squash should be included in the Olympics. As a skater I really don’t like the fact that skateboarding joined Olympics (as you mentioned) so I’d be really happy if squash took it’s place 😊
3. I enjoyed watching the video of professional game of squash that you attached. I like watching most of professional games in any sport discipline.
I’ve played squash only once before at university with my flatmate, but I’ve forgotten most of the rules so Monika starts by teaching me how to serve. “You need to stand in this red box, look at the opposite corner and hit it so it bounces in my corner,” Monika explains. I make several attempts that fall entirely flat, but after a little while I thwack the ball hard enough to get it to bounce in Monika's corner.
ReplyDeleteUnlike tennis tournaments that get huge media coverage and draw droves of spectators to the stadiums, squash remains a subculture of sorts. Only the ardent fans of the game truly keep track of what is going on in the world of squash.
I never played squash and never really meant to. I think it happened a few times that someone offered me a try, but I was never too interested. The concept of the game itself is quite interesting in its simplicity and in my opinion, looks cool.
ReplyDeleteI think about it as much as I think about any other sport at the Olympics. In my opinion, there should be no restrictions or requirements on the games to be played at the Olympics.
I've never watched squash in my life, except for maybe some instructional video on how squash looks like when it started to be popular many years ago. However, I watched a piece of the video that you linked in the post and I have to say that the gameplay looks dynamic and fun but is definitely damn tiring for players. Certainly better than watching ski jumping (no offense to anyone :D).
I've never played squash, I'd love to try it sometime. This seems to be an exciting game.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch the Olympics, so I can't say much about it. Watching sports on TV, or being a spectator, doesn't seem interesting to me. I prefer to play sports instead.
I've never played squash, and to be honest I didn't even knew the rules or a gameplay of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not interested in sport that is why I don't even know which categories are included in them, so it is very hard to say if it should a category in it.
I've never watched it, and I think every sport is boring to watch, It is much better to practice it yourself. :)
I've never had a chance to play squash, but I found it quite popular with people my age. Squash looks like a more "accessible" version of tennis that requires a bit more reflexes due to the much smaller space being played. I wonder if burning calories in a squash is similar to burning in a game of classic tennis.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, squash looks like any other sport, so I don't see any contraindications before adding it to the Olympics. to be honest I am surprised that it has not been added to other Olympic sports, and such breakdance is.
To be honest it's hard to say. For me in case of prolonged viewing it could become quite boring. Squash looks like a sport that is more interesting if you participate directly than watch it.
1. When I was little i used to play squash and to be honest I'm thinking about returning to this activity. The concept is very intresting and the game can be funny itself too. This sport doesn't need any fancy and expensive equipment or specific place to train.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I think that they should add squash as an Olympic sport, I totally don't understand the committee's decision.
No, I'm not quite a fan of watching sports - I don't see the purpose of just watching sport if you are not a professional.
1. I haven't took pleasure to play squash but I would love to try. It's looks very demanding and I like challenges. The only thing I can worry about is a sick back. Because it is a very dynamic and agile sport. I prefer gyms there, I have more control over my body and ask question - Am I ready for something? Squash happens too fast.
ReplyDelete2. Honestly you surprised me that it is not at the Olympics, I was hundred procent sure that squash is included. I'm shocked why it hasn't been there for so many years. Squash have every thing to be on list. Has clear and transparent rules of professional equipment. I really do not understand why not.
3. I haven't seen the whole thing yet, but after watching the fragments, I think that it can be a very exciting sport to watch as a fan.
I've never played squash and I only have little tennis experience. But I'd like to try! I think it's a very good sport for people who want to improve their condition in a more interesting way than running or jumping rope, and who like competition.
ReplyDeleteI have no opinion about including squash in the Olympics as I am not interested in sports. I think the closest to F1 is because it's the only sport my boyfriend watches.
I've never watched a squash game, so it's hard for me to answer that question.
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ReplyDeleteI have never played squash in my life. If I consider playing squash in the future, I always say yes, but the truth is it is hard to find a proper time.
ReplyDeleteOlympics - this is one of the most weirdest things I've seen in sports. Personally, I do not enjoy watching squash, but there is everything any sport needs. There are veiwership, technique, strategy, strenght and many more aspects. I just do not understand why squash is not an olympic sport. In what aspect Badminton is better than squash to be fully played at Olympics?
I've never played squash. Maybe someday I could give it a try. On the other hand, I tried tennis a long time ago and it is a very hard sport. Although I tried it twice and it was quite by accident, maybe that's why it didn't interest me. And I usually like everything connected with sport.
ReplyDeleteSquash at the Olympics, why not? I think anything that is a sport can be in the competition.
I've never been interested in it, so I don't have an opinion on it. I generally don't watch sports unless I'm at my parents' house and my dad is watching ski jumping.
I have never tried to play a squash, but I heard about this kind of sport. Actually a lot friends of mine are playing squash and I heard from them that it’s very fun and interesting. Also I think that it’s a great cardio workout and awesome pastime with friends.
ReplyDeleteIt was an interesting fact for me that squash isn’t a part of the Olympics, and to be honest I don’t understand why - it’s the same kind of sport as others, so I don’t see a reason why squash can’t be a part of it.
I enjoyed watching video that you recommended, it’s so dynamic and cool! I definitely should to try this!
Have you ever played squash or are you planning? If so, what are your impressions?
ReplyDeleteI never tried to play squash, and I probably won because of my health conndition.
2. What do you think about squash at the Olympics?
I think on Olympics should be reserved for classical sports and all non classical sports should have their own big event. Eventually (just like now ) there should be demonstration sport showdown.
3. Do you enjoy watching squash as a spectator?
I don't have opinion right now but i probably would if i would watch a few competitive games
I’ve never played squash before, however now as I’ve watched the videos, I’m getting pretty much interested in this sport field. It seems to be demanding and involving a bunch of skills.
ReplyDeleteI think squash should definitely be involved in the Olympics. I have no idea why they keep ignoring such an extraordinary type of sport.
Of course, I enjoy watching it! It is very exciting and unpredictable! I will definitely be more involved in this sports category from now on.