The League shall be called The Yehlex Stockport and District Badminton League.
OBJECTS to provide and promote competitive badminton on
the League principle for clubs in the neighbourhood of Stockport,
and to arrange matches, tournaments and all other events
connected therewith.
MEMBERSHIP shall be open to Clubs whose courts are situated
within a radius of ten miles of Stockport Town Hall. New Clubs
desirous of joining the League, will make application on the
appropriate form, to be received by the League Secretary not
later than 30th June and acceptance shall be subject to the
sanction of the Management Committee. Any such new Clubs
or additional teams from existing clubs shall enter the League at
an appropriate position in the League, subject to there being
spaces available, and approval by the Management Committee.
The Management Committee shall have the right to promote
after one season, any Club from the lowest division which it feels
is completely above the division's standard. Associate
membership shall be open to properly constituted Clubs wishing
to be affiliated to the League but not currently participating in
League play. Associate member Clubs will not have voting rights
at annual meetings or be eligible to enter senior tournaments.
RESIGNATION Any Club wishing to withdraw a team or teams
from the League shall give notice in writing or by e-mail, to the
League Secretary before 30th June, otherwise that Club will be
liable for the ensuing years' subscription. In the event of a Club
having to withdraw one or more of its teams from the League it
can request to withdraw any team(s) rather than its lowest team.
GOVERNMENT The government of the League shall be vested
in a Management Committee consisting of officials and elected
members of the Executive Committee who shall all be ex-officio
and one representative of each Club playing in the league.
Inter alia, the Management Committee shall have power to:
Sanction or refuse all application for membership.
Terminate the membership of any Club already in the League.
Determine the constitution of the Divisions of the League. The Management Committee may delegate any of its powers to an Executive Committee consisting of the elected Officials, who may co-opt, annually, up to three others to be members of the Committee.
In particular, the Management Committee may delegate to the
Executive Committee the power to:
Make decisions with regard to abandoned matches.
Give rulings on all disputes or appeals or on any matter
relating to the League.
Make Byelaws to govern any matter not provided for in the
Rules,save that such Byelaws shall be subject to confirmation
at the Annual General Meeting next following.
OFFICIALS The Officials shall consist of a President,
Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Match Secretary, Results Secretary, Tournament Secretary,
Junior Organiser, Messer Trophy Organiser and Website Co-ordinator. The President
to be elected for a two year term only and cannot serve two
consecutive terms. Nominations for any posts to be received by
the Secretary in writing or by email at least 14 days before the
Annual General Meeting and to show the names of the proposer
and seconder.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS Management Committee: Meeting of the Management
Committee shall be held at least once in each year, and shall be
convened by the Chairman,or the Secretary,or on the application
of two or more members of the Committee. A quorum shall
consist of not less than one half the number entitled to attend. A
Club not represented at any Management Committee Meeting,
or Annual General Meeting, or EGM shall be liable to a fine of
£25 per meeting missed. Executive Committee: The Executive Committee may meet,
adjourn and regulate its business as it thinks fit and a quorum
shall consist of not less than one half of the number entitled to
attend.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting
shall be held in May each year for the purpose of electing
officials, to elect our Auditor, to receive the report of the Secretary,
to receive the Statement of Accounts and the report of the
Treasurer, to determine the amount of the subscriptions for the
ensuing year, and to transact any business raised upon notice
of motion or at the request of the Executive Committee. A
quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be equal to the number of clubs that start the season.
Each Club in the League shall have at least 14 days notice of
such meeting, any notice of motion for inclusion on the agenda
must reach the League Secretary not later than 31st March,
all motions to be signed by a proposer and seconder. Attendees
must either be registered for a club in the Stockport League as
a player or as a non-playing official, e.g. Secretary, Treasurer or
Match Secretary. All Members of the Executive Committee and
Life Vice Presidents are eligible to attend the Annual General
Meeting. Anyone who is registered as an official and a playing
member of 2 different clubs may only represent one club and
must identify which club they are representing when signing in
for admission to the meeting. Each eligible attendee at the
Annual General Meeting shall have power to vote on any matter.
ALTERATIONS TO RULES New rules can only be introduced
or old ones expunged or altered at the Annual General Meeting
of the League, or at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the
League convened for the purpose. Written notice of suggested
alteration or additions to the Rules must reach the League
Secretary not later than 31st March. All proposed motions
and suggested rule alteration or changes to be circulated to
Clubs within 4 weeks of the 31st March of each year.
However, if a rule change is passed that has an unforseen and
direct impact on an existing rule, the meeting may propose and
vote on amendments to the affected rule.
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING An Extraordinary
General Meeting of the League may be convened by the
Executive Committee, the Management Committee or the
League Secretary upon a written requisition signed by the
representatives of not less than three Clubs, such requisition to
state the objects for which the meeting is called. Fourteen days’
notice shall be given to all League Clubs of any Extraordinary
General Meeting. The motion or motions to be discussed shall
be incorporated in the notice and no other business shall be
transacted. Eligibility for attendance and voting, and the quorum
required for an EGM shall be the same as for an Annual General
Meeting.
The Laws of Badminton as currently adopted by the Badminton
World Federation shall apply.
SHUTTLES Feathered shuttles shall be used in all matches.
The approved shuttles for this season are YEHLEX
PREMIERSHIP or CHAMPIONSHIP. If the agreed shuttles are
not available the number of games not played with the approved
shuttles will be forfeited.
PLAY The following shall govern play in League matches:
Each team in the League shall play home and away matches
with every other team in the Division.
Each match shall be played by teams consisting of Three Ladies
and Three Gentlemen, who shall play Three Ladies' Doubles,
Three Gent's Doubles and Three Mixed Doubles. The players
for all level Doubles shall be ranked in order of playing ability.
The couples for Mixed Doubles games shall be ranked in order
of mixed playing strength; the order of play in these games shall
be declared on the Official Score Sheet by the opposing Captains
before play commences. The nine couples so formed shall play
two games of 21 aces against the couples of equal rank in the
opposing team.
Matches shall commence at the time stated in the handbook or
at a time mutually agreed by the captains of the 2 teams. The
order of play shall be as set out on the official score sheet. If
either team does not have gents 1 & 2 ready for play 15 minutes
from the scheduled agreed time that team shall forfeit the 1st
game, if after a further 15 minutes gents 1 & 2 are still unavailable
the second game is forfeited. Following the scheduled or agreed
start time, players must be present and ready for play in
subsequent games assuming an elapsed time of 15 minutes per
game per available court. From a scheduled pair of games
between opposing pairs, if a pair only claims the first game due
to the non-availability of the opposition, then when playing the
remaining game, that pair will have choice of ends, with the
option to serve being determined in an agreed manner.
If the order of play is changed to accommodate the late arrival
of player/s and all possible games have been played, from the
12 level doubles any remaining games that are unplayable shall
be claimed at this time. If players are unavailable from both
teams,then unplayed games are void and no points are awarded
to either side.
If a player fails to turn up, then the mixed doubles must still be
played in order of precedence and the match card may be
amended. For example MX D1 cannot be conceded for an
unavailable player if MX D2 an MX D3 are played.
Any club unable to provide a full team will forfeit, to the opposition
all games not played. Rule 13b still applies and all eligible
players must be entered on the match card and play in order of
strength, number 1 down to number 3. If unable to field a full
team, every effort must be made to notify the opposition as far
in advance as possible, by phone. For any teams fielding fewer
than 5 players the following penalties may apply at the discretion
of the Committee. Fielding 4 players a penalty of 2 points,
fielding 3 players a penalty of 4 points, fielding 2 players a
penalty of 6 points and for less than 2 players a penalty of 10
points.
Generally the conduct of the game will be in the hands of the
players. However, an umpire will be appointed alternatively by
each side (home team first) who will:
keep the score
rule on any dispute which may arise during play.
The umpire's ruling will be final.
All matches will consist of 18 games as per Rule 13b. Each game
will win one point. The League Table order will be dictated by the
total number of games won.
Visiting teams shall abide by the playing rules and byelaws of the
home Club providing these do not contravene the Rules of the
League, and it shall be incumbent upon the home players to
declare to the visitors before the match such rules or byelaws
which are likely to affect play.
All disputes or appeals on any matter shall be submitted in
writing or by e-mail within seven days of the event to the
Executive Committee through the League Secretary.
Clothing worn on court must be recognised badminton sports
clothing. Any player contravening this rule will be reported and
liable to disciplinary action.
No player is allowed to play in two different matches at the same time.
FIXTURES Matches shall be played as set out in the official
League Fixture lists. No match shall be rearranged unless the
room of the home team becomes unavailable OR with the
agreement of both Captains, the Results Secretary to be notified
immediately by both the home and away teams of any such
changes. Failure to do so within 7 days of the original date
will result in a fine of ten pounds (£10). Any team unable to
fulfil a fixture will score no points, but the team conceded to will
score 18 points. A team which does not turn up for a match fixture
on more than one occasion and cannot satisfy the League
Executive Committee that there is a very good reason, shall be
placed at the bottom of their division for relegation at the end of
the season. All match results during the season with that team
are to be disregarded when it comes to deciding the promotion
and relegation positions. All fixtures to be completed by the end
of April, or at the discretion of the Results Secretary.
Match results shall be submitted on the official score sheet by
the home team so as to reach the Results Secretary within seven
days of the match in question having been played. Teams not
complying with this rule shall, on submission of the 2nd and
subsequent late score sheets, be fined £10. For the 3rd and
subsequent late score sheets all points scored by the home
team in those matches will be forfeited.
Clubs with more than one team in any division must play all
matches between these teams before 30th November in any
season.
LEAGUE TABLES In the event of a tie on points between two
or more teams, their positions in the League shall be decided in
alphabetical order. In the FINAL LEAGUE TABLE in the event
of the total number of points being equal, the placings shall be
decided only by the results of the matches played between the
teams concerned. The teams will be placed in order of the
games won against each other and where these are equal, by
the differences in aces scored, for and against.
PROMOTION & RELEGATION The two teams finishing top of
any division shall normally be promoted to a higher division.
The two teams finishing bottom of any division shall normally be
relegated to the next lower division. If the number of teams in a
division is to be increased, then the relative playing strengths of
the teams that would normally be relegated and the teams
finishing outside of the automatic promotion places of the
division below, shall be compared. The assessed stronger
teams shall then be placed in the restructured division. If, after
the agreed formation of divisions for the season, a team is
withdrawn or has its playing record voided, that team shall be
considered to have finished bottom of the division and fill an
automatic relegation position.
COURTS It shall be incumbent upon the home team to have all
lines clearly marked before each match commences and to see
the net is in a good state of repair. In marking out the court the
measurements laid down by the Laws of Badminton shall be
used. If this is impossible, a close approximation should be
attempted.
REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS Each club must register with
the Results Secretary any player likely to be called upon to play
for the Club in any League match.
Registrations, in writing, shall be in the hands of the Results
Secretary not later than the day before the Club's first match.
Only players available to participate in at least one of the
first three league matches should be registered for that
team. If not available for any reason, they should be
nominated as a reserve for the team they would be selected
for, until they are available to fill a permanent position.
Failure to comply with the spirit of this law may result in the
reduction of points. Thereafter, no player shall play in any match
unless his/her registration is in the hands of the Results Secretary
7 days prior to the first match in which the player is likely to play.
Only bona fide Club members are eligible for registration,
outside players cannot be brought in on an ad hoc basis so as
to influence promotion or relegation. No player may be registered
after 28th February in any season. No player may be registered
by two or more member clubs at the same time. Players may only
change registration in the season with permission of the Executive
Committee. On all these points appeal may be made to the
Executive Committee through the Results Secretary.
CLUBS WITH MORE THAN ONE TEAM Such clubs' teams
shall be named, in order of playing strength, 'A', 'B', 'C', etc. at the
commencement of each playing season. i.e. before any League
fixtures are fulfilled. Clubs shall submit to the league Results
Secretary a list of players who will normally play for each of their
teams as entered for the League Competition, and players so
registered shall not play for any other team during that season
with these exceptions:
Any player may play as a reserve for a higher team.
If a player misses 3 consecutive matches the Results
Secretary must be notified of the reason. The Results
Secretary may decide that a permanent replacement be
promoted. All reserves must be nominated for teams
according to their standard. Failure to comply with the spirit
of this law may result in the deduction of points.
If there is a re-selection, the Results Secretary shall be
informed of the names of the players promoted and demoted
and these changes shall stand for a period of not less than
3 league matches.
The Executive Committee have the right to regulate the
interchange of players between teams and the use of
reserves in the interest of fair competition.
All clubs must pay league fees by 31st October in any season.
Failure to pay by this date will lead to an immediate fine of £10
per team. Failure to pay by 30th November of that season will
lead to further sanctions. Failure to comply may result in expulsion
from the League.
Subscriptions for 2025/2026 Season shall be £20 per Senior
Team.
FIXTURE MEETING A meeting to arrange fixtures shall be held
in July each year. Each Club shall send one representative per
team to the fixture meeting.
A Club failing to do so shall be fined at the rate of £20 per team
not represented. This fine to be paid before 1st September. If
not, the team(s) will be expelled. The Executive Committee will
consider waiving this fine in exceptional circumstances.