Hertford Area Badminton League Rules

  1. All clubs must be affiliated to a County Badminton Association.
  2. The AGM shall :-
  1. Decide methods of play.
  2. Agree methods of promotion and relegation.
  3. Appoint officers :- Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, League Organisers, County Committee Representatives and any committee members up to a maximum of nine. These officers and committee members shall then compose the committee to deal with any matter arising in the following season.
  4. Decide rules of the Area League by a majority vote of those present. Each club has one vote. Proxy votes will be included.
  5. Agree the annual subscription.
  1. The committee shall decide the composition of the various league sections. The principle that in a league of 5 or less there will be 1 up and 1 down, and in a league of 6 or more teams then it will be 2 up and 2 down, will be followed where possible.
  2. The Captains shall exchange lists of players before the match begins. No substitution shall be made once a player has started playing.
  3. The home team shall forward to the appropriate person, a copy of the match result, signed by a member of the opposing club, within 48 hours, either by post or scanned and attached to an email.
  4. All players taking part in a league match must be bonafide members of the club they are representing. Specifically, this means they are registered with Badminton England as members of the club they are representing on the day of each match in which they play.
  5. No player may play for more than one club in any one category, (Mens/Ladies 6, Mens/Ladies 4, Mixed, Medley) in any one season.
  6. All teams must be nominated, except the lowest team in each category from each club. No nominated player may play in a lower team in the same category at any time during the season. Nominations must be received before the first match is played. In the absence of such a list the first match result card received shall represent the nomination. If a special situation of a bad nomination arises, the problem may be submitted to the committee, who may allow a reorganisation in that club’s nomination.
  7. A player may play twice for any higher team, without losing original team status.
  8. All games in which an ineligible player takes part, shall be scored to love for the opposition. Such ineligibility shall be noted on the lists of players exchanged before the match.If an ineligible player is fieldedwithout prior notification the match will deemed to be conceded.
  9. The league coordinator should be advised of any amendments to match fixtures as soon as possible. A fixture may only be moved with the mutual agreement of both teams and the club who has asked for the rearrangement or cancellation should be prepared to pay any extra costs incurred if required. If the fixture cannot be rearranged the club that cannot fulfill the fixture must concede the match. All league matches, must be completed before the end of April, each season. Any team which defaults or concedes on more than one match shall be placed bottom of their league. It is a club’s responsibility to make every effort to field a team so as to fulfill the fixture.
  10. It is recommended that the hometeam should confirm each match shortly before the date.
  11. In a walkover, wholly or part, all games conceded shall be scored to love to the opponents, except that for partly played games the total for the conceding pair shall stand.
  12. Each club should be represented at the Fixtures meeting and then send a copy of their fixture list to each league organiser, before 1st October.
  13. Any club whose fees remain unpaid by 1st October shall forfeit the right to continue in the league.
  14. Where a club has a time limit on the hall, the club may decide on a pattern of play for the match. The pattern must be followed for all home matches for that team, and must be notified to the opponents and the league organiser. Every effort should be made to arrive at matches early and be ready to start at the specified time. In the event of a team (or part of) being so late as to delay the playing of any rubbers by more than 20 minutes then the team which has been kept waiting is entitled (if they wish) to claim a rubber for every 20 minutes they have to wait. If the match starts on time but cannot be finished because courts become unavailable then the home side should concede any unfinished/unplayed rubbers.
  15. New clubs and clubs returning to the league, may be accommodated at the discretion of the committee
  16. Only two teams from the same club may be allowed to compete in the same division. No player may play for both these teams in the same season. Matches between the teams should be played as early in the season as possible, and by 31 January at the latest, to avoid any collusion to manipulate the league positions based on these results.
  17. Ladies/Mens 4’s league. The four players must be nominated in strict order of merit. Pairs play the best of 3 games as normal. If the match reaches 3-3 a single game decider shall be played between any two nominated players from each team (to 21 points only – 2 clear points not required). The playing order is as follows:

1 & 2 v 1 & 2 + 3 & 4 v 3 & 4

1 & 4 v 2 & 3 + 2 & 3 v 1 & 4

1 & 3 v 1 & 3 + 2 & 4 v 2 & 4

  1. Medley league. If the match reaches 3-3 a single mixed game decider shall be played between any two players from each team (to 21 points only – 2 clear points not required).The playing order is as follows:

L1 & L2 v L1 & L2 + M1 & M2 v M1 & M2

L1 & M1 v L1 & M1 + L2 & M2 v L2 & M2

L1 & M1 V L2 & M2 + L2 & M2 V L1 & M1

  1. Medley/Ladies4/Mens4 leagues. League points will be allocated based on the result of matches as follows:

6 – 0, 5 – 1, or 4 – 2 win receive 3 points

4 – 3 win receives 2 points

3 – 4 loss receives 1 point

2 – 4, 1 – 5 and 0 – 6 loss receives no points

  1. If a team has to withdraw from a league during the season without completing all their fixtures then all results will be treated as null and void.