How do conduct warnings and penalties work?
Rule- South Africa
- Squash South Africa
- World Squash Singles Rules 2025
- Referees
- Markers
- All ages
- 2026
- Officials
If a player's conduct is unacceptable you must penalise it, stopping play if necessary (World Squash Singles Rule 14).
Penalties, chosen by severity: Conduct Warning, Conduct Stroke, Conduct Game, Conduct Match. For a later similar offence you can give the same penalty again, but never a lighter one. You can penalise at any time, including the warm-up and after the match.
Offences include: audible or visible obscenity; verbal, physical or other abuse; unnecessary physical contact (including pushing off the opponent); deliberate or dangerous play, including an excessive swing and turning; dissent; trying to influence the referee; abuse of equipment or court; unfair warm-up; delaying play (including being late back); deliberate distraction; receiving coaching during play. Players also can't leave the court during a game without permission, place objects in the court or ask for an official to be changed.
Effect on the score:
- Stop play for a warning: play a let.
- Stop play for a Conduct Stroke: it's the result of the rally.
- Conduct Stroke after a rally: the rally stands, add the stroke, no change of service box.
- Conduct Game: the game in progress, or the next one (with no extra interval). The offender keeps points and games already won.
Calls (Appendix 2), for example: "Conduct Warning Smith for delaying play"; "Conduct Smith, Stroke to Jones for delay of game"; "Conduct Jones, Game to Smith for abuse of opponent".
Complete any required paperwork after a conduct penalty. If someone other than a player is disruptive or offensive, suspend play until it stops or they leave.
Added 21 Oct 2026