The following are the rules and regulations, which apply to Leinster Squash

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY RULE CHANGES WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED

 

[1]       

Fees Payable to Leinster Squash

2009/2010

The following fees are payable  

 

Fee per 1st Mens League Team                     €  550.00 team of 5

Fee per 2nd Mens League Team                     €  370.00 team of 5

Fee per 3rd Mens Team & each thereafter    €  240.00 team of 5

 

Fee per 1st Ladies League Team                    €  440.00 team of 4

Fee per 2nd Ladies League Team                   €  296.00 team of 4

Fee per 3rd Ladies Team & each thereafter   €  192.00 team of 4

 

[2]     

Qualification, Eligibility and Selection

Procedures

for

SENIORS, VETERANS & JUNIORS

   

            Qualification

            He/She must be born in Leinster or  

            His/Her father or mother, Grandfather or Grandmother was born in that Province and provided that he/she has played two compulsory tournaments in that Province in the season in question    

            He/she must be in full time education having completed one academic year in Leinster

            He/she must be resident in Leinster for over 12 months.

 Note: 

He/she cannot represent more than one Province in any one squash season. He/She must declare that they are playing for Leinster at the beginning of the Squash season. 

Players must fulfil one of the above criteria to qualify, but having qualified under rule 3, provided the player has not represented any other province, the qualification remains if the player goes abroad to work etc.  

 

            Eligibility Seniors & Veterans

                Senior players must play in both the Leinster Open and Leinster Closed Tournaments to be eligible to represent Leinster.

Veterans must play in Leinster Veterans Open after which the selectors will draw up the first ranking list of the season in     November, updates by challenges. Based on this ranking list, the Inter Provincial team is selected. Players may challenge into ranking list if they have a valid reason for playing in Veterans Open.  

                        Veterans will qualify for selection by the   following:

a.       Position on the Veterans Ladder

b.      Position on ladder updated by results and challenges.  

In the event of a challenge into the ladder, the Leinster Council would oversee the conditions and be the final arbiter in the case of dispute. The Leinster Council will establish the challenge criteria before it takes place.

Players will be selected on competitive records throughout the season i.e. Open Tournaments, League Matches and designated named tournaments.

In all cases the Leinster Council will be the final arbiter in deciding

Leinster Representatives. In exceptional circumstances only, where a player is unable to meet eligibility requirements, they may appeal to the Leinster Council to be included in the appropriate team. No Team/Individual may present themselves as representing Leinster without the approval of the Council.  

Anyone representing Leinster without the prior approval of the FULL LEINSTER COUNCIL will be subsequently suspended from all Leinster events for a significant period (not less than three (3) months).  

                        It is important to take part in as much competition as possible.  

Leinster Squash will ensure that there are enough events for players at all levels. There will be ranking lists published for Seniors on three (3) occasions during the season – the end of October, Christmas and the end of February.  

LEINSTER SENIOR CAPTAINS

Ladies Captain

* * * * *

Mens Captain

[3]                     Senior Selectors 2009/2010

                          Mens:                                  Derek Ryan, Roland Budd, David Cassidy

                          Ladies:                         Christine Lowry, Jenny Dillon, Roisin Brennan
                         
                     Veterans:                           Tom Keenan         2886317

                                                                        Brian McNally      086 8528727

                                                                        Jim Byrne              8312113

                                                                        Martin O’Meara   045-879861  

[4]

Eligibility & Selection for Juniors

To be eligible to represent Leinster a player must play in any two of the following three tournaments:  

Leinster Junior Open

Leinster Junior Closed

Ulster or Munster or Connacht Opens

 

Juniors will qualify for selection under the following guidelines:    

4.1. Competition results throughout the season.

4.2. Conduct throughout the season.

4.3. Attendance at coaching sessions

4.4. Must have attended 80% of coaching sessions while under consideration to qualify. 

[5]

Junior Selectors

Leinster Junior Administrator 

 

         To Be Announced

 

6.

Leinster League Rules

 

The Dunlop double yellow spot ball is the official recommended ball to be used for all competition.      

1. The leagues will be held annually. The closing date for the receipt of entries shall be the 31st July.  

2. Clubs must be affiliated to Leinster Squash. The Committee shall have the power to refuse entry or entries of any club whose courts, pavilion or dressing accommodation are considered unsatisfactory, or for any other reason which is deemed by the Committee to be good and sufficient.  

3. The number of divisions and the placing of teams in particular divisions shall be at the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may limit the number of teams which any club can enter in the leagues. If a club withdraws a team after the draw has been made, the Committee shall decide which of the club’s teams shall be withdrawn and may impose conditions restricting players from playing in a lower division than they would otherwise have played in. The league entry fee will be payable for the withdrawn team, together with a fine of the same amount.  

4. In the case of a team withdrawing or being debarred after playing one or more league matches, all matches involving that team will be null and  void – with no points awarded.  

5. Mens teams shall consist of 5 players. Ladies teams shall consist of 4 players. Ladies are eligible to play in all divisions of the men’s league at whatever position they occupy on the men’s ladder.  

6. Players must be 14 years of age or over.

Note: It is now compulsory for all junior players (including all U19’s) to wear approved protective eyewear over the eyes while playing league/tournaments run under the jurisdiction otherwise forfeit the match.

7. A player can only play league for one club at any time. Permission (written) of the Committee must be obtained before any change is made during the course of a season and will only be given in exceptional circumstances. However, a Lady player may apply to the League Sub-Committee for permission to play in Men’s league for an alternative club.  

8.  Matches in the League shall be played in accordance with the Rules of Squash for the time being sanctioned by Irish Squash. Players must play in clothing, which is predominantly white or pastel shade. Players must adhere to the club rules of any club to which they are the visitors whilst playing their League and Cup matches. Fitzwilliam LTC and Sutton LTC have a strict WHITE CLOTHING ONLY policy. The Committee would ask that players respect this policy. BLACK SOLED SHOES MUST NOT BE WORN.

9.  The leagues shall be played on a home and away basis. The first date listed is the home match for the first named team and the second date is their away match. If on the night of a match both teams agree that the courts are unplayable the home team must concede home advantage. 

10.Each tie shall be the best of five games. Points will be awarded per game won. Single bonus point shall be awarded in the event of a 5/0 win or 4/1 win or 3/2 win.  

11.The winning team is responsible for returning the results.

12.All results for all league Divisions, both men's and ladies must be lodged with the Leinster administrator by fax, phone or e-mail by 11a.m. the following morning. Failure to comply with this directive will result in the winning team’s bonus point being deducted and under no circumstance can this bonus point be redeemed.

13.The order of play shall be 1,2,3,4,5 (mens) 1,2,3,4 (ladies). The starting time for matches shall be as follows:


Men’s League: 6.30p.m. if only one court is available, 7.00p.m. if two courts available. Note: 7.30 p.m. start if journey of over 20 miles from G.P.O. Dublin is involved.

     Ladies League: All matches irrespective of distance start at 7.30p.m.

 Recommended: Team captain to ring opposition when only one court is available. Away team to notify opposition if arriving late.

     Captains are advised to contact each other well in advance to establish which arrangement is applicable or if they wish to start at an earlier time – remember there may be more than one match at the venue. Any change must be agreed by both team captains. When both ladies and men are at home on the same night and only two courts are available, the men must make one court available to the ladies at 7.30 p.m. If there are two matches in progress at 7.30 p.m. the first court finished must be made available.  

14. Where a club has more than one court, two must be used for league matches. Sufficient time should be available, running concurrently, to allow matches to finish. In the event of booked court time running out, the home side forfeits the points for the games not finished.  

15. Each match shall be marked and refereed. The home team captain shall be responsible for the fair appointment of such officials. It is recommended that the home team referee 3 matches and the away team 2. Players due to follow on should be ready to play when previous games are finished.

16. In the event of a Club not being able to “field” a full team the playing positions must be filled from the top (No. 1) with walk-overs being given at the bottom. Should only three players turn up and they win 3-2, bonus points will not be awarded. A penalty of 5 points shall be imposed in the case of a team turning up with less than three players.

If a team gives a walk-over a fine of €100 will be imposed on that team (without except). If a team gives a walk-over without the agreement of the Leinster Administrator that team will also automatically be deducted 10 points. If a walk-over is given at any of the positions 1-4 and a lower match is played, all points shall be forfeited for the lower games played and such games shall be awarded 3-0 to the opposition. Where a team receives a walkover, that team must still send in results by 11.00 a.m. the following morning.

If a team fails to fulfil two fixtures in the season they shall be automatically relegated. In such cases the Committee shall decide on the available evidence whether for following seasons:  

a) The Club should be barred from entering teams

b) The Club should not be allowed to enter that team

c) The actual team members be barred

d) The Club may be fined.


Where a team has failed to fulfil a fixture and this affects promotion or relegation, the Committee shall take whatever action it deems fit in the circumstances: such action may include relegation of the team which did not fulfil the fixtures or arrangement of playoffs to determine promotion or relegation.  

17. Dublin area i.e. within 20 miles radius of G.P.O. a walk-over and points must be claimed if an opponent fails to arrive on time. A reasonable waiting time allowable will be 15 minutes. Further walkovers may be claimed at 20 minute intervals per court.


Outside 20 miles radius of G.P.O. Dublin a reasonable waiting time will be 30 minutes after which walkover and points must be claimed. Further walkovers must be claimed at 20 minute intervals per court.


Note: It is recommended that all teams apply the time waiting rule to stop continual late arrivals

When a walkover is claimed in these circumstances Rule 16 should also be taken into account, thereby ensuring that players in lower positions must move up to a position where walkovers are claimed.

18.JOE MAYS SQUASH CLUB are allowed to use 2 courts for a match between 2 Clubs and the starting time for the match is 8.00 p.m.  

19.The Dunlop double yellow spot ball shall be the official ball in all divisions of the Leinster Squash Leagues. The white-dot ball may only be used when the temperature is below 12°C, or by agreement between players.  

20.Players must be ranked in order of merit. Ranking lists must be forwarded to the League Administrator on the official form distributed for that purpose to reach the Administrator not later than TBC


If a new ranking list is not received by the due dates the old ranking list will apply.

Ranking lists must include players who are available to play occasionally and these players must be placed on the ladder in their correct position. Under no circumstances may players be added to the ranking list after the cut off date.

A player who has not played in any of the first three ranking periods will not be eligible to play in the fourth Quarter or the Cup Competition. Exception to this rule would be players returning after pregnancy. This rule does not apply to players whose normal ranking position is at the end of the ranking list and below all other players who have played that season.

Where a club lists substitutes for a particular team separate from the ranking lists, an indication must be given of where each substitute would fit in on the ranking list – they cannot automatically come in at the bottom of the team unless this is their proper ranking.

NOTE: FULL RANKING LIST FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD BE SENT TO:                          

Leinster Administrator:

Suzanne Ryan

31 Baldoyle Road

Sutton

Dublin 13  

21.The Committee may request any Club to justify its ranking list. If in the opinion of the Committee a player has been obviously incorrectly ranked in order to strengthen the team lower down or if an occasional substitute has not been returned on the ladder in the correct order the committee shall have the power to deduct the points for all players deemed to have played out of order or to impose any other penalty deemed appropriate.

22. Substitutes

     Teams must play in order of ranking and substitutes must be introduced in keeping with this. If a player is substituted from a higher team to a lower team, no points will be awarded to that team and full points will be awarded to the opposition.

     No player may sub up on more than two occasions in any one ranking period but Rule 20 regarding players incorrectly ranked in order to strengthen teams lower down still applies.

     RANKING LISTS / INACTIVE PLAYERS

     The League Sub-Committee has the authority to remove inactive players from any ranking list. A player will be considered “INACTIVE” until they have played once in each new season. INACTIVE PLAYERS can NOT be used for ranking purposes and can NOT be subbed for, until they have played once for their team in the correct position.  

23.All League matches to be played on the scheduled date only. Players involved on International duty are exempt from this rule. All cup matches to be played on stipulated date. Anyone representing Leinster without the prior approval of the FULL LEINSTER COUNCIL will be subsequently suspended from all Leinster events for a significant period (not less than 3 months).  

24. If a Club wins a League two years consecutively that team must be promoted. This will come into effect from the 2001/2002 season.  

25. Postponements
Individual matches cannot be played after the fixed dates. Exceptions to this rule are: [1] Where a player is unable to play for his/her League or Cup match because of International commitment, the match shall be played on a date to be stipulated by the League Administrator. [2]In exceptional circumstances, the League Administrator, in consultation with the teams concerned, may agree to the postponement of a team fixture.

The new date for the match, which must take place within three weeks, must be agreed at the time of the postponement and this date shall be firmly adhered to. If a match is postponed without the prior agreement of the League Administrator no points at all will be awarded to either team. The ranking list to be followed for a postponement match is that applying at the date the match is played.  

26. Prizes will be presented to the members (5) of the Winning team in each section of a Division. Prizes will be withdrawn from any team who fails to send at least one of its members to the annual Leinster Squash Prize-Giving. In addition that team will be asked to pay a fine equal to the amount spent on the prize. Any clubs who do not return League Cups/Cup Final Cups will be asked to pay a fine.  

27. Promotions and Relegation


Promotion and relegation will be decided on results at the end of season. 


Where any division results in a tie or where there is a tie affecting promotions or relegation, the order shall be determined by:

1.           1.          The number of matches won by each team. If these are equal

        also by –

2.           2.         The number of points scored against each team. If these are equal

also by -

3.           3.         A play off.    

28. As and from the 1994/95 season all places in the Premier Divisions must be earned by performance in the preceding season. In the event of a vacancy arising in either Premier Division that Division will revert to 9 teams for one season and one team only will be relegated the following season. The committee may waive this rule if exceptional circumstances warrant it.

29. Fees
Affiliation League and other Fees as set by the elected committee shall be paid to Leinster Squash by 31st October in accordance with the rules of Leinster Squash. If fees are not paid before 31st October except by written permission from Leinster Squash five points shall be deducted in respect of each match played between that date and the date on which the fees are paid in full.

30.Where fees are paid after 31st October and before 30th November, bonus points will be reinstated on payment of a fine amounting to 10% of the total fees due. Clubs who have not paid in full by 30th November will be debarred from further participation in both League and Cup Competitions.  

31. General
The Committee shall have absolute power to deal with any matter which may arise in connection with the Leagues and which is not provided for in these rules. In particular the Committee may waive the application of any rule if exceptional circumstances warrant it. The decision of the Committee on any such matter or on the interpretation of any rule shall be final. While any dispute or protest affecting a Club, which is represented on the Committee is under consideration, the representatives of the Club concerned shall not be eligible to sit on the Committee.  

 

Rules for Cup Competitions

The rules for Leagues shall apply where appropriate to Cup Competitions subject to the following additions:  

1.   A person playing league for any Club may represent only that Club in Cup Competitions.  

2.  Before a player is eligible to play in a semi-final or final of a Cup match he/she must have played a minimum of 4 matches for that club in the current season.  

3. The playing order in ALL Cup Competitions shall be 5, 4, 1, 3, 2.  

4.  All matches to be played BY specified date. Failure to do so will result in the waiting team being given a walkover.   

5.  If a player/players are on International squash duty on the day the cup finals take place, that player MUST play their game prior to the cup final date at an agreed time in consultation with the Leinster Administrator. Failure to comply with this will result in Leinster Squash insisting that the remainder of the team move up in compliance with rules 16 in Leinster Rules.  

6.  Matches fixed for Saturday or Sunday shall start at 4pm unless otherwise agreed in advance.  

7.  The ranking list submitted for Leagues must be followed for Cup Competitions. If on the day of a Cup Match a player would be ineligible to play on the team in a League Match (e.g. under rule 22 on substitutes) that player may not play in the Cup Match.  

8.   CUP RESULTS MUST BE PHONED IN, E-MAILED OR FAXED TO THE ADMINISTRATOR: 

Leinster Squash

31 Baldoyle Road

Sutton

Dublin 13 

Tel/Fax: 8396299

E-mail: leinstersquash@eircom.net

    BEFORE 11.00 A.M. THE FOLLOWING DAY. IF NO RECORD OF THE MATCH IS RECEIVED THE AWAITING TEAM WILL BE AWARDED A WALKOVER.  

9. THE AMERICAN SCORING SYSTEM IS TO OPERATE FOR ALL CUP MATCHES.

The Rules of Squash are available in booklet form from Irish Squash Office.
Contact  - 6251145.  

 

Matches Involving College Teams

Captains are advised that Trinity, DCU and UCD are allowed to postpone all matches up to and including 15th October. All postponed matches must be rearranged by the College involved before the original date and must be played before the 30th November. If the matches are not rearranged as stated above, the College team will forfeit the points.  

 

NOTE: Where a college team wishes to avail of this rule they must apply in writing, together with their ranking list, seven days prior to commencement of league, to the league secretary stating the reasons for such request. If permission is given to postpone matches College teams may re-submit their ranking list before first league match. If a College team is unavailable to play at the start of the league, the onus is on the captain of the college team to inform the opposition. College teams shall submit a revised ranking list in the first half of the season after playing 4/5 matches.

Since College teams in particular may find difficulty in travelling to matches outside Dublin, Clubs are asked to facilitate them, as far as possible e.g. by playing at weekends in advance of the date fixed.  

All Ireland Club Championships

Where Premier League Teams qualify through the Leinster Leagues or Cups for participation in the All Ireland Club Championships their failure to participate (without a valid reason) will subject their club to a fine. Failure to comply with this rule or non-payment of fine could lead to suspension from the Leinster Leagues and Cups the following season and thereafter they will have to re-apply for admission.  

Criteria for Entry to AICC
Winners of Premier League and winners of Premier Cup - if both winners are the same the runner-up in the premier league will be next in line and eligible for selection. This applies to both Ladies and Men. 

Leinster Squash Disciplinary Procedures  

1.  Leinster Squash will deal with all disciplinary matters arising from incidents under its jurisdiction through its Disciplinary Committee (DC). Any person may report an incident to Leinster Squash. Leinster Squash will decide whether any incident merits convening of the DC.

2. The Disciplinary Committee will be a Sub Committee appointed by the Leinster Council and will consist of not less than four (4) members.  

3. Any person who is being considered by the DC will be contacted by the Leinster Council and will have the right to present his/her case at the initial hearing.  

4. Any person who has been disciplined by the DC will have the right of Appeal in person and/or in writing, within twentyone (21) days of the initial hearing.  

5. Any Appeal will require the lodgement of €50 with the Leinster Council. This will be refundable only if the Appeal is successful.  

6.No person on the DC Committee may also sit on the Appeal Committee, which should have a minimum of three (3) members.  

7.The decision of the Appeal Committee is final.  

8. Matters, which will be considered by the DC will be all offences listed in rule 17 of the RULES OF SQUASH and any conduct likely to bring the game into disrepute.