Crewe and District

League Rules

Updated for the 2024-2025 Season

1. NAME

The League shall be called 'THE CREWE & DISTRICT BADMINTON LEAGUE'.

2. OBJECTS

To provide and promote competitive Badminton on league principles for Clubs in Crewe and District. To arrange matches, tournaments and other events in accordance with the Laws of Badminton as adopted by the International Badminton Federation.

3. MEMBERSHIP

The League shall be open to one or more teams of Clubs whose home venue is within convenient traveling distance from Crewe. Any Clubs desirous of joining the League shall apply in writing to the League's General Secretary. The acceptance of their application shall be subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting.
 
All club members shall be affiliated to both the Badminton England, and their relevant County Association. Failure to comply with this rule could result in disciplinary action being taken.

4. RESIGNATIONS

Clubs desirous of withdrawing a team or teams from the League shall give notice in writing to the League General Secretary before 30th April otherwise they will be liable to the ensuing year's subscription.

5. SUBSCRIPTION

Every  player representing a club  shall be registered with the League, County and Badminton England. The league registration fees for individual members and teams shall be decided upon at the AGM. 


a) Team Registrations - Each Club shall pass their team registration form  to the Fixture Secretary at the AGM.   The associated Team Registration fee/s should be paid promptly, and at latest within 7 days of the regular Club Account balance statement issued by the treasurer.  Since 2022 Club Secretaries can view their Club Account balance directly on the website.   Team registration £15   
 
b) Individual Registrations - The junior fee is for members under the age of 18 on the 1st September. Senior Player £5, Junior player £3. Individual registration fees must be paid before participation in league matches.
 
c) County and BE - The fees payable will be based on a sliding scale dependent on club size and choice of club player or county competition licence. Refer to Badminton England web site for the calculation of appropriate fees for your club. County and Badminton England affiliation fees are due for payment on or before 31st October (Badminton England insurance begins on 1st November);
 
Any club not having paid its fees as required, renders itself liable, on decision of the Executive Committee, to having its whole season's fixtures declared void, and to be refused entry into all League Tournaments and Competitions.

6. FINANCIAL YEAR

The Leagues financial year shall end on the 31st March.

7. OFFICERS

The Officers of the League shall be President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Tournament Secretary and Fixture Secretary. All Officers shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election.
 
In addition to the above, the executive shall have the freedom to nominate any number of people to be honorary vice-presidents. This role is honorary and has no duty attached. Vice-Presidents will be nominated for the coming season and announced at the AGM. Vice-Presidents are thus members for life and do not have any financial obligation in terms of club or league registration.

8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall comprise Chairman, Vice-Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Fixture Secretary and Tournament Secretary. The Executive Committee shall be ex-officio.

9. POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(a) To give ruling on all disputes or appeals on any matters connected with the League. Where an individual(s) on the Executive Committee belongs to either of the clubs in dispute, then that individual will take no part in the resolution.
 
(b) To make Bye-Laws to govern any matter not legislated in the rules of the League.
 
(c) To make the rules that govern the League's Individual Championship Tournament.
 
(d) To deduct league point(s) from a team, where there has been an infringement of the league rules.

10. GENERAL COMMITTEE

Shall consist of the Officers of the League and one representative of each League Club, irrespective of how many teams any club may have in the League. No person may represent more than one Club.

11. MEETINGS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS: Shall be held in May each year when all general business shall be transacted. The meeting shall be open to all 'bona-fide' members of League Clubs, but each Club representative shall have only two votes, irrespective of how many teams any Club may have in the League. The Officers of the League have only one vote and the Meeting Chairman (could be league chairman or president. If both are present, the official not chairing the meeting will have one vote in person) shall have only a casting vote in the event of an equality of votes. Any motion for presentation to the meeting shall be submitted to the League's General Secretary not later than 31st March.
 
EXTRA-ORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS: An Extraordinary General Meeting of the league may be convened by the Executive Committee or the League Secretary upon a written request signed by the representatives of not less than five clubs. Such request must state specific reasons for which the meeting is to be convened. Any motion to be discussed must be incorporated in the notice and no other business shall be transacted. Such meetings shall be held within thirty days of the request.
 
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Shall be held at regular intervals as deemed necessary by the League Chairman, General Secretary and Treasurer.
(i) All Clubs shall be circulated of all proposed alterations to rules at least seven days before the A.G.M. or Extraordinary General Meeting.
(ii) All Clubs shall receive at least fourteen days notice (written or otherwise) of all Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings.

12. AUDIT

The Treasurer shall submit to the Annual General Meeting, for approval, the Accounts for the League duly audited by some person elected at a previous Annual General Meeting.

13. PLAY

The following shall govern play in all League matches:
 
(a) Each team shall play home and away matches with every other team in the same division.
 
(b) All league matches, shall be played with a feather shuttlecock that meets the Badminton England standards. Home teams have the right to specify the shuttle to be used at their venue (make and speed). At any point shuttles may be tested for speed using the correct specification for testing as provided by Badminton England. Whilst not entirely desirable, tipping may be needed to slow or speed a shuttle. Tipping should be done by the home team player. If shuttles still cannot achieve desired speeds and no further shuttles are available, players should complete the match unless both teams agree that a match rearrangement should be made where this is feasible. The home team have the veto and must agree to this action. The Fixtures Secretary should be informed immediately in this situation.
 
(ci) MIXED LEAGUE: Each match shall be played by teams consisting of three men and three ladies. Each couple will be graded for the match into couples one, two and three and will remain in those combinations for the whole of the match, unless rule 13(d) shall apply. Each couple shall play each opposing couple two games to 21 and a game is won when the first pair reach 21 points by two clear points up to a maximum of 30 points when the first pair to reach 30 points wins the game. Each match will consist of a total of 18 games of doubles. The sequence of games is determined by the standard scoresheet format. The sequence may be disregarded by common consent between the captains, for example, late arrival of players, court availability, player availability to go on court.
 
(cii) MENS LEAGUE: Each team shall consist of six players. Each couple* will be graded for the match into couples one, two and three and will remain in those combinations for the whole of the match, unless rule 13(d) shall apply. Each couple shall play each opposing couple two games to 21 and a game is won when the first pair reach 21 points by two clear points up to a maximum of 30 points when the first pair to reach 30 points wins the game. Each match will consist of a total of 18 games of doubles. The sequence of games is determined by the standard scoresheet format. The sequence may be disregarded by common consent between the captains, for example, late arrival of players, court availability, player availability to go on court.
 
* Since 2019 it has been agreed that Ladies are permitted to take part in Mens League matches in any number the team chooses.
 
(ciii) VETERANS LEAGUE: Each team shall consist of two ladies and two men. Each match shall consist of 12 games, these games being, two men’s, two ladies and eight mixed. Each couple will be graded into couples one and two and will remain in these combinations for the mixed games unless rule 13 (d) shall apply. Each couple shall play each opposing couple two games to 21 and a game is won when the first pair reach 21 points by two clear points up to a maximum of 30 points when the first pair to reach 30 points wins the game. The sequence of games is determined by the standard scoresheet format. The sequence may be disregarded by common consent between the captains, for example, late arrival of players, court availability, player availability to go on court. To be eligible to play in this League, gentlemen must be over 45 on the 1st September, and ladies must be over 40 on the 1st September.
 
(civ) LADIES LEAGUE: Each team shall consist of four ladies. Each match shall consist of 12 games of doubles to 21 points. A game is won when the first pair reach 21 by two clear points up to a maximum of 30 points when the first pair to reach 30 points wins the game. Two Ladies pairings (Player 1 and Player 2, Player 3 and Player 4) will play against each of their opposition pairings yielding 8 games. Player 1 will then partner Player 3 to play their opposite numbers in 2 games. Player 2 and Player 4 complete the match with a further 2 games against their opposite numbers. The sequence of games is determined by the standard scoresheet format. The sequence may be disregarded by common consent between the captains, for example, late arrival of players, court availability, player availability to go on court.
 
(cv) HYBRID MIXED LEAGUE: Each team shall consist of two Ladies and four men. Each match shall consist of 18 games to 21 points. A game is won when the first pair reach 21 by two clear points up to a maximum of 30 points when the first pair to reach 30 points wins the game. The match format shall be a total of four mens level doubles, one ladies level doubles and four mixed doubles events (each event being two games to 21). The sequence of games is determined by the standard scoresheet format. The sequence may be disregarded by common consent between the captains, for example, late arrival of players, court availability, player availability to go on court.
 
(d) If any player is unable to continue play during a match through illness or injury, the match shall proceed and the player thus handicapped shall cease to take any further part in the match as a player. Games completed shall count. If injury or illness occurs during a game, that game shall be forfeited by the player so handicapped by 21 aces to whatever his/her score at the time of illness or injury. A reserve may then take the place of the absent player in succeeding games, providing that he/she is not already playing in the match with another partner and that he/she is registered with the League, and that the opposing captain is notified of the reserve(s) before the game commences. A man may not replace a lady player or vice-versa in any discipline except Mens doubles. In 2019 a rule was introduced to allow Ladies to play in the Mens league. This arrangement must also apply to injury substitutions. All games completed by the substitute shall count in the final score.
 
(e) All match score sheets shall be checked and signed by a member of the opposing team and the completed score card to be recorded on-line by the designated person or representative of the home team, within 7 days of the match being played. The opposition will then have a further 7 days to either accept or reject it. The scoresheet should therefore be retained for at least 14 days. In cases of dispute the Fixture Secretary will adjudicate.
 
(f) Captains of teams shall, prior to the commencement of a match, complete the score sheet with the names of their players, in their pairings. No alterations shall be permitted during the course of the match except as provided for in rule 13(d).
 
(g) Visiting teams shall abide by the playing rules of the Home Team providing these do not contravene the Laws of Badminton and it shall be incumbent upon the Home Team to declare to the visitors before the match starts, such rules which are likely to affect play.
 
(h) Only ‘bona-fide’ members of the Club may represent it in League Matches. Each Club Secretary shall register club members via the website before the first match of the season, and only players so registered are eligible for league matches. Players selected to play in the Inter-League Teams must have played for their Club in this League during the current or previous season. After the first match, additional players may be registered anytime during the season. Registration must be done via the website  prior to the player taking part in any league match. The associated Player Registration fee/s should be paid promptly, and at latest within 7 days of the regular Club Account balance statement issued by the treasurer.  Since 2022 Club Secretaries can view their Club Account balance directly on the website.  The Fixture Secretary must report any player not complying with these requirements and playing in a League Match. The Executive Committee shall then decide upon the action to be taken.
 
(hi) Players may be registered to represent their home club in any discipline that the club has entered. Any club member may, in addition, be placed on a voluntary auxiliary player list and make themselves available to any other club for disciplines that their home club has not entered. Other club team captains may request the playing services of such a player where their own player numbers do not support the completion of matches. If it is agreed that the player will represent the requesting club then they may be registered by that club for the season in that discipline.
 
(i) All disputes on any matter connected with League Matches shall be submitted to the Fixture Secretary (copy to the General Secretary) within 72 hours of the scheduled date of the fixture. The opposing Team Secretary or Captain must be informed of intention to lodge a complaint. The dispute shall initially be dealt with by the Fixture Secretary and any subsequent appeal must be sent to the General Secretary to be dealt with by the Executive Committee.
 
(j) All matches must be played according to the scheduled dates on the Fixture List and only with the consent of the Fixture Secretary can a rearrangement be allowed. The only circumstances under which re-arrangements will be permitted are non-availability of the match venue or inclement weather preventing travel to the match venue. Matches not re-arranged as above, and yet not played, will fall under one of the following two headings, and will be dealt with as detailed:
 
(ji) A club is unable to field a team and advises the opposition accordingly with a minimum of 24 hours notice. The defaulting team is deducted 2 league points and the match must be rearranged. If any club incurs excess costs due to a re-arrangement in this way, the defaulting club is liable to compensate the club incurring the cost.
 
(jii)  A club is unable to field a team and advises the opposition accordingly with less than 24 hours notice OR a team fails to turn up without notice. The defaulting team is deducted 2 league points and the opposing team is awarded a match win to love. If any club incurs excess costs due to a re-arrangement in this way, the defaulting club is liable to compensate the club incurring the cost .

 
(k) All matches must commence within 15 minutes of the Home Club's start time. In the event of a team not having 2 couples present to play a match within 15 minutes of the home clubs start time and subsequently the match is unable to be concluded within the available court time, then the offending club (either home or away) shall forfeit any games which could not be finished. Visiting clubs will not be obliged to adhere to a start time of earlier than 7pm.
 
(l) A player may play for different clubs (or the same club) in different Leagues (provided he/she fulfils the eligibility rules for that league), but may not play for different clubs in the same league, or for the same club in the same league unless rule 13(m) shall apply.
 
(m) Every club which has two or more teams in a particular league shall, before playing their first match of the season, submit to the Fixture Secretary the names of that club’s best six players who shall only be eligible to play for that club’s first team. Also, any club which has three teams in a particular league shall submit the names of that club’s second team. Any registered player may play above his nominated position but no player shall play below. Players may be re-nominated but shall not be allowed to play for that team for a period of seven days from receipt of such application by the Fixture Secretary. There shall be no such re-nominations after 1st February. Re-nomination may in certain circumstances require the sanction of the Fixture Secretary.
 
(n) Any club having more than one team in any division should play the internal club ties before 31st October.

14. AWARDING OF POINTS

After each match the winning team shall be awarded two points. In the event of a draw each team shall be will be awarded one point. Where a team does not consist of the correct number of legally registered players the following will apply:
 
(14i) If they send non-eligible players to make a full match, then any game played by a non-eligible player shall be automatically conceded. If they subsequently win the match, they will be awarded two league points.
 
(14ii) If a six-player team is represented by a minimum of four players then no additional penalties are applied. If they subsequently win the match, they will be awarded two league points.
 
(14iii) If a four-player team is represented by a minimum of three players then no additional penalties are applied. If they subsequently win the match, they will be awarded two league points.
 
(14iv) If a team is represented by less than the minimum number of players in (ii) and (iii) above then they will be deducted one match point from whatever tally they achieve in the match.

15. LEAGUE TABLES

(a) The top and bottom team's position in the League Tables shall be determined by firstly the number of points won (i.e. two for each win),if equal then the number of games won during season shall be counted and if still equal then the number of aces won during the season shall be counted and if still equal a playoff shall take place. The play-off shall be arranged by the League Fixture Secretary in conjunction with the Fixture Secretaries of the Club's concerned. When a play-off is required to determine final league positions, the hall and shuttle costs shall be borne by the league.
 
(b) If between the end of one season and the start of the next, the number of teams in consecutive divisions remains unchanged, automatic promotion and relegation will apply to on a two up two down basis down. In the event of there being changes in the constitution of a division(s) the Executive Committee shall be empowered to determine whether and to which teams promotion and relegation will apply. If an application to join the League is accepted at an AGM/EGM, the League Executive Committee shall be empowered to allocate the team to whichever division it thinks fit.

16. TOURNAMENTS

No tournament except one confined to its members must be promoted by any League Club, without the consent and sanction of the Executive Committee.

17. ALTERATION TO RULES

New rules can only be introduced or old ones expunged or altered at the Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting convened for that purpose. Written notice of any suggestion regarding alterations to the Rules for the Annual General Meeting must reach the League General Secretary by 30th March. Rule changes may be implemented in one of two ways.
 
(17i) hard proposals (those which the proposer is clear on intent) may be immediately voted on always allowing for amendments from the floor. All amendments are voted in reverse order of proposal (i.e. last voted on first)
 
(17ii) soft proposals in which case a discussion may take place around an idea during the meeting to reach an acceptable state to the majority. Any idea debated must be reviewed against current rules. Upon reaching a satisfactory position (to the Chairman) the proposer may then define a form of words for a vote. Amendments may once more be allowed to final wording. Such proposals will then be implemented if voted in.

18. ENGRAVING OF TROPHIES

The cost of engraving League and Tournament Trophies will be borne by the League.

19. TROPHIES

When individual trophies are awarded to divisional champions, six will be awarded to Mens/Mixed/Hybrid Mixed winners and four to the Vets and Ladies winners. Clubs may request additional trophies by writing to the League General Secretary. Additional trophies must be funded by the clubs requesting them. The League will purchase the standard quantities. All divisional perpetual trophies are the property of the league. It is the responsibility of the holding club to return them to the League officials by 31st March.

20. FINANCIAL OBLIGATION

Anyone who has a financial obligation to a club should not be accepted by another club.

21. TRANSFERS

Any player requesting a transfer should do so on the appropriate form during the playing season. The form must be signed by the player, the new Club Secretary and the Secretary of the Club consenting to the players release. Any player transfer form must be with the Fixture Secretary not less than 48 hours before the player takes part in a match. There shall be no such transfer after 1st February.

22. INTER-LEAGUE TEAMS

Where inter-league matches are played (home and away), a match fee shall be payable by all players, the amount of which shall be set by the Team Manager at the beginning of the season. Where players are representing the Crewe and District League in the County Inter-League Tournaments (Len Knight, Baxter, Dave O' Leary and Thornley Trophies) then no match fee shall be payable.

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