Squash has the lowest facility cost of almost any indoor sport in Singapore, with public courts at $3 an hour for citizens and permanent residents off-peak. The barrier is not the price. It is finding an opponent.
Squash is a two-player contest inside a sealed room, with a fast ball and unpredictable rebounds, so a modest gap in standard makes a rally impossible. A child taking it up usually passes through a period with no opponent and no rallies, which is why it is far less common in families than badminton.
Junior squash and the adult game: the bounce of the ball
Adult competition uses a double yellow dot ball, the least lively of the range, which has to be warmed by repeated striking before it will bounce at all, so a beginner rarely reaches a second shot. Junior and beginner play uses a blue or red dot ball, larger and livelier, which bounces to waist height and gives a child time to get into position. Same court, same racket: changing the ball changes the sport.
Squash began against a school wall
Squash descends from nineteenth-century English wall games. Pupils struck a ball between the walls of a school building using a soft rubber ball that deformed on impact, and the name comes from the ball being squashed. Its relative, rackets, used a hard ball and a faster game; squash spread more widely precisely because the softer ball made speed manageable in a confined space.
The sport entered the club system and became a standard indoor activity across Commonwealth countries, and public sports centres and private clubs in Singapore both have courts. It is not an Olympic sport, and competition runs through the world federation's tour and national age-group events.
The coloured dot is a speed rating
Squash balls are graded by a coloured dot: double yellow is slowest and least lively, used in professional and high-level play; single yellow is slightly faster; red is faster and livelier again; and blue is the liveliest, intended for beginners and children. This grading is what distinguishes squash from other racket sports, and choosing the wrong ball ruins a beginner's experience outright.
Rackets also come in junior sizes. An adult racket is about 68 centimetres long and weighs 110 to 150 grams, and children under eight generally use 58 to 63 centimetre models. Eye protection is a safety requirement: most venues and all junior competition require minors to wear goggles, since the ball is fast and the space enclosed, with the eye the principal risk.
Court dimensions and the effect of an enclosed space
A singles court is 9.75 metres long and 6.4 metres wide, with the out line on the front wall at 4.57 metres, and all four walls are in play. Because the ball cannot leave the court, a single strike may rebound off the side wall and then the back wall, so a child has to predict not only where the ball will land but the path it will take afterwards.
This is where squash makes the greatest spatial demand. Badminton and table tennis present a ball travelling in essentially one direction; squash presents three dimensions, and a beginner's first few attempts typically involve standing still while the ball passes behind them, which is normal and requires a period of adjustment.
Ball and racket by age
Age guide for squash, based on ball speed ratings, racket specifications and children's movement
Age | Ball | Racket length | Eye protection | Session length | Parent's role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 to 8 | Blue dot, liveliest | 58 cm junior | Required | 20 to 30 minutes | Feed by hand for the child to strike |
9 to 11 | Red dot | 63 cm junior | Required | About 45 minutes | Take turns hitting to the wall, no scoring |
12 to 14 | Single yellow dot | Adult, lighter model | Required in competition | About 1 hour | Play together, teach movement rules |
15 and above | Double yellow dot | Adult | Required in competition | 1 hour and up | Optional |
Ball availability varies by venue, and eye protection rules for minors are set by each operator. Verified 24 August 2026.
What squash teaches
What a family gains from squash
A squash court is an enclosed room that holds two to four people, which makes rotation rather than simultaneous play the workable model. One parent rallies with a child for twenty minutes while the other rests outside with any remaining children, then they change over.
The sport is also honest about its requirements. It demands a degree of mobility and a matched opponent, so it is not the right choice for a family's first indoor sport. Scheduled after a child has some racket experience, the experience is considerably better.
What a child learns from squash
Squash compresses three-dimensional judgement and high-intensity movement into a small room, and the value falls into four categories.
Three-dimensional prediction.The ball may rebound off the front, side and back walls in succession, so a child has to predict its path the moment it leaves the racket. Badminton and table tennis follow a single trajectory; squash requires reflections off the walls to be included in the calculation, which no other indoor racket sport provides.
Movement efficiency and returning to the T.The tactical centre of squash is occupying the T position at the middle of the court and returning to it after every shot, or the next ball becomes unreachable. A child learns very quickly that position matters more than power, and once that understanding is established it applies to every other racket sport.
Cardiovascular endurance under continuous load.Rally density in an enclosed court is extremely high with almost no pause, so energy expenditure per unit of time exceeds most racket sports. For children over ten this produces a marked improvement in cardiovascular capacity, provided a lively ball is used first so that rallies can be sustained.
Safety awareness and rule compliance.Two players share an enclosed court and their swings overlap with each other's bodies, which is why squash has strict rules on clearing: interfering with an opponent's shot results in a let or a stroke against the offender. What a child learns is to make space for someone else as a matter of course, a safety requirement rather than a courtesy.
Why parents should play
The beginner stage depends almost entirely on someone feeding the ball. A parent standing to one side and throwing the ball against the front wall for the child to strike requires no squash ability at all, yet it lets a child make contact on a first visit.
Once the child can return consistently, the parent shifts from feeder to opponent. That transition usually takes a few months, and every feeding session in between determines whether the child continues, which makes squash the sport most dependent on parental input during its early phase.
Squash court rates in Singapore
Courts are charged by the hour. Public sports centres charge citizens and permanent residents $3 an hour off-peak and $6 at peak, with other users at $3.90 and $7.80, making squash one of the cheapest indoor racket facilities on the island. Private clubs operate on membership, as set out below.
Squash court rates in Singapore. Figures are published rates and common market ranges, verified 24 August 2026
Court type | Off-peak | Peak | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
Public sports centres, citizens and permanent residents | $3 an hour | $6 an hour | Online, usually two weeks ahead |
Public sports centres, other users | $3.90 an hour | $7.80 an hour | Online |
Private clubs | Set by membership terms | Set by membership terms | Members first, guests through a member |
Racket and goggle hire | Available at some venues, charged separately | Ask on arrival |
Peak covers weekday evenings from 6pm to 10pm and daytime at weekends and public holidays.
Court fees are not the constraint; finding a suitable opponent is. A child can begin with a blue dot ball and a junior racket practising alone against the front wall, and once rallies can be sustained, a club with a junior programme becomes worth considering.
Frequently asked questions
At what age can a child start squash?
From six to eight, using a blue dot ball and a 58 centimetre junior racket, with a parent feeding the ball by hand. A double yellow dot ball has to be warmed by repeated striking and beginners rarely reach a second shot.
Why do squash balls have coloured dots?
The dot is a speed rating. Double yellow is slowest and least lively for high-level play, single yellow is slightly faster, red faster again, and blue the liveliest, intended for beginners and children.
How much does a squash court cost in Singapore?
Public sports centres charge citizens and permanent residents $3 an hour off-peak and $6 at peak, with other users at $3.90 and $7.80, making it one of the cheapest indoor racket facilities available.
Do children need eye protection?
Yes. The ball is fast and the court enclosed, with the eye the principal risk, and most venues and all junior competition require minors to wear goggles.
What are the court dimensions?
A singles court is 9.75 metres long and 6.4 metres wide, with the front wall out line at 4.57 metres. All four walls are in play and the ball may rebound off several in succession.
Will a beginner struggle to keep up?
There is an adjustment period. The ball travels in three dimensions and may return off a side or back wall, so beginners often stand still while it passes behind them, which is normal.
Can a parent who does not play squash still help?
Yes. Standing to one side and throwing the ball against the front wall for the child to strike requires no squash ability, and it lets a child make contact on a first visit.
What does a child learn from squash?
Three-dimensional prediction including wall rebounds, the efficiency of returning to the T position after every shot, cardiovascular endurance from high rally density, and the habit of clearing space for another player.