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British Racketball Skills Awards.

These are based on the SRA Junior Awards for Squash, modified to apply to racketball.

Use the One-Two-Three Stars to assess your youngest players. You don't even need a racket for the one-star grade : just a ball and a wall !

Grade your better players with Bronze-Silver-Gold. An independent assessor is recommended for the Gold Award. Use these grades in competitions to ensure balanced matches.

Further information and your comments please to

David Gipson England Squash Registered Racketball Coach



One Star 1 Throw a ball into the air, let it bounce once on the floor, catch it after the bounce. 4 out of 6 to pass.

2 Throw a ball against the wall, let it bounce once on the floor, catch it after the bounce. 4 out of 6 to pass.

3 Stand behind a 2 meter floor line, throw ball onto wall and catch it before it bounces on the floor (i.e. volley). 4 out of 6 to pass.

4 With a partner have a 6 shot co-operative rally. Throw ball to wall below the 2 meter line, ball bounces once and is caught by partner standing behind a 2 meter floor line.

5 Play a game without rackets, as above, to 9 points. Point a rally scoring (PARS).

Question : How many times is the ball allowed to bounce on the floor ?

Two Stars 1 Carry the ball on the racket : start at the the back wall, touch the front wall, then return to the back wall. Ball to remain on throughout.

2 Bounce ball on racket for 6 consecutive hits. Scoring restarts if error occurs.

3 Solo continuous rally against the wall, of 6 forehand shots. Ball to be hit below the 2 meter line.

4 Serve from one service box to land in the opposite half of the court. 4 out of 6 to pass.

5 With a partner, have a 6 shot co-operative rally with rackets. Hit ball to wall below 2 meter line : ball bounces once and is returned by partner.

Question : Demonstrate the correct grip. What is the correct body position for a forehand drive, and for a backhand drive ?

Three Stars 1 Bounce ball on the racket ten times.

2 Solo continuous rally against the wall, of ten forehand shots. Ball to be hit below the 2 meter line.

3 Serve from each service box into the opposite half of the court. 4 out of 6 to pass.

4 Hit a straight drive from a simple hand or racket feed, to land behind short line. 4 out of 6 to pass.

5 Play a 10 shot co-operative rally with a partner. Do not cross the half-court line. Scoring restarts if error occurs.

Question : Explain the service rules, including foot-faults. When can you have a second service?

Bronze 1 Solo rally of 10 shots against the front wall. Forehand and backhand.

2 Serve correctly from each service box, to land in the opposite back quarter of the court. 4 out of 6 to pass.

3 Showing movement from the T, hit a straight forehand drive from a simple straight feed. Ball to land behind short line. 4 out of 6 to pass. Forehand and backhand.

4 Return a simple serve with a straight drive. Ball to land behind short line. 4 out of 6 to pass. Forehand and backhand.

5 Showing movement from the T, play a lob to land within 2 meters of the back corner. Partner to hand feed for each shot. 4 out of 6 to pass. Forehand and backhand.

Question : How many points are needed to win a game? Remember 14-14.

Silver 1 Serve from both sides, ball to land behind service box. 4 out of 6 to pass.

2 Play a 10 shot co-operative rally from behind the short line. All shots to land in the correct half of the court, both players moving to the T. Forehand and backhand.

3 Straight volley return of serve from both sides. Ball to land behind short line. 4 out of 6 to pass. Forehand and backhand.

4 Play a boast from a cross court feed (feed to side wall behind short line). 4 out of 6 to pass. Forehand and backhand.

5 Play a straight lob from a boast feed. Ball to land no more than 2 meters from back corner. 4 out of 6 to pass. Forehand and backhand.

Question : Name the markings on the floor and walls. Where is the T ?

Gold 1 Play a 10 shot co-operative rally with a partner of boast and straight drive. Change places after 5 shots.

2 Play straight drop from a simple boast. Ball should land no more than 1 meter from front corner. 4 out of 6 to pass.

3 Solo volley rally of 6 consecutive shots from behind the short line. Forehand and backhand.

4 Play a 10 shot co-operative rally of cross-court, straight drive and boast. Forehand and backhand.

5 Play a 10 shot co-operative rally of boast, straight drop, straight drive. Forehand and backhand.

Question : What are the rules on interference : when is it a let or a stroke ?



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