2.2 To raise the standard of play in the area.
4.2 Applications for membership shall be considered by the Executive Committee or at the Annual General Meeting. Clubs resigning membership must notify the Honorary Secretary of the League to that effect before the date of the Annual General Meeting
5.2 The accounts of the League shall close on the 31″. October of each year. All financial obligations including fines to the League shall be paid before the 31st. October.
5.3 The Honorary Treasurer shall present audited accounts to the Annual General Meeting for acceptance.
6.2 Any Club member may nominate a candidate for an official position.
7.1 The League shall be managed by an Executive Committee consisting of the League officials (each of whom shall retire at the Annual General Meeting but shall be eligible for re-election), and one representative from each team in the League, four to form a quorum.
7.2 The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the League and shall be empowered to deal with any offending Club(s) and/or member(s) and to use the League funds as they think advisable.
7.3 All cases of dispute shall be brought before the Executive Committee. If a member of the Committee is connected with one of the club in dispute, then the member concerned must automatically withdraw from the Committee during the discussion of such dispute.
7.4 A Selection Committee comprising the Chairman, Secretary, Match Secretary, and Inter- League Men’s Captain and Inter-League Ladies’ Captain shall select any teams chosen to represent the League in any fixtures.
8.2 Two representatives per club plus one representative for each additional team shall be empowered to vote
8.3 An attendance of 50% of Member Clubs shall form a quorum.
8.4 Voting shall be by a show of hands. The Chairman having a casting vote in addition to a club vote.
8.5 The Annual General Meeting shall:-
– receive reports and audited accounts for acceptance.
– fix the amount of the League subscription.
– elect officials.
– appoint Honorary Auditors.
– accept/reject proposed rule changes.
– confirm applications/resignations from Clubs.
– fix League formations and the date of match commencement.
8.6 The Honorary Secretary shall summon an Extraordinary General Meeting upon the request of three or more clubs.
For the purposes of this Policy Statement “children” and “young people” are those under the age of 18.
9.1 The League acknowledges that children and young people training for and playing Tennis in the League have the right to:-
1. be safe, secure, free from threat, treated with respect and their concerns to be listened to and acted upon.
2. be in an enjoyable environment where an atmosphere of positive encouragement and fair play is prevalent.
9.2 The League accepts its responsibility to:-
1. protect children and young people from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying and requires any incident, suspicion or allegation to be taken seriously and responded to swiftly in an appropriate and sensitive manner.
2. ensure that any League training programmes for children and young people will be run by Coaches holding a full L.T.A. Coach Licence and that any Coaching Assistants are also Licensed or have undertaken a Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure or at least signed the League Self Declaration Form in relation to Child Protection.
3. ensure that any Volunteers or Officers of the League working with the children and young people have either undertaken a Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure or at least signed the League Self Declaration Form in relation to Child Protection.
4. appoint a League Child Protection Officer to liaise with Clubs about Child Protection issues.
5. request every Club in the League to have a Child Protection Policy and to appoint a Club Child Protection Officer to ensure that everyone in the League is aware of their duty to safeguard children and young people and to whom any issues may be reported.
6. help any child or young person who requests help and support on a confidential basis in issues relating to Child Protection.
10.2 L.T.A. authorised new balls shall be provided for each match by the home team for all Matches.
10.3 The minimum number of courts to be used in any match shall be two. The home club shall ensure that such courts are in good condition and properly marked.
10.4 Adequate changing facilities shall be provided for visiting teams.
10.5 Each club’s team shall comprise four men and four ladies and men’s and ladies doubles only shall be played.
10.6 All match players must be bona fide club members. No players shall be allowed to play on the team(s) of more than one club in the League during any one season unless a transfer is sanctioned by the Match Secretary, but if the clubs concerned are in disagreement the matter should be referred to the Executive Committee. It is the responsibility of each club to make their players aware of this rule.
10.7 League matches shall consist of eight sets, each set to be won by the first pair to reach eight games (for the first two weeks of the season it will be each set to be won by the first pair to reach six games unless both Team Captains agree to play to eight games). Matches shall be decided on the aggregate of games won, three points being awarded for each match won, two points for a tie, and one for each uncompleted match. If two or more clubs finished the season with an equal number of points in any position affected by promotion or relegation, the deciding factor would be games won as against games lost in the two league matches that the clubs concerned had played against each other. In the event that this failed to resolve the situation, a play-off would be arranged before the end of the relevant season.
10.8 Where a match has not been completed but a minimum of six sets has been played or a team is in an unassailable position, the match shall be awarded to the team winning the most games. If in the opinion of the two Captains the failing light will prevent the completion of the match, they are empowered to cut the number of games in any set by mutual agreement.
10.9 All matches shall commence at 6.30 p.m. Ladies and Gents doubles shall be played concurrently, the first pairs followed by the second pairs. Each first pair shall then play the opposing second pair, the order of play being determined by the visiting Captain. If either the Ladies or Gents first set has not been commenced by 6.45 p.m. unless due to adverse weather conditions, such sets must be claimed by the none offending team to love. If neither the Ladies nor the Gents can commence play, the match may be claimed by the none offending team who shall receive three points. If both teams are offending neither team shall be awarded any points. If the match has not commenced by 7.00 p.m. play must proceed as soon as possible. The second Ladies or Gents set may be played if possible. As soon as the offending team have a pair available, the normal order of play shall be resumed on the next vacant court, where necessary the order of play being determined by the none offending Captain. Should all the offending team turn up late the forfeited set shall be attributed to the later arriving pair. If at any other time during the match, play cannot proceed due to the absence of a player, the none offending Captain may, five minutes after indicating his intention to the offending Captain to do so, claim such set to love.
10.10 Any set already claimed due to late starting shall count in the result and if by so doing six sets are scored three points shall be awarded to the winners or 2 points each for a tie.
10.11 The two opposing Captains may mutually decide whether a match should be called off because the courts have been rendered unplayable due to bad weather. If one captain is not present at 6.45 p.m. the other Captain can make the decision alone. Home Captains can inspect the courts in advance and mutually agree with the away Captain by telephone to call off the match.
10.12 In the event of a player receiving such injury as to make it necessary for the pair to withdraw from further play, then the opponents shall be awarded the necessary number of games to complete the set. Any set already completed shall stand and any remaining set shall be forfeited to the opposing team to love.
10.13 The result of all League matches (on cards provided) signed by both Captains, shall be photographed, and emailed to the Match Secretary by the Captain of the Home team, or sent by 1st class post immediately after the match is completed.
10.14 Any Wednesday Match Card not received by the following Monday and any Friday (Cup) Match Card not received by the following Wednesday will be deemed LATE and a fine of £3.00 will be imposed on the offending Home team.
10.15 If a Match Card is not received at all a fine of £5.00 will be imposed on the offending Home Team. On being notified of this it will be the responsibility of that Home Club to inform the Match Secretary of the result of the Match. Failure to do so could at the League Committee’s discretion incur a further penalty. Clubs will be notified of Cards not received and fines imposed along with the League positions at intervals during the season.
10.16 If a Match Card is not properly and fully completed a fine of £3.00 will be imposed on the offending Home Team.
10.17 Payment of the total fines incurred by Club will become due at the end of the season and must be paid to the Treasurer preferably before the Dance but without fail by October 31st.
10.18 If the Match Secretary or their opponents consider that a team has introduced a new player, or a player from a higher team from the same club and the move results in a win in a particular match the incident will be reported. The matter will be recorded by the Match Secretary and raised at an Executive meeting to be held mid-way through the season or on the Tuesday following the last league match of the season. If the Executive support the complaint, they will appoint the sets in which the offending player has participated to the opponents, each set to score 8-0. If this decision means that the offending team loses points and as a result, they are then on equal points with other teams, they will be positioned below the other teams if promotion or relegation is an issue. In the event of the complaining side receiving points and becoming level at the end of the season with another team in a promotion or relegation position, then a playoff will take place on the evening following the end of season Executive meeting, Wednesday, the match having been provisionally arranged prior to the meeting.
10.19 If the Match Secretary or their opponents consider that a team has introduced a new player, or a player from a higher team from the same club and the move results in a win in a particular match the incident will be reported. The matter will be recorded by the Match Secretary and raised at an Executive meeting to be held mid-way through the season or on the Tuesday following the last league match of the season. If the Executive support the complaint, they will appoint the sets in which the offending player has participated, to the opponents, each set to score 8-0. If this decision means that the offending team loses points and as a result, they are then on equal points with other teams they will be positioned below the other teams if promotion or relegation is an issue. In the event of the complaining side receiving points and becoming level at the end of the season with another team in a promotion or relegation position, then a playoff will take place on the Wednesday evening, following the end of season Executive meeting. The match having been provisionally arranged prior to the meeting.
10.20 The higher team in a Club must play at full strength. Where a higher team plays short and a lower team plays at full strength a written explanation must be sent to the Match Secretary. Failure to do so may result in points being deducted from the lower team when the Executive considers the matter
10.21 Clubs winning a League Trophy are expected to send at least one representative to the Presentation Dance to receive the trophy on behalf of the club. The name of the representative to be notified to the Secretary prior to the Dance.
11.2 First matches to be played as normal League match but Gents’ and Ladies’ scores will be totalled separately.
11.3 Thereafter, if courts allow, two short sets of six (ie. maximum duration 6-5) will be played against each couple.
11.4 In all cases the match result will be decided on games.
11.5 Abandoned and uncompleted Cup matches must be completed within seven (7) days. If a date cannot be agreed the match must be replayed or completed the following Wednesday. When a match is abandoned part-way through, all completed sets will stand.
11.6 In the event of a tie the match will be decided on the toss of a coin. This will avoid any replays.
11.7 The venue for the Knock Out Cup Final will be decided by tossing a coin between competing finalists.
11.8 The Home team Captain is responsible for providing and completing the Match card and sending it to the Match Secretary on completion of the match.
11.9 Clubs winning a Cup Trophy are expected to send at least one representative to the Presentation Dance to receive the trophy on behalf of the club. The name of the representative to be notified to the Secretary prior to the Dance.
12.2 Winners of Individual Trophies/Prizes and runners up are expected to be at the Presentation Dance to receive their Trophy /Prize or to notify the Secretary of the person accepting it on their behalf.