1.   The League shall be known as THE DARLINGTON & DISTRICT BADMINTON LEAGUE

2.   The Management Committee, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and five        representatives plus two junior representatives shall be elected at each General Meeting prior to each season, and five shall constitute a quorum.  The Management committee to have power to fill any vacancies, which may occur during the season.

3.   League membership fee to be decided at the Annual General Meeting prior to each season and to be paid by, or at, the first Secretaries meeting.

4.      Leagues to be divided, where possible, into Divisions of not less than five and not more than nine teams.  Where a lower division cannot be formed there shall be one division only.

5.      Each team to play every other team in that Division at home and away in all Leagues.  Each mixed doubles match to consist of nine (9) sets each set the best of three games, each game to 21 up at 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first wins that game, at 29 all, the side scoring the 30^th point, wins that game, to apply.

In the Mixed Divisions there shall be three mixed doubles pairing, one of  these pairing shall play all three mixed games, with the other mixed pairings  forming a men's and ladies doubles pairing.  Points to be awarded as follows  3 points for a win, one point for a 4-5 defeat
 
In the mixed divisions, if in order to fulfil a fixture a team is one player short,  Then that team shall only play with two couples, with the three mixed games  being forfeited.
 

In the men’s and ladies divisions each team will comprise four players and each match shall be made up of 8 games each set the best of three games, each game to twenty one (21) up at 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first wins that game, at 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point wins that game, to apply.  Each pair to play the other two pairs and then the pairs to divide into a different partnership and play both of the other pairs. Points to be awarded as follows:  4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw,  3 points for a 5-3 win and 1 point for a 3-5 defeat.

In the event of any Club fielding an incomplete team that Club may be liable for penalty.

In the event of a player conceding a game/s due to injury/illness during a match in the mixed, mens or ladies games, that player may take no further part in the match.     

6.   Clubs wishing to withdraw teams after the closing date of entries can only withdraw the lowest team; in the Divisions entered e.g. Men’s, Mixed or Ladies. In exceptional circumstances the Club may apply to the Management Committee to withdraw a higher team.  Any withdrawal must be notified in writing.  If a team is withdrawn after the first Secretaries’ meeting the Club concerned must notify the Management Committee in writing and also all other Clubs affected.

7.   In the event of any team resigning during the season all matches played by that team shall be declared void.

8.   Clubs with more than 1 team in the Mixed, Ladies or Men’s leagues (as applicable) shall, prior to the first match being played, forward to the League a list of six nominated players for each mixed team and four nominated players for each men’s or Ladies teams, except for their lowest team.  Nominated players shall then not take part in any match in a lower division or a lower placed team from that Club without the prior written permission of the League Management Committee.  A player having played more than three times in a higher division or team cannot play in a lower team or division without the consent of the Management committee.

The Management Committee will monitor, on a regular basis, the appearances made by nominated players.

9.   Any club in any division that has more than one team in the same Division should play the fixtures between their own teams as the first game(s) in each half of the season.

10. At the end of each season a minimum of two teams in each Division, other than the top Division, will be promoted.  A maximum of two teams in each Division, other than the lowest Division, will be relegated.

11.       For all Mixed Divisions, the League Committee shall issue dates of the season’s fixtures at the beginning of the season, prior to the first Secretaries meeting.  Matches may be re-arranged before the 30^th September and a second opportunity in the period 1^st – 31^st January. 

            All re-arranged matches must be notified to the Secretary within that period, failure to do so may result in the original date being adhered to.

            If the Secretary or Match Secretary receives no score sheet or no notice of re-arrangement within the two permitted periods (September or January) then the offending team/s will be deemed to have conceded.

For the Men’s and Ladies Divisions, at each of the two Secretaries meetings, the home team to offer visiting team at least two dates in separate weeks, during the period stated in the fixture play by list and the visiting team to accept one of the dates offered  

a .  For all Mixed Divisions, any match cancelled, or changed for any reason other  than items 11a, (i), (ii) and (iii) stated below, shall result in the award of the match points (sets and games) against the team responsible for the cancellation.  If the away club are responsible for the cancellation and the home team are committed to the cost of the hall hire, then Rule 17 will be strictly enforced.

If a team concedes two mixed matches, then at the end of the season two penalty points are deducted from the final table and one penalty point for each further conceded match for that team.

b.      For all Mixed Divisions, any match cancelled, or changed for any reason other than items (i), (ii) and (iii) stated below, after the 30^th September, for the first half of the season and for the second period of 1^st to 31^st January, shall result in the award of the match points (sets and games) against the team responsible for the cancellation and possible penalty points awarded.  If the away club are responsible for the cancellation and the home team are committed to the cost of the hall hire, then Rule 17 will be strictly enforced.

c.   Fixtures once arranged and agreed should not be changed except for

      (i)         Loss of Hall

(ii)               Adverse weather conditions

(iii)             Individuals involved in County matches

(iv)             Matches re-arranged within the play by date with agreement of both clubs

      Any matches postponed in the first half of the season must be completed by 31^st December except those postponed late in December for reason stated in 11b above.  Those matches to be played by a play by date decided by the Management Committee.  Any matches postponed in the second half of the season must be re-arranged and played by 30^th March.  Any matches cancelled after this date must be re-arranged and completed by the 25^th April and the result and score sheet received by the Committee member responsible by 30^th April.  Any result not received by 30^th April will NOT  be included in FINAL TABLE.  If the game cannot be played by the play by date both teams to refer the matter to the Management Committee IN WRITING within seven days of play by date.

d.   Matches should commence promptly at the time stated by the home club but not earlier than 6. 30 pm unless by mutual agreement.  If there is a time limited on the home sides hall and the match is started later than the time stated, any unplayed sets will be awarded as follows:-

(i)         If the home team is responsible for the late start any unfinished or    unplayed sets will be awarded to the away team

(ii)               If the away team is responsible for the late start any unfinished or

unplayed sets will be awarded to the home team

12.       The home team should declare their team and complete details on score sheet first.  After the visiting team have declared their team no further alterations may be made.  Each team should keep a record of the match results.  The home team is required to submit the fully completed score sheet to the appropriate Committee Member within seven days of the match being played.  The home team should provide a scorer for all games, unless three courts are in simultaneous use for the match.

13.       Players from the same club should not be involved in both mixed, men’s or    ladies doubles fixtures on the same evening to avoid visiting players being subjected to unnecessary and lengthy waiting periods for their games.

14        Good quality feathered shuttles should always be used for League matches.  Nylon plastic, etc. shuttles of a good quality may only be used if both teams are agreeable and provided that such agreement is reached no later than the first Secretaries meeting for the season in question.

15.       Matches to be completed no later than 30^th April or such date as is decided at the Annual General Meeting.  Any games not played by then to be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.

16.       A player must not play for more than one club in the Mixed Divisions during any season without the consent of the Management Committee.  A player may play for one club in the Men’s or Ladies Leagues only and in the Mixed Division for another club as long as that player is a member of both clubs.

17.       Any Club incurring out of pocket expenses as a result of another club cancelling a fixture at late notice, i.e. cost of hall, travelling expenses etc. may submit a claim against the defaulting club for such expenses.  All such claims must be submitted to the Management Committee for adjudication.  Loss of hall, bad weather and dangerous playing conditions will be exempt from such claims.

18        Clubs wishing to enter the Darlington & District Badminton League shall play their matches within a 25-mile radius of Darlington.  The Darlington town clock shall be deemed as the central point of the 25-mile radius.  The committee reserve the right to inspect the clubs hall prior to acceptance.

New teams and or clubs entering the League will automatically start in the lowest Divisions.

19.       Play to be according to IBF Laws of Badminton

20.       All clubs in the League must be affiliated to the County Organisations and their members affiliated to the Badminton England, every member in a club, regardless of whether they pay their affiliation fee through that  club, must be on that clubs affiliation list with the Badminton  England.  Every Club is required to submit a copy of their B.E. list of affiliated member to the Management Committee.  Details of any member affiliating after the list has been submitted must also be notified to the Committee.  No one may play in League matches or enter Tournaments until they are affiliated to the B. E. and registered in writing with the Management Committee of Darlington & District Badminton League.  A period of SEVEN days must elapse after affiliation and registration before a member is eligible to play in League matches or enter tournaments.

.

21.       At Annual General Meetings of the League the voting power of individual clubs shall depend upon the number of teams by which that club is represented in the league.  A representative at a meeting may only cast votes for ONE club.  One voting card per team will be issued.  When voting on decisions directly affecting the men’s, ladies and mixed divisions, only those Clubs with representation in those divisions will be permitted to vote on such decisions.

22.       Extra-ordinary Meetings of the League shall be called by the League Honorary Secretary upon either:

(a)                Instruction from the Management Committee.

(b)               A requisition signed by not less than four Club Secretaries, stating the business to be brought before the Meeting

23.       Two weeks notification in writing will be given when revision of the Rules is to be considered

24.       Any Club failing to comply with any rules shall be liable to a deduction of points and the Management Committee shall have absolute discretion.

25.      Any matter not covered by these rules shall be determined by the Management Committee.