THE RULES

Goal: The goal consists of a net and two vertical goalposts connected by a horizontal crossbar.

Goalposts: Goalposts are the two vertical posts of the goal. They can be made of rigid or flexible materials.

Crossbar: This is the upper horizontal post of the goal, which connects the two goalposts at the edges.

Rigid goalposts/crossbar: Wood, aluminum or other inflexible goalposts/crossbars are considered to be made of rigid materials.

Flexible goalposts/crossbar: Belt-type or other pliant goalposts/crossbars are considered to be made of flexible materials. Plastic and inflated goalposts/crossbars can be considered either solid or flexible, depending on their pliancy or flexibility.

Area: A rectangular area marked in front of each goal. 

Lines: The four lines marked on the ground which define the rectangular area. The lines consist of the goal line and the three area lines.

Goal line: This is the line that connects the two goalpost bases.

Server: The player who starts the point by taking the first shot.

Receiver: The player who receives the first service shot hit by the server (the player executing the second service shot).

Slow Shot: In order to achieve a slow shot, the players must hit the ball below their shoulder, they must aim at their opponent’s area or the lines (and not the goal), and at the same time the ball must go clearly higher than the goal height (2 m).

Service: Every point starts with a service. A service in Squaball includes three shots. Thus, the two players participate in a service. The first service shot is a slow shot and is played by the server towards the receiver. The second service shot is also a slow shot and is played by the receiver to the server. The third service shot is played from the server to the receiver and it is not mandatory for it to be a slow shot. 

Squabbling: The Squabbling consists of consecutive valid ball exchanges between the players, during their battle to win the point. It starts after the service (after the third service shot), if the receiver manages to return a valid shot to the server. When one of the players succeeds in winning the point, the Squabbling ends and a new service takes place.

Sides: The SQUABALL^® court is divided into two sides. Each side consists of a goal and its area. Each player remains on the same side during a set.

Positions: Only for SQUABALL^® Doubles, each one of the court’s sides is divided in two positions. Each team remains on the same side during a set. Each player of each team should stand either in the right or left position.

The SQUABALL^® court includes two goals and in front of each goal there is a rectangular area defined by four lines: the goal line and three area lines. The goals and the areas are facing one another.

The width of a line and the width/diameter of the goalposts/crossbar must be between 2.5cm and 8cm. The lines should ideally be of the same width as the goalposts/crossbar. Otherwise, the lines’ inner limit must be aligned with the goalposts’ inner limit and the lines’ width must not exceed the goalposts width. The goalposts/crossbars must be round, elliptical, rectangular or square in shape.

The inner edges of the goalposts are at a distance of 3 m, and the lower edge of the crossbar is 2 m high. The distance between the two goals is 12 m (this is the distance between the front limits of the goal lines), allowing this sport to be played widthwise on existing sport facilities.

Each area is centered in front of the respective goal. Along with the goal line, the area forms a rectangle of 3 m long and 2 m wide (the inner edges distance).

Ideally SQUABALL^® should be played on sand, but it can also be played on grass or any other surface.

The goalposts/crossbars can be made of rigid materials (balls hitting the rigid goalposts/crossbars are not valid points) or flexible materials (balls hitting the flexible goalposts/crossbars are valid points).

Wood, aluminum or other inflexible goalposts/crossbars are considered to be made of rigid materials. Belt-type or other pliant goalposts/crossbars are considered to be made of flexible materials. Plastic and inflated goalposts/crossbars can be considered either solid or flexible, depending on their pliancy or flexibility.

The SQUABALL^® governing body or the referees decide if a goal is considered rigid or flexible.

The goals should have a net that does not let the ball through.

Goals and areas position must be fixed and stable during the match.

Goal and area lines must be colored so that they are easily distinguishable by the players and spectators.

Areas can be marked with color sprays, adhesive tape or belt-type lines such as bands.

Goals and areas are provided by the event organizers. 

The SQUABALL^® ball is spherical and its diameter must be between 5,5 cm and 7 cm. The ball can be pressurized or pressureless with a rubber core, depending on the speed and strength desired.

Special balls may also be used for extra speed, like cauchuc balls. Balls should have intense colors in order to be easily distinguished.

The balls are provided by the event organizers.

The game must be played with wooden rackets approved by the SQUABALL^® governing body. The racket must not be wider than 25 cm and longer than 42 cm.

The weight of a racket can vary, from 300 gr to 500 gr. A beginner can start with a lightweight racket, in order to get familiar with the sport. The weight distribution can also vary from one racket to another, with some being heavier at the head.

The head shape may vary slightly, depending on the player’s needs. The handle can be made of wood or cork. A handle grip is also allowed.

Every player has their own rackets for an event. The rackets must be validated by the referee.

The Squabbling starts after a service, if the receiver manages to return a valid shot to the server. It consists of consecutive valid ball exchanges between the players. During the Squabbling the players take turns hitting the ball until one of them wins the point.

The aim of each player during the Squabbling is to put the ball into their opponent’s goal or area or on the lines, in order to win a point.

If the player hits the ball and it goes outside the opponent’s goal, area and lines, then the opponent wins a point.

Rigid goalposts/crossbar: If a player hits the ball against the opponent’s rigid goalposts/crossbar and then the ball bounces out of the opponent’s goal, area and lines, then the opponent wins the point. If the ball, after hitting the opponent’s rigid goalposts/crossbar, goes inside the goal or the area or on the lines, then the player wins the point.

Flexible goalposts/crossbars: If a player hits the ball against the opponent’s flexible goalposts/crossbar, then the player wins a point.

If a player hits the ball with something other than the racket, the opponent wins a point.

At the beginning of a match, the player who starts the service is chosen by a coin toss. The opponent chooses on which side of the court they play. At the beginning of the following sets, these roles alternate.

Each point starts with a service which consists of three shots between the players.

During these three shots, the two players must stand within their areas and they must not step onto the lines or outside the area. If they do, the service must be repeated.

If a player hits the ball with something other than the racket, the opponent wins a point and starts the next service.

The server is alternated after each point. The first server of a set serves when the sum of the players’ score is even. For example, if the score is 5-3, 5+3=8, the sum of the score is even, so the first server of the set serves.

(i)    First service shot

The player executing the first service shot (server) must start with a slow shot. In order to achieve a slow shot, the players must hit the ball below their shoulder, they must aim at their opponent’s area or the lines (and not the goal), and at the same time the ball must go clearly higher than the goal height (2 m).

If the server hits the ball and it goes inside the receiver’s area or onto the lines, the server wins a point.

If the server hits the ball and it goes inside the receiver’s goal or outside the receiver’s area and lines, the receiver wins a point.

If the receiver returns the shot the game continues to the second service shot.

(ii)  Second service shot

The receiver must also return the ball with a slow shot, again hit below the shoulder, aiming at the area or the lines (and not the goal) of the server and achieving a ball height of more than 2 m (slow shot).

If the receiver returns the ball and it goes inside the server’s area or onto the lines, the receiver wins a point. 

If the receiver returns the ball and it goes inside the server’s goal or outside the server’s area and lines, the server wins a point.

If the server returns the shot the game continues to the third service shot.

(iii) Third service shot

During the third service shot, the server must hit the ball aiming at the receiver’s goal or the area or the lines, in such a way that the receiver will not be able to return a valid shot. The two players must remain within the lines of their areas until the server hits the third service shot. It is not mandatory for this shot to be slow.

If the server hits the ball and it goes inside the receiver’s goal or the area or onto the lines, the server wins a point.

If the server hits the ball and it goes outside the receiver’s goal, area and lines, the receiver wins a point.

If the receiver manages to return a valid shot, aiming at the server’s goal or the area or the lines, then the Squabbling starts.

(iv) Repeating a service

There are two reasons why a service needs to be repeated:

• If during the first and second service shots and until the server hits the third shot, a player’s foot touches the lines or outside the area.
• If during the first and second service shots the players do not play a clear slow shot (the ball does not clearly reach a height above 2 m or the players do not hit the ball below their shoulder).

For every two repeated services caused by a player, even if not in the same service, one point is lost (+1 point to the opponent). The repeated services count is reset when the set is finished.

A player wins a point if:

• During the Squabbling or the third service shot, the player puts the ball inside the opponent’s goal or area or on the lines.
• In case of flexible goalposts/crossbar: During the Squabbling or the third service shot, the player hits the ball against the opponent’s flexible goalposts/crossbar.
• During the Squabbling or the third service shot, the opponent hits the ball and it goes outside the player’s goal, area and lines.
• During the first service shot or the second service shot, the player hits the ball and it goes inside the opponent’s area or onto the lines.
• During the first service shot or the second service shot, the opponent hits the ball and it goes inside the player’s goal or outside the player’s area and lines.
• The opponent causes two service repetitions in the same set.
• The ball touches the opponent’s racket twice in one shot voluntarily.
• The opponent touches the ball with anything else except the racket.
• The opponent misbehaves or disturbs the other player deliberately.
• The opponent breaks the SQUABALL® rules.
• The opponent is coached by their trainer. No trainer guidance is permitted during play. However, during SQUABALL^® DOUBLES, players have the right to guide their teammate.

Each set ends when one of the two players reaches 21 points first. In the case of a 20-20 draw, the player who achieves a 2 point lead first wins the set. One match can therefore consist of three or five sets in total.

The set must be continuous with no interruptions. A break of 2 minutes must be given to the players between sets.

A player has the right to ask for one time-out of 30 seconds per set.  

In case of injury, a player has the right to a 3 minute time-out for medical treatment. A player can receive medical treatment during the match or during the break between sets.

A match may only be interrupted when its continuity is not possible for weather reasons, environmental reasons, player health reasons or any other reasons justified by the referee or the SQUABALL^® governing body.

If a player is not able to continue a match, then the match is terminated before the end, according to the discretion of the referee. The player loses the match in that case.

Players can play in swimwear, but also in conventional sports clothing.

The players clothing must not distract or attack the opponent’s or the spectator’s laws or beliefs (religious, political, etc…).

Clothes and objects that can distract the opponent’s play are not allowed, as well as very brightly colored clothing or light emitting/reflecting materials.

Apart from their clothing, rackets and protective equipment (injury preventing material, sun hat, sweatbands etc…), a player must not be equipped with anything else.

Players must avoid wearing anything that could be dangerous to themselves or other players and spectators (for example, conventional sunglasses).

If their equipment does not follow the approved criteria, then the player is not able to play the match. Players are advised to have other sets of clothing of different colors, in case a change is needed.

The referee has the final decision on whether player’s clothing is appropriate or not.

Warming up is mandatory before a match or after an interruption of more than 10 minutes. Players are allowed 5 minutes to warm up.

Referees decide if an extra warm up session should be allowed.

The SQUABALL^® game can also be adapted in order to be played by two teams of two players.

In this version of the game, each side of the court consists of two goals and two areas. Each goal with its area corresponds to a position. 

Each team remains on the same side during a set. Each player of each team should stand either in the right or left position. Each team is facing one another.

The game rules are the same as the original game, with the following adaptations:

1. During the squabbling each player must return the ball to the opponent team’s player from whom they did not receive the ball. To perform a valid shot, a player must aim at the corresponding opponent’s goal or their area or the lines. For example, if player 2 aims at player’s 4 goal/area/lines, then player 4 must aim at player’s 1 goal/area/lines. Afterwards, player 1 must aim at player’s 3 goal/area/lines, etc.

2. At the beginning of a match, the team which starts the service is indicated by a coin toss. The opponent team chooses first on which side and in which positions (right or left) they will play. Afterwards the serving team chose its players’ positions. At the beginning of the following sets, these roles alternate between the teams.

3. During a service the four players must be placed within their areas and they must not step on the lines or outside their areas. Otherwise the service must be repeated.

4. For each two repeated services caused by a team in the same set, the opponent team wins a point.

5. At the beginning and after every four services, the player in the right position starts the service.

6. The service consists of five shots between the players:
   1. During the first service shot, the server must aim with a slow shot at the area or the lines of the player who is positioned in front of them.
   2. During the second, the third and the fourth service shots, each receiver must aim with a slow shot at the area or the lines of the opponent team’s player from whom they did not receive the ball.
   3. During the fifth service shot, the server must hit the ball aiming at the goal or the area or the lines of the opponent team’s player from whom they did not receive the ball. It is not mandatory for this shot to be slow.

7. Once a point is finished, the next service is started by the receiver of the previous first service shot, and they must serve to the opponent player who did not serve during the previous service.

8. After four services, the players whose team started the service in the set must switch positions, before the next service takes place. The service is played by the player in the right position.

9. After the following four services, the players whose team did not start the service in the set must switch positions, before the next service takes place.

10. Afterwards, every four services, the team changing player positions continue alternating until the end of the set. This rotation assures that every player will serve to each of their opponents.

11. At the beginning of the following sets, the service counts start from zero.

SQUABALL^® MINI involves two players and is a more static version of the game with reduced dimensions, adapted for players who want to focus more on developing their technical qualities and reflexes.

The rules are exactly the same as in the original SQUABALL^® game, with the only difference that the dimensions of the goal and the area are reduced. The goal dimensions are 2,45 x 2,45 meters and the area dimensions are 2,45 x 2 meters.

The distance between the two goals can be adjusted, depending on the chosen difficulty of the two players and the space the players have available. For beginners, 8 meters is recommended.