Defaulting in Squash: What Does It Really Mean?

Everyone has been there before – the momentary panic you feel when you realize you won’t be able to attend a game. All your friends are busy and the sub list isn’t working, so what now? The only other option seems to be glaring you right in the face, and you might be too caught up in the panic to realize the consequences, but there seems to be no other way. You decide not to attend your game.

But, what consequences could really happen if you don’t attend your game. I mean, you’re only one player right?

In the majority of cases with most sports run through the ESSC, one player will not make or break the team if they are unable to show up to a game and properly communicate that with the rest of the roster in advance. However, Squash isn’t like most sports. In fact, it is more of an anomaly in how it runs throughout the season, and defaults are no exception.

Now, you may be asking yourself, ‘What makes Squash so different?’ Well, it’s simple. Unlike other sports, Squash teams play each match separately, and not together. Because of that, both players on a team play a total 2 matches per night, playing each opponent on the other team once. If you, your partner, or both of you do not attend a game, both opponents will not get all the matches played that they paid for. That constitutes as a ‘default’ and can be frustrating for all parties involved.

When a default occurs, there are 3 options that the team who was defaulted against must decide upon:

1. The mercy score would be enforced for all matches where a legal game could not be carried out (11-0, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0 for every match missed), and the default fee will be enforced which is $15/match. (Each player is responsible for their own default in Squash. That means if that if a player defaults two matches, they are responsible for the $30 fee.)
2. The default fee would be waived, and the mercy score would be implemented.
3. Both the default fee and the mercy score would be waived, and a fun game is carried out.

With this new found knowledge in your arsenal, we hope that you can go into the court feeling a bit more prepared, and a little less stressed. Now get out there and get ready to squash the competition!