Joe Ross, age 13, of Marquette, Mich., for his question:

WHERE DID THE SPORT OF SQUASH ORIGINATE?

Squash is an indoor game similar to handball. But the sport of squash is played with rackets and a hard rubber ball about the size of a golf ball, rather than with a softer ball and the hands.

Squash originated at Harrow School in England about 1850. It was introduced into the United States from Canada in the 1880s. Today there are about 1,500 squash courts and 50,000 players in the country.

Singles squash is played by two players on a cement or wood court 32 feet long and 18 and a half feet wide. The front and side walls are 16 feet high and the back wall is six and a half feet high.

Doubles squash is played by four men on a larger court.