THE KIRKLEES AND CALDERDALE SQUASH LEAGUE

LEAGUE RULES

1. The title of the League will be “The Kirklees & Calderdale Squash League”, hereinafter referred to as “The League”.

2. The League will comprise the following :-

Note – a lady player may play in the Men’s League, however, her nominated team must be a Ladies’ team. Lady players who also play in the Men’s League must also be nominated to a Men’s team and must fulfil a further three match requirement for that team.

2. The size and number of divisions in the League will be determined by the Committee according to the total number of teams entered at the beginning of each season.

3. Promotion and relegation will be at the discretion of the Committee and wherever possible will be on a 2 team up/down basis decided at the end of each season.

4. In determining final positions in League Tables, where two or more Teams have the same number of total points, the following criteria will be used:-

6. (a) In order to be eligible to play in the League, all players must complete an official “Kirklees & Calderdale Squash League Registration Form”.

   (b) All registered players must play at least three matches for their named team (two matches in the case of Ladies’ Teams) in each half-season – mid-season being December 31^st – in order to remain eligible to play. Players must play more matches (per half-season) for their nominated team than for other teams, in total. Failure to abide to these stipulations will be penalised by the offending player’s results being nullified, a walk-over being awarded to the opponent as well as lower-string opponents, and the match result being amended accordingly.

   (c) Player registrations, subsequent to the initial Club Merit Order, are allowed only upto 31^st January of the current season. In order to be accepted, the following information must be given – Player’s Name, Nominated Team, Merit Order ranking – and the relevant fee must accompany this information.

   (d) Professional Squash Players are not allowed to play below Men’s Division 1. Lady Professional Squash Players are exempt from having to enter the ladies’ competitions.

7. A true Club Merit Order must be received by the relevant Fixture Secretary at least SEVEN days prior to the official start of the season. This list will also stipulate for which team each player is nominated. The composition of each team will be as follows:

Changes to Club Merit Orders will only be considered at League Committee Meetings – no changes will be accepted after 31^st January of the current season.

7. It will be the responsibility of individual clubs to determine how many teams they will enter for the season.

8. Players may be borrowed from other squads when members from their own squad are missing, subject to the following condition:- The player/players who are “guesting” must be lower in the Club’s Merit Order than the player/players in the squad whom they are replacing, and must play within the merit order of the squad. In the case of Ladies’ Division 2 teams, players at level 4 and 5 need not be pre-registered. For the purposes of the Ladies’ Divisions only, Team Captains may agree mutually to waive this rule.

9. Each team must stipulate from which club they will play, and the day and time of their home matches.

10. Fixtures will be arranged on a date fixed by the Committee prior to the commencement of the season and circulated in good time for club representatives to book off the necessary courts.

11. Three players from each team must arrive within 10 minutes of the arranged start time of the match, one of whom must be the captain or his representative; and the two remaining players within 30 minutes of the start time. Rubbers will be forfeited by those players who do not fulfil this requirement, unless prior arrangement has been made by the two team captains.

12. The scoring system will be one point awarded for every rubber won, plus five bonus points for the winning team.

13. Each team will play in order of merit. The match card will be provided by the home team and will be completed by both team captains before the match starts, and may not be changed afterwards. The completed card, signed by both captains, must be sent to the Fixture Secretary WITHIN SEVEN DAYS by the winning team. Failure to do so will result in the losing team being awarded maximum points.

14. All matches will be marked. The responsibility for this will rest with the home side. The away team should give reasonable assistance if requested.

15. Teams should endeavour to provide refreshments/sandwiches at home matches and encourage their players to stay after games.

16. Matches cannot be postponed or re-arranged after 30^th September of the current season, other than through the Fixture Secretary. Permission to re-arrange will not be given unless there is a definite date agreed by both teams for the match to be played. If no agreement is made, the match will be awarded as a walkover to the team that can meet the original date. The team effecting the postponement must reimburse all bona fide costs incurred by the other team.

17. In the event of a dispute:-

    (a) The captain of the aggrieved team must advise the opposing team captain that he/she intends to make a formal complaint.

    (b) BOTH team captains MUST notify their club representative of the incident – who should the raise the matter at the next committee meeting. THE DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE WILL BE FINAL.

18. A NEW double-yellow dot S.R.A. approved black ball is to be used. A NEW white dot S.R.A. approved black ball may be used, subject to the agreement of both players concerned.

19. Should a Club wish to withdraw a team during the season, then only the bottom-ranked team will be allowed to withdraw.

20. The Committee shall have the discretion to fine Clubs where players or teams contravene League Rules. The fine can take the form of either points forfeiture or monetary penalty. 

26^th May 2004