KENT LEAGUE (NORTH WEST PRIORY)

The competition shall be open by invitation of the Priory League Committee to clubs affiliated to the Squash Racquets Association, having available at least two courts of standard Squash  Racquets Association specifications.

The competition operates within the framework of the Kent Squash Racquets Association.

Clubs participating in the competition are expected to accept the responsibility of sending at least one delegate to the Annual General Meeting, where each club will be given one vote for the maximum number of teams that they had during either of the summer or winter season preceding the AGM and are represented at the meeting.

RULES
(Agreed by AGM of competing clubs on 5th May 2011)

1. COMPETITION FORMAT
           
a) Rules shall be those laid down by the world Squash Federation or as modified by these rules. The balls shall be new and of S.R.A. standard as selected by the home club.    
b) The league competition shall be played as a league and split into divisions. In any division each team plays all other teams in that division both home and away. At the end of the season the bottom two teams in each division shall be relegated and the top two teams in each division shall be promoted, both decisions at the discretion of the Committee.
c) Vacancies caused by any team ceasing to compete or any subsequent vacancies shall be filled at the discretion of the Priory League Committee provided that promotions under rule 1b are not affected.
d) Ties will be the best of 5 matches between teams consisting of 5 players from each club. Each match shall be the best of 5 games.

2. ELIGIBILITY AND NOMINATIONS

a) At the beginning of each season, an entry fee will be charged for  each team competing in the competition. The entry fee will be fixed by the AGM and payable before the first tie of each season. Any club not having paid by this date will be deemed to be disqualified.
b) To play in either the league or cup ties clubs must nominate players in order of known merit, in writing, to the nominated committee member before the first fixture date. Clubs may re-nominate players for the second half of the season no later than the first fixture date of the second half of the season.
c)  Players may only be added to the nominations (except contravening rule 2g) during the season if approved by the nominated committee member prior to the player playing in any tie.
d) Before the start of each tie the two captains shall confirm the name of each team member and their players nominated position.
e) Any team playing a non-nominated player will result in that player’s match and all those below them being void and the points being awarded to the opposition.
f) The players within a team must play in strict nominated order. Otherwise all players who are playing out of order and those below will lose their points and the points being awarded to the opposition.
g) Any player representing a club in the last 4  league fixtures  (winter league) or 2 league fixtures (summer league) of the published season ( the last date of actual league fixtures ) must have represented that club in the Priory League or cup on at least 2 occasions in the same season unless prior consent of the Committee is obtained.        
h) Anyone playing more than twice for a team or teams in the Priory League will be ineligible to play for a lower numbered team in the same or lower division. This will apply to each half of the season.
i) In exceptional circumstances when double-header ties are played, each player will have been considered as playing twice regarding eligibility for playing for a team in a lower division.
J) No player may play for more than one club in any one season.

3. FIXTURES, VENUE AND COURT TIMES

a) All matches within a tie must be played at the same venue, to start and conclude after the agreed start time.
b) All ties are to be played on a Tuesday night on the dates shown on the fixture grid unless specifically agreed otherwise by the Committee.
c) In circumstances where a club has more than two teams in the competition, any rearranged ties MUST be in the same week as the fixture date specified, preferably Wednesday or Thursday evenings
d) The Home captain must contact the Opposition captain and agree any fixture change at least 5 days prior to the starting date of the competition in any season and confirm to the nominated committee member of any such changes also by 5 days prior to the start of the season.
The website dates must also be amended as appropriate by 5 days prior to the start of the season. Failure to do so (in the event of any dispute regarding the date) will result in the tie being awarded to the opposition.
e) NO CANCELLATIONS WILL BE ALLOWED (unless under exceptional circumstances approved by the committee)
f) Ties are to commence at 7.30 pm unless otherwise agreed by the captains involved. It is imperative that as many of the team as possible arrive promptly. Three players from both teams should be present and ready to play by the agreed starting time. It should be regarded as exceptional to arrive more than 30 minutes late. If, without reasonable explanation, a team has not one member present and ready to play within 30 minutes of the agreed start time, it shall forfeit the tie. Similarly, if any team member is not present when all other matches have been played he/she shall concede his/her match and any other strings below him/her.
g) It is the responsibility of the home team to provide sufficient court time. The minimum requirement is considered to be two courts, each available for two hours play. If after a prompt start has been made, a tie has to be curtailed because courts are unavailable for further play, then the home team shall forfeit the uncompleted matches.
           
4. LEAGUE RESULTS

a) On completion of every tie , each team captain must confirm the result. The home captain should arrange to enter the result on the website within two days. The result may also be sent to the Fixtures Secretary either by post or fax again within two days. The away captain has until the Friday of that week to challenge any possible inaccuracies. Any breach of this rule will result in the offending team having five points deducted.
Non entry on the website (assuming the details were not sent by post or fax) of the tie details, either full surnames, match scores or no details will result in a one point deduction per incorrect or non entry to the home team. The details will normally be checked on the following Monday.
b) Failure to enter the correct name of a player on the match result in an attempt to cheat will be seen as a serious offence and the tie awarded to the opposition by 20-0 points.
c) One point shall be scored for each game won in  a best of five games match between two players. Five bonus points will be awarded to the team winning most matches in the tie. The result of the League Competition shall be decided on the total points scored, and in the event of a draw between two or more teams, the order of precedence shall be decided by the greater number of ties won and then the percentage of the individual games won to the individual games played during the season. 
d) A five point deduction will be issued against a team giving a walkover.
e) A plaque or trophy will be awarded to each team winning a division of the league.

5. CUP SPECIFIC RULES

These rules are in addition to the general rules in other sections.
a) The Priory division one winners (if no cup) or the division one cup winners (if played) will represent the Priory league in the Cornwallis cup against the Outer Kent representative.
b) A cup competition will be held for division 1, division 2 & 3, and for division 4 and divisions below.
c) No player that has played in division one will be allowed to play for a cup team in the lower division cups.
d) A player must be eligible  to play in division 4 or below to play in the division 4 and below cup.
e) No player may play for more than one team in the cup competitions.
f) Any player representing a team in any cup semi-final or final must have represented that club in the priory league or cup or a combination of both on at least three occasions in the same season.
g) The onus is on the home team captain to make contact with the away team captain. Teams are allowed to re-arrange cup matches 2 weeks either way of the stated fixture date when both captains consent to the agreement. The home team captain to inform the cup organiser of the agreed date.
h) Complete cup results including game scores are to be notified to the cup organiser within 48 hours of the tie being played indicating that it is a cup result.
i) The cost for supplying the balls and courts is the responsibility of the home team, this is to offset the additional travelling costs for the away players.
j) The cost of any food and bar bill shall be shared equally between the two teams.
           
6. MARKING
a) All matches in all competitions must be marked. The home team to be responsible for supplying three of the markers and the visiting team two, unless specifically agreed between the opposing team captains. In the event of a referee being called for, they must be from the opposing team to the marker.
 
7. DISPUTES AND DISCIPLINE

a) All disputes shall be submitted in writing to the Priory League Committee whose decision will be final.
b) The Priory League Committee has full powers in all disciplinary matters to suspend sine die any individual player, team or club.
 
8. MISCELLANEOUS

a) If a team does not play a return home fixture in the season they shall make a 35 pound minimum contribution to the opposition. All cases in dispute shall be submitted to the Priory League Chairman in writing. The Priory League Committee’s decision will be final. Failure to comply with this rule will result in the clubs invitation to play in the Priory League being withdrawn.
b) The cost of any bar bill shall be shared equally between the two teams, unless mutually agreed by the two captains before the first match between the teams is played.
c) The cost of supplying the balls, courts and adequate refreshments  for the visiting team is the responsibility of the home team. To prevent unreasonable costs anyone who is unable to stay for the post tie food should inform the home captain 48 hours before the tie.
d) Players are responsible for their own travel costs.

9. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

a) The Priory League Committee shall comprise Chairman, Fixtures Secretary/Treasurer and Results Secretary, all of whom shall be elected at the AGM in May each year.
b) The Committee shall appoint up to four (preferably two male and two female) representatives of the Kent League - North West Priory clubs to serve on the Management Committee of the Kent SRA.

19.5.2011