Rules Update January 2026
England Squash Club rules apply with the following local additions/amendments:
1. Announcements
Bridlington Squash will make all announcements via email and or our WhatsApp groups . It will now be the players responsibility to check for updates/announcements.
2. Calendar Dates
A scheduled calendar is available on our website. This will display the League Periods, Presentation Dates, Competition Dates, Training Workshop Dates, etc. and will constantly be updated where necessary.
3. League Arrangements
All Players are arranged into divisions of approximately 8/9 players. Every player in each division plays each other once within a season. There will be 3 seasons per year. Each season lasting 3 months. All games must be completed. No extensions. No exceptions.
4. Junior Players
Under 16’s must be accompanied by a responsible adult when playing their matches at the court and should wear safety glasses (in line with England Squash recommendations)
5. Arranging Games
Players are given access to all participants mobile phone numbers so as to arrange games by text message or telephone, these may be located on the ‘player details’ tab. Please contact any player within your division and make arrangements for a match, If a player receives no reply after forwarding two text messages over a 2 day period to a fellow participant to arrange a game, please contact the organisers immediately, then continue to contact other participants within the relevant division to arrange further games. The non compliant player will be contacted by an organiser and if no reply is received within a 5 day period that player may be removed from the current season without further notice.
All players must play all participants in their relevant division. Should for a valid reason a referee be required for the match the organisers will endeavour to provide one to insure that the match is completed . Should a player still refuse to play the match after the offer of a referee, organisers will remove the said player from the current season without further notice stripping back all points and therefore taking a relegation position
6. Inputting Results
It is the responsibility of the winner to input the scores into the system within 24 hours of completion of the match, but is each players own responsibility to ensure all theirscores are in the system by midnight on the closing day of the season
7. Ball
Divisions 1-4 will play with a yellow double dot ball. All other divisions and the Ladies Divisions should be played with a single yellow dot so as to gain valuable racket skills.
8. Cancelling Games
If a game has been arranged between two players, a player may cancel and rearrange only if it’s not within 8 hours of the game. If a player cancels within 8 hours of the arranged game (during leisure centre opening times) or if a player forgets to turn up for the arranged game, enter into the scoring system that you have claimed the game.
Claimed matches must be reported to John Miller as the 'claimed' result must not be decisive in the promotion or relegation of any player unless it ‘mirrors’ the result from historic games, otherwise the committee will make a decision should a complaint be received.
9. Games
Matches are the best of 5, American scoring (point a rally) to 11 points (winning by 2 clear points) for mens division 1-4. all other mens and the ladies divisions will play to 15 (winning by 2 clear points) After a short period of warming up, all arranged matches are to begin within approximately 5 minutes of the arranged period of play.
Please note:
1. If a player arrives 10 minutes late the game will proceed although, that player must concede the first game so the match starts at 0-1.
2. If a player arrives 15 minutes late that player must concede the match in total and a 3-0 is awarded.
3. Players must agree before the match begins to either :
A) On the stroke of 40 minutes the game stops immediately no matter the score.
B) If there are a few points remaining, agree to continue the match so as to complete the game currently in play, as long as there are no players due to come onto the court of play, although a new game must never be started after the 40 mins and therefore the result submitted must be that at the 40 minute stage.
10. Injuries
If a personal injury occurs to any player during a game and that player cannot complete the game players have 14 days to finish the game, with the game restarting on the score in games . Although please note the 14 days must not surpass the end of the season and will not be counted as a game played to achieve bonus points. We strongly advise to get games in as soon as possible.
If a player withdraws from the leagues in a current season, all games played against said player will be void and any points earned will be removed.
11. Points System
Win 3-0 = 5pts to winner 0 to loser, win 3-1= 4pts winner 1 point loser, win 3-2 = 3pts to winner 2 points loser, Draw 2-2 = 2 points to each player, Win 2-1= Winner 3 points, loser 2 points (we reward a good game rather than penalise it)
Bonus points will be awarded based on the following rules.
Each game you play will give one bonus point.
Mid season bonus points will be available to those that have completed a minimum amount of matches in a given period.
Completed all matches by end of the season and you will be awarded 5 bonus points.
12. Promotion & Relegation
Where possible, the players finishing 1st and 2nd in each division will be promoted, while the bottom two players will be relegated.
The player finishing third from bottom in a division may be required to defend their place in a play-off against the 3rd-placed player from the division below.
To be eligible for automatic promotion or a play-off position, a player must have completed all of their scheduled league matches during the season.
A member of the committee will organise the play-off night, contact the relevant players, and coordinate the matches.
The committee reserves the right to exercise its discretion and amend or waive these rules where it is considered beneficial to the operation of the leagues. For example, promotion and relegation may be adjusted or suspended if division numbers fall below an acceptable level, or if new or returning players affect the balance of the divisions.
13. Uncompleted games
If a player does not complete their schedule of games (for any reason) all points accrued will be stripped back and the player will be relegated. There will be no exceptions or extensions.
14. New Players
An entry window for new players will exist in all divisions; the entrant will play an appropriate player suggested by the organisers. If the new entrant wins the game the committee may ask for another game to take place with another seeded player before a decision is made on a suitable division.
15. Sportsmanship
Each player is expected to conduct oneself in a fitting manner at all times. Bad language, cheating, aggressive or intimidating behaviour will not be tolerated in any circumstances. Players must report immediately any incidents that occur.
16. Membership
Bridlington Squash have the right to suspend, cancel or refuse membership for conduct that is deemed detrimental to the club, its members, or its reputation, including but not limited to breaches of club rules, non-payment of fees, abusive or discriminatory behaviour, or actions that bring the club into disrepute.
17. Let/Stroke
All players are expected to understand the Let/Stroke rules and adhere to these rules. Where there is a genuine argument from both players on WHY IT IS OR IS NOT A LET/STROKE - the reasoning based on facts, the league encourages leniency to prevail and to replay the point as a let.
18. Trophies
At an arranged Presentation Night trophies will be awarded for 1st & 2nd places across all divisions (subject to completing all matches in the season). These can be taken home by the recipient but must be returned to Joe at Elizabeths Jewellers and the end of the following season for preparation for the next presentation night. Separate awards will be handed out over the course of the year for any special tournaments, i.e. Club Championship and Plate Tournament.
19. Annual Payments
Each player must pay a ‘Player's Payment’ of £20 per year, which will be due in the month of December as contribution towards all trophies, junior development, Squash Promotion & Webpage costs . These are payable by anyone who plays in our mini leagues, squash ladder or represents Bridlington Squash in any of the district leagues, Humber, Ryedale, York and District… etc. We will remind all players twice over the month of December. If on December 31st no payment is received that player will not be entered into the Jan/Feb season, although they will be free to join the following season should payment be received. If a new player should join mid year a £20 payment is still due to cover the said player until January the following year. There will be no reduction of this fee, no refunds /part refunds for any reason.
20. Hitting an opponent with the ball
If a player strikes the ball, which, before reaching the front wall, hits the opponent, or the opponent’s racket or clothing, play stops. If the return would have been good and the ball would have struck the front wall without first touching any other wall, the striker wins the rally, provided the striker did not "turn". If the ball either had struck, or would have struck, any other wall and the return would have been good, a let is played. If the return would not have been good, the striker loses the rally.
21. Turning
If the striker has either followed the ball round, or allowed it to pass around him or her - in either case striking the ball to the right of the body after the ball had passed to the left (or vice-versa) - then the striker has "TURNED". If the opponent is struck by the ball after the striker has turned, the rally is awarded to the opponent. If the striker, while turning, stops play for fear of striking the opponent, then a let is played. This is the recommended course of action in situations where a player wants to turn but is unsure of the opponent’s position.
22. Conduct on court
Offensive, disruptive or intimidating behaviour in squash is not acceptable.
Included in this category are: audible and visible obscenities, verbal and physical abuse, dissent, abuse of racket, court or ball, unnecessary physical contact, excessive racket swing, unfair warm-up, time-wasting, late back on court, deliberate or dangerous play or action and coaching (except between games).
23. Social Media Policy
Filming and photographs may take place at the courts on occasions for use on our social media channels to promote and raise awareness of Bridlington Squash in the area.
All social media activity is monitored. Please be kind and respectful with your posts and comments. Without any prior notice any comments which are deemed to be critical, insulting, demeaning, unrelated or negative towards Bridlington Squash or any member will be removed by the Social Media Manager.
The organisers have the right to overturn any rule or make any decision in relation
to the running of the league if the organisers feels it’s in the squash leagues interest to do so.