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History of Squash
Rackets
Squash originated from the game of rackets, which was played in large barns with hard balls and rackets which were stronger than the ones used today.
It is possible that squash developed around the 1850's at Harrow School in England. The theory is that the boys waiting to play rackets would bounce the ball around in the open area with three walls outside the court.
They were eventually asked to stop playing, perhaps because of the noise of damage done to the surrounding area. They resolved this problem by using a softer (squashier) ball.
This new game became popular with the pupils, and they continued to play it in suitable buildings or elsewhere.
In 1874, a coaching manual for racket games made a mention of the game in the rackets section, and at the turn of the century, the Bath Club in London installed courts for the game of 'squash rackets'.
There is also a theory that suggests that the game developed at Fleet Prison, from where prisoners were transported to Australia, although some people believe that the Harrow theory carries more credibility.
The 20th century
By the First World War, a number of London social clubs had built courts, although the dimensions were not standardised. Shortly after the First World War, the major championships and leagues games were begun.
In 1929 the Squash Rackets Association (SRA) was formed, and became the governing body for the game, not just in England, but worldwide. It inaugurated the Open Championships.
In the United States, a separate version of squash was developed, with a narrower court and a harder ball. The international game is by far the more popular, and the American game is not the one played at major events or recognised as 'proper' squash.
In 1969, the Squash Rackets Association was replaced as the governing body of the game after the formation of the International Squash Rackets Federation. There were seven founder members, Australia, Egypt, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa.
More countries have joined since as full or associate members. Member countries have their own national associations, and the SRA remains the national association of England.
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