Watch your feet!

So no-one cares about foot-faults do they? In case you didn't know, the rules about serving clearly say that you have to have one foot in the box when you hit the ball for the serve.

And just to be clear the line is out as in all things squashy - that means that you can't use the line as a way of sliding out of the box - if your foot is even clipping the line then it is a fault - plain and simple.

The other thing is that the foot in the box has to be on the floor. If you jump up to serve then make sure you leave one foot on the floor.

So what is the deal? Well I suppose you can argue that it is not very important - but to be fair it can be an attempt to gain an unfair advantage. Say by getting a better angle - getting closer to the front wall - or blocking the centre of the court. And a foot-fault is a fault just like any other - either you play by the rules or else you are not playing squash.....

So if you play someone who does this then just appeal to the referee - Rule 8 says first off that if it is clearly an invalid serve then you get the point.

And even if you have played a rally on it you can still appeal. Also you are not the ref so there is no requirement that you have to be consistent on this. If you see a foot fault then you can still play the rally and if you lose then appeal - a fair ref will then give you a let if they own up to not watching.

It may seem small minded to be so anal about this - but on the other hand isn't it such a small thing to ask of the server - really?

Here is the rule on appeals in full (my italics added):

11.1.2 If, after the service, there is no call, the receiver may appeal, either immediately or at the end of the rally. The Referee, if certain that the service was not good, shall, without waiting for an appeal, stop play and award a stroke to the opponent. In response to an appeal the Referee shall: (11.1.2.1) if certain the service was good, award a stroke to the server;(11.1.2.2) if uncertain, allow a let.