06-May-04:
Super Series Finals Unveil
New PSA Scoring System
A new era in men's professional squash will
be heralded next week when a new scoring system is unveiled at
the 2004 Brit Insurance Super Series Finals at the Broadgate Arena in
London, from 10th - 14th May.
The new scoring system - best-of-five-game matches, with each game
scoring point-a-rally (PAR) to 11 points, with a requirement for two
clear points to win the game from 10-all - will be used for the first
time at the Professional Squash Association's prestigious annual event,
now in its 12th year. The system is designed and promoted to bring the
professional game further into the 21st century as an explosive and
exciting game for players, aficionados and audiences - whether live, on
television or via the internet.
PSA Chief Executive Gawain Briars explains: "Since we announced the new
regime, there has been much dialogue and discussion on the subject. For
that matter alone I am pleased, because it demonstrates how passionate
squash fans and administrators are globally about the core value and
traditions of our game. But PSA is as sure as we can be that this new
system, after 16 years of the previous system which has served us well,
will ultimately be a success for this new time.
"All the major issues of professional squash played before audiences
have been carefully considered, including elements such as stamina,
crisis moments, the dynamics of individual rallies, the new tactics
players will have to adopt, the length of matches, promoter-friendly
scheduling, television/internet and, of course, player career
longevity," Briars continued.
"The PSA is not attempting to re-invent the wheel to adapt ourselves for
perceived Olympic attraction through uniformity of scoring numbers. This
could be interpreted as a deception when, patently, all of us in the
squash fraternity know that point-a-rally and international scoring are
very different. Whilst it is perhaps tempting to be negative about the
change before it has even been implemented, PSA believes that this
change is good for the professional game which, after all, is the shop
window for the sport.
"If the professional game is more exciting to watch, then more people
will become involved in the game and our chances of Olympic entry may be
enhanced.
"The feedback I have received from top players has been most
encouraging, and that before a single ball in competition has been
struck under the new system. It is my anticipation that the new system
will receive a fair and objective hearing over this next period. I
believe that this moment is a watershed and PSA is delighted that the
Brit Insurance Super Series Finals is sharing with us the opportunity of
showcasing the brand new 'PSA to 11'," Briars concluded.
Details of the new scoring:
-
Each game is scored up to 11 points,
point-a-rally.
Matches are best-of-five games.
-
Rest in between games to remain as per PSA
rules (two minutes).
-
If the game score reaches 10-10 (ten all)
there is no election by the receiver. A player must win the game/match
by two clear points.
-
The Marker to call: "10-10 (ten all),
tiebreaker, player to win by two clear points, 0-0 (love all)".
-
This announcement to be made only for the
first game where the score reaches 10 all. Thereafter, Marker to call
from second game on, at 10-10 (ten all): "10-10 (ten all), tiebreaker,
love all".
-
The Marker to then to call the score as:
"1-0 game ball (or match ball)", then "1-1", then "2-1 game ball (or
match ball)", then "3-1 game to ** (match to **)".
-
Service to continue as per current PSA
rules.
-
The game score is then recorded, for all
purposes, as: 11-10 (3-1). All scores are recorded with 11 as the
winning player's score.
|
|