Let’s Play Squash!

The load that squash gives is very high due to the high intensity of movements: in half an hour you can get a weekly dose of exercise.

Squash is a racket sport, a synthesis of tennis, badminton, table tennis, billiards, where two players alternately hit the ball against the wall.

The history of squash.

There are several versions of the origin of this tennis-related game. According to the first of them squash was “invented” by the prisoners. True, there are discrepancies here as well. Some believe that these were the inhabitants of the debt department of London’s Fleet prison, while others claim that the “discoverers” were the prisoners of the Floating Prison, in which they were transported to Australia.

In England, for a long time, they played “real tennis”, throwing the ball over the net with a racket. Among those imprisoned in debt or sent on ships to Australia, there were probably fans of this national sports game, but the closed and small room did not allow playing it according to the rules, then the “crafty for invention” invented new rules and, in fact, a new game … They started banging the ball against the wall with a racket. They called the new game “rackets” (in this form, this name would hardly have attracted me, so we are following the development of history further).

The next stage in the development of squash is noble. More than 150 years ago, the whole of England played real tennis with enthusiasm, including the pupils of one of the most prestigious schools in London – Harrow. And so the boys, waiting for their turn on the court, began to practice outside in the game with the wall, i.e. into the same “racketeers”.

For these training sessions, they did not use solid quality court balls, but very poor quality black Indian rubber balls. The boys threw these balls against the wall with such passion that they (balls!) Were literally crushed and smeared into mush, hence the new name of the old “game by their own rules” came from: to squash – to crush, knead, make mashed potatoes. By the way, this is exactly what – squash – is also called a fruit drink prepared on the basis of natural juice obtained from crushed citrus pulp. But this is so – a linguistic and lyrical digression.

This is how squash was born.

Today it is one of the most “prestigious” sports games. Premises for squash are equipped in the most expensive hotels. There are many elite clubs and a special squash industry for the production of sports equipment and equipment.

This game is played on a special fenced court measuring 9.75 meters long and 6.4 meters wide. On the front wall that the ball hits, there are two lines: the service line and the top line. When serving, the ball must hit the space between them, otherwise a point or the whole game is lost. The line that crosses the court parallel to the wall is called the line of fire. After bouncing off the wall, the ball should bounce off the wall.

The aim of the game is simple.

It is necessary to make sure that after your kick your partner does not take the ball.

The load that squash gives is very high due to the high intensity of movements: in half an hour you can get a weekly dose of exercise.

Another advantage: you don’t need to learn to play this game for a long time.

Squash most effectively develops endurance, coordination of movements, has a positive effect on cardiorespiratory functions.

There are no special equipment requirements in squash. All you need is a racket and a ball. The only requirement is that the player’s shoes should not leave marks on the floor of the court, as various “patterns” can distract the players’ attention.

Have you felt all the charm of the game of aristocratic and criminal origin? Not yet? Then try it!

Good luck with your game!