York District Pickleball League Rules

 

1. Match Day Rules

a) A copy of these Rules will be available for consultation at every match.

b) 4 courts and nets to EPA standard will be available.

c) Match balls will be provided by the League, with one ball per court.

d) Courts are numbered 1-4, and 2 matches will take place at the same time on courts 1+2 and 3+4.

e) Players must not leave their court to retrieve a ball, they must wait for it to be returned to them.

f) Play must stop if another ball comes on or in the vicinity of another court, and the point must be replayed.

g) The game score must be called out by the server before each serve takes place.

h) Completed Accident Waiver Forms must be logged with the League Co-Ordinator for each player before they play in the League.

2. Format

a) There will be 2 Leagues of 6 teams in each. Each team will play the other 5 teams twice meaning 10 matches per team.

b) Whenever a team is playing they will have 2 matches to play on that date where possible.

c) There will be 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and no points for a loss.

d) Promotion and relegation will involve the bottom team in Division 1 being relegated and the top team in Division 2 being promoted, (although the Committee reserve the right to review this in exceptional circumstances).

e) In the event of a tie on points the team with the greatest For/Against difference will be the winner. If still a tie it will be the For/Against difference in the matches between those teams.

f) Teams will consist of 3 mixed pairs.

g) There is no flexibility to this in Division 1. In Division 2 allowances will be made (in exceptional circumstances) at the League Co-ordinator’s discretion.

h) Where a Club has 2 teams they will be allowed to move players between teams on 2 visits (3 or 4 matches depending on how the fixtures fall).

i) Club Co-ordinators must advise of any shortages by the Monday before the game and the League Coordinator will then find a suitable substitute.

j) Club Co-ordinators must submit the names of their 3 mixed couples to the League Coordinator by close of day Thursday before the game.

k) A team for a single match comprises of three mixed pairs of players, unless special dispensation has been provided by the League Co-Ordinator.

l) The Pair names must be recorded on the scorecard before play commences in the order that they were submitted to the League Co-Ordinator.

m) The sequence of play is:

A1VB1 and A3vB3

A2vB2 and A1vB3

A2vB1 and A3vB2

A1vB2 and A2vB3

A3vB1

n) Each pair plays 3 games each lasting 10 minutes or first to 13 depending upon which occurs first.

o) When the hooter to signify the end of the 10 minute period sounds the rally in progress will be deemed null and void, and the score at the end of the last completed rally will be recorded.

p) At the end of the 9 games the scores for each team will be collated and the winning team will be the one scoring the most points. (The maximum any team can score in one match is 9 x13 = 117).

q) No matches can be rearranged under any circumstances, except at the discretion of the League Coordinator.

r) All matches will be played at Fulford School Sports Hall YO10 4FY on Sundays from 9.30 – 11.30am. Any team not available to play within 10 minutes of their start time will forfeit the match 117 – 0.

s) Scores must be reported by the team captains to the Match Referee as the match progresses and a fully completed scorecard must be signed at the end of the match.

t) The League table will be updated with the latest week’s scores within 48 hours of matches being completed.

3. Player Availability

a) The Club Co-ordinator must exhaust all possibilities to raise 6 eligible players for each match, consisting of 3 men and 3 women.

b) The minimum number of players to allow a game to commence is 4 (2 men and 2 women). In the event that this occurs, the unplayed games will attract a score of 13 – 0 against the team failing to provide players.

c) There is a ‘pool’ of spare players available to select from. This can be done by contacting the League Co-ordinator at least 5 days before the match affected. The attempt should always be to provide 3 mixed pairs, none of whom have represented another team, but in exceptional circumstances a non mixed pair may be allowed. The decision of the League Co-ordinator will be final in the event of ‘pool’ players being used.

4. Injuries

a) If a player becomes injured during a match and cannot continue their score at the time will be recorded and their opponents awarded 13 points.

b) A substitute for the injured player can be provided at the start of the next game, but the team pairings cannot be altered. The scorecard should indicate which player was injured and at what point.

c) If a player becomes injured in the warm-up, and is unable to start the match, then that team can provide a substitute. The match should not however, be delayed.

d) In the event of an injury, this should be reported to the Match Referee in charge on the day, and an Incident Report Form completed.

5. Players

a) All players must be members of the League club for which they play (unless they are acting as an approved ‘pool’ player by the League Co-ordinator), and all players must have signed up to the League Rules and Insurance Policy with their Club Co-ordinator before playing (Accident Waiver Form). If this is not done, they will be deemed ineligible and all their games will be forfeited 13 – 0.

b) All players should wear acceptable sports clothing and non marking sports footwear.

c)  No player may play for more than one Club in any season, unless approval has been given by a League Co-ordinator – and then only in the event that a match would not have taken place.

d) In the event that a ‘pool’ player plays for another team and is subsequently asked to play for their own club, this will be allowed but must first gain the approval of the League  Co-ordinator.

6. Fixtures and Results

a) There will be 2 League programmes in each calendar year – a Spring League (January to May) and an Autumn League (September to December).

b) All fixtures are to be circulated by the League Co-ordinator at least 4 weeks before the commencement of the new League programme.

c) The League champions will be the team accumulating the most League points, and there will be relegation/promotion of one team per division.

7. Clubs and Teams

a) Clubs must advise their wish to participate or withdraw from the League at least 3 full calendar months before the next League season commences. This must be done to the League Secretary in writing/via email.

b) Existing Clubs wishing to enter a further team and/or new Clubs wishing to join the League must make a request in writing to the League Secretary at least 3 full calendar months before the next League season commences.

c) Once any requests have been made to the League Secretary and approved, the League Treasurer will be advised and a payment link will be sent to the Club Co-ordinator requesting £150 be transferred to the League accounts within 7 days of receipt. (This is so that the facility booking can be made in a timely manner).

d) Clubs are required to have their home base within a 30 mile radius of York centre to be considered for League membership.

8. The League

a) Participating clubs are members of the League.

b) Member clubs of the League will be called IT Sports York District Pickleball League.

c) The League Co-ordinator shall have ultimate power over any matters arising concerning the League not provided for in these Rules, after consultation with the league organising committee.

9. League Organising Committee

a) The League Organising Committee (League Co-Ordinator, Secretary/Treasurer and Team Representative) shall meet when there is business to attend to. If possible Committee business will be resolved without the need for a physical meeting. Committee members must have easy and regular access to e-mail.

b) The League Organising Committee are ultimately responsible for setting the league rules. Wherever possible these will be amended after discussion with the Team Co-Ordinators.

c) The League Organising Committee will set the structure of the leagues prior to a each new season after consideration of promotions / relegations and new teams.