WSF Moves To ‘PAR’ Scoring Worldwide

In one of the most radical changes in the sport in recent times, the World Squash Federation has voted to change the scoring system in Squash to ‘Point-A-Rally’ (PAR) to 11 points per game. The new scoring system will take effect worldwide, across all areas of the sport, from 1st April 2009. The decision was taken by an overwhelming vote by Member National Federations at the WSF AGM in Manchester last week.

Whilst PAR scoring has been used on the men’s professional circuit for many years – and was more recently introduced by the WISPA women’s tour - ‘hand-in-hand-out’ scoring to nine points a game has been practiced globally by recreational players for many decades.

Thus from 1st April 2009, the principal scoring system for Squash will change to PAR to 11 (going to two clear points if 10-all is reached).

Already used in both PSA and WISPA Tour events – and, as such, seen regularly on TV –PAR scoring will now extend to all WSF championships, and all Major Games in which squash is featured, e.g. Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan-American Games, World University Games, World Games, and others.

It was also agreed that next month’s Women’s World Team Championships in Cairo will use PAR 11 for all matches in advance of the official April 2009 start date as this is a high-profile event which will feature a large number of WISPA players who are already familiar with the scoring system.

The recent experiment of using it in the European Squash Federation (ESF) Junior Circuit and Championships will now become the norm - and it is certain that other WSF Regional Federations will also introduce it, as will many MNA's for their domestic championships and leagues.

In a further vote taken at the WSF AGM, PAR to 11 was also introduced for international doubles (changing it from PAR to 9 which was introduced in 2007) – and will be used in the WSF International Doubles Championships in Chennai in December. However, the principle of sudden death at 10-all will be retained.