US Squash believes players who know the rules and play in competently refereed matches benefit from fairer outcomes and safer, more enjoyable squash. To that end at the 2003 U.S. Championships, US Squash offered the fourth "Referee Rally," a set of activities focused on rules and referees. The Rally included an Advanced Referee Conference for Referees and Players, a Rules Clinic for Players, an opportunity to write the Club-level referee examination, and formal assessments for aspiring referees.
Graham Waters from Canada, the Director of the World Squash Federation's Rules and Referee Committee and World Referee, presided over the three-hour Advanced Referee Conference on Thursday. Fourteen students participated in discussions that covered: Bending the rules for top pro matches, controlling bad behavior with Rule 17, video presentations on back swing interference and arcing, the referee replacement episode in Qatar, the WSF referee program and Anne Smith's ongoing review of it, and why does Jonathon Power call so many more lets than Peter Nicol.
Hunt Richardson, a National Referee from Washington, DC conducted the well-received Rules Clinic for Players for four attendees.
Finally, about 30 formal assessments were completed while candidate referees worked U.S. Championships matches. As a result of his proven competence handling the most difficult matches, Rishad Alikhan was promoted to the top level, National Referee. One referee was promoted to Regional level: Ranil Goonesekera.
The CD-ROM "KNOW THE RULES" was given to each conference and clinic participant as was the booklet "Squash Officiating Quick Reference Guide."
Graham Waters' overall assessment was: "The program is growing and there is a strong core of capable referees. Perhaps US Squash should examine ways to attract referees to attend the full event and/or to reward those who do."