Squash

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Guideline review date: 28 October 2021

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template.

Activity scope

This guideline relates to student participation in squash or racquetball as an activity to support curriculum delivery.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions and international school study tours procedure.

For activities conducted as part of representative school sport programs, schools should consult with Queensland School Sport.

Medium risk
Squash activities in a confined space involving regulation equipment

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

If any other safety recommendation cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and/or identify and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard.

Competition rules and procedures with additional or more stringent safety requirements must take precedence.

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Students

Emergency and first-aid

Induction and instruction

Consent

Supervision

Principals make final supervision decisions for the activity. Sufficient adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (including emergency situations).

For activities with students with a medical condition or disability that may impact on safety during the activity, consultation with parents is required prior to allocating supervision to determine the impact of students’ medical condition or disability on safety during the activity.

The number of adult supervisors required to fulfil emergency and supervision roles must consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

must be readily identifiable
must closely monitor students with health support needs
must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
must suspend the activity if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. extreme temperatures).

Do not allow inexperienced players to play doubles. Closely supervise experienced players when playing doubles.

Supervisor qualifications recommendations

Principals are responsible for encouraging and enabling school-based activity supervisors to raise their qualifications to improve safety standards.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—Blue Cards procedure and be able to identify, and respond to, risks or hazards that may emerge during the activity.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

For medium risk activities:

At least one adult supervisor is required to be:

a registered teacher with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching squash; or
an adult supervisor working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with Foundation Coach accreditation with Squash Australia.

Facilities and equipment recommendations

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken, including sufficient space, adequate lighting and ventilation to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed.

Participants must wear personal protective equipment appropriate to the activity (e.g. eye protection, enclosed footwear suited to playing conditions).

Equipment (e.g. squash balls) must be sized to match the ability and strength of students.

All equipment must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Racquets must have sufficient non-slip taping/grips in good condition.

Hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards	Control measures
Biological hazards Body fluids (e.g. blood, saliva, sweat)	Manage bodily substances (e.g. blood) and open wounds before, during and after the activity. Consult infection control guidelines and Queensland Health's exclusion periods for infectious conditions poster (PDF, 1.5MB) for hygienic practices and first aid. Follow appropriate cleaning and hygiene management practices when using shared equipment (departmental staff search 'practical subjects cleaning equipment' in OnePortal).
Environmental conditions Weather, sun, humidity	Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions. Ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks. Dry equipment (including racquet grips and balls) if conditions cause dampness.
Facilities and equipment hazards	Control measures
Playing surface	Conduct a field check to identify and manage surface hazards. Clear (e.g. sweep and mop) the playing surface from loose items, sweat or debris. Do not participate on a slippery surface. Cover/fill playing surface hazards (e.g. sprinkler heads, holes) to be level with the surrounds.
Trip hazards	Do not allow hazards (e.g. spectators, chairs, bags) on the court while play is in progress. Do not allow balls or water bottles to remain on the court during play. Implement safety protocols to manage stray balls (e.g. calling a ‘let’ to break play). Do not flick balls off the floor using a racquet.
Student considerations	Control measures
Collision	Avoid collision and accidental contact with racquet during practice. Adjust the player numbers or players’ relative positions with their racquets. Position left and right-handed participants safely during instruction (e.g. left-handed participants on the right of the group for backhand skills practice).
Physical exertion	Conduct warm-up/cool-down activities. Continually monitor participants for signs of fatigue and exhaustion.
Spectacles	Do not allow spectacles made of glass to be worn, unless adequate measures to prevent breakage are taken.
Student issues	Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating. Ensure fingernails, hair and clothing (e.g. pockets) do not interfere with the activity. Wear light-coloured clothing to aid ball visibility.

Additional links

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

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