Who makes the decisions in a squash match?
I · Intermediate · Officials, injuries and conduct · 4 of 5Two officials, where there are two. The marker calls the play: the score, and "fault", "down", "out" or "not up". The referee decides every request for a let and every appeal against the marker, and the referee's decision is final. A player who disagrees with a call says "Appeal, please".
How it works
- Two roles: "a Referee, or a Referee and a Marker". One official alone does both jobs.
- Where they sit: at the centre of the back wall, above the out line.
- The marker's calls: "fault", "down", "out", "not up" or "stop".
- Unsure: the marker "must make no call".
- The score: called at once after each rally, server's score first.
- The referee: rules on all lets and appeals, keeps time and applies the conduct rule.
- Overruling: the referee must rule immediately on disagreeing with the marker, stopping play if necessary.
- Appealing a missing call: either player may stop during the rally and say "Appeal, please".
- Appealing a call: the loser of the rally may appeal any call or lack of a call.
- Marker wrong: a let, unless the call interrupted a winning return.
- Missed call: if the marker made no call on a shot that was not good, the rally goes to the other player.
- Referee unsure: a let.
- Too late: once the next serve is struck, nothing before it can be appealed, except a broken ball.
The glossary has the referee, the marker, the appeal entry, the let, hand out and the game ball and match ball entry.
Tricky cases
The marker calls "not up" but the player is sure they got there. What can they do?
Say "Appeal, please". If the referee finds the call was wrong, a let is played. The rally is awarded instead if the call interrupted a winning return.
The marker says nothing on a ball that looked down, and the rally continues. Can a player stop?
Yes. Either player may stop play and appeal against a lack of call. If the referee agrees the return was not good, the rally goes to the other player.
A player wins a rally, then wants to appeal something from two rallies earlier. Allowed?
No. After the ball has been served, nothing that occurred before that serve can be appealed, except a broken ball.
There is only one official. Who hears the appeal?
The same official, acting as referee, against their own call as marker.
Why the rule exists
Splitting the jobs lets one official watch the ball and the lines while the other watches the players and their movement. The appeal gives a second pair of eyes on any call without a formal challenge system. Making the referee final keeps a game played at this pace from stopping for argument.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Two officials | Marker calls, referee decides | WSF Rule 3.1; 3.5; 3.6 |
| One official | Both roles in one person | WSF Rule 3.2 |
| With video review | A match referee and a video referee | WSF Appendix 3 |
From the rule book
World Squash Federation, Rules of Singles Squash (version 1.2.2, effective 1 September 2025), Rules 3 and 10 and Appendix 2. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Squash Singles Rules 2025 (PDF).