League Rules - 2025/26

  LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY and SQUASH LEAGUE  
     
  RULES OF THE LEAGUE  
  August 2025  
     
1 The competition shall be managed by a General Committee consisting of a  
  Chairman, Treasurer, Systems Manager, Media Manager, Ladies Manager, Junior  
  Manager, Competitions Manager and Secretary and one member from each club  
  participating in the league.  
  The named positions form the County Committee, they are to be elected annually by  
  the club representatives.  
  The General Committee shall meet once a year in August.  
     
  An Executive Committee consisting of the Chairman, Treasurer, Systems  
  Manager and Secretary shall manage the day to day running of the League. The  
  competition shall be open to any club in the Leicestershire area at the discretion  
  of the Executive Committee.  
     
2 At the discretion of the General Committee each club may enter one or more  
  teams of players who shall be members of that club.  
     
  Clubs shall not be limited to the number of teams entered into the League, but  
  not more two teams from one club may play in Division 1, with no restriction  
  applying to other Divisions. It is recommended that players be members of ES.  
     
3 All divisions to be decided by the E.C. using as guidelines that all divisions  
  consist of equal numbers of teams, and promotion/relegation shall be on a 2 up  
  and 2 down wherever possible. Club requests and Common Sense will be used.  
     
4 (a) No person may represent more than 1 club during a season except by  
  permission of the E.C. or being a "loan" player  
(b) The nominated club secretary shall post an Order of Merit into the Leicestershire  
  Website at least 7 days before the club's first match.  
(c) The list MUST be in Squash Levels order unless otherwise agreed by the E.C.  
(d) Additional players may be added to the list only by the CLUB SECRETARY by  
  request to the League Secretary. That player may only be used after being agreed  
  by the League Secretary  
(e) If a non registered player is used that result will be struck off and all matches  
  below that player will be 3 - 0 defeats for playing out of position.  
(f) Any club trying to play a match without posting the complete order of merit will  
  forfeit the match.  
(g) The E.C. may review any order of merit on request from a club, and shall have  
  the power to alter any player's position.  
(h) Only players on their order of merit may play for the club during the season,  
  subject to Rule 4 F & I, or are players from the "Loan List."  
(i) A player's position in the team could vary each week if there is movement in the  
  Squash Levels list  
(j) No new players may be used during the last 4 weeks of the season.  
(k) Squash Levels will indicate the correct position for each player  
(l) No player may play more than 26 matches in a season. Including "Loan" games.  
  A Loan Player may not play at Number 1 as a guest, nor against his Home Club.  
(m) Before the 2nd half of the season begins ALL clubs will be required to resubmit  
  their order of merit as per Squash Levels which may alter the team composition.  
(n) Any player without a "Squash Level" must be placed where the club believes  
  that player should be. The E.C. reserve the right to move the player should their  
  position be clearly incorrect.  
(o) Any player in a team position must play at least 2 games in the first half of the  
  season or they will be removed from the order of merit for the second half.  
  Any new player brought into the order for the second half of the season must  
  play at least 2 games or the team he is placed in will be fined 20 league points.  
     
5(a) Each team shall play two matches, one at home and one away, against each  
  other team in that division. Teams shall score 1 point for each game won in each  
  match, and the winning team shall score 5 extra points.  
  Both sides in a match must have not less than 3 members of their side at the  
  venue at the time of the scheduled start. The other 2 members must also be in  
  attendance within 30 minutes of the scheduled start.  
  A team must consist of a minimum of 3 players.  
  The home team must provide 2 courts for the match. Failure to do so will mean  
  the away team is awarded the match 5 - 0.  
  In the event of a team not fulfilling a fixture the result will be that the team not  
  playing will be fined 15 league points, with the "winning" team receiving 20 pts.  
  Any team wishing to change its' HOME night after the fixtures have been issued  
  is required to advise ALL opponents to confirm the alteration.  
(b) All teams in Division 1 to make every effort to have Tuesdays as their home night.  
(c) Start times to be a free choice but must allow sufficient travel time for away  
  teams. After 7-00 p.m. is to be used wherever possible  
  N.B. The start time IS the start time NOT the turning up time. Teams not there  
  ready to play could forfeit outstanding games if court time runs out.  
(d) The scoring for all Divisions shall be PAR 11.  
     
6 At the end of the season the club scoring most points shall be the winners of  
  each Division. In the event of a tie the side with the most number of matches  
  won shall succeed. If the teams are still equal they shall play off at a time and  
  place to be decided by the E.C..  
     
7 The winners of Division 1 shall hold the Leicestershire League Trophy for 1 year.  
  The trophy may not be won outright and shall remain the property of  
  Leicestershire League.  
     
8 All matches will be played on the dates arranged by the E.C. The only  
  exceptions being those matches altered BEFORE the season starts for the 1st  
  half and during the WINTER recess for the 2nd half season and advised as such  
  to the I.T. Manager and League Secretary, with the exception of Charnwood home  
  matches which cannot be moved from 2 weeks before the first games.  
  During the season the following reasons included in (a) (b) (c) are allowed:-  
(a) A strike, which affects the playing of the game. E.G. water or electricity.  
(b) Extreme weather conditions.  
(c) Any reason deemed acceptable to the E.C.. E.G. club burnt down - conflict with  
  a National Competition for 3 or more regular players.  
  But NOT - illness - weddings - non availability of usual players - holidays etc.  
(d) There shall be no matches scheduled for Leicestershire Half Term weeks  
  wherever possible.  
(e) Once a season starts if a fixture is changed, and EITHER the league secretary  
  (currently Mike) or the I.T. Administrator (currently Denis) has been informed,  
  there will be an automatic 5 point fine for BOTH Teams.  
  If NEITHER has been informed there will be an automatic 10 point fine for both  
  teams. The only exceptions are as allowed for under Rule 8. a b c  
     
9 Both teams are required to input the result into the Leicestershire League  
  Website within 48 hours of the match date. After which the screen will lock.  
  Temporary team captains can be appointed through The Systems Manager.  
     
10 All member clubs MUST have one person representing them at the A.G.M.,  
  unless prior absence has been agreed by the E.C.. Failure to comply will result in  
  a fine on the club, the amount to be decided by the E.C.  
     
11 Rules of play shall be those of the ES. An ES approved ball shall be used.  
     
12 Any disputes must be submitted in writing to the League Secretary within 14  
  days and the decision of the E.C. shall be final.  
     
13 No recording of matches shall take place without the permission of both players  
  involved in the match.  
     
14 Each club must submit the name, address, phone number and email address of  
  the Club Secretary by 1st September each year to the League Treasurer.  
  The same information for ALL team captains must be advised at least 1 week  
  before the start of the season.  
  This information must be kept up to date.  
     
15 Any team before the season starts may alter a fixture without penalty either  
  financial or league points. Likewise in the mid season break a team may alter a  
  2nd half fixture without incurring a penalty. After these dates any team not  
  attending a fixture WILL be fined 15 league points. Subject to Rule 8 any team  
  failing to give 7 days notice of its intention not to complete a fixture, will be liable  
  for cost's incurred by the home team. Any such claim to be made through the  
  E.C. Any club which refuses to pay these costs will be suspended.  
  Charnwood's home fixtures cannot be changed due to the intractable attitude of  
  the Brown's Lane Leisure Centre.  
     
16 The "Critchlow Fellowship Cup" shall be presented annually to the individual  
  team deemed the most sociable during the season. The cup shall be presented  
  at the A.G.M. and shall be held for 1 year. The away team shall record a mark  
  out of 10 for each of its opponents on the computerised score card.  
  The score should reflect the good fellowship enjoyed on the evening.  
     
17 There shall be an annual fee agreed at the A.G.M. payable by every club.  
  An invoice will be sent to every secretary for actioning.  
  League Fees MUST be received by the Hon Treasurer, before the season starts.  
  All clubs will be advised as to their payment status by the Hon. Treasurer.  
  Any club failing to pay their fees on time will be fined 10 points per team per match,  
  each week.  
  This will continue until the outstanding fees are paid.