KWA-ZULU NATAL SQUASH UNION

LOCAL COMPETITION RULES

1. DEFINITION OF TERMS

(a) KwaZulu Natal Squash Union shall mean the body constituted as KwaZulu Natal Squash Union, and unless the context indicates to the contrary, the committee or sub-committee or official thereof to whom the necessary powers have been delegated.
(b) Fixture: The term “Fixture” shall mean a match between two teams as distinct from the individual matches of which such fixture consists.
(c) Match: A match shall mean an individual match between two players in a fixture and shall consist of five advantage games.
(i) 1st Division only: The team winning or being awarded at least two matches in a fixture shall be deemed to have won the fixture.
(ii) Lower leagues only: The team winning or being awarded at least three matches in a fixture shall be deemed to have won the fixture.
(iii) Four player teams: In the event of matches being two each, the fixture shall be awarded to the team on a count of total games won, and then points if necessary.
(d) Teams: Men’s 1st shall consist of three players, men’s 2nd to 5th Leagues, Women 1st & 2nd Leagues shall consist of four players, and in all other leagues, shall consist of five players, all of whom registered with the same club.
(e) League Secretary: The KwaZulu Natal Squash Union’s official whose task is to attend to the smooth and efficient running of the leagues.
(f) Club: the term “club” shall mean a club affiliated to the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union in terms of its constitution or a recognized district of Natal Squash Union that has obtained the prior approval of the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union to enter a team or teams in the league.

2. APPLICATION

(a) These rules shall apply to the league competition conducted by the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union and to any other competition or competitions to which they may be made applicable by the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union.
(b) Only at an annual or special general meeting or at a committee meeting of the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union may these rules be amended or varied.
(c) Where these rules may conflict with the constitution, the provision of the constitution shall apply.

3. ENTRY OF TEAMS INTO LEAGUE

(a) Each club shall make application to the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union at its Annual General Meeting for the teams it desires to enter in the league for the following season.
(b) When applying, each club shall specify its home court or courts available for league play, and the relevant Club’s League Secretary.
(c) Subject to the availability of courts, clubs may apply to enter more than one team in any division of the league.
(d) The applications for the entry of any new teams shall be subject to acceptance by the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union.
(e) For every two teams entered to play on any one night, the club concerned must have one court available for league play.
(f) Men: The highest divisions shall be played on Tuesday nights and other divisions shall be played on the nights determined by the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union.
Women: All divisions shall play on a Monday night.
(g) The KwaZulu Natal Squash Union shall be entitled to either condone any breach of this rule and accept any late applications or decline to condone any such breach and refuse to accept any late applications.

4. LEAGUE SYSTEM

(a) The league shall consist of as many divisions and teams within such divisions as the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union can accommodate.
(b) (i) Four player teams that win most matches or in the equality of matches, the most games or in the case of an equality of games, most points shall win the fixture. The team winning the fixture shall score one point per game plus a further 2 bonus points for a team win. The team losing the fixture shall score one point for each game won by it. In the case of an equality of matches, games and points, each team shall score an equal number of points.
(ii) In all remaining divisions the team that wins most matches shall win the fixture. The team winning the fixture shall score one point for each game won plus a bonus of 2 points for men’s 1st division and 4 points in all other remaining leagues. The team losing the fixture shall score one point for every game it wins.
(c) In the event of a team withdrawing or being withdrawn from any division, all fixtures played by that team and all points awarded in respect thereof shall be cancelled and the division shall be completed by the remaining teams.
(d) In the event of there being an equality of points between two or more teams at the end of the season, the team winning the majority of fixtures shall be deemed to have finished highest in the division and, in the event of two or more of those teams having won the same number of fixtures, it shall be at the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union’s discretion to decide which team shall be deemed to have finished highest.
(e) In all divisions, it shall be at the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union’s discretion to determine how many fixtures each team shall play against each of the other teams.

5. PROMOTION AND RELEGATION

(a) Promotion and relegation between the different divisions in the league shall, subject to the remaining provisions in this paragraph, be automatic.
(b) Subject to the desirability of implementing the a foregoing whenever possible if any of the following circumstances apply, the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union shall have the power to constitute the league as it deems fit.
(i) when if automatic promotion and relegation were allowed to operate a club who would have more teams playing on any one night than it has courts available for league play.
(ii) where a vacancy occurs in any division due to the withdrawal of a team or teams.
(iii) where a vacancy occurs in any division due to a team or teams not wishing to accept promotion.
(iv) where KwaZulu Natal Squash Union desires to alter the number of sides in any division or divisions.
(v) where the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union desires to place a team or teams in a higher division than that of which it or they would normally be entitled because such team is or teams are obviously strong enough to play in such higher division and the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union feels that such team or teams are stronger than the team or teams that will fail to obtain promotion as a result of the implementation hereof, and
(vi) where other factors arise, that in the opinion of the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union warrant a departure from automatic promotion and relegation.

6. FIXTURES

(a) KwaZulu Natal Squash Union shall draw up a list of fixtures, in terms of these rules, and fixture lists shall be circulated to all clubs at least one week before the commencement of the first fixture in the said lists.
(b) Every fixture shall be played on the date, at the time, and on the court laid down in the said fixture lists and no anticipation or postponement of any fixture, or match shall be allowed.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-rule (b) above.
(i) if on the date laid down he/she has been selected to represent the province or district or other circumstances have arisen which, in the opinion of the Chairman after consultation with the League Secretary justify the match being played on another date, a player shall be entitled to play his/her match within a period of ten days before or after the date laid down in the said fixture lists; the time, date and court to be stipulated by the league Secretary in the absence of agreement between the player and his/her opponent, and
(ii) in the event of there being three or more matches in any fixture that are affected by the provisions of sub-paragraph (C) (i) above, the fixture shall be automatically cancelled and the League Secretary shall set it down for play on another date, provided that the Secretary shall be advised before the first date set down for the fixture that is affected as aforesaid.
(d) (i) All fixtures, unless other wise stated, are to commence by not later than 6 pm
(ii) All players shall be present by 7 pm. Any player arriving later than the respective times shall forfeit the match and the opposing team shall be awarded the points for that match, provided that this penalty shall not be applied if the captain of the opposing team has been contacted in advance of the time of commencement of the fixture and has agreed to waive the enforcement of this penalty.
(e) In the event of any team scratching from or being more than one player short for any fixture, then that team shall forfeit the fixture by default, and the opposing team shall be awarded full points for that fixture. Furthermore, in the event of any player who would have represented the scratched team playing for any other team during the week in question, then that other team concerned will forfeit any points scored for that match and its total league points shall be reduced by a penalty of four points (four player teams) or by five points if it is any other division.
(f) In the event of a fixture not being commenced within half an hour of the time provided for in sub-rule (d) above because there is no matching pair of players:
(i) if one team has at least three players present, the team shall win the fixture by default and be awarded full points for the fixture.
(ii) if neither team has at least three players present but, should a matching pair become available thereafter before either team has at least three players present, the fixture shall commence, and the provisions of rules 6(g) and (h) shall apply thereafter, or
(iv) if neither team has at least three players present, the first side to have three players present thereafter – provided that a matching pair had not previously become available – (i.e. if paragraph (i) and (ii) above do not apply) – shall win the fixture by default and be awarded full points for the fixture, the fact that the arrival of the third player provides a matching pair shall not alter the position.
(g) In the event of any team not being in a position to continue with any commenced fixtures within fifteen minutes of the completion of the last match played for reason that all of its players are not available, the opposing team, provided that it has all its players available and is ready to continue with the fixture, shall be entitled to claim by default and be awarded full points for all remaining unplayed matches. Where the above circumstance arises, but the opposing team can only proceed with one or more, but not all of the remaining matches it may elect to either
(i) claim by default the unplayed matches for which it has players available and ready to play or
(ii) wait until all its players are available and ready to play before claiming by default as in sub-rule (g) above. However, if on or prior to the arrival of all its players the opposing team is in a position to proceed with any one match, the fixture will continue, when the provisions as laid down herein shall again apply.
(h) In the event of both teams not being in a position to continue with any commenced fixture within thirty minutes of the last match played for reason that neither team has all its players available, and a result as stated in rule 1 (c) has not been reached, then the fixture shall be deemed to have been played and only points for matches played shall be awarded.

7. SCORECARDS

(a) The KwaZulu Natal Squash Union shall have official score cards printed and circulated to all clubs.
(b) The Home captain shall obtain the names, computer no’s. and playing positions of the players in the opposing team from that team’s captain and then shall record the names of the players in both teams on the official score card in strict order of playing strength. Matches shall be played between the players whose names are in corresponding positions on the score cards.
(c) On completion of each fixture, the home captain shall record the score on the official KwaZulu Natal Squash Union score card, sign and also obtain the opposing captain’s signature to verify the result. The away captain should also complete a card and retain this for record purposes. The HOME CAPTAIN shall drop the scorecard in a box provided by the club for their league representative to collect and fax to the KwaZulu Natal Squash Manager at the fax number set out in the front of the booklet within a period of seven days from the date of the fixture. In the event of such a result not arriving within a period of seven days, the KwaZulu Natal Squash Manager, or anyone appointed by the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union, shall contact the league representative of that Team’s club and advise him/her that in the event of such a result not being received within a further period of five days, such team shall receive a penalty of five points.
(d) All names, computer no’s, fixture dates and scores shall be entered on the score card. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the forfeiture of points or all points for the fixture concerned.
(e) The KwaZulu Natal Squash Union requires at least one marker and referee to be qualified per team and their marker and referee number to be entered on the score card for both the home and away team. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in five penalty points.
(f) In the event of a team being compelled to scratch from a fixture or play short, the team captain concerned shall notify the opposing team of this in good time before the commencement of the fixture.

8. PLAYERS AND PLAYING STRENGTH

(a) At least one week before the commencement of each league season, each club shall apply to the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union in writing to have its players registered with the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union for that season, such applications to list the players in order of playing strength.
(b) (i) Subsequent to the submission of the list provided for in sub-rule (a) above, and at any time until the end of the season, clubs shall be entitled to make further applications to the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union to have additional players registered with it. In the event of there being insufficient time to submit a written application, verbal application may be made to the Secretary or the League Secretary before a player participates in a league fixture, such application to be confirmed in writing with the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union within fourteen days after verbal application was made, failing which, the penalty embodied in sub-rule (f) below shall be applied.
(ii) When application is made in terms of sub-rule (b) (i) above, the club concerned shall disclose: the period of residency, the period of membership, type of membership, number of matches available to play, strength of player, proposed ladder position of player, permanent residential address, current registration with any Squash Union/Body, any other information as required by the committee. Permission to play may not be granted if such player’s temporary participation may cause undue prejudice to other teams and if in the opinion of the committee there has been a breach of the intentions of the Local Competition Rules.
(c) The KwaZulu Natal Squash Union may at its discretion decline to register any of the players in respect of which application is made in terms of sub-rule (a) and (b) above and shall not be obliged to give reasons therefore. It shall, however, notify the club concerned of its decision as soon as is reasonably possible thereafter.
(d) Each application as aforesaid shall set out the surname, first names, postal address, e-mail address and a home and office telephone number of each player.
(e) Men: No player registered with the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union by any one club shall be entitled to be registered by any other club during the season for which he is registered, unless he has first obtained a clearance from the first-mentioned club and provided that he has not represented the first-mentioned club in league during the said season, unless the Committee, in its discretion, waives compliance with the proviso.
(i) Subject to the specific condition applicable to players in sub-rule 8 (e) (ii) below, no player Registered with the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union by any one club shall be entitled to be registered by any other club during the season for which he/she is registered, unless he/she first obtained a clearance from the first mentioned club and provided that he/she has not represented the first mentioned club during the said season, unless the Committee in its discretion, waives compliance with the proviso.
(ii) Women – provided that they have been correctly registered in terms of the procedures set out in these rules and have been issued with two different registration numbers; one for each league system. In the event that the abovementioned conditions have not been met, the penalties as set out in sub-rule 8 (f) shall be applicable.
(f) No player shall be eligible to play in the leagues unless properly registered as aforesaid. In the event of this sub-rule being breached, the following shall apply:
(i) the team playing an unregistered player shall be liable to forfeit all points gained by it in the fixture and shall be penalized for a further six points, and
(ii) the opposing non-offending team shall be awarded points for the fixture as the committee deems reasonable, regard being given to the position of the non-registered player.
(g) (i) Each club shall play its players in strict order of playing strength ranking from its first team to its last unless it has more than one team in a division, when it may split its strength between the number of teams it has in that division.
(ii) No player shall be entitled to play for more than one team in any division excepting:
(aa) where a club has more than one team in any division and has not split strength.
(bb) in special cases where the consent of the committee has first been obtained.
(iii) in the event of a club splitting its strength in any division being compelled to draw on players from a lower division to fill any vacancies that may occur in the higher division, this shall be deemed to be playing its players in strict order of playing strength.
(h) In the event of sub-rule (g) above being breached, all points gained by the team or teams not having its or their players in strict order of playing strength shall be forfeited.
(i) In the event of the order of playing strength of a club changing, any player moving up the order at the expense of another player or other players, shall not play below the player or player he moves above for a minimum of three consecutive fixtures thereafter. In the event of this sub-rule being breached, the penalties applicable in sub-rule (h) above shall, mutatis mutandis apply.
(j) No player shall play in more than one fixture in any week provided that this rule shall not apply if the League Manager has arranged more than one fixture in any week. In the event of this sub-rule being breached, the following provisions shall apply:
(i) both teams for which the offending player played in the same week shall forfeit all points gained by them in those fixtures, and shall be penalized a further six points.
(ii) the opposing non-offending teams shall be treated as follows:
(a) the team higher up in the league shall retain all points won by it.
(b) The team lower down in the league shall be awarded the points for the fixture that the committee deems reasonable, regard being had to the merits of the particular fixture.
(k) If a team member will be absent for a fixture, the club concerned shall promote to that team the player who is highest on their ladder from the team immediately below the team affected. Failure to comply with the above will result in the penalties as set out in sub-rule (h) being applied.
(l) (i) In the event of a player or players selected to play for a team in a fixture being compelled to withdraw from the fixture too late for the club concerned to be able to re-select its teams for the night, such vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by the club selecting its first available player or players lower down its order of playing strength, regard being had to the provisions of sub-rule (j) above, and the playing of such player or players shall be deemed not to be an alteration of the strict order of playing strength of the club for the purpose of sub-rule (i) above and such player or players shall revert to his or their former player or positions in the order of strength in the following week. The player or players selected to fill the vacancy shall play in the lowest position or positions in the team so that he or they do not play above the players already selected to play for the team.
(ii) In the event of the club concerned not being able to fill a vacancy, although it has sufficient players available so that it does not forfeit the fixture, the remaining players shall be placed in the highest position in the team and the penalties set out in sub-rule 8(l) (iii) shall be imposed.
(iii) In the event of a team not filling a vacancy as mentioned in sub-rule 8(l) (ii) above, the opposing side shall be awarded the match where the vacancy occurs as if the score were 3/0, and, in addition, the penalties mentioned in sub-rule 8(l) (iv) shall be applied.
(iv) A team which has not filled a vacancy shall be penalized six points for every vacancy which the offending team shall be awarded points for the specific fixtures the committee deems reasonable, regard being had to the actual scores which were recorded for each of the individual matches concerned.
(m) No player shall be permitted to play in more than one fixture on the same night. In the event of this rule being breached, the penalty provisions in sub-rule 8(i),(iii) and (iv) shall be applied.
(n) The committee shall, in its discretion, decide what penalties to impose in the event of there being a breach of the intentions of the Competition Rules which are not fully provided for in these rules.

9. PROTESTS

(a) The KwaZulu Natal Squash Union shall be entitled meru motu, to deal with any apparent breach of these rules by any team and, in addition, each club shall be entitled to protest to the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union in writing wherein the grounds of the protest are clearly stated against any alleged breach of these rules by any team, in which event the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union shall be obliged to hear the protest and give its decision thereupon.
(b) Any decision made by the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union shall be in terms of these rules and any breach of these rules shall be dealt with by the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union under the rules as they stood when the breach was committed.

10. DISCIPLINE

(a) Players shall be subject to the disciplinary code as provided for in the constitution of the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union.
(b) Players shall comply with the decisions of the KwaZulu Natal Squash Union’s Disciplinary Committee and any player who has been banned from playing squash in terms of a decision of the disciplinary committee shall with immediate effect of such decision not participate in any fixture.
(c) In the event that Rule 10(b) is breached, the penalties as set out in Rule 8(f) shall be applied.

11. MARKERS AND SQUASH BALLS

(a) Markers shall be appointed for each fixture by agreement between the captains of the teams concerned and, failing agreement, the visiting captain shall be entitled to nominate the markers.
(b) The markers shall follow the rules of squash rackets as they are recognized by the International Squash Rackets Association as are applicable from time to time, except where they conflict with any rules laid down by Squash South Africa when the rules of that Body shall prevail.
(c) The ball to be used in each match shall be an official “double yellow dot” satisfactory to both players, or failing agreement between them, one provided independently by the marker.

12. DRESS

Players should wear clothing in accordance with the normal standards of good taste and neatness associated with the game of squash.

13. PROTECTIVE EYE WEAR.

All junior players under 19 years of age must wear protective eyewear (manufactured to an approved national safety standard) properly over the eyes at all times during practice and match play

14. COMPLETE COURT ACCREDITATION

Where events are staged under the auspices of KZN SQUASH UNION, if newly built courts completed after 1st January 2013 are to be used then they must be listed in the WSF worldwide directory of Complete Court Accredited (CCA) courts if they are to be considered for hosting matches recognized by the KZN SQUASH UNION. (This specification is not applicable for courts in existence before 2013, where normal adherence to WSF specifications will apply.)