sports 2

Sports

Photography

• Squash is a sport developed in the early 12th century in France
• It gained popularity in schools, and squash itself was developed at Harrow School in England
• The first courts built at this school were rather dangerous because they were near water pipes, chimneys, and ledges
• Natural rubber was the material of choice for the ball
• The first squash court in North America appeared at St. Paul's School in New Hampshire in 1884
• In 1904 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the earliest national association of squash in the world was formed as the United States Squash Racquets Association, (USSRA) now known as US-Squash

• The squash court is a playing surface surrounded by four walls
• The front wall has the largest playing surface, whilst the back wall has the smallest
• The bottom line of the front wall marks the top of the 'tin', a half metre-high metal area which if struck means that the ball is out
• After the serve, the players take turns hitting the ball against the front wall, above the tin and below the out line
• The ball may strike the side or back walls at any time, as long as it hits below the out line

• In the U.S. squash singles and doubles are played with a much harder ball and different size courts
• The relatively small court and low-bouncing ball makes scoring points easier than in its American cousin, racquetball
• Squash provides an excellent cardiovascular workout.
• In one hour of squash, a player may burn about 600 to 1000 calories
• In 2003, Forbes rated squash as the number one healthiest sport to play
• According to the World Squash Federation, as of June 2009, there were 49,908 squash courts in the world, with 188 countries and territories having at least one court
• England had the greatest number at 8,500
• Squash is also a regular sport at the Pan American Games since 1995
• However it is still not recognized as an Olympic sport
• Squash narrowly missed being instated for the 2012 London Games.
• It was again up for consideration for the 2016 Summer Games along with baseball, softball, rugby sevens, karate, golf, and roller sports, but missed out again as the IOC assembly decided to add golf and rugby sevens to the Olympic programme

Squash

History

Gameplay

Carlin Wing

Carlin Wing was a professional squash player who changed careers. After several years on the women’s professional tour, Wing headed to California to attend the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia.

“They would ask why I was concentrating on a sport that was so small and elitist, but I liked that. It was so unfamiliar to most art audiences that it almost functioned as a made-up sport.”