A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of the Sport of Squash (1973–2024): Progress, Collaboration, Findings, and Thematic Evolution
Abstract
1. Introduction
- What is the current research progress in squash? How many publications exist, what areas do they cover, and in which journals are they primarily published?
- Where are the main research forces in squash located? Which countries, institutions, and authors are actively conducting the related research?
- What are the main components of the knowledge structure of squash research, and which publications are considered influential?
- What are the current research hotspots in squash? How have they developed and evolved, and what is their current state?
2. Methods
2.1. Bibliometric Analysis
2.2. Data Sources and Search Strategy
- Web of Science: TS=(squash AND (sport* OR game* OR match* OR play*) NOT (agriculture OR plant* OR vegetable)) AND (DT=Article OR DT=Review) AND LA=English
- Scopus: (TITLE-ABS-KEY (squash AND (sport* OR game* OR match* OR play*)) AND NOT TITLE-ABS-KEY (cucurbita* OR pumpkin OR vegetable)) AND (LIMIT-TO (LANGUAGE, “English”)) AND (LIMIT-TO (DOCTYPE, “ar”) OR LIMIT-TO (DOCTYPE, “re”))
- PubMed: (((squash [Title/Abstract]) AND (sport*[Title/Abstract] OR game*[Title/Abstract] OR match*[Title/Abstract] OR play*[Title/Abstract]))) NOT (cucurbita* OR pumpkin OR vegetable*[MeSH Terms]) Filters: Full text, English
2.3. Literature Screening
- The document type is not an article or review article.
- Duplicate publications.
- The research content is unrelated to squash as a sport.
- Research focusing on common characteristics of athletes across multiple sports will be excluded if the number of sports studied exceeds four, even if squash players are included.
2.4. Data Cleaning and Analysis Tools
- Standardizing the names of countries, institutions, authors, journals, and references to ensure consistency. For instance, “England”, “Scotland”, and “Wales” were consolidated into “United Kingdom”. “University of New South Wales” and “UNSW Sydney” were unified as “UNSW Sydney”. Variations of author names like “M.D. Hughes”, “Mike D. Hughes”, and “Mike Hughes” were standardized as “Mike Hughes”. Journal names, such as “Journal of Sports Sciences” and “J Sports Sci”, were unified as “J Sports Sci”.
- We merged synonymous keywords to avoid redundancy. For example, “Computer analysis”, “computered analysis”, and “computerized analysis” were consolidated under “computer analysis”.
- Supplementing missing information by manually filling in incomplete fields, including author names, publication years, and keywords. Citation data and reference details for publications imported from PubMed were supplemented with information from original documents and Google Scholar.
3. Results and Analysis
3.1. Research Progress
3.1.1. Quantitative Description
3.1.2. The Overall Trend of Publications and Distribution of Disciplinary Fields
3.1.3. Analysis of Main Research Journals
3.2. Research Cooperation of the Publications
3.2.1. Country Collaboration Network
3.2.2. Institutional Collaboration Network
3.2.3. Author Collaboration Network
3.2.4. Top 10 Countries by Publication Volume
3.2.5. Top 10 Institutions by Publication Volume
3.2.6. Top 10 Authors by Publication Volume
3.3. Research Findings
3.3.1. Co-Citation Cluster Analysis
- Cluster 1 (red, 16 studies): Performance Analysis. This cluster focuses on the measurement or analysis of the player’s performance from a data-driven perspective, including tactical and technical analysis, mathematical and computer modeling, and dynamic pattern analysis. For example, Hughes and Franks [22] were the first to reveal dynamic pattern characteristics in squash matches. In subsequent studies they later developed the theoretical framework of “dynamic is a self-organized system” [23]. These works provide the theoretical foundation for tactical and technical analysis and serve as key references for performance analysis research.
- Cluster 2 (green, 12 studies): Physiology and Physical Fitness. This cluster concentrates on squash players’ physiological and fitness demands, including monitoring physiological parameters and methods for fitness training and testing. For example, studies by Girard et al. [24,25] introduced squash-specific fitness testing methods and revealed their energy demand characteristics. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing training programs and advancing fitness science.
- Cluster 3 (blue, eight studies): Clinical Research and Safety. This cluster primarily covers studies related to sports injuries and injury prevention, including topics such as eye injuries and cardiovascular risks. For example, research by Northcote et al. [26] and Finch and Vear [27] identified common squash-related injuries and proposed preventive measures. These works have laid the theoretical foundation for the epidemiologic study of squash injuries.
3.3.2. Burst Co-Citation Analysis
3.3.3. Top 10 Co-Cited References
3.4. Research Thematic Evolution
3.4.1. Research Hotspots
Cluster No. | Theme | Core Keywords |
---|---|---|
0 | physical fitness | test, physical endurance, training load |
1 | biomechanics | fencing lunge, coordination, phase transition |
2 | sports injuries | eye injuries, eye protective devices, injury prevention |
3 | adolescent | children, skill, bone density |
4 | decision making | performance analysis, sports psychology, anticipation |
5 | sports medicine | human, human experiment, case study |
6 | health knowledge | attitude to health, diet, fatty acid |
7 | sports physiology | body fluids, intensity, blood pressure |
8 | mathematical simulation | machine learning, gaussian distribution, heatmap |
9 | sport-based youth development | physical education, out of school time, goals |
10 | exercise | health promotion, disease prevention, growth |
3.4.2. Evolution Analysis of Research Hotspots
3.5. Research Maturity
4. Discussion
4.1. Research Progress
4.1.1. Publication Volume
4.1.2. Disciplinary Distribution
4.2. Research Collaborations
4.2.1. National Collaboration
4.2.2. Institutional Collaboration
4.2.3. Author Collaboration
4.3. Research Findings
4.4. Research Thematic Evolution
4.4.1. Research Hotspots
4.4.2. Research Evolution
4.5. Research Maturity
4.6. Limitations
4.7. Implications
- Expanding the breadth and depth of research topics. Future research should extend beyond the current focus on enhancing competitive squash performance and explore more under-researched areas. Potential topics include professionalization and promotion strategies for squash events; training and career pathways for referees; the popularization and promotion in recreational sports and school education; and research on pedagogy for different groups. Addressing these research gaps would broaden the scope of squash studies and provide theoretical support for its global popularization.
- Diversifying research subjects. Future studies should broaden the focus from primarily adult professional players to include youth, recreational enthusiasts, and general participants. Research should address the needs of players at different levels by developing tailored training recommendations, performance evaluation methods, and participation strategies. As a high-intensity aerobic sport, squash may significantly benefit cardiovascular health, weight management, and overall physical well-being [87]. Investigating these aspects could provide scientific evidence to support the promotion of squash as a health-enhancing activity, further enhancing its social value.
- Establishing comprehensive youth development mechanism. Future initiatives should focus on creating structured pathways for youth participation by integrating squash into school physical education curriculum and implementing standardized talent identification protocols. National federations should develop multi-tiered development systems with clear progression routes from grassroots to elite competition. Age-appropriate coaching methodologies and long-term talent development models should support these systems. Furthermore, public-private partnerships could be key in expanding facility access, especially in underserved communities, through innovative court designs requiring less space and lower construction costs.
- Promoting the deep integration of science and technology in squash research. Future research should strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration by incorporating theories and methods from various fields, particularly leveraging advancements in AI to drive innovation in squash studies. For example, real-time training monitoring systems and intelligent decision analysis systems could be developed by merging sports physiology with wearable equipment and machine learning algorithms; virtual reality–based mental training platform may also enhance tactical awareness and psychological resilience, not only for professional players but also for beginners and recreational participants, by making skill acquisition more engaging and accessible. In this way, scientific innovation can serve both the high-performance domain and broader recreational and educational contexts, supporting evidence-based training, skill development, and sport promotion through multidisciplinary synergies.
5. Conclusions
- Scientific research on squash demonstrates limited productivity with merely 3.89 papers published annually, substantially lower than the comparative racket sports research output. Publications predominantly cluster in sports science, medicine, and health professions. The Journal of Sports Sciences and British Journal of Sports Medicine emerge as leading published journals, along with other international journals from the UK and the US specializing in sports medicine, physical fitness, and performance analysis.
- Western developed countries primarily drive research on squash. The UK is first in both publication volume and international collaboration, followed by Australia. Australia, Canada, and the US hold the highest average citation rates, indicating their substantial influence in squash research. Institutional leadership is centered on the English Institute of Sport, the University of Queensland, Monash University, and the University of British Columbia, with the University of Queensland demonstrating an exceptionally high citation impact. Mike Hughes, Ian Franks, and Tim McGarry are recognized as leading figures who account for influential publications.
- Literature co-citation analysis reveals three distinct research categories: performance analysis, physiological and fitness profiles, and medical and health studies. Performance analysis is the most frequently cited category, while the physiology and fitness cluster shows the strongest internal co-citation relationships. Influential literature emerges from four specific areas: physiological demands, fitness testing, technical and tactical analysis, and epidemiologic studies of squash-related injuries. The absence of recently highly cited studies signals a slowdown in research breakthroughs and underscores the need for renewed innovation.
- Keywords clustering analysis identifies five research hotspots: performance analysis, physical fitness, neuromuscular, eye injuries, and medical studies, primarily targeting professional players. Research focus has evolved from foundational safety and physiological studies in earlier decades to applied performance enhancement research more recently. Current core research areas include computational modeling, physical fitness and training, biomechanics and equipment, and outcome prediction. Notable research gaps persist in technical and tactical analysis, youth development pathways, sports psychology, and nutrition intervention, particularly for female and youth classes.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
IOC | International Olympic Committee |
UK | United Kingdom |
USA | United States |
AI | artificial intelligence |
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Rank | Source | Publications | Citations | Average Citations | Country | IF/Citescore * | JCR/SJR * |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Journal of Sports Sciences | 14 | 784 | 56.00 | England | 2.3 | Q2 |
2 | British Journal of Sports Medicine | 12 | 241 | 20.08 | England | 11.6 | Q1 |
3 | Journal of Human Movement Studies # | 6 | 34 | 5.67 | England | / | / |
4 | American Journal of Sports Medicine | 4 | 99 | 24.75 | United States | 4.2 | Q1 |
4 | Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research | 4 | 88 | 22.00 | United States | 2.5 | Q2 |
4 | International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance | 4 | 67 | 16.75 | United States | 3.5 | Q1 |
4 | Research Quarterly of The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation | 4 | 36 | 9.00 | United States | 1.4 | Q3 |
4 | Physician and Sportsmedicine | 4 | 28 | 7.00 | United States | 1.9 | Q2 |
4 | European Heart Journal | 4 | 21 | 5.25 | England | 37.6 | Q1 |
4 | Strength and Conditioning Journal | 4 | 14 | 3.50 | United States | 2.2 | Q2 |
4 | Journal of Physical Education and Sport | 4 | 7 | 1.75 | Romania | 2.8 * | Q3 * |
Rank | Country | Publications | % (of 206) | Citations | Average Citations | No of Collaborating Countries |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | United Kingdom | 51 | 24.76 | 952 | 18.67 | 28 |
2 | Australia | 31 | 15.05 | 955 | 30.81 | 14 |
3 | Canada | 21 | 10.19 | 688 | 32.76 | 4 |
4 | United States | 16 | 7.77 | 525 | 32.81 | 8 |
5 | Qatar | 9 | 4.37 | 163 | 18.11 | 10 |
5 | Germany | 9 | 4.37 | 104 | 11.56 | 4 |
7 | Malaysia | 7 | 3.40 | 24 | 3.43 | 10 |
7 | Slovenia | 7 | 3.40 | 109 | 15.57 | 12 |
9 | France | 6 | 2.91 | 140 | 23.33 | 4 |
9 | Ireland | 6 | 2.91 | 30 | 5.00 | 3 |
9 | Netherlands | 6 | 2.91 | 57 | 9.50 | 7 |
9 | New Zealand | 6 | 2.91 | 41 | 6.83 | 5 |
9 | South Africa | 6 | 2.91 | 148 | 24.67 | 1 |
Rank | Institution | Publications | Citations | Average Citations | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The University of Queensland | 8 | 764 | 95.50 | Australia |
1 | The University of British Columbia | 8 | 536 | 67.00 | Canada |
1 | Monash University | 8 | 140 | 17.50 | Australia |
1 | English Institute of Sport | 8 | 60 | 7.50 | UK |
5 | Aspire Academy | 7 | 103 | 14.71 | Qatar |
5 | Sheffield Hallam University | 7 | 88 | 12.57 | UK |
7 | Northumbria University | 6 | 93 | 15.50 | UK |
7 | University of Ljubljana | 6 | 74 | 12.33 | Slovenia |
9 | UNSW Sydney | 5 | 111 | 22.20 | Australia |
9 | Middlesex University | 5 | 49 | 9.80 | UK |
9 | The University of Sydney | 5 | 31 | 6.20 | Australia |
Rank | Author | Publications | Citations | Average Citations | Country of Affiliation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Finch, Caroline | 9 | 159 | 17.67 | Australia/USA |
2 | Hughes, Mike | 8 | 408 | 51.00 | UK/Ireland |
2 | Eime, Rochelle | 8 | 140 | 17.50 | Australia |
4 | Franks, Ian | 7 | 526 | 75.14 | Canada |
4 | James, Nic | 7 | 85 | 12.14 | UK |
6 | McGarry, Tim | 6 | 505 | 84.17 | Canada/USA |
6 | Winter, Edward Mitchell | 6 | 84 | 14.00 | UK |
6 | Pers, Janez | 6 | 74 | 12.33 | Slovenia |
6 | Vuckovic, Goran | 6 | 74 | 13.00 | Slovenia |
6 | Murray, Stafford | 6 | 55 | 9.17 | New Zealand/UK |
References | Year | Strength | Begin | End | 1973–2024 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northcote RJ, 1983, Brit Heart J, V50, P372, [26] | 1983 | 2.99 | 1984 | 1988 | |
McGarry T, 1995, Hum Perform, V8, P113, [28] | 1995 | 2.54 | 1996 | 2000 | |
Eime R, 2002, INJ PREV, V8, P239, [29] | 2002 | 2.51 | 2004 | 2005 | |
Girard O, 2005, Brit J Sports Med, V39, P921, [25] | 2005 | 3.82 | 2007 | 2010 | |
Girard O, 2007, J Strength Cond Res, V21, P909, [24] | 2007 | 3.73 | 2009 | 2012 | |
Vuckovic G, 2009, J Sports Sci, V27, P863, [30] | 2009 | 2.63 | 2013 | 2014 | |
Vuckovic G, 2013, J Sport Sci Med, V12, P66, [31] | 2013 | 2.54 | 2017 | 2018 | |
Murray S, 2016, J Sports Sci, V34, P2170, [32] | 2016 | 3.18 | 2018 | 2021 | |
Jones TW, 2018, Int J Sports Sci Coa, V13, P1223, [4] | 2018 | 4.06 | 2021 | 2024 | |
Gibson N, 2019, Strength Cond J, V41, P51, [33] | 2019 | 2.89 | 2021 | 2024 |
Rank | Reference | Title | Co-Citation Frequency | Cluster Group |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Girard O, 2007, J Strength Cond Res, [24] | Game analysis and energy requirements of elite squash | 27 | 2 |
2 | Lees A, 2003, J Sports Sci, [11] | Science and the major racket sports: a review | 20 | 2 |
3 | Montpetit RR, 1990, Sports Med, [34] | Applied physiology of squash | 18 | 3 |
4 | Hughes M, 1994, Ergonomics, [22] | Dynamic patterns of movement of squash players of different standards in winning and losing rallies | 17 | 1 |
5 | Girard O, 2005, Brit J Sports Med, [25] | Specific incremental test in elite squash players | 15 | 2 |
5 | Vuckovic G, 2009, J Sports Sci, [30] | Tactical use of the T area in squash by players of differing standard | 15 | 1 |
7 | Sharp NCC, 1998, Sci Racket Sports II, [35] | Physiological demands and fitness for squash | 13 | 2 |
7 | Steininger K, 1987, Brit J Sports Med, [36] | Sports specific fitness testing in squash | 13 | 2 |
9 | Finch C, 2001, Int Sportmed J, [37] | The epidemiology of squash injuries | 12 | 3 |
10 | Vuckovic G, 2013, J Sport Sci Med, [31] | The effect of court location and available time on the tactical shot selection of elite squash players | 10 | 1 |
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Liu, R.; Kondrič, M.; Wang, J. A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of the Sport of Squash (1973–2024): Progress, Collaboration, Findings, and Thematic Evolution. Sports 2025, 13, 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13060157
Liu R, Kondrič M, Wang J. A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of the Sport of Squash (1973–2024): Progress, Collaboration, Findings, and Thematic Evolution. Sports. 2025; 13(6):157. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13060157
Chicago/Turabian StyleLiu, Ruizhi, Miran Kondrič, and Jihong Wang. 2025. "A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of the Sport of Squash (1973–2024): Progress, Collaboration, Findings, and Thematic Evolution" Sports 13, no. 6: 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13060157
APA StyleLiu, R., Kondrič, M., & Wang, J. (2025). A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis of the Sport of Squash (1973–2024): Progress, Collaboration, Findings, and Thematic Evolution. Sports, 13(6), 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13060157