IW CBA Rules
Isle of Wight County Badminton Association (IWCBA) Rules
(Amended 2009)
Aim
1. The aim of the Association is to promote friendly competition and to encourage and develop the sport of Badminton on the Isle of Wight, under the rules of Badminton England.
Management
2. The Management of the Association shall be entrusted to the Chairman, General Secretary and Treasurer in committee with the following officers:- League Secretary, Junior Secretary, County Team Manager, Mallett Cup Secretary, County Veterans Secretary, Social Secretary, Tournament Secretary, County Development Officer, Publicity Officer and up to three General Committee Members. The position of Hants & Isle of Wight Development Officer is a co-opted position automatically granted to the incumbent of the appropriate Badminton England post. A quorum shall consist of five.
3. To assist with continuity, every post on the Management Committee (other than the General Committee Members and the Hants & Isle of Wight Development Officer) shall have a ‘job description’ where the responsibilities for that post are detailed. The job description for each post will be agreed by the Management Committee, and will be posted on the IWCBA web site.
4. No member shall hold more than one post on the management committee unless no other person has been nominated to fill that vacant position.
5. Each member of the management committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Association for a period of one year. Once elected, each officer may offer themselves for re-election at the next Annual General Meeting by 31st March.
6. New nominations for all Management positions may be made by any affiliated member, and must be received in writing/by e-mail by the General Secretary no later than 31st March. The nominee should also confirm to the General Secretary by that date that they are willing to stand for election. Officers wishing to be considered for re-election should notify the General Secretary by the same date.
7. Should an officer’s position on the management committee fall vacant at the Annual General Meeting, and no nominations be received to fill that post by the due date, the Chairman will take any forthcoming nominations during the meeting in order to fill the vacancy/ies.
8. Should a position on the management committee fall vacant during the year, the post will be advertised to all club secretaries, and once nominations have been received, an Executive meeting shall be called to vote on the nominees
9. Any member of the Management Committee may appoint up to two affiliated members to assist in the administration of their post. The names of those appointed must be advised to the General Secretary.
10. The Annual General Meeting shall be convened during the month of May each year, at which time each of the officers shall give a report to the members regarding their previous year in post.
11. Attendance at the Annual General Meeting is not limited, but each Affiliated Club shall have only one vote. In the event of equal numbers of votes being cast both ‘for’ and ‘against’, the Chairman shall have the casting vote.
12. A representative of each Affiliated Club must be authorised to vote on all matters arising at the Annual General Meeting.
13. Proposals for the IWCBA Annual General Meeting must be submitted to the General Secretary by the 28th February and these proposals will be circulated to Club Secretaries within 14 days thereafter. The General Secretary must receive any amendments to these proposals by 31st March. The General Secretary will then circulate the agenda including reports from Officers, proposals and amendments to all club secretaries 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
14. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be circulated to all club secretaries within 3 months of the date of the meeting.
15. All affiliated members should, as part of their membership package, be supplied with a copy of the current year’s handbook, and the information contained therein should also be posted on the IWCBA web site.
16. A meeting of the Management Committee shall be held by the end of July each year to establish a programme for the coming season.
17. Other management meetings for IWCBA officers to be held as necessary, but at least three times in the year in total. Executive meetings for IWCBA officers and Club secretaries shall be held on the same basis.
18. The General Secretary shall carry out the administration of the Association.
19. The financial year of the IWCBA shall end on 30th April each year, and the accounts should be audited by a competent person independent from the committee or sub-committee (as rule. 9).
20. The Management Committee has the right to approve separate accounts for use by different sections within the Association, and should also approve any allocation of funds that exceed £500.
21. A special meeting (Extra-ordinary General Meeting) will be summoned if a request, signed by any six affiliated clubs, setting out the proposition to be put to the meeting, be delivered to the General Secretary in writing/by e-mail.
Membership
22. All applications for a club to become affiliated to the IWCBA must be made in writing to the General Secretary, and signed by the Honorary Secretary of the club. The acceptance or rejection of such applications shall rest entirely with the Management Committee.
23. All players representing their club, county or participating in a competition or tournament organised by the IWCBA, must be subscription paid members of a club affiliated to the IWCBA, and must be in good standing with the Association.
24. A playing member of the Association shall be defined as any member of an Affiliated Club regardless of whether they participate in League, Mallett Cup competition or Association Tournaments.
League Structure / Play
25. The day-to-day running of the league shall be left to the League Secretary’s discretion, but any major changes to the league structure is to be voted on at the Annual General Meeting, or at an Extraordinary Meeting, as the case may be.
26. The League season will commence in the week following the second Sunday in October and finish in April. The position of a team in a division will be determined by a points system.
27. Promotion and relegation will be confined to the top two teams and bottom two teams of each division. In a division of eight or less only one team will be promoted or relegated. In the event of a tie in both matches and points won, in respect of a promotion or relegation placement, a deciding match will be played on a neutral full sized court on a date to be determined by the League Secretary.
28. Demoted teams will be reinstated should there be a need to include more teams in a division than those promoted from the lower division. Promoted teams will be promoted unless an application to the contrary is made in writing to the League Secretary prior to the 2nd Sunday in September, giving reasons why such a promotion would be inappropriate. Such applications will be considered by the Management Committee, whose decision shall be final. In the event of a team declining promotion following an appeal, the players in that team may be subject to disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the Management Committee.
29. Other changes in each division may be made by the League Secretary on behalf of the Management Committee – who will make the final decision in the event of a dispute.
30. The current agreed format for league play is as follows:-
a) A match shall consist of nine rubbers, one point being awarded to the winner of each rubber. Rally Points Scoring shall be used in all Association sponsored matches.
b) Each team will consist of three men and three ladies, who will play three rubbers of mixed, men’s and ladies doubles.
c) Order of play. At all times teams must play their pairs in order of strength. The three mixed doubles rubbers are to be played first. These will be followed by three men’s and three ladies doubles, rubbers being played alternately (the reverse will be played in the second half of the season), unless otherwise agreed by the captains. If the fourth rubber requires any of the ladies or men who have previously -played in the third rubber, the captains can by mutual arrangements alter the order of play, provided the opposite strengths still play each other.
d) Each rubber will be decided by the best of three games. Each game is to be to 21 points and “setting” shall (if required) take place in all three sets. Scoring shall be the “Rally Point” scoring system as defined by Badminton England.
31. The home team captain must explain the “local” rules to the visitors before the match. In general, a “fault” is called if the shuttlecock strikes the roof and a “let” if it strikes beams, rafters, lights, wires etc. within the confines of the court.
32. Feather shuttlecocks are to be used.
33. Court dress for all IWCBA events shall be badminton sports clothing. Players representing the County at any level should wear the agreed county colours or strip.
34. At the end of a match both captains should sign a completed result card. It will be the responsibility of the captain of the HOME side to submit this by post to the League Secretary. All match cards will be pre-stamped by the association to avoid delays occurring in returning cards.
35. If a match card is not received within 7 days, the League Secretary shall make direct contact with the home team captain to advise them of its absence. Should no evidence of the match scores be presented to the League Secretary within 7 days of that contact, no points will be awarded to the HOME team.
36. Each match is to start by such time as specified by each club in the Club information section of the IWCBA Handbook. If a team does not have any one pair on court ready to play within 10 minutes of the specified time, they will forfeit the game of their team’s first pair. All players should be available for play within 45 minutes of the specified start time – unless by prior agreement. Should no pair be available within 30 minutes of the specified start time, the offending team shall be deemed to have defaulted attendance and Rule 38 applies.
37. The only reasons for which a match can be postponed are:
a) Non-availability of hall
b) Inclement Weather
c) Activities connected with the Association
d) If County Players are away for that night due to an early start time for a County Match the following day.
If a match is legitimately cancelled under this Rule, the home team should notify the League Secretary within 7 days. The rearranged fixture date should be notified in writing to the League Secretary as soon as possible and no later than 3 days prior to the fixture. If within 14 days of the cancelled match the home team captain has failed to agree a mutually suitable date with the opposition for the rearranged match, the matter should be passed to the League Secretary, who will adjudicate.
38. If a team defaults attendance at a match for reasons other than those stated in Rule 37, the defaulting team shall score no points and the non-defaulting team awarded such points as the Committee decides.
Registration / Eligibility / Subscriptions
39. Each club within the Association shall inform the League Secretary by the end of August the number of teams that they propose to field for League play in the coming season. An affiliated club wishing to withdraw from the Association shall give written notice, on or before 1st August in any year, otherwise it will be liable for the subscription for the ensuing season.
40. All clubs must supply a complete list of their membership wishing to play league badminton in the forthcoming season by 2nd Sunday in September. Any person wishing to change clubs must do so by that date in order to be eligible for nomination at their new club.
41. The annual subscription for each club shall be the amounts specified by Badminton England, added to that determined by the Annual General Meeting of the IWCBA – the total being rounded up (or down) to the nearest whole pound per ‘playing member’.
42. Annual subscriptions to the IWCBA and Badminton England are due by 31st October. A club who fields a player who has not paid his/her subscriptions by that date will forfeit the games won. Payment for new members to the Association must be made within 14 days of registering with the League Secretary.
43. Subscriptions are due on 1st October each year or on joining if later. If subscriptions are unpaid by 31st October the Management Committee may impose such penalties as they deem necessary.
44. Any Association member in full time education, and any other member newly registering after 1st January, need only pay half the annual IWCBA subscription.
45. At the beginning of the season the League Secretary will circulate a fixtures list to each affiliated club that will specify time periods during which the matches must be played. Clubs will then book their halls and fix a definite evening for each of their home matches. The specific dates will then be given to the League Secretary, who will then circulate them to all the Club Secretaries.
46. All clubs entering more than one team are required to inform the League Secretary of all their teams, together with known substitutes and contact details for each team captain, before the first match of the season. Failure to comply will result in the team playing the first match becoming the nominated team.
47. No player nominated for a team can play for a lower team unless approved by the Management Committee. There are no limits to the number of games a player from a lower team can play in a team of higher status within the same club.
48. Players may play for only one club in League competition; unless they have been through the transfer window, or are members of the players’ pool registered with the League Secretary.
49. Players who follow the correct procedure for selection at a club and who fail to be selected for a team may be entered into the Transfer Window in order to change to a club that has a position available for them to play league badminton. It is the responsibility of the Club Secretary to inform the League Secretary of his/her intentions and also to notify if a player is required to help fulfil a team. Transferred players shall be on a level for level basis and agreed through the League Secretary or Management Committee. Transferred players shall be expected to pay match and club night fees at their new club but not affiliation fees or subscriptions as these would have been paid to their original club. Transferred player can fill in for their original club if required but this must not impede on their commitment to their new club. Transferred players may not be entered into the Player Pool.
50. Players wishing to be registered members of the Player Pool must be notified to the League Secretary before their services are utilised by another club and must have offered themselves for selection at their respective club, but not have been selected for any of that clubs teams. Players who affiliate to the IWCBA after their club’s teams have been notified to the League Secretary are excused from the requirement to have offered themselves for team selection.
51. The League Secretary may impose restrictions on the level of play permissible for players who are members of the player’s pool, or any player not nominated for any of their club’s teams who subsequently wish to participate in matches for that club.
52. Any member of the player pool representing a club will be expected to pay that club’s regular match fee.
53. In the event of a club wishing to withdraw an entered team from the league, the Management Committee shall have the discretion as to which particular team from the club shall be withdrawn. If for any reasons not acceptable to the Management Committee, any club withdraws a team or teams after the league programme has been arranged, then the Management Committee may take disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate.
County Team
54. The County Team shall be the responsibility of the Management Committee through the County Team Manager.
55. The County Team Manager shall appoint two additional members to form a selection panel. The three members of that selection panel must be drawn from at least two different clubs affiliated to the IWCBA.
56. The County Team Manager may make further appointments to benefit the team as is felt appropriate.
57. The County Team will be selected from players who have been accepted into the County Squad. Players will be invited to join the County Squad by the County Team Manager from first-hand knowledge, or following nomination by either the Junior Secretary or the player’s club for consideration. All such players must be registered members of the IWCBA and Badminton England and play league badminton unless in full time education.
County Veterans
58. Normal rules regarding financing of halls, shuttles and travel in respect of County level matches, and the accounts to be kept in that respect, shall be approved by the Management Committee, and a copy posted on the IWCBA web site
59. The Isle of Wight County Veterans shall be the responsibility of the Management Committee through the County Veterans Secretary who shall appoint a players’ representative for each of the competing age groups.
60. County Veterans’ teams shall be selected from Clubs affiliated to the IWCBA who have indicated their interest in being considered to play by completing an IWCBA Veteran Registration Form. This states that players will be prepared to play in their respective age groups as required.
61. Badminton England Veterans Inter-County League and Championship Regulations apply for competitive matches.
62. IWCBA Veterans tournaments shall be the responsibility of the County Veterans Secretary.
County Juniors
63. Junior Management – A sub-committee shall be formed to help the Junior Secretary in the management of the junior squad.
64. The County Junior Team will be selected from the players who have been accepted into the County Junior Squad. Players will be invited to join the County Junior Squad by the Junior Secretary from first-hand knowledge, or following nomination by their club or school for consideration.
65. IWCBA Juniors tournaments shall be the responsibility of the Junior Secretary.
66. The Junior Secretary is responsible for ensuring that Child Protection policies are applied in respect of the County Junior Squad.
Child Protection
67. The Isle of Wight Badminton Association agrees to adopt the Badminton England Child Protection Policy and Implementation Procedures.
68. All individuals at all levels involved in Badminton through Badminton England, must abide by Badminton England’s Child Protection Policy and the Code of Ethics and Conduct (the code) and all individuals, by participating or being involved in Badminton through Badminton England are deemed to have assented to and thereby adhere to the principles and responsibilities embodied in these documents
69. Each and every constituent member of Badminton England including, without limitation, all clubs and leagues shall be responsible for the implementation of the Child Protection Policy and Procedures in Badminton in relation to their individual members.
70. Any act, statement or other behaviour that harms a child or group of children or poses a risk of harm to a child or group of children shall constitute conduct that is improper and thereby brings Badminton into disrepute. Such conduct will be dealt with, at the appropriate level, through the Disciplinary Procedure.
General
71. The Badminton England disciplinary and appeals procedure shall be adopted if required and posted on the IWCBA website
72. Complaints are to be made within 28 days of an incident (giving full details and, where appropriate, the names of any witnesses) in writing to the General Secretary who will at the earliest opportunity inform members of the Management Committee, and where necessary call a meeting of that Committee to decide upon the appropriate actions to resolve the matter.
73. Normal rules regarding financing of halls, shuttles and travel in respect of County level matches, and the accounts to be kept in that respect, shall be approved by the Management Committee, and a copy posted on the IWCBA web site.
74. Following each club’s Annual General Meeting, any changes in respect of the Officers of that club should be notified immediately to the General Secretary.
75. Nominations for the “Yvonne Elsley Cup” (for the most promising player in the preceding year – aged under 18 on the 31st August) and the “Alan Maybey Salver” (for services to badminton) must be received by the General Secretary no later than 31st March. The Management Committee shall then decide the most appropriate recipients of the awards.