How long are the warm-up and the breaks in squash?
A · Advanced · Officials, injuries and conduct · 3 of 6The players warm up the ball together for up to four minutes, changing sides after two. One minute is allowed between the warm-up and the first serve, and two minutes between games. A player has up to two minutes to change damaged equipment. Coaching is allowed only in the intervals between games.
How it works
- Together: "the players go on court together to warm up the ball for a maximum of 4 minutes".
- Change sides: after two minutes, on the referee's call of "Half-time".
- Share the ball: each must have equal chances to hit it. Keeping it too long is an unfair warm-up.
- Before play: "A maximum of 1 minute".
- Between games: two minutes.
- The calls: the referee announces "15 seconds" and then "Time".
- Ready on time: players must be ready to resume at the end of an interval. They may start earlier if both agree.
- Equipment: two minutes at most to change a damaged racket, shoes, glasses or a lost contact lens.
- A new ball: the players may warm it up, and play resumes when both agree or the referee decides.
- Leaving the court: not during a game without the referee's permission.
- Coaching: "permitted only in the intervals between games".
- Late back: delaying play, including being late back on court, is a conduct offence.
The glossary has the warm-up entry, the interval entry, the ball, the referee, the conduct penalties entry and the match.
Tricky cases
One player hits the ball to themselves for most of the warm-up. Can the referee act?
Yes. Retaining control of the ball for an unreasonable time is warming up unfairly, and the conduct rule applies.
A player's racket string breaks mid-game. How long do they have?
Up to two minutes, and they must make the change as quickly as possible.
A coach calls out advice during a rally. Is that allowed?
No. Coaching is permitted only between games, and receiving coaching during play is a conduct offence for the player.
Both players are ready after one minute of the two-minute break. Must they wait?
No. Play may resume earlier if both agree.
Why the rule exists
A squash ball hardly bounces until it is warm, so the warm-up is for the ball as much as the players, and it is shared so that neither starts with an advantage. Short fixed breaks serve the rule that play must be continuous: fitness is part of the contest.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Start of match | Warm-up of up to four minutes | WSF Rule 4.1 |
| Warm-up to first serve | One minute | WSF Rule 7.1 |
| Between games | Two minutes | WSF Rule 7.1 |
| Damaged equipment | Two minutes | WSF Rule 7.3 |
| Injury | Its own time allowances | WSF Rule 13 |
From the rule book
World Squash Federation, Rules of Singles Squash (version 1.2.2, effective 1 September 2025), Rules 3.6.7, 4, 7, 11.6, 14.3 and 14.6, and Appendix 6. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Squash Singles Rules 2025 (PDF).