League Rules
Introduction
The following are the rules that apply to all Leagues run by Munster Squash
Munster Squash retains the right to make changes to these rules based on circumstances they face from time to time.
Munster Squash decisions are final.
The official communications to and from Munster Squash is from a munstersquash.com domain i.e.
Jurisdiction
The Munster Squash Committee shall have absolute power to deal with any matter that may arise in connection with all competitions and which is not provided for in these rules. In particular, the Committee may waive the application of any rule if it considers that exceptional circumstances warrant it. The decision of the Committee on any such matter or on the interpretation of any rule shall be final.
Rules of the Game
All matches will be played under the rules of the World Squash Federation (WSF).
Ball
The double-yellow dot ball is recommended for Munster Championships and Munster Leagues for all Divisions unless court conditions are cold enough to warrant using a single-yellow dot ball.
Any change of ball from the preferred ball must be agreed by both players, if both players fail to reach an agreement then the recommended ball should be used.
Clothing
Irish Squash and the WSF rules on clothing apply to all matches under the jurisdiction of Munster Squash. Currently, there is no colour requirement other than players are required to respect the requests of host clubs; shoes must be non-marking; typical clothing includes for men is described as – short sleeved top, shorts, stockings, and shoes, and typical clothing for women include top, skirt or shorts, stockings, and shoes.
Juniors (U19) playing in competitions under the jurisdiction of Munster Squash are required to wear protective eye-guards that meet the requirements of the World Squash Federation.
Eligibility
Only players who have paid full membership of Irish Squash are allowed to play in leagues or tournaments.
Ability of Players
It is the responsibility of participating clubs to ensure that all the players entered on a league panel are being entered in a league appropriate to the ability of the players. All panels should be in order or merit (standard) Players should not be entered in leagues below the standard of their play. Where Munster Squash believes that a club is entering a player in a league below the standard of that player Munster Squash shall be entitled to require that player to be played in a higher league and not in the lower league, or the player may be requested to be moved on the panel either to a higher or lower position.
Players will be set into divisional bands on a yearly basis by the Munster Squash at the end of the league season.
Promotion and relegation of players between bands will depend on results throughout the season.
Contact Munster Squash if you have any queries over which band/string a player should fall under.
Players can play in a division above their divisional band, but cannot play in a division below their divisional band.
Points
Each league tie shall be the best of five matches. One point will be awarded per game won in each match. Bonus points will be awarded to the winning team as follows:
- 5 points for a 5 –
0 win - 4 points for a 4 –
1 win - 3 points for a 3 –
2 win
Scoring in games shall be Point-A-Rally (PAR),
- Div 1 and Div 2 shall be up to 11 and must win by 2 clear points,
- Div 3, Div 4, Div 5, and Div 6 shall be up to 15 and must win by 2 clear points.
Panels and Teams
Prior to the commencement of the league, team captains (or club representatives) are required to submit a panel of players in order of merit ranking to Munster Squash via SportyHQ. The league administrator for the Munster Leagues shall be responsible for checking the panels for the Munster Leagues.
Important: Changes will not be allowed to team panels once the league starts.
Only players on submitted panels may participate in the league (including playoffs/rematch if there are any) and for the duration of the league players must play in the relevant order of merit submitted.
Note: If a Team plays a player that was not included on their panel then the offending player shall be deemed to have lost the match by a margin of 3-0, regardless of the result, and all players below the offending player will automatically be deemed to have lost 3-0 as well.
Munster Squash may request any club to justify its panel or team. If in the opinion of the committee a player has been incorrectly ranked or incorrectly played in a league below the standard of their play the committee shall have the power to impose whatever penalties it deems appropriate.
All Players will be placed in a ‘Band’ by Munster Squash. Player Bands correspond to Divisions. Player’s will not be allowed play in a division lower then their band. You can appeal your Band position by sending an email to
Time of matches
All matches must be played at the date, place and time of the fixture except in very exceptional circumstances and by prior arrangement with Munster Squash, sufficient notice having been given in all cases. It is recommended that all ties commence at 7:30 p.m.
All matches must be played on the same date with no exceptions
Order of play
Matches should be played in the order 5 – 4 – 1 – 3 – 2
Note: If a team plays with 4 players the team must play at 1 through 4. For example, if a team plays without their regular number 3 then the players at 4 and 5 must move up one place to 3 and 4 and in the event of a team playing out of the submitted merit ranking order, the offending player shall be deemed to have lost the match by a margin of 3-0, regardless of the result, and all players below the offending player will automatically deemed to have lost 3-0 as well.
Walkovers
Walkovers are strictly discouraged, a walkover may be claimed by the opposing team if, all other matches having been played, 20 minutes have elapsed since the time of calling the players on court. Only team captains can concede or accept walkovers.
Note: in the unusual circumstances that a team which is made up of a combination of clubs their designated home venue must be declared to all other team captains before the league starts.
Postponements
Postponements are strictly discouraged, If a fixture has to be postponed by a club then the captain of that club must apply to Munster Squash for the postponement, Munster Squash will consult the other team and if a rescheduled date can not be reached within 2 weeks of the postponement then the team that originally requested the postponement must forfeit the fixture.
Return of results
The use of the SportyHQ Squash Score App is mandatory for league matches.
Each Captain must submit their lineup by 6:30 pm on the date of the fixture.
If the SportyHQ Squash Score App was not used a paper record of games and also points per game for each match must be recorded. The captain of the winning team must enter the results into SportyHQ.
Android App (Play Store) Download Here
Apple App (App Store) Download Here
Match Ties
In the case where a match is tied after 2 legs (e.g. semi-final) then the points in all games over both legs of the fixture will be used to determine the winner and the team that progresses, the team with the most points per game over both legs will progress.
In the event that points were recorded over 1 leg then the team that recorded the points per game will progress to the final regardless of the points per game ratio. Example: if Club A wins 4-1 on the 1st leg but fails to record the points per game and then Club B wins 4-1 on the 2nd leg but does record the points per game, then in this situation Club B will progress to the final.
Note: Remember, it’s the Team Captains’ responsibility to make sure the points per game are recorded in SportyHQ.
If both clubs fail to record the points over both legs then this must be reported to Munster Squash immediately and Munster Squash will provide a date for a rematch, this date is final and will not be rescheduled.
The venue for all rematches will be neutral.
If a team cannot play the rematch they must officially inform Munster Squash () of their unavailability to play the rematch. The other team will automatically progress to the final.
In the event that Munster Squash does not receive official communications from either club as regards availability or unavailability for the rematch Munster Squash will expect the teams to travel and be available to play the rematch.
If one team travels and is ready to play but the other team does not travel, the team that was ready to play will progress to the final, The team that didn’t travel and didn’t communicate their unavailability to Munster Squash must write an explanation to Munster Squash outlining the reasons for the ‘No-Show’
If there is a tie on league points during the league phase, the team that progresses to the semi-final is determined by a head-to-head between both teams. If both teams are tied on league points, the games between both teams (for all matches over 2 legs home and away) are calculated and the team with the most games proceeds, if teams are tied on both league points and games then points per games (for all matches) are calculated, and the team with the most points over both home and away legs proceed.
Finals
All finals that are played over 1 leg will be played in a neutral venue, this venue will be organized by Munster Squash.
If finals are scheduled to be played over 2 legs, the home and away schedule will be organized by Munster Squash
Munster Squash will determine and venues and dates,
League Fees
League fees are payable when the club official or Team Captain enters the panel.
The entry fee is €100 per team to be made payable via the Munster Squash SportyHQ Leagues Links, which will be provided by the League secretary.
Conduct
Players are advised that offensive, disruptive or intimidating behavior in squash is not acceptable and is deleterious to the game. Included in this category are audible or visible obscenities; any threatening behavior; deliberate dangerous play or action; verbal or physical abuse; dissent; abuse of racket, court, or ball; unnecessary physical contact; excessive racket swing; unfair warm-up; time-wasting; being late back on the court between games; arguing with the referee; receiving coaching other than when between games.
Misconduct will be dealt with under the Code of Conduct described in the Constitution of Munster Squash.
Refereeing
In league matches, the home team should appoint three of the five referees and the visiting team the remaining two.
i.e. 1st match = refereed by Home team, 2nd match = refereed by Away team, 3rd match = refereed by Home team, 4th match = refereed by Away team, 5th match = refereed by Home team.
Players may not request a change of referee once the match has commenced.
Please check out our refereeing section of this website for further info, there are some useful quizzes and resources to aid your understanding of the rules, and info about upcoming refereeing coaching sessions.
Team submission date:
(Dates will be issued by Munster Squash)
Start dates
(Start Dates will be issued by Munster Squash)
Promotions:
An assessment of the league results will be carried out at the end of every season, and players and/or teams may be promoted for the following season if they are deemed to be too strong for a division.
Communication
All official communication to and from Munster Squash must be made by email to
Munster Squash has a WhatsApp group for each division, these WhatsApp groups are strictly for communication purposes and are not classed as official communication channels.
If a Munster Squash committee member posts a message into a WhatsApp group, either a club WhatsApp group or a Munster Division WhatsApp group it is their own personal view and is not an official communication from Munster Squash.
The League sub-committee for each division will be comprised of 3 personnel: the Munster Secretary, the Munster President, and one other Munster Squash Committee member
Any complaints or appeals are to be directed via the Team Captains to Munster Squash for communication to the League sub-Committee members. Complaints/appeals will be put before all 3 members of the respective League sub-Committee for discussion before coming to a decision. All decisions of the sub-committee are final and will not be reviewed