Chad Kelly, age 12, of Riverside, Calif., for his question:

WHEN DID THE GAME OF SQUASH ORIGINATE?

Squash, the exciting indoor game that is played with rackets and a hard rubber ball about the size of a golf ball, originated at Harrow School in England about 1850. The game was a variation of handball.

Squash was introduced in the United States and Canada from England during the 1880s.

In squash, players use rackets to hit the ball against the four walls of a court. A player may hit the ball against any wall so long as it reaches the front wall before it touches the floor. His opponent must then hit the ball before it bounces twice. A variety of shots is possible, and the ball travels very fast.

Singles squash is played by two men in 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 is played with four men on a larger court.