Leagues Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I enter a team into the league?
You must submit your roster typically by the third Wednesday in September (e.g. September 20, 2023)
2. If a player’s rating is above 3.51 for the 3.5 League as of September 21, they are not eligible, correct?
Yes – players must have a rating equal to or below the league they play in.
3. If a player’s rating is below 3.5 and halfway through the season beats everyone and gets to 3.6, can they continue to play in the 3.5 league?
Yes – players eligible to play on September 27th can continue to play out the season in their league.
However, the rules say that the league chairperson retains discretion over rare circumstances to promote any player out of the league if he/she clearly began play at too low a skill level. Any matches played stand, even if a player is promoted.
4. If a player starts at a 4.52 rating and loses a few matches in 5.0, and their rating decreases to 4.4, can they go down to 4.5, or are they locked in at 5.0 for the rest of the season?
No – the player is not eligible to play in the 4.5 league even though their rating is now below 4.5. Players may not move down into a league for which they are not qualified at the start of the season.
5. What if a player does not have a rating?
The player must obtain a rating before being eligible to play. They are required to play three matches and record them on the US Squash website. The matches can be ‘friendlies’ or ‘challenge’ matches.
6. What if my rating is 4.01 and my club does not have a 4.5 team? Is it possible to be able to play the season?
Yes – you should let the chair of the 4.5 league know that you are interested in a ‘bandit’ team.
7. If a player plays up a league six or more times, are they no longer eligible to play in the lower league?
YES – “playing up” is a decision made by the player indicating their interest and expectation of being competitive at a higher level. This rule has been reinstated as of the 2019/20 season.
8. Do players who passed the referee exam in 2013 or some other time in the past have to retake the test? Would it make a difference if players moved up a division?
No. You only have to take the exam once — even if you move up a division.
9. How does the rule of ‘order of play’ work?
Each team’s line-up of players shall be in the order of their club’s current challenge ladder, which must be posted to the US Squash website to be considered valid, or in the absence of a valid ladder, according to the players’ US Squash ratings.
Instructions for creating a challenge ladder on US Squash
10. What is the schedule for each of the leagues?
Monday
- Open 3.0
- Women’s 4.0+
- Open 50+
Tuesday
- Open 6.0
- Women’s 2.5/3.0
- Summer League
Wednesday
- Open 5.0+ (fielding five matches weekly)
Thursday
- Open 3.5
- Open 4.5
11. When does the league begin?
The league starts the second week of October, which is October 10, 2023 this year.
12. When does the league end?
The league has an all-finals night, typically the last Thursday in March, which is Thursday, March 28, 2024, this year.
13. Where can I find the rules for the league?