RULES

(a) The League shall be called BASILDON & DISTRICT TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE and its object shall be to promote the game of table tennis in the area.

(b) The League shall consist of the Officers, duly affiliated clubs and members thereof.

(c) All clubs shall be affiliated through the League to the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA) and the Essex County Table Tennis Association (ECTTA).

Members giving long or meritorious service to the League may be considered for the prestigious award of Life Membership. Nominations may be made by at least two individuals in writing to the League Secretary. On approval the Executive Committee will recommend the honour for acceptance at the A.G.M.

The closing date for applications is April 30^th prior to the A.G.M. Special privileges applicable to Life Members will be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee.

The Officers of the League shall be the President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and League Registrar.

(a) The League shall be governed in accordance with Rules and Regulations of T.T.E. by an Executive Committee consisting of the Officers and seven additional members. The Executive Committee shall meet at regular intervals during the playing season and five Officers and/or members shall constitute a quorum. A committee consisting of Chairman, Secretary and League Registrar shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Executive Committee in event of an emergency arising.

(b) The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint such sub Committees as they deem necessary and co-opt persons who are not Officers or members of the Executive Committee.

 (c) In the event of equality of votes at executive meetings or general meetings the acting Chairman shall have a casting vote, in addition to his/her normal vote.

  (d) The Executive Committee shall be empowered to fill any positions vacant or becoming vacant subsequent to the AGM.

(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of June and at least 14 days notice shall be given to all affiliated clubs.

(b) Proposals for alterations to the rules at the A.G.M. must be forwarded to the Secretary in writing, not later than 30th April. The Secretary will circulate the proposed alterations to the rules to all affiliated clubs not later than 14th May requesting any amendments to proposals to be returned in writing to the Hon. Secretary no later than two weeks prior to the meeting for inclusion in the notice sent to clubs convening the A.G.M.

(c) The Officers of the League, Executive Committee members and Auditor shall be elected at the A.G.M. and shall take up their roles at the conclusion of the meeting.

(d) All members of the League are entitled to attend a General Meeting but only two delegates from each club may vote. Any club not sending a delegate to a General Meeting will be fined £5.

(e) All decisions shall be adopted on a majority vote conducted by a show of hands unless a ballot be demanded by a majority of those present.

(f) The Quorum for the A.G.M. shall be one third of the number of affiliated clubs.

(g) League Council Meeting (Secretaries’ meeting): A meeting will be held within a month prior to the commencement of the season at which Handbooks will be distributed and any outstanding fees paid. Clubs failing to send a representative to the League Council Meeting will be fined £5.

(h) A Special General Meeting will be called by the Secretary within 14 days at the request of the Executive Committee or by written request of at least five affiliated clubs. Seven days notice shall be given to clubs and only business for which the Meeting is called shall be discussed.

(j) Alterations to the Rules may only be made at the A.G.M. or at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose.

(a)  The financial year shall run from 1^st June to the 31^st May.    

(b) The funds of the league shall be kept in a Bank/Building Society account.

 (c) Any cheques etc. drawn from the account shall be signed by any two of the following: Chairman, Secretary, or Treasurer.

(d) The Annual subscription shall be decided annually at the A.G.M or Special General Meeting. The subscription will include i) Basildon Table Tennis League fees and ii) ECTTA fees.

(e) Annual subscriptions must be paid to the League Treasurer no later than the League Council meeting. A club shall not participate in any league activity until its subscription is paid.

(f) A balance sheet for the preceding financial year, duly audited, shall be presented at the A.G.M. 

(a) Prior to the commencement of the season, the Executive Committee shall agree the formation and number of divisions according to the number of entries received.

(b) Where appropriate, the two top teams in each division from the previous season will be promoted to a higher division, and the bottom two teams may be relegated. Vacancies in any division will be filled by teams with the best record in the next lower division.

(c) New teams will be placed in the division appropriate to their anticipated playing strength.

(d) Taking all factors into consideration, the final layout of the divisions shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

(a) All fixtures shall be arranged by the Executive Committee prior to the commencement of the season. All matches must be played in strict accordance with the details given in the handbook or any subsequent amendment thereof, and no other notification by Captains is necessary, subject to the following exclusion.

(b) Amendments to stated particulars must be notified to the League Registrar in writing at the earliest opportunity. Where the scheduling of any match is affected, the opposing captain must also be notified by the club concerned not later than 7 days prior to the date required to play the match.  Failure to comply with these conditions may result in the match being awarded to the opposing team.

(c)  The League operates a no postponement rule.  However, in exceptional circumstances and backed up by proper justification, a team may postpone only one fixture per season, subject to prior agreement from both captains and the Divisional Results Secretary. The revised date will be agreed by both captains and the Divisional Results Secretary. 

Inability to play the teams strongest players or to field a full side will in no circumstances be considered sufficient reason for postponing a match. Exceptional circumstances include:

 (i) The match is due to be played on a statutory holiday.

(ii) Inclement weather renders traveling conditions hazardous (subject to approval by the Executive Committee).

 (d) The captain requesting a postponement must notify the opposing captain at least 3 days prior to the match or at the earliest opportunity in the case of (iii) above. It is the responsibility of the defaulting captain to offer a mutually acceptable date for the rearrangement of the fixture.

(e) Where no agreement can be reached in the case of 8 (c) (i) and (ii) above, the Executive Committee will reschedule the match.

Note A match may be played before the stipulated date or during the week following the fixture provided that the scorecard is returned to the Divisional Results Secretary by the original closing date, subject to mutual agreement between the captains. 

(f)  Where a team is unable to fulfill a fixture, the points will be awarded to the opposing team. If the Executive Committee considers that the outcome of the League positions may be significantly affected or other extenuating circumstances apply, it reserves the right to reschedule the match.

(g) If no satisfactory agreement can be reached to play the match as defined by the above, the team conceding the match will be fined £10 unless waived by the executive committee after appeal.

(h)  Teams conceding 25 points or more during the season may be fined £20 and their record may be expunged from the League, subject to the decision of the Executive Committee.

(a) The Committee shall formally establish a Disciplinary and an Appeals Committee when deemed necessary and will appoint officers to serve thereon.

(b) A Member shall not do or cause to be done anything deliberately harmful to the League or associated clubs nor likely to bring the League, associated clubs, or the game of Table Tennis into disrepute.

(c) For a breach of this League’s Rules or Regulations the League shall have the power to suspend or expel any Club, Player or Official within its jurisdiction, under the power created by the League Rules and subject to the right of appeal provided by such rules.

 (d) Any such suspension shall be enforced by all bodies in this League.

(e) A Member shall not, without good and sufficient cause, absent himself / herself from the Hearing of any allegation or appeal after having been requested with reasonable notice to attend, or refuse or neglect to answer any question put to them in connection with any such allegation or appeal, if directed to answer by the Chairman of the adjudicating body.

(f)Any Club or Player aggrieved by a decision or action of this League may appeal against such decision or action to the League’s Appeals Committee.

(g) Any person(s) wishing to appeal against a decision of the Disciplinary Committee will be required to pay £10 when lodging the Appeal in writing. No refund will be made in the event that the appeal is subsequently withdrawn

(a) Teams competing in the League may consist of five players, only three of whom may take part in Singles. Each team shall play ten ties, nine singles and one doubles; the Home team lettered A,B,C, the Away team X,Y,Z: - A v X, B v Y, C v Z, B v X, A v Z, C v Y, B v Z, C v X, A v Y, and Doubles. By mutual agreement of both Captains, the Doubles may be played part way through the match.

(b) An alternative format of three doubles and six singles may be introduced for part of the season at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Order of play will be: AB v XY, C v Y, B v Z, A v X, BC v YZ, C v X, A v Z, B v Y, AC v XZ. Only three players for each team may take part in any match using this format. Unless otherwise agreed, the order of players for each team shall be decided and written down independently by each captain prior to entry onto the scorecard.

 (c): In the event of both teams fielding less than three players in the Doubles format section, the match shall comprise five ties, A v Y, B v X, AB v XY, A v X, B v Y. Positions A and B or X and Y must be occupied by the team/s fielding only two players.

(d) Matches to be played to a finish. A point shall be awarded for each individual match won.

(e) It shall be the responsibility of the home team to be in attendance at the venue by 7.30 p.m. and to prepare the playing area for commencement of the match by 7.45 p.m. In the event of either team not being in a position to commence a match by 7.45p.m., their opponents may, if they wish, claim the first tie; further ties in order of play may be claimed for every additional 15 minutes delay. If a match is not commenced by 8.15 p.m. the opposing team may claim full points and ten games from the offending team, unless their explanation (to be sent in writing to the League Registrar) is accepted by the Executive Committee who shall have powers to re-arrange the fixture. No individual player shall be allowed to take part in a match if he or she arrives later than 8.30 p.m. without the consent of the Opposing Captain.

(f) A player must not wear white clothing, except shoes and socks. Rubber soled shoes must be worn whilst playing in any match or competition controlled by the League. All equipment used must conform to T.T.E. regulations and the Laws of Table Tennis.

(g) Protests regarding any match must be made by the Club Secretary in writing to the League Registrar within 7 days of the match having been played. The League registrar shall immediately inform the secretary of the Club protested against in a letter requesting the latter's comments. Should either club so desire, a representative shall be granted a personal hearing at the next meeting of the Executive Committee, which he or she shall attend solely for the duration of the enquiry into the protests. No decision concerning the protest shall be made prior to this Executive Committee Meeting.

(h) On completion of all matches, the final position of teams in each division shall be determined by the number of points scored by each team. Where teams have scored an equal number of points, ranking will be determined by the team winning the most matches; if still not resolved, then by the team drawing most matches.  If the top two or more teams are still equal, the championship of the division shall be decided by a play-off between the teams.

(j) All matches played by a team that withdraws or is expelled from the League shall be deleted from the League results.

(a) Entries for teams must be made by the stated closing date on the team forms supplied. Registration of players must be submitted on the Player Registration forms no later than the League Council meeting.

(b) Application by new clubs for admission to the league must be made in writing to the Secretary. Applications received after June 15^th will only be accepted at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

(c) Only players registered with the League Registrar shall be eligible to play in League or Cup matches. Players must be registered at least 3 days before playing in a League or cup match.

(d) A minimum of three players shall be registered for each team. Premier Division sides shall be restricted to amaximum of 10 players per team. In the event of a Premier Division side wishing to substitute a new player for one of their 10 registrations, an application must be made in writing to the League Registrar, such application to be considered at the next meeting of the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final.

(e) Where more than one team is entered from a club, registration for each team must be clearly shown. Players shall be registered in the order of their playing strength, with the highest ranked players registered for the highest team. Any member of a lower team is entitled to play for a higher team but on the fourth such appearance he or she automatically becomes a member of the team for which the fourth match is played, irrespective of the teams for which the player has previously played up. On no account may players registered with a higher team play for a lower ranking side. In default, the sets of the player or players concerned shall be awarded to the opponents.

(f) If a player wishes to change his or her registration to another club then prior consent in writing must be obtained from the Executive Committee.

(g) Except by special permission of the Executive Committee no new registrations or transfers will be allowed after the 31st January of the current season.

The home side shall submit their match result in the manner determined by the Committee immediately after the match has been played. Should no result have been submitted by the Friday following the match week, then either (a) the home side shall forfeit all points it had won or (b) if the match was not played rule 8 applies.

(a)The Executive Committee member responsible for trophies (Trophy Coordinator) will be notified to all players in the League Handbook.

(b)All Perpetual League and Championship trophies must be returned to the Trophy Coordinator or any member of the Executive Committee before or during the weekend of the Basildon Closed Championships of the following season, details of which will be printed in the Handbook.

(c) Clubs failing to return trophies by the above date will be fined £10. Any individual failing to return a championship trophy by the due date will be disqualified from entering the championships in the season following the one for which he/she received the trophy.

               (a) If at any General Meeting of the League a resolution be passed calling for the Dissolution of the League, the Secretary shall convene a Special General Meeting to discuss and vote upon this resolution, giving fourteen days’ notice to all affiliated Clubs.

               (b) Attendance at this meeting shall be as for the A.G.M.

               (c) If this resolution be passed, all debts and liabilities of the League shall be discharged.

               (d) Any remaining assets shall not be distributed amongst members of the League, but shall be transferred to some other voluntary organization(s) having similar objectives to the League, as decided at the meeting.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to deal with all issues not provided for in these rules.

Any Club or Person requiring an Executive Committee decision regarding any aspect of these rules must make their request in writing to the League Secretary.