see new league rules for this season
(Last revised & agreed at AGM 02/05/2012)
1a The League shall be called the EAST LANCASHIRE Table Tennis League and shall be open to clubs/teams in the district subject to the approval of the General Committee.
1b The League shall be non profit making, any surplus shall be ploughed back into the league and shall not be for the financial gain of any individual
2.a The League shall be governed by the General Committee comprising Officers of the League who shall be elected (see Rule 2b and 3) at the AGM held in May each year. Co-opted members may be included at the committee's discretion.
2b Only fully paid up registered (affiliated) members can serve on any committee, partake in any League activities or take advantage of any discounts.
3 Officers shall be the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Fixtures Secretary, plus other members elected (coaching, schools, development, ladies, juniors, press and/or HTTC rep). Members will be elected for a period of two years and will then be due for re-election. Should any member be absent, without reasonable excuse from three meetings in any one season, he or she shall be automatically retired.
4 The league shall be affiliated to the ETTA and the LTTA. The current rules of Table Tennis adopted by these organisations shall apply to all matches in the league.
5 All clubs and individuals joining the league shall be deemed to accept the rules of the league on admission and as such, the General Committee shall have the power to fine, suspend or expel any player or club as deemed necessary if found guilty of misconduct or breach of the league rules.
6 No election of officers or alterations to the rules can be made except at the AGM or a special meeting called for that purpose. Any rule changes shall be submitted in writing to the League Secretary in good time to allow these proposals to be circulated prior to the AGM.
7 All registered players shall be entitled to attend the AGM. Each team shall have one vote at this meeting. The officers, as in rule 3, shall be elected at the AGM. All decisions reached shall be by majority vote.
7b. Any team not represented at the AGM shall have an additional £5 charge made for league fees in the next season following the AGM.
8. All meetings to be chaired by the chairman or an appointed deputy whose decision on points of order shall be final. Where votes are equal, the chairman shall have a casting vote. Five people entitled to vote shall form a quorum at all meetings.
9 All applications for league membership shall only be made to the Fixtures Secretary
10 All fees shall be paid prior to the commencement of the league programme (normally September) and will include; LTTA registration, individual membership, team fees, & for those playing out of Hyndburn TT Centre, room fees, and table fees.
11a.All matches shall be played on or before the dates stated on the official fixture list. Matches can only be postponed for good reason. If a match is postponed, both teams must submit a signed score card indicating who asked for the postponement and the reason given or send an email to the fixtures secretary with the same information. No more than three postponements per team per season are allowed. Failure to comply with the above rules may result in the guilty teams being fined points, (at the discretion of the committee). Please note that no fixture may be postponed without obtaining the agreement of the opposing team at least 24 hours before the commencement of the fixture, unless by mutual agreement in exceptional circumstances i.e. extreme weather conditions but not player illness or non-availability.
11b. A match can be postponed without penalty if a team cannot field three players due to a town team commitment. The opposition secretary must agree to re-arrange the match in accordance with rule 11a above.
12 Any change of secretary, venue match night address or telephone number shall be notified immediately to the League Secretary. In addition the opposition team secretary shall be notified as soon as possible.
13 All secretaries must provide a telephone number where they can be contacted & an email address (email will be the normal way the fixtures secretary sends out information & requests information to and from team secretaries). IMPORTANT: however you contact each other , say to cancel or postpone games etc, if you use a text or email you must make sure an acknowledgment has been given back to you so you know they have received the cancellation information. Simply sending a text or email and assuming you have cancelled is not acceptable without confirming they have received it).
14 If a team resigns from the league, all points will be removed and all monies forfeited.
15.Fees (per season) & entry to the league. All secretaries shall forward to the fixtures Secretary their entry form indicating the team name, home night and venue, players to be registered, each player’s individual ETTA registration number, & simultaneously send the fees due as indicated on the entry form (as agreed at the AGM) to the treasurer. For teams playing out of the Hyndburn TT Centre places at the centre shall be allocated on a first come first served basis subject to rule 10. All teams playing from the Hyndburn regional table tennis centre will be charged the agreed rate decided at the AGM and stated on the entry form for the season to cover table fees. The team secretary shall be responsible for all charges applicable to his/her team and that rule 10 is adhered to. Fees shall be paid by cheque, payable to “The Table Tennis Leagueâ€. Where cash is paid, a signed receipt must be obtained.
16 The season shall begin at the AGM held in May prior to the season commencing.
17 Each team shall register sufficient players to enable it to fulfil the entire league and cup matches without intermission as no team can cancel league or cup matches more than three times in a season.
18 Teams from all divisions can have up to six players registered at any one time, however Teams from within the lowest division may have up to 10 players registered at any one time if it is involves at least 50% junior players and has been subject to approval by the committee.
19a Any points won by an unregistered player(s) will not be counted nor awarded retrospectively. The opposition will be awarded the points as if that player(s) had not been present.
19b.All players must be registered with both the ETTA & the league and have paid their membership fee at least four days before taking part in any match, however the fixtures secretary will have discretion if you contact him to approve a player to be registered instantly as long as the ETTA individual registration number is given, & any payment due reaches the treasurer within 14 days of said registration. If payment is not then received in 14 days the player will become classed as unregistered and any points amassed will be scrubbed. Any players requesting to be registered with the league that were not done so in the original league team entry form will be subject to approval by the fixtures secretary who may if he/she has any concerns or reservations for any reason present it for subject to approval by the committee. The Committee may refuse a registration or impose limitations if for any reason they think a registration of a player will affect the spirit of fair competition. Also if as more information needed that was previously unknown comes to light about an additionally registered player that consent had been given for, the committee have the right to impose at a later date any conditions that were not imposed at the time of registration where it is felt a distortion of fair competition has arisen mid-season. (NOTE: at the entry form stage teams can register any players they choose but the committee retain the right to judge what standard