Bishop's Stortford Squash Club

Rules for the Use of Squash Courts

The following rules are in place to ensure that all members have an equal and fair opportunity to play squash or racketball at their chosen time to do so. If you would like to know the Official Rules Of The Game, click here.

• Bishops Stortford Squash Club operates a “first come, first served” basis for the use of Squash Courts.
• Upon arrival write your name on the ‘signing on’ board situated in the lounge upstairs on the wall beside Court 2.
• Members are only able to take the next available court once both players are in the club and have written their names on the ‘signing on’ board. (Preferably changed and ready to play). Players must take the next available court and not wait for a court of their preference!
• The meters which provide light for the courts accept £2, £1, 50p, 20p & 10p coins (the meters are situated downstairs opposite the water foundation in the entrance hall).
• £1 = 7 minutes approx.  20p = 1.3 minutes approx.
• Acceptable length of court use is 40-50 minutes.
• If you are playing a ‘friendly’ match and there are members waiting to use the court, please vacate the court once your time is up.
• If you are playing an internal league match or tournament match, members are entitled to put more money in the meter to finish their game, up to a maximum of £2.
• Members are entitled to put more money in the light meter provided no one else is waiting to use the court.

Internal Club Leagues

• Bishop's Stortford Squash Club operates Internal Squash and Racketball Leagues in which all members are entitled to play.
• The leagues are played in monthly cycles during the Winter season (1st October – 31st March) and 6 weekly during the Summer season.
• The Leagues are posted above the ‘signing-on’ board in the upstairs lounge, by the entrance to the Court 1 Balcony for Racketball and the Seniors Ladder Leagues and on the Club Website.
• To enter the leagues, add your name in the space below the bottom of the leagues, writing your preferred position to give the Club Manager an indication of where you should be placed. Your name will then be added into the following month’s league.
• Play as many matches each month as possible.
• If for whatever reason you are unable to play due to injury or other reasons, please indicate on the league sheets whether you wish to be included the following month, as you may be excluded.
• Anyone who fails to play any of their league games without giving a reason may be excluded from the leagues the following month.
• During the Winter season the League Cup will run. This competition is for members playing in the squash leagues. The winner will be the player who accrues the most points from all their league matches. (In the event of a tie, the player who has conceded the least amount of games will be the winner)
• All squash matches for the players in Leagues A and B are English scoring to 9 points, best of 5 games. P League players and racketball players should play point a rally to 15, best of 5 games.
• All matches will be played under The Rules of the Game implemented by England Squash
• Point allocations are as follows:

General

• Non-marking shoes MUST be worn at all times on court.
  (Non-compliant players will be asked to leave the court immediately and charged with the cost of any damage caused)
• It is strongly recommended that Junior members (under the age of 19) wear England Squash approved safety glasses when they are on court.
  (Squash shoes and Safety glasses are available from the club shop).
• Doubles Squash is permitted and a Doubles ladder operates at the Club, however it is a rule of the game that suitable eye protection MUST be worn at all times and therefore the Club strongly recommends that all players do so.
• Bishop’s Stortford Squash Club will accept NO LIABILITY should any member and/or their guests ignore the rules and suffer injury through not wearing suitable eye protection.

Junior Morning

• Between 10am and 12pm every Saturday, during school term time, 5 courts are RESERVED for Junior Morning coaching.
• Between 12pm and 2pm 2 courts are reserved for Elite Junior Coaching.

Team Matches

• Bishop’s Stortford Squash Club has a number of teams representing the club. Matches usually start at 7.30pm weekdays and Courts 1 and 2 are RESERVED for such matches. (This is subject to change at short notice)

Club Night

• Club Night begins at 6.45pm every Wednesday and Sunday and finishes at 9pm. 5 courts are reserved for Club Night during this time. Court 5 will always remain free for members to play league or friendly matches.
• Any arranged matches already in progress MUST terminate by 7pm. Players will vacate the courts immediately if requested by the Club Manager or Committee members, to allow Club Night play.
• Club Night is for all members of all standards who wish to play socially.
• To play, add your name onto the ‘signing on’ board and pair off accordingly once a court becomes available.
• Playing time is limited to £1.20 per person.
• On completion of your match please sign up again on the board, winner first, spacing names by one space if necessary to avoid drawing the same opponent.
• Normal club play will resume after 9pm or once Club Night demand has abated and courts become free, whichever is the sooner.
• Club Night players will always have precedence in cases of contended court use. These rules are intended to ensure fair play.
• Occasional experiments with the general format of the evenings may be proposed at the discretion of the Club Manager as a means of improving the evening.
• Please address any suggestions/problems on the operation of Club Night to the Club Manager, Karen Selby

Visitors/Guests

• Visitors/guests are welcome to play up to 3 times (at the Manager’s discretion) at the Club in any subscription year.
• After 3 visits the visitor/guest will be requested to join the Club and pay the appropriate subscription.
• Visitor/guest fee is £3, to be paid at the bar or in the black visitor’s box situated on the wall between the bar and the shop.

Coaching

• Monday-Friday only court 3 can be used for coaching/training after 5pm, this must be booked in accordance with the guidelines set out in the coaching policy.
• Coaching/training will not take place after 7.30pm if a team match is taking place.

Events and Tournaments

• The Club has a growing reputation for organising and running excellent squash/racketball events for players of all ages and abilities. When these events occur members will be notified well in advance and court 5 will always be available to members as a bookable court.
• One week prior to an event or tournament a booking sheet will be available for court 5. Bookings will be taken either at the bar or via the Club Manager, on a first come first serve basis. Members will only be able to make one booking per day.

Feedback

The Club is always looking to improve; any suggestions or concerns should be brought to the attention of the Club Manager, Karen Selby.

In the event of a dispute, the Manager’s decision is final.