NORFOLK LEAGUE RULES

Effective October 2016
 
1. League Membership
  1.  Any club based within Norfolk may enter teams. Other clubs may enter teams, subject to approval by the league secretary and the committee prior to the league season.
  2. Each team must pay the Norfolk Senior Squash league fees before the midpoint of that season.
  3. Any team applying for Norfolk Squash league entry must have at least two courts available (unless prior agreement with the Committee / league secretary).
  
2. Eligibility
  1. Clubs may be represented by anyone who meets the following criteria: (i) Is a registered member of the club. (ii) Has not played for any other club during the current league season. (iii) Provides NSRA with a personal email address. Collating and supplying NSRA with contact details of players is the responsibility of the captain.
  2. Players: (i) A player playing for a team on four occasions cannot then play for a lower team. (ii) Any player that plays at No 1 or 2 for a higher team cannot then play for a lower team. (iii) To be eligible to play for a team in the last three matches, as defined by the fixture list, unless he/she has played at least twice for that team or a lower team in the current season. If a team is unable to field a team, then additional players may be brought in only if agreed by both captains. (iv) To be eligible to play in the Premier Division Play-offs/final – a player must have played at least 4 matches through the season for the club before the play-offs/final.
 
3. League Management
  1. The Leaguemaster system is used to manage the leagues with access through http://norfolksquash.countyleagues.co.uk/
  2. Each club will need a club administrator to enter players and results. Club and team passwords will be issued. Contact the league Sec if you don’t have a log in password.
  3. Before the first match of the season, all players in a club shall be ranked in order of playing standard. Players must then always play according to ranked order. This nomination list must be entered onto the leaguemaster system prior to the first match. Any team playing players out of standard order can be deducted points if this is deemed to be non-sporting.
Amendments to the nomination order may be made at the half-way point of the season.
  1. If any club has two teams in the same division, players must be separated into two squads and once played for a team, they are not allowed to play for another team in the same division.
  2. If you wish to add a player throughout the season, you may do this subject to the Eligibility rules as stated in item 2.
  3. No team is allowed to withdraw from the league without 7 days notice in writing and approval from the League secretary and one of the senior committee members.
  4. All attempts must be made to play each fixture on the allocated date. The League secretary must be informed if a fixture is to be cancelled/rearranged.
 
4. Matches
  1. All Premier League matches will be held on a Monday. For all other divisions, home nights must be Monday-Friday.
  2. Each club is required to play every club in its division twice during that period on a home and away basis.
  3. Fixtures will be shown on leaguemaster and the Norfolk Squash website.
  4. Home captains are to confirm matches more than 7 days before the match takes place, this includes the match start time.
  5. In the event of a team playing with fewer than 5 players, the top player will be drawn against the opponent’s top player. The unplayed lower matches will be scored 3-0.
  6. Teams must play according to their ranking list.
  7. Home teams are responsible for providing England Squash approved squash balls.
  8. Food and drink to be provided after the match by the home team.
  9. Matches to be marked/refereed by home players.
  10. Every effort should be made to avoid walkovers occurring, such as rearranging. Not having your strongest team is not a reason to try and postpone a match – please use a common sense approach.
  11. Any team defaulting a match will be penalised 3 points. The other team will be awarded the full 20 points.
  12. If anyone in a team plays out of the order given on the nomination list, then that rubber and all of those rubbers below in the given match will be forfeited.
  13. No rearrangements of fixtures unless agreed in advance by the League Secretary - Only extreme unforeseen circumstances will be a valid reason for a fixture change (e.g. extreme weather)
  14. Should any team drop out of the league in the season, all matches against that team will be considered not to have been played.
  15. All markers must ensure that the code of conduct is used for marking matches.
  16. Any bad language or behaviour must be reported to the league Secretary and / or committee directly after the match.
  17. The rules of Squash as approved by England Squash shall apply.
 
5. Results
  1. One point is awarded for each game won (best of five games). The team winning the most games/matches is awarded 5 bonus points. If the games won are tied, the team winning most matches would take 5 points. 
  2. At the end of the season, points total will decide league positions. In the event of a tie, the following will determine the final league positions: (i) The difference between For & Against points. (ii) Points For. (iii) Points Against. (iv) If this is tied, then head to head results count.
  3. Matches in all divisions are played best of 5 games PAR scoring up to 13; 2 clear points at 12-12.
 
6. Match Results
  1. Match scores must be entered on Leaguemaster by the home team within 3 days of playing a match. Both teams must validate the match scores in that time.
  2. If you claim a walkover, you must still submit the result on Leaguemaster with a written reason why the points were taken in the comments section.
 
 7. Disputes / Players Conduct
  1. Details of a dispute must be notified to the league secretary by email within 7 days of the incident.
  2. Players must adhere to the player Code of Conduct available on the Norfolk Squash website.
  3. If the Code of Conduct is breached and a report has informed NSRA, the individual will be informed of the nature of the breach as laid against him/her as soon as possible and will have the opportunity and the right to state their case before any decision regarding the appropriate disciplinary action is taken.
  4. When the facts have been established and responsibility is clear, disciplinary action can comprise of one of the following: (i) Verbal warning. (ii) Written warning. (iii) League suspension.
 
8. Promotion / Relegation
  1. One team from each division may be promoted and relegated unless stated below
  2. If teams put in a request to be promoted or relegated, or remain in the same League. This shall be considered by the league secretary.
  3. New teams will start in the lowest division unless they make a successful case for higher entry to the league secretary.
  4. A Play-off system will be used to determine the Premier Division Champions.
The top 4 teams will be involved in the play-off matches
  • 1st v 4th (the team finishing top will host)              
  • 2nd v 3rd (the team finishing 2nd will host)
  
9. Any other issues
  1. Any matters not obviously covered by the rules above will be decided by the Committee. The Committee decision will be final.