Version control: Original 1990 / Updated 1999 / Updated 2003 / Updated 2015
Introduction
You must refer to the Requirements for All Sport and Physical Activity (PDF 466KB) to understand your overall compliance responsibilities.
Parents or caregivers must be informed of full details of the location, supervision to be provided and activities to be undertaken when seeking their written permission.
Teacher/Instructor Qualifications and Experience
The appropriate level of expertise and/or training required to conduct an activity will be dependent on whether the teacher's/instructor's role is one of supervision, instruction or coaching. Other factors to be considered are the nature of the activity, the age, ability and experience of the students involved.
A teacher must be present who has recognised current training in emergency care.
Supervision
Where an adult other than a teacher is engaged to provide instruction, a teacher must be present to take overall responsibility.
Students must be supervised from the gallery during games and match play competitions.
Equipment
Protective eyewear which complies with the Australian Standard AS/NZS 4066 must be worn by players during all social, competition and practice games. Players who normally wear prescription lenses should also obtain appropriate protective eyewear. Prescription lenses provide little or no protection.
The school should either consider providing sufficient protective eye wear for the activity or ensure that the squash facility has a supply for hire.
Students should not play with damaged or broken eye protectors.
Students should be instructed to maintain their rackets in good condition. Grips should be changed regularly.
Students are to wear sports shoes which are appropriate for the demands of squash. Students should use a squash ball suitable to their level of skill.
No personal belongings should be taken onto or stored on the court.
A well-equipped medical kit must be readily available.
Venues
The court surface must be non-slip and free of obstacles.
Safety
Stretching, warm-up and cool-down are vital elements in preventing injury and should be included in any squash program.
Students should be familiar with the rules pertaining to lets, penalties, strokes, crowding an opponent and turning to a rebound from the back wall. These rules should be strictly enforced.
Students are to be instructed not to enter any court where play is in progress.
Players must keep the door of the court firmly closed and handles flush with the walls whilst play is in progress.
Students are to be instructed that no more than two players are to be on a court at any one time. This may only be varied with the consent of the teacher-in-charge or the activity instructor.
Players should ensure that they have an adequate level of hydration before, during and after a match.
Where possible, ice should be available for the treatment of injuries.
Special Features
Programs for skill development should be promoted as performance enhancing in order to increase the appeal of these programs to players.
When learning to play squash, players are advised to begin with a slower game e.g. many players would benefit from participation in racquetball before progressing to full squash.