MENS DOUBLES LEAGUE
(Founded 1994)
AFFILIATED TO BADMINTON ENGLAND
LEAGUE RULES
ISSUE NINETEEN 2018/2019
This issue supersedes all previous issues.
1) Responsibility
All clubs/teams that enter the MEN'S DOUBLES LEAGUE enter at their own risk. The League or its Representatives accepts no responsibility or liability for any accidents or injuries how so ever caused. All clubs/teams are responsible for their own insurance and for the well being of their own players. All players are to be affiliated to Badminton England.
All matches are to be played in the “Spirit of the Game” any manipulation of the rules to gain an unfair advantage will result in disciplinary action. The League Secretary has the final decision in all matters.
2) League
The structure of the League will be straight divisions of up to Seven teams per division. The final structure in any year will be determined when numbers of teams are known from this year and for the foreseeable future the league will consist of 6 divisions of up to 7 teams this means you will need to bring 6 home dates with you. After there are 42 teams in the league any new team will have to wait for a vacancy to occur by attending the fixtures meeting and seeing if any team has retired from the league or HAS NOT ARRIVED AT THE MEETING WITHIN 3/4 HOUR OF ITS START SO IF YOUR LATE YOU MIGHT FIND YOUR NOT IN THE LEAGUE.
The League will run from SEPTEMBER 1st to MAY 31st INCLUSIVE.
3) Format
A team will consist of 4 MEN to play a total of 6 rubbers. The order of play will be as follows:
1+3 v 1+3
2+4 v 2+4
2+3 v 2+3
1+4 v 1+4
3+4 v 3+4
1+2 v 1+2
A match consists of 6 rubbers with 3 games to a rubber WITH SETTING. All games in a match will count as points i.e. if the rubber is won 2 games to 1 the winning team scores 2 points and the losers score 1 point. If the rubber is won 2 games to 0 the winning team scores 2 points and the losing team scores 0 points.
Each game will be played to 21 using the “rally points” scoring system as approved by Badminton England.
Any team conceding a match will have 12 points removed from their “for” score.
Score sheets are available from the Topracket website on the Men’s Doubles home page.
On the scoresheets players' names are to be inserted in order of ability i.e. (1= best, 2=second best etc.)
4) Promotion/Relegation
The top two teams of each division will be promoted where possible. The bottom two teams in each division will be relegated where possible (voted at the 2011 fixtures meeting). To promote competitive Badminton the League Secretary will have the final decision. In the event of a draw, a team with more away games won is considered better, if there is still a tie an aggregate score of the two teams versus each other is taken and a winner declared, if there is still a tie a playoff will be arranged by the league.
See also Rule 6 regarding Unspecified Players
5) Teams
A club will need a minimum of 6 players for 1 team and a minimum of 10 players for 2 teams. More than 2 teams will only be at the discretion of the League Secretary. A club wishing to enter a new team in the League must inform the League Secretary a minimum of 2 weeks before the fixtures meeting.
See also Rule 2
6) Players
A player may play up in a higher team TWICE and still play down before being tied to the higher team. A player may change clubs prior to and including FEBRUARY 1st in the current season. The player will need to inform the League Secretary in writing before playing for the new club. The fee for transferring a player between clubs is 5 POUNDS per change.
Any unspecified players not resolved within 10 days of when the match is played will have their games removed from the League.
7) Nominations
If a club has more than 1 team it must nominate its top 3 players. If no nominations are submitted then the top 3 players used in the first match will be assumed by the League Secretary to be the nominated players for that team. No nominated player can play for any lower team of the same club.
8) Fixtures
Fixtures are to be made at the Annual General Meeting and posted on the Topracket website by the clubs representatives as soon as possible after the AGM. Fixtures can be rearranged by informing the Topracket organiser at info@topracket.com and the League Secretary via e-mail at jimjill11@btinternet.com
After September 30th of the new season the only valid reason for changing a league fixture is the non-availability of the venue hall or severe weather conditions. The League Secretary and the away team must be informed of any rearrangements before or after 31st August of the new season. Where there is a clash of fixtures between League and County Badminton matches, any team having two or more players involved in County Junior, Senior or Veteran Badminton matches may ask for a postponement of any League fixture on a Saturday or Sunday. The opposing team should not withhold permission. Any rearranged dates must be before the 31st May and any difficulties in agreeing on a new date will be resolved by the League Secretary. Clubs with two teams in the same division must still play each other before 1st February.
26th July 2017
A match can be rearranged at least 28 days (4 weeks) before due date and that match can only be rearranged once if both teams involved agree, this is in addition to the above rule. The League Chairman is to be advised by email of the match concerned and the new date agreed.
Any club failing to turn up or causing late cancellation (less than 72 HOURS) will be liable for the home team’s expenses.
If there is more than one team from the same club within the same Division they will play their home and away matches before the 1st February of that season.
9) Results
The home club must post results on the Topracket website immediately after the match. The Topracket Manager program will automatically penalise any home team that is guilty of sending results in late as follows: If the result sheet is posted on the Topracket website more than 5 days after the date of the match, the home team will lose nine points from their “for” score, more than 14 days the home team will lose eighteen points from their “for” score.
10) Costs
The costs will be 10 POUND per team, to be paid at the Annual General Meeting. All Cheques to be made payable to either MDL or MEN'S DOUBLES LEAGUE.
11) Shuttles
Will be either cork based or feather.
12) General
The League Secretary shall have full powers to decide upon any point not covered by the fore-going rules and regulations.
13) Fines and Fees
All fines and fees to be paid immediately they are due. Any club/team not honouring their debts will be banned from the League. All players in said club/team will also be banned until the debt is cleared. All local Leagues and Associations will be informed of any outstanding debt by the League Secretary.
14) Moneys
All moneys will be used to cover any administration costs. Any excess moneys will be used for the benefit of the League or its members or Badminton in general. If the League should be abandoned, all moneys remaining will be sent to the Badminton England for the benefit of Badminton.
15)
All clubs/teams who enter the League, in so doing, will agree to abide by these rules.