Squash
is an indoor racquet sport which was, formerly, called "Squash Rackets", a reference to the 'squashable' soft ball used in the game (compared with the harder ball used in its parent game Racquets or Rackets).
The game is played by two players (or occasionally four players for doubles) with 'standard' rackets in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball.
Squash historians assert that the game originated in the 19th century at Harrow School, in London, England, as a derivative of the game of Racquets. The first recorded construction of purpose-built squash courts was at Harrow in the 1860s. It is possible that earlier squash courts were created at Harrow by sub-dividing a racquets court, which is almost exactly the size of three Squash courts (to allow more players on the courts at the same time).
The game generally remained the preserve of the schools and universities until the early part of the 20th century, by which time it was becoming popular in the private clubs (such as the RAC in London) and with officers in the British armed forces. International Squash Singles Court, as specified by the World Squash Federation Enlarge International Squash Singles Court, as specified by the World Squash Federation
The U.S. became the first nation to form a dedicated association and codify its game in 1907. In the same year, the (British) Tennis and Rackets Association formed a squash rackets sub-committee to administer the game, which became progressively codified during the 1920s. Subsequently, the (British) Squash Rackets Association was formed and took over administration of the game in 1928. The game is now administered by the WSF (World Squash Federation). The men's professional game is managed by the PSA (Professional Squash Association) and the women's by WISPA (Women's International Squash Players Association).
Squash continued almost exclusively as the game of the upper-middle and/or upper class(es) until around the 1950s, when commercial operators began building public courts. The game boomed in popularity, with participation peaking around the early 1980's. Despite a downturn in player numbers, the game remains popular in many places, especially Australia, northwestern Europe, North America and Asia (primarily the south and southeastern regions thereof).
At the elite level, the game was strictly divided between amateur players (usually 'gentlemen' and 'ladies') and professional players, who were often coaches employed by the exclusive clubs. This division started to break down with the growth of the commercial side of the game in the 1960s, with the women's game becoming 'open' in 1973 and the men's game in 1980.
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