Wiltshire Squash - Team Squash

This provides the main competitive focal point of the Wiltshire SRA regarding inter-Club squash. The League has run to roughly the same format for many years and, though it has shrunk down over recent years to a present level of about 32 teams, the situation has apparently stabilised. Indeed it is envisaged and hoped that even more Clubs and teams can be encouraged to participate in the coming seasons.

The competitive season runs from early October to mid-March and (from 2002) is split into two halves with promotion and relegation issues decided at Xmas and after March. The League is split into Divisions of either 5 or 6 teams with each team playing against each other on a home and away basis. The top two teams are promoted and the bottom two teams are relegated providing a healthy and regular changeover.

Clubs and teams across the length and breadth of the County participate, involving teams from Leisure Centres, Squash Clubs, Military establishments, local companies, etc. Apart from providing a well-matched environment for competitive squash, all matches are also highly sociable occasions in that the squash is always followed by a meal and drinks, with the home team acting as hosts.

All standards are catered for, from the top County-level superstars in Division 1 down to the other end of the spectrum. Get in touch with the web-site co-ordinator for more details if:

you think you can get together 5 players on a regular basis,
you have somewhere to play,
you can find somewhere nearby for post-match food/drinks,
you enjoy a good sporting night out, and
you can dish out (and also take) some stick after the match.

As if all that squash in the Winter wasn't enough, there is also a thriving Summer League in existence, named after the popular Chippenham Team player Ed Mainwaring, who was tragically killed in a road accident in 1998. The League is run along broadly the same lines as the Winter League, but with a few subtle differences.

Fewer teams compete - there are usually a single division if 12 teams or less are in action. In the case of two leagues running, the top teams from each Division play off against each other at the end of the campaign to establish the overall League winners.
It tends to be a little more light-hearted than the Winter League, though a lot of the Big Guns still turn out for the better teams.
There are less matches to play as the fixtures are home or away rather than home and away.
Entertainment costs (food, drinks, lap-dancers, etc) are split between the teams rather than just being the home team's responsibility.
A match comprises four singles ties and a game of doubles.

History of the Cup Competitions

The Wiltshire SRA used to run two annual KO team competitions for the benefit of its members. These have always ran concurrently with the main Winter League, with the Finals taking place around mid-April, once the Leagues were well and truly part of history. For some reason, fewer teams have always participated in the Cup competitions than the Leagues which is somewhat surprising, since the entry fee was always very cheap and lavish prizes always awaited the winning individual team members. On top of this came a significant bit of local publicity for the Club and players concerned.

Nowadays, just one Cup competition is played, this being a handicap event open to all League teams. This is very popular with most teams participating.

Rules Briefly, as per normal matches but:

American (point-per-rally) scoring with each game to 15 at 14/14 player has to win by 2
Best of 5 games however players may decide beforehand to play best of 3 rather than best of 5 if time is running short (has to be mutually acceptable to all concerned).
Handicaps set by League Secretary and may fluctuate as competition progresses as present form is taken into account. One player always starts on zero:
If both negative handicaps (e.g. -16 and -4) then adjusted to -12 & 0.
If both positive handicaps (e.g. +3 and +1) then adjusted to +2 & 0. If mix (e.g. -16 and +2) then play as is
Results determined firstly by number of strings, if a draw then number of games, then points within games. If still a draw awarded to away team
Entertainment fees to be split between teams.
Court costs are the responsibility of the home team - though venues may be switched if mutually acceptable to save on court costs.
Matches not played by due date will result in "toss of coin" deciding fixture, unless one team is deemed to have been particularly at fault.

History of the Cup Competitions

The Wiltshire SRA used to run two annual KO team competitions for the benefit of its members. These have always ran concurrently with the main Winter League, with the Finals taking place around mid-April, once the Leagues were well and truly part of history. For some reason, fewer teams have always participated in the Cup competitions than the Leagues which is somewhat surprising, since the entry fee was always very cheap and lavish prizes always awaited the winning individual team members. On top of this came a significant bit of local publicity for the Club and players concerned.

Nowadays, just one Cup competition is played, this being a handicap event open to all League teams. This is very popular with most teams participating.

Rules Briefly, as per normal matches but:

American (point-per-rally) scoring with each game to 15 at 14/14 player has to win by 2
Best of 5 games however players may decide beforehand to play best of 3 rather than best of 5 if time is running short (has to be mutually acceptable to all concerned).
Handicaps set by League Secretary and may fluctuate as competition progresses as present form is taken into account. One player always starts on zero:
If both negative handicaps (e.g. -16 and -4) then adjusted to -12 & 0.
If both positive handicaps (e.g. +3 and +1) then adjusted to +2 & 0. If mix (e.g. -16 and +2) then play as is
Results determined firstly by number of strings, if a draw then number of games, then points within games. If still a draw awarded to away team
Entertainment fees to be split between teams.
Court costs are the responsibility of the home team - though venues may be switched if mutually acceptable to save on court costs.
Matches not played by due date will result in "toss of coin" deciding fixture, unless one team is deemed to have been particularly at fault.