U.S. SQUASH to Adopt PAR 11 Scoring System
The U.S. SQUASH Board of Directors recently approved the adoption of the new official World Squash Federation (WSF) scoring system, effective immediately. The decision was in response to the WSF vote during the Annual General Meeting held in Manchester, England mid-October, to change the official rules of the game to make “point-a-rally" (or "PAR") scoring to 11 points the primary scoring system of the softball singles game. The "hand-in/hand-out" (or “international”) scoring to 9 points will become a secondary scoring option for the sport.
While the WSF action is officially effective April 1, 2009, impacting all future World Championships for adults, junior, amateur and professional, many regional and national governing bodies acted in advance of the WSF vote, or have since acted to change to the system currently used by the professionals.
These bodies include the European Squash Federation for all 2008-2009 ESF Championships, senior and junior, all ESF Junior Circuit events including the Scottish Junior and British Junior Opens coming up in a few weeks, England Squash, Squash Canada and in the U.S., the New England Interscholastic Squash Association and now U.S. SQUASH.
Therefore, all U.S. SQUASH sanctioned play is by default scored PAR 11, which requires a player to win 11 points, or if tied at 10-all, to win by two. All U.S. Championships, junior and adult, beginning with the U.S. Junior Open to be held this December 20-23, 2008, will use PAR 11 scoring.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Scoring
Our league uses international scoring to 9, do we need to change mid-season?
No immediate change is needed, both scoring systems are still sanctioned.
Do the results for tournaments and leagues played with international scoring still count towards my rating and ranking?
Yes, the results still count the same.
Does this mean all play needs to be PAR 11?
No, all play does not need to be PAR 11, international scoring to 9 is still an option for tournaments and leagues, however most will likely use the primary PAR 11 scoring.
If the scoring is not stated on the entry form or tournament information, what will be used?
If there is no information to the contrary, effective immediately, you should assume the scoring will be the primary system, PAR 11.
Does the U.S. SQUASH system allow for entering of PAR 11 scoring?
Yes, the new scoring system may be entered for results into the league and tournament systems.
I'm fine with whatever
I'm fine with whatever scoring system I'm told to use whether it's hand-in, hand-out to nine or point a rally to 11. PAR will make me more conservative in my shot selection because a mistake from me regardless of who's serving is a point for my opponent.
Regarding Mitch's comments about the scoring system shortening the game, yes, that is an inevitable outcome. It was actually the genesis for the pros switching from PAR to 15 to PAR to 11 so that most matches would be about an hour -- making them more ideal for television.
If we want a longer match, then I think we should probably change the ball that we use. Nearly every one of us plays with a Dunlop double dot ball and, frankly, for most of us that's the wrong ball. A single dot ball would make our rallies longer and therefore our games and matches longer (and more like the pros insofar as position and strategy are concerned). We are not the pros and do not hit the ball as cleanly or as hard to get the double dot ball warm enough. If we played with a single yellow dot, especially in the winter, there would be no doubt some of us would be bent over gasping for air.
Also, I think some rallies will lengthen after we make the mental switch that a mistake on our part gives our opponent a point. More conversative, tighter squash will be an outgrowth. Or a lot of people will be hitting the tin until they find out how to hit the nick with their overhand cross-court kill.
At last!
There is hope for me as I dislike long matches! Unlike the MSA President's comment, I do like this new scoring system much more.
Undecided
Like everything, I think there are pro's and con's...
Pro: It's good to be using the same system that the pro's are using
Con: We're not pro's
Pro: Each point will mean more requiring more focus, which can only raise your level of squash
Con: This was also developed to reduce injuries to the pro's for "tournament format squash" - the average player plays 2-3 matches a week during the squash season.
Pro: Easier on the body
Con: Match time durations may vary widely.
I'm not sure if I like or dislike this format, but once adopted maybe it can be "tweaked" at the amateur or club level. ie. best of 7?
What do you think about the new scoring method?
Personally, it will probably weed out the good squash players from the "endurance" squash players. Since I fall into the latter, look for me in the 3.0's... :-)
PAR scoring
I am against anything that shortens individual games, or matches. I've seen professional matches where a rally goes over 100 strokes. This new scoring system might be OK for them, but I've never had a 100 stroke rally. Amateurs are better off sticking to traditional scoring. Squash now has a reputation as a sport requiring a high level of fitness. One of the major reasons that we amateurs play the game is for the fitness benefits. Every player can remember a close match when they were gasping for air, and their opponent was too, and the match hinged on who could gut it out and get to that ball in the corner. This is the essense of squash and what makes it different from almost every other sport. PAR to 11 would make tough long matches far less common. Games would be unquestionably shorter and most players take a 90 second break between games. Matches would be shorter, and those matches where one player finally runs out of gas in the last game of a tight match would be less common. Let's keep using traditional scoring at our local level. Our game is better for it.
Mitch Anderson