Humber Squash Organisation

Humber Squash Rules

These Rules complement and should be read in conjunction with the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which is the governing document of the Association.

1. AIMS
   (a) To promote the playing of squash in the Hull and District area.
   (b) To provide competitive squash for the enjoyment of players in clubs and centres which are members of the Association.
2. FUNCTIONS
   (a) To run the Hull and District League, Ladies League and Junior League and their associated individual tournaments, and such other inter-club leagues and tournaments as may be agreed from time to time.
   (b) To select representative teams when appropriate.
   (c) To seek funding for the Association and its activities.
   (d) To support members with advice and information.
   (e) To organise and encourage the provision of training for coaches, club officials and players of all standards.
   (f) To publicise the activities of the Association.
   (g) To liaise with relevant external bodies e.g. England Squash, the Yorkshire SRA, Sport England, Local Authorities etc. in order to identify and attract all available support and resources relevant to the aims of the Association.
   (h) To provide a sound administrative base for running the activities of the Association.
   (i) To undertake such other activities as may be relevant.
3. MEMBERSHIP
   Any club/centre with squash courts in the Hull and District area may apply for membership of the Association. Where players at a centre have formed a club for the purpose of entering teams in activities organised by the Association, that club shall be the member.
   Notes:
   (a) No club/centre shall be accepted as a member until and unless its application has been approved by the Directors.
   (b) Clubs individual rights to refuse entry to any person cannot be waived by the Association. Therefore any member or supporter of a visiting team, who has been banned from any premises within the Association, should make their team captain aware of this for team selection purposes.
   (c) The Directors shall have the absolute right to reject any application for participation in the activities of the Association which includes any individual, whether as a player or in any other capacity, whose activities are or have been contrary to the aims of the Association.
   (d) In the event of the Association having financial liabilities which it is unable to meet, and which it could not have reasonably anticipated, the liability of each member is limited to ?1.
   (e) Clubs/Centres wishing to participate in the activities of the Association are strongly advised to be members of England Squash.
4. ARRANGEMENTS FOR TEAM COMPETITIONS
   (a) The league competitions shall be four a side, the Clubs Championship five a side, and the Ladies Clubs Championship three a side.
   (b) As far as is possible, arrangements for the various inter-club activities will result in participants playing once a week for the duration of the league season, with a break at Christmas.
   (c) In the Hull and District League, there will be no fixed number of teams in any division, although as far as possible they will be of such a size as to give teams a game a week during the season. The over-riding principle will be that teams play in the division which they feel will give them competitive and enjoyable squash throughout the season.
   (d) There will be no automatic promotion and relegation, except that the top two teams of any division shall have the right to be promoted if they so wish.
   (e) In the Leagues, one point shall be awarded for each game won (ie if a tie finishes 3-2, the winning player gains three points for his team, the loser two), and the team winning three or four ties shall receive three bonus points.
   (f) Teams conceding matches will have 5 points deducted, and their opponents will receive 15 points. Every effort should be made to re-arrange postponed matches, but if this is not possible, matches can only be conceded at the end of the season.
   (g) Entry to the Clubs Championship, if it is held, shall be voluntary.
5. EXPECTATIONS OF CLUBS WHO ENTER TEAMS IN HDSA ACTIVITIES
   (a) The clubs will be members of HDSA and support its aims.
   (b) The clubs will pay the team entry fee for each team.
   (c) Players who represent them will be bone fide members of that club and will only play for one team in each competition except when playing as a substitute.
   (d) Players who represent them will not be used as a substitute more than five times in any one season, and will not play as a substitute for a team in a lower division than the one of which they are a member.
   (e) Players who represent them will play matches in a friendly spirit and treat opponents and markers with respect. Adhering to standards of behaviour endorsed by England squash to encourage spectators. Offensive language or racket abuse should not be condoned or tolerated.
   (f) Players who represent them will be encouraged to play in the individual tournaments associated with the leagues, and to attend the end of season Finals night and presentation of trophies.
   (g) Teams will play matches on the agreed dates, with the match commencing at the agreed time and being played continuously until its conclusion.
   (h) Teams should be discouraged from postponing matches and informed that postponements by the away team within 48 hours of the fixture makes them liable for meeting any expenses incurred by the home club.
   (i) Home teams will provide courts, a scorecard (to be returned promptly), balls, markers and after-match refreshments. Home team captains should endeavour to contact away team captains at least five days before the fixture to confirm the date, start time, no's, playing order and food requirements.
   (j) Teams will play in order of merit, including substitutes.
   (k) Teams will normally play in the same order, even if the order of merit is difficult to determine.
   (l) Court temperatures should be such as to maximise the enjoyment of the game, with reference to England Squash guidelines if necessary.
   (m) If any of these expectations are not met, the team captain of the opposing side should report the circumstances to his/her club representative, who will decide whether to make an official complaint to the League Organiser for the attention of the Directors. The offending club will abide by whatever penalty (points deduction, banning of player etc.) is decided by the Directors. However, if it feels that the penalty is unjust, it may appeal to the Directors, who will refer the matter for adjudication to the Honorary Officers of the Association. They may confirm or vary the penalty, and their recommendation will be endorsed by the Directors as final.

As amended and endorsed at the Annual General Meeting of the Hull and District Squash Association held on 24 May 2005.

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