Rules

League Rules

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BADMINTON LEAGUE OFFICIALS
Season 2008 / 2009

Chairman - Mr. Keith Vince, 41 Harksome Hill, Hunsbury Hill Centre,
West Hunsbury, Northampton, NN4 9QX. Tel: (01604) 708271

Hon Secretary - Mrs Anne Gilbert, 25 Hillcrest Close, Thrapston, Northants NN14 4TB.
Tel: (01832) 733321
e:mail: a.gilbert@talktalk.com

Treasurer - Mr Philip Imison, 115 Gotch Road, Barton Seagrave, Kettering, Northants NN15 6UG
Tel: (01536) 723182
e-mail: philipimison@hotmail.com

Match Secretary - Mrs Lyndsey Blow, 16 Malham Drive, Kettering, Northants NN16 9FS
Tel: (01536) 414100
e-mail: lyndseyblow@btinternet.com

Fixture Secretary As Chairman

1. The Competition shall be called the Northamptonshire Badminton League.

2. The League shall consist of clubs affiliated to the Northamptonshire County Badminton Association, and shall conform to the Rules of the said Association.

3. The League shall be controlled by a Management Committee to consist of a Chairman, Fixture Secretary, Match Secretary, Correspondence Secretary, and Hon. Treasurer.

4. The AGM shall be held not later than 30th JUNE each year, each participating club to have one voting representative, clubs to have twenty-eight days' notice.

5. The Annual Subscription shall be £3.00 for each team entered payable before the clubs first match. Matches played before payment will be forfeited 9 - 0.

6. Every Club wishing to enter a team or teams in the League will submit these in writing to the Correspondence Secretary at least seven days before the AGM.

7. The League shall be divided into a mixed, doubles, a men's and a ladies' section.

Any inter-club matches must be completed before any other match is played by any of those teams.

Doubles Sections:- Teams shall consist of three ladies and three men. Matches shall consist of nine events - three Menís' doubles, three ladies doubles, and three mixed doubles. The players shall be ranked according to strength, No.1 man playing with No.2 and also with No.3. Nos. 2 and 3 play together to complete the third event. Ladies to play in a similar manner. Ranking for mixed doubles shall be in pairs according to strength and may possibly be different from men's and ladies doubles. Men's Section:-Teams shall consist of three pairs and matches shall consist of nine events. Ladies' Section:-Teams shall consist of three pairs and matches shall consist of nine events. Each Captain shall present the composition of his / her team to the opposing captain in writing before the start of play and no alteration shall be made therein, save by mutual consent.

8. Promotion and relegation shall be automatic in all sections. The bottom team in a division will be replaced by the top team in the division immediately below.

9. Clubs shall play home and away matches with all the clubs in the same division.

Where matches are played on neutral courts, the first named club on the fixture list shall be regarded as the home team and shall carry the responsibilities attached to the home club.

10. A player shall not, in the same season, play for more than one club in the same section of the League, and shall be a bona-fide member of that club.

11. Clubs entering more than one team in the competition shall nominate four players for each and every team above one. In the mixed and doubles competitions the four must consist of two men and two ladies. A nominated player shall not play in a lower team during that season. Nominations submitted by a club must be signed by the nominee to confirm their intention of playing for that team. Also any player who makes three or more appearances shall not play in a lower team during the remainder of that season. This to include clubs with 'A' & 'B' teams in the same discipline. Nominations must be made to the Match Secretary before the commencement of the season's fixtures.

NO PLAYER MAY PLAY IN MORE THAN ONE TEAM IN A DIVISION.

12. Each club shall score 2 points for a win. In the event of a match being unfinished, the score at the time of abandonment shall be expunged and the match replayed, unless a decision has been reached.

13. Matches may only be postponed for bad weather, non-availability of the home teamís hall or by mutual consent of both teams, or any other reasons considered as valid by the Management Committee, provided the Match Secretary is informed on or before the original date. The date of the arranged match must be notified to the Match Secretary within Seven Days following the original date.

14. Where a team fails to put in an appearance to play a match with an incomplete team, a penalty will apply; penalty on first offence -SUSPENDED, on more than one occasion a deduction of 1 point for each offence. Any team forfeiting more than 2 points in a season shall be automatically relegated in place of the bottom team at the end of the season and all that teamís results removed from the league tables.

15. A detailed score sheet of all matches, signed by both captains, shall be posted by the winning team to the League Match Secretary, to arrive within SEVEN days of the match. Failure to do this may result in the match being expunged from the records.

16. All clubs must use a shuttle authorised by the League Management Committee for all its League matches. The home team having the choice are responsible for supplying shuttles of the correct speed as laid down in the laws.

ALL MATCHES TO BE PLAYED WITH FEATHER SHUTTLECOCKS

17. In the event of a tie in any section, i.e. two clubs obtaining the same number of points, the championship shall be awarded to the club winning most rubbers; if the clubs are equal on rubbers, then to the club winning most games.

18. Any club withdrawing from the League before completing its engagements shall have all records of its played matches expunged.

19. Any dispute shall be decided by the League Management Committee, whose decision shall be final.

20. Any alterations or additions to the Rules must be made at the Annual General Meeting. Any proposal for a rule change must be submitted to the Correspondence Secretary, in writing, by 31st MARCH for consideration at the A.G.M.

21. All matches shall be started at a time to be arranged by the home team's secretary (preferred starting time between 6.45pm and 7.15pm), who must notify the away team of the starting time at least seven days before the date of the match.

PLAYERS ARE REQUIRED TO START WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE SCHEDULED STARTING TIME.

IF THIS DOES NOT OCCUR THE RUBBER CAN BE CLAIMED. The order of play must be mutually agreed at the same time. If the order of play cannot be agreed, it will commence as follows:-

FIRST V FIRST SECOND V SECOND THIRD V THIRD

22. The League is responsible for the suitable insurance of the League Trophies.

23. The clubs winning the trophies shall be responsible for engraving the trophies and the cost thereof.

24. No player may take part in any League match until registered with the Northamptonshire County Badminton Association.

25. After 31st OCTOBER of each season any new member joining an affiliated club must have been a registered member of that club for a period of not less than SEVEN clear days before representing that club in any League match.

After 31 January a period of not less than TWENTY-EIGHT clear days.

No player will be allowed to register for a club whilst owing money to any other club within the Northamptonshire Badminton Association for which he or she has signed on.

26. Please Note New Rule

Clubs that cannot field a team to complete a fixture must comply with the following Conditions:-

1. Less than one weeks notice the club is required to pay £21 towards the cost of the hall.

2. Less than 48 hours notice the club is required to pay £42 towards the cost of the hall.