ST HELENS BADMINTON LEAGUE CONSTITUTION AND RULES

1. NAME
The Association shall be called “The St Helens and District Badminton League” (hereinafter referred to as “The League”), shall be affiliated to the Lancashire county Badminton Association. The object of the League shall be the organisation of competition amongst clubs of the district with a view to promoting fellowship and interest in the game.

2. MEMBERSHIP
The League shall be open to clubs of one or more teams affiliated to the Lancashire Badminton Association, situated within a radius of 20 miles of St Helens. Application for full membership of the League shall be sent in writing to the League Secretary on or before 1st August in each year and their acceptance shall be the decision of the League Committee. Clubs desirous of withdrawing a team or teams from the League must notify the League Secretary on or before 1st August in each year.

3. SUBSCRIPTIONS
Fees must be paid on the evening of the fixture meeting. The Annual subscriptions for the clubs in full membership shall be determined at the AGM. Clubs from whom subscriptions have not been received by 30th September in any season may no longer be considered to be members of the League that season.

4. GENERAL MEETINGS
The AGM of the League shall be held in the first fortnight in the month of May each year to receive the Annual Reports and Audited Accounts for the previous year, to elect the officers and committee for the forthcoming year, to consider any alterations to the constitution and rules, and to transact general business.

All notices of motions to be discussed at the AGM must be in the hands of the League Secretary no later than the 15th April of each year. A copy of the agenda shall be in the hands of each Club secretary not less than 14 days prior to the date of any general Meeting, the quorum for which shall be one third of the clubs in full membership.

An extraordinary General meeting may be called at the discretion of the Committee or on the requisition for no less than one quarter of the clubs in full membership, such requisition to be sent in writing to the League Secretary, signed by the clubs concerned. Each club represented, together with the officers of the League, shall be entitled to one vote at a General Meeting, but any member of a Full Honorary or Associate Member Club, together with an appointed representative of the Lancashire Badminton Association may attend such meetings and take part in the discussions. The season’s fixtures shall be arranged at a special meeting to be called for that purpose, on the first Thursday in September. Any team not having a representative at the fixture and/or annual General Meeting shall be fined a fixed sum to be determined at the AGM.

5. OFFICERS
The officers of the League to be elected at the AGM shall be Chairperson, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary and any other such officers as may from time to time be appointed. All officers shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election.

6. COMMITTEE
The Committee of the League shall consist of the ex-officio officers and six ordinary Committee members and five shall form a quorum. The ex-officio officers shall be Chairman, President, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary or Secretaries and any other officers as specified in clause 5 above. These persons shall be the officers of the Committee. The ordinary Committee Members who shall each be from a separate full club member club, shall be elected by the AGM and shall serve for one year and be eligible for immediate re-election. Anyone elected by the Committee to fill a casual vacancy shall serve until such a time as the original member would retire. Al least three officers and all other members of the League must be a bona-fide member of a League. Any candidate for election as an ex-officio member or an ordinary member other than a retiring member must be nominated in writing by not less than two persons who are members of clubs which are affiliated to the Lancashire County Badminton Association and to the League and all such nominations must be in the hands of the Secretary at least three days before the AGM.

7. DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE
The management of the League shall be vested in the Committee as elected in clause 6 above, and contracts and agreements entered into by the Committee shall be deemed to be entered into by the League. The Committee so elected shall conduct the business of the League. It shall have the powers to appoint sub-committees. In the event of any officer or Committee member resigning, the Committee shall have the power to appoint someone in his or her place. It shall assume its responsibilities at the close of the AGM each year. It shall appoint the Honorary Auditor(s) who shall NOT be members of the Committee, but shall be full member(s) of an affiliated club(s). It shall have the power to co-opt other members of League clubs to any of its sub-committees.

The Committee shall meet not less than bi-monthly during the playing season and may be called by the Chairman and/or Honorary Secretary(ies), at the request of four members of the Committee.

8. FINANCE
All monies due to the League must be paid to the Honorary Treasurer unless otherwise specified by the Committee. The Financial Year shall terminate on 15th April each year. The Honorary Treasurer shall keep or cause to keep a record of all financial transactions of the League. All books and relevant papers, together with the Annual Statement of Accounts, comprising an Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet, shall be submitted to the Honorary Auditor(s) not less than fourteen days prior to the AGM.

9. PLAYING SEASON
The “Season” for play shall be considered to commence on the 1st September each year, and to terminate on the last Saturday in March the following year.

10. DIVISIONS (MIXED)
The League shall be made up of divisions of not less than six teams. The position of teams in these divisions shall be decided by points: two awarded for a win and one for a draw. In the event of two or more clubs finishing the season with equal points in the same division, then their position shall be decided by the number of events or games won. Promotion and relegation of clubs to be decided by the Committee. The winner of a division will automatically be promoted.

11. MATCHES (MIXED)
Each team shall play every other team in that division as defined at the fixture meeting. Teams shall consist of three men and three ladies and each match shall consist of nine events (five mixed, two men’s and two ladies doubles), each event being two games of 21 aces each with extended play to 30. Games finishing with a 2 point lead (eg 23-21) should be recorded as 21-19. Games reaching 30-29 shuold be recorded as 21-20 (showing 1 point difference). In the event of shortage of time, opposing captains shall agree to as many games of 15 aces as may be necessary to finish the match. Team sheets shall be exchanged prior to the commencement of play showing a full list of players and playing order. No alteration in the playing order shall be permitted during the course of the match. Order of play will be:

The winners shall be the team winning the most games. Should the games be equal, the result shall be a draw. Two league points will be awarded for a win and one for a draw. In the event of teams being equal at the end of the season, the tie will be decided on games, then aces.

12. DIVISIONS (LADIES – GENTS)
The division shall consist of not less than 3 teams per division.

13. MATCHES (LADIES – GENTS)
The rules as mixed except: A team shall consist of 6 ladies or gents. All couples playing to merit of strength numbered 1 to 3. Each captain shall present in writing the composition of their team for all events to the opposing captain before the commencement of play. A match shall consist of 9 sets (best of 2 games with extended play) played in the following order:

14. TIME OF STARTING MATCHES
League matches shall commence no later than 7.15pm unless previously agreed otherwise. A team which has no couple present at the agreed time shall forfeit one event. If at 7.45pm or half an hour later than the agreed time to start, a team still has no couple present, one further event shall be forfeited. If at 8.00pm or three quarters of an hour after the agreed time of start, no two opposing couples are present, the match must be commenced with the players present then in attendance playing in a mutually agreed order of strength. Should play have not commenced within an hour of the fixed start time the match shall be awarded to the team in attendance. The time of play MUST be entered on the completed score sheets which must be endorsed by representatives of both teams. For failure to state time of starting, see penalties under section 22.

15. HALLS AND BYE-LAWS
Visiting teams shall abide by the bye-laws of the home club with regard to “lets” and “faults” provided these do not contravene the Laws of Badminton. The visitors shall be notified before the commencement of matches of any such bye-laws likely to affect the play. Scorers to be appointed duties to be equally shared by both teams.

16. SHUTTLES
In all matches the home team shall provide the shuttles. Feathered shuttles should be of the correct pace for the hall. Each event shall commence with a new shuttle.

17. RESULTS
A detailed score sheet of each match signed and checked by a representative of both clubs must be posted by the winning club to the Hon Match Secretary within seven days of the match to claim the points. In the event of a draw, both teams shall submit a score sheet to claim points, non-compliance with this regulation will lead to the offending club(s) being penalised one league point.

18. FIXTURES
Matches must be played as appearing in the League Fixture List, and may only be postponed or rearranged because of the non-availability of the hall. Notice of any postponement must be given to the League Match Secretary immediately. A new date for the fixture must be arranged within two weeks of the original date and the Match Secretary informed accordingly. No club shall have the power to award points to another club by default of fixtures. In the event of an away team defaulting on a fixture, the home club shall be recompensed at the Committee’s discretion. Failure to provide a team of less than 4 players or no team at all will resultin a 1 point deduction and the match being awarded to the opposition 18-0. Teams turning up with a player short should forfeit the games of their 2nd mixed pair.

19. REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS
Only bona-fide members of a club who have been registered for 7 days may represent it in a League match. Each club secretary shall send in a list of each team’s registered players to the League Results Secretary at least 7 days before the clubs first match of the season. Club secretaries are responsible for notifying players so registered. Additional registrations may be made at any time up to February 1st and will take effect 7 days after receipt of the notification by the Results Secretary.

20. A PLAYER
A player may represent two clubs, one mixed and one Ladies or gents providing they are bona-fide members of both clubs. During one season a player may play a combined total of three matches for a higher team than that for which he/she has been registered.

A player will be deemed to have been re-registered if he/she plays a fourth time for a higher team. A player may not play in two matches, League or Knockout, simultaneously.

21. PLAYING MEMBERS
All playing members of a club must be conversant with the rules of the League, its matches and competitions and with the Laws of Badminton. Lack of knowledge of a rule will not be accepted as a reason for any offence committed.

22. PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS
Failure to comply with Rule Numbers 14, 17, 18, 19 or 20 will result in a penalty to be defined by the Committee.

23. RULES
For failure to comply with Rule Numbers 11, 17, 18, 19 or 20 will result in a penalty to be defined by the Committee. The Committee, at its discretion, can suspend or cancel the League Membership of any club for breach of this or any of the foregoing rules, the club responsible to forfeit the match.

24. DISPUTES, COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS
Any club having a complaint or dispute to make shall do so in writing to the League Secretary within fourteen days. Any appeal shall be referred in writing to the Hon Secretary of the League for submission to the Committee for decision, which shall be final.

In very exceptional circumstances the League Committee shall empower to waive the application of a rule provided it is in the best interests of the League and is accepted unanimously by the Committee.

25. TROPHIES
All trophies are the property of the League and all clubs shall be held responsible for the trophies in their possession.

26. ALTERATION TO CONSTITUTION AND RULES
The Constitution and/or Rules of the League may only be altered at the AGM of the League or at an Extraordinary General Meeting convened for the purpose. Written notice of any suggested alteration or addition to the Constitution and/or the Rules must be submitted to the League Secretary in writing no later than April 15th in any year and all such proposals shall be circulated with the Agenda of the meeting concerned. Alterations and/or additions must be approved by a majority of those present at the meeting, such alterations or additions to be operative immediately.

27. All clubs must provide two telephone numbers for the Handbook.

28. The Committee shall have the power to decide on any matter not covered by the Rules and their decision shall be final.

STANDING ORDERS FOR ALL MEETINGS

1. Minutes shall be made in books provided for the purpose of all resolutions and proceedings of general meetings and of meetings of the Committee. Any such minutes if signed by the Chairman of the meeting to which they relate or at which they are read, shall be received as conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated.

2. Agendas, together with the notice of meeting giving date, place and time of all general meetings shall be circulated to club secretaries and of Committee meetings to all members of the Committee, both ex-officio and ordinary members. At least 14 days notice shall be given of all general meetings and not less than 7 days notice for Committee meetings, unless in an emergency when the Chairman shall authorise the Hon Secretary to convene a committee meeting.

No business shall be transacted until the minutes of the previous meeting have been dealt with; thereafter, items of business shall be taken in the order appearing on the agenda unless otherwise stated, immediately after the signing of the minutes.

3. No business shall be transacted until a quorum is present, this for a General Meeting shall be representatives of one third of the clubs in full membership, and for a Committee meeting, five persons. The quorum for Sub-Committees shall be determined by the Committee when defining the powers of the Sub-Committee. If within half an hour of the time appointed for a General meeting, a quorum of members is not present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of the members, shall be dissolved. In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day the following week at the same time and at the agreed place. If at the adjourned meeting, a quorum of the members is not present within half an hour of the time appointed for the meeting, the members present and entitled to vote, shall be a quorum.

4. Each member of the Committee shall be entitled to one vote at all Committee meetings. At General Meetings, officers of the League and each club representative shall have one vote. The Chairman shall have a casting vote in addition to his ordinary vote at all meetings.

5. The Chairman, may with the consent of the meeting, and must, on a majority vote, adjourn any meting from time to time, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.

6. Amendments, Representatives entitled to vote, attending the AGM or an EGM shall have the power to vote on any amendment to any published motion and the committees shall act upon such amendments as though due notice of it had been given.

Only one amendment shall be before a meeting at any one time and if, when put to the meeting, the amendment shall fail, and the amended motion which is then the substantive motion, can be subject to a further amendment. If the amendment to the original motion is declared not carried, a further amendment to the original motion then may be moved and considered.

7. At any meeting no two persons shall speak at the same time, the Chairman at all times shall get priority of speech, all speeches must be addressed to the Chair, and no person, other than when presenting a report called for by the agenda, shall speak on any one subject at any one time for a period in excess of three minutes.

8. No motion may be discussed until it has been proposed and seconded. If the ensuing discussion has continued for not less than fifteen minutes without any decision being made, the closure of the discussion can be moved by any person who has not taken part in the discussion. Thereupon, the Chairman must put the closure motion to the meeting if this is agreed, no further discussion can be permitted and the Chairman must immediately put the motion to the meeting for a decision.

9. Upon the Chairman putting a motion to the meeting, the decision of the majority shall thereafter be deemed a resolution of the meeting and appropriate action be taken.

10. In all matters of debate and procedure not specified in these standing orders, the ruling of the Chairman shall be final.

KNOCKOUT TOURNAMENT RULES

1. Teams shall consist of 3 Mixed couples in order of strength, playing to the same format as outlined in Rule 13, except that each set consists of only two games (not the best of 3).

2. The closing date for entries, specifying the number of teams entered by the club, shall be specified by the League Committee. Entries should be addressed to the Knockout Cup Secretary.

3. The entry fee is payable directly to the League Treasurer.

4. Each entry shall be followed by October 1st at the latest, by a list of registered players consisting of at least 5 and not more than 8 Ladies and Gents for any team. If a club enters more than one team, separate lists of registered players for A, B and C teams shall be submitted. In addition, a club entering more than one team may at the same time name a “pool” of reserve players eligible in the first instance to be drafted (KO Secretary to be notified in advance) into any team entered by that club. As soon as any such player has played in the Tournament once he/she leaves the “pool” and for the rest of the season is added to the registered players of the team for which he/she has played. All players in the “pool” must be of a lower standard than any of the players registered for a specific team. Subject to this, no player shall be registered for more than one team at a time or shall play for more than one team in any season.

5. The League Committee shall decide on a handicap for each team. The handicap shall be applied to each game played. The winner shall be the team winning the most games. Should games be equal, the match shall be deemed a draw and replayed on the visiting side’s court.

6. Shuttles shall be provided by the home team of a satisfactory quality, as laid down in League Rule 16. If the shuttles are other than normally used, the home team shall notify their opponents before the match night. Cost of shuttles to be shared by the two teams.

7. The League will set aside blank weeks within the fixture list when knockout matches will be played. No knockout matches will be played outside these weeks. Any team not able to honour the fixture will be removed from the competition.

8. No additional players will be allowed other than those registered. Any team on whose team sheet appears the name of an unregistered player shall forfeit the match as per League Rules 17 and 20.

9. A player(s) failing to complete an event or unwilling to play when scheduled shall forfeit the event concerned (except that in the case of retirement during an event, any points scored by the time of retirement will count towards the team score).

10. Every player registered must have been a bona-fide member of the club for which he/she represents for at least fourteen days.

11. Team sheets shall be exchanged prior to commencement of play and after such exchange no alteration either in playing order or in the make-up of the team itself shall not be permitted. Score sheets shall be submitted by the winning team to the Knockout Secretary within seven days of the match. Where a score sheet has not been submitted the offending club shall be fined as League Rule 22.

12. No League matches will be postponed in order to accommodate the knockout, during the period when blank weeks have been set aside.

13. Any complaint or dispute shall be referred to the League Committee via the Knockout Secretary within 48 hours in writing. If a dispute arises during a match and cannot be referred to the League Committee as above, the Committee shall have the power at its absolute discretion to deal with any complaint or dispute or any matter concerned with the Knockout Tournament and their findings and decisions shall be final.