Let or Stroke for Match
Published: 28 Feb 2013 - 06:25 by OlafBiggles
Updated: 01 Mar 2013 - 16:22
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I've recently played a game of squash in a local league, and have a couple of questions regarding some of the play.
Firstly, at multiple times throughout the match, I would play shots to the front right corner. My opponent would run in, and return the shot into the front right hand corner also. I would then run in from the T, and could not get passed, as he backed off, but only left a path to the ball from behind. Since I was coming diagonally from the T, I would've run straight into the back of him, so stopped, and played a let. This happened a fair few times. Should this have been a stroke or a let? He did move out of the way if I'd approached from behind, but was still in my way considering thats not where I was coming from.
Later in the game, I was losing 2 games to 1, and the score was 9-8 to my opponent (to 10 so match point). My opponent hit the ball along the left hand wall, which I returned also down the left hand wall, and did my best to get out of the way, but may have obstructed him slightly. He called a stroke. I argued the point, and brought up all the other lets I'd played when he was in my way.
On that point, he agreed a let, and we played on. I won that game, and the subsequent game, taking the match. He then argued that he should've won the game because it was a stroke...
Now I wouldn't have minded if he argued his point to begin, and said definately a stroke, and took the match. But the fact that he agreed to play a let, then became stroppy after losing annoyed me...
Was I right to call a Let when he was in my way to the front right corner, or should I have called a stroke? He argues it was a let because I played the man not the ball, but I was running to the ball, and he was in my way.. To me, that means he did not do his best to move out of the way, and should've been a stroke. Because I'm fairly new, I was happy to play a let, and assume he'd correct me.
My opponents explanation is that when he returned the close front shots to the right hand corner, he did move out of the way, but then I ran into the back of him.. I wouldn't have done that if he was not in my way however. Regarding the shot along the left wall, he argues that he was in position to take the shot, and I was still in the way - I thought I moved out of the way fast enough.
I'd appreciate whatever input anyone has on this matter. Should I have given the stroke, and the match? Should I have called strokes when trying to reach the front right shots, but my opponent was in the way?
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From raystrach - 01 Mar 2013 - 16:20 - Updated: 01 Mar 2013 - 16:22
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hi olaf...
well done, you have picked out the two most contentious areas of squash refereeing!
first of all, in squash, you can only ask for a let, not a stroke.
although it appears that you have to do the refereeing yourself, it is an important idea, because, whatever system of making decisions you have, it should come from that starting point.
it is normally up to the ref to decide, but in your case you obviously must come to some agreement on the final decision.
as far as him whinging about the decision which he thinks cost him the match, you are 100% correct in saying that once the decision is made, that is that. there is no going back and he should have accepted defeat graciously.
there is no way of knowing if it was a stroke or a let as there is a lot of timing involved either way. often a player thinks when moving to the ball that the opponent is in the way, however in the split second it takes for them to finalise their approach and actually be ready to hit it, the opponent could have moved out of the way sufficiently for the hitter to be able to play the shot to the front wall without hitting the opponent, there being minimal interference.
it is similar in the front corner, although this time it depends on the angle of retreat and your angle of approach and speed of both
if a player takes a step back and stands there, that is not normally considered clearing the ball and a stroke may be awarded, however, if they are making every effort to clear quickly, it may only be a let, depending on how close the approaching player is when attempting to make the shot.
if the retreating player is only a step or two off the ball, then it is also probably a stroke.
it is hard enough for a referee judging from a good position what the decision is, so it is virtually impossible for two players who are only thinking about themselves to be able to make a definitive call.
hope that helps
rs
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