SHUTTLEBUSTERS

FRIENDLY LEAGUE

EQUITY, PARITY & ACCESSIBILITY

If you think "Friendly League" is a contradiction in terms you're not eligible to play in this league.

Starting now in the 2009-2010 season and playing 8-10pm on Fridays at Oxley Sports Centre in Sherborne, the league will offer the best balance of competitive badminton with and a mimimum of costs and complications. The aim is to make good badminton available to more players.

All matches are at the same time and same place so you know what you're committing to - you don't have to be available different days at different times or travel to different venues. A teams is one pair, so you don't need to organise a whole bunch of players - if you've got a partner you can play (if you haven't got a partner - see below).

The league will handle court bookings and provide shuttles so you don't need your own venue or shuttles. Matches are scheduled by the league, so there's no fixtures meeting (fixtures will be worked around your other commitments - matches scheduled in other leagues, holidays etc - provided we're told what they are).

All three formats are available (Ladies Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Unrestricted/Mens Doubles). Each should provide one match each month - entries are separate in each competition. County players are not allowed.

Each match is four pairs/teams, best of three to 21 against each of the three opposing pairs. Divisions will normally hold more than four pairs so that who's in which match varies even if there are no substitutions. New divisions will be formed during the season if there are sufficient new entries.

The league will operate a reserve pool of players who are available as possible substitutes when you can't play. Replacements can also be drawn from any team in a lower division (not limited to your own club) and sanctions will apply against teams/players who fail to turn up for matches (without organising replacements).

If you haven't a got partner, or aren't available all the time, or join after the start of the season, or want to try it a bit and see how it goes, you can still play via the reserve pool. Additional one-off "conference" fixtures will be provided for reserve pool players and new arrivals.

Cost is simply the £4 match fee per player per match (no league fees, no club fees, no travel costs and no need to bring food). Detailed rules will available here in due course.

Questions? Want to join? Ring Peter Calcraft on 07890 902005 or email badminton@shuttlebusters.com