Squash

This requirements of this schedule apply to the teaching of Squash, training sessions and competition matches conducted by schools.

As part of the process of safety self-regulation, all persons engaging in this activity should identify the hazards, assess their significance and manage the potential risks including any additional hazards not mentioned here.

Squash is played in a confined space. Safety rules and procedures are important because of the type of equipment used.

Hazards that may be encountered in squash include:

• equipment (e.g. racquet, ball)
• collisions

The categorisation of these conditions is subjective and offered as a starting point for risk management planning. The actual degree of risk is best ascertained by persons with intimate local knowledge present at the site of the activity.

Participation in squash involves medium risk (level 2).

One adult present should have knowledge of, and an ability to perform, first aid procedures.

If an adult other than a registered teacher is engaged for instruction, a teacher should be present to take overall responsibility.

The qualifications listed in this section are minimums for each type of situation. Leaders are encouraged to seek training to raise their qualification level above the minimum listed.

The leader should be:

• a registered teacher with experience (previous involvement) in the teaching of squash or
• an adult who has Level 1 coaching qualifications from Squash Australia.

A first aid kit should be available at all venues where lessons and competitions are conducted.

Initial introduction of the activity should include:

• appropriate warm-up and warm-down activities
• rules, safety procedures and prerequisite skills before students play the game
• progressive and sequential skill development
• modified games that match skill and fitness levels of students

Students need to wear light-coloured clothing to aid ball visibility.

Students are not to wear spectacles made of glass unless adequate measures to prevent breakage are taken. It is recommended that Australian Standard approved eye-protection equipment be worn.

Inexperienced players should play singles matches only.

Experienced players may be permitted to play doubles only when the match is supervised by an experienced adult.

The court surface should be non-slip and free of obstacles.

Lighting and ventilation should be adequate.
Racquet weight and grip size should be appropriate to the student.

Students should be advised to keep the racquet grip dry.

The number of students in the available space and their positions in relation to one another with their racquets should be considered. Any left-handed students should be positioned on the left of the group for skills practice.

The squash court door should be closed at all times while activities are being conducted.

Students should be instructed not to enter courts while play is in progress.

Students should be supervised from the gallery during games or match play.

The rules pertaining to lets, penalty strokes, crowding an opponent and turning should be strictly enforced to ensure the safety of the students.

• HLS-PR-013: Developing a Sun Safety Strategy
• SCM-PR-002: School Excursions
• HLS-PR-005: Injury, Illness and Dangerous Event Recording and Reporting
• HLS-PR-003: First Aid for Schools and Non-school Locations