Box leagues are a great way to meet new playing partners, of a variety of styles and levels, in a fun and friendly way. There is a competition element with players being allocated to different boxes according to playing standard and promotion and relegation taking place each month. Overall though, the focus in these games should be on having a good time with a variety of opponents each month.
Box leagues are a great way to meet new playing partners, of a variety of styles and levels, in a fun and friendly way. There is a competition element with players being allocated to different boxes according to playing standard and promotion and relegation taking place each month. Overall though, the focus in these games should be on having a good time with a variety of opponents each month.
Usually, players are allocated into boxes of around five players. Each player should play all of the other players in their box. The box league usually runs for around a month, so approximately one game a week, on average. Sometimes boxes are either bigger or smaller for various reasons, and typically during holiday periods the league is extended to a six week period or similar.
Players are allocated according to standard. You will be placed into a box with people who are of a similar level to you. Each month, those two players who do best in their box go up to a higher (more challenging) box and those who do least well go down to a lower box. In this way, players should find a level that suits their own standard. As players improve, they have the opportunity to play more challenging opponents; those suffering from a bad patch of form go to an easier box.
These promotions and relegations are subject to various factors such as new players entering, players dropping out, players getting promoted quicker if they have been allocated too low, etc, etc. The idea is that everyone finds a box that is suitable for their standard, and has the opportunity to play a variety of opponents.
At the beginning of each box (typically the 1st of the month), players should receive an email with all the other players in their box. You should then start organising your games with the other players in your box. There are various ways to do this: matchmaker courts (see later explanation); reply all to this email; or contact players individually using the contact details under the members' section of the website, where emails and phone numbers are available.
As you get familiar with different players, it will become easier to predict who might be up for a late night game; who prefers to play on the weekend; and so on. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should be available at least some weekday evenings 17:30-20:30, as this is the core time that the majority of people have available for their squash. Please try to be accommodating. Everyone has different schedules and so try to work together to find something that suits.
What to do if someone in my box is not responding/we can't fix up a suitable time?
If someone has not responded to general matchmaker emails, shoot them a text message or a phone call as they may have missed these in their spam. If you still get nothing, let Ali know.
If you simply can't find a suitable time, this is a general rule of thumb: try to offer three times within that core time of 17:30-20:30 on weekday evenings across the month (or period of the league). If your opponent simply doesn't reply (see above) or rejects these times without any alternative suggestion, you may have to take a walkover. If you have suggested your three times and your opponent is not being very helpful, you can let them know that you would like to take the walkover, if they are not available this month to play.
A walkover is when you cannot schedule the game and you therefore take the win. This is inputted as three games to you and no show to the opponent. You can also input this if you scheduled the game and your opponent fails to show up!
The box matches are best of five games. This means that the first player to three games wins. So, the possible scores are 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2. In our box leagues, as a default scoring system, we score up to 15 points, with every rally counting, whether you have the serve or not. When one player gets to 15, that is game to them. If you get to 14-14, you then only win if you are two points ahead; e.g. 16-14, 17-15, and so on.
Once the game is played, you need to input the result (e.g. 3-1) into the website. Either player can do this. For the box league ranking, you get one point per game you won (e.g. you only got one game but you still get a point for that) and one point for playing the match. E.g. you lose 0-3 which is what you input on the website but you will be allocated a point for turning up! There are also 2 bonus points available for playing all your matches in the box.
The ball you use is up to both players, but as a suggestion we would recommend a more bouncy ball (red dot, blue dot) for cooler weather and for those in the lower few leagues. Single yellow is slightly bouncier. Double yellow is the least bouncy ball. Bouncier balls usually create longer, better rallies and more fun matches! If in doubt, use the ball that the less experienced player prefers.
Before the actual match, players typically spend around 5 mins warming up themselves and the ball by knocking it back and forth from each side of the court. Try to avoid hitting more than 3 in a row to yourself - give the other player a chance to warm up too!
As a rough guide, a let (replay the point) is when the player is in the way of getting to the ball, and a stroke (point awarded) is when the other player is completely in the way of hitting it. In these matches, decisions need to be reached together. If in doubt, play a let!
These matches are simply fun and friendly ways to meet other players. Please behave accordingly! Try not to get over-competitive or aggresive. Displays of anger (even self-directed) can be very off-putting and unpleasant. Try to play in a good spirit, even if you get frustrated at yourself (or the opponent!!).
Related to this, spectators (such as parents) should try to avoid getting overly involved and let the two players play the match without interference.
Matchmaker courts are a handy way to book courts for league matches.
When you book a matchmaker court, an email is sent to the others in your league. They can accept it and it will become a normal booking. However, if no one accepts, and the other courts are booked at that time, it will expire after three days, If the other courts are not booked, it will not expire until the other courts get booked.
Similar rules apply for placeholders, which are similar but can be booked for friendlies rather than league matches (no one will get invited to join but you can update the booking once you have an opponent).