SSC Badminton League Rules

SPORTSMANSHIP

ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY

In order to promote a safe and sportsmanlike environment for its players, the SSC is clarifying its stance on unsportsmanlike behaviour. All coordinators and players must understand the expectations for playing in SSC leagues. Team Captains are required by the SSC to ask players to leave the gym if they are involved with any of the following acts: • Swearing directly at another player or the Event Coordinator (EC) • Intentionally pushing, shoving or making physical contact with another player • Making comments to instigate an altercation with another player In addition to being dismissed from the game, a one week suspension (or more) may be assigned by the SSC to the involved player or team.

Reporting Sportsmanship Concerns:

• If during the game you have a concern with the other team, address the issue respectfully with the team captain at the gym immediately.
• If at the end of the game you do not feel that the issue has been resolved, report the details of the issue directly to the club by emailing info@edmontonsportsclub.com.
• If you would like to make a formal complaint you are required to submit a report online by 5 PM the day after the game - Click here. 

The following is an outline of how the SSC handles complaints:

• The captain of the team who was issued the complaint will receive feedback from the SSC based on comments from the EC and/or the opponent.  This will be kept on file to compare any future complaints against the same team or player. At the SSC's sole discretion, the player or team may receive any of the following:
• a warning
• a game(s) misconduct
• a league ejection

• Teams who have been issued a complaint are always welcome to provide their own feedback on the game.

LADY BING SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD:  Each season one team will be presented with the Lady Bing Sportsmanship Award. This will be a team who was nominated for EXCEPTIONAL sportsmanship by their opponents. If you would like to nominate a team: Click here.

THE EVENT COORDINATOR (EC):  Each gym has a player in the league that is called an Event Coordinator (EC). Their role is to bring equipment to the gym. They will also assist the players in setting-up the nets, taking down the nets and ensuring that all players have left the gym by the end of the permit time.  They also read announcements, which are SSC event updates and important information- please be respectful and listen to the EC while they read the announcements.   The EC decides how long the matches will be and announce the start time of the first match, the second match and how long you will have per match. The captains are expected to have their teams ready to play on time and to help keep an eye on the clock to end their matches on time.  If you would like to be an EC or learn more about it, please contact info@edmontonsportsclub.com.

MATCH FORMAT

• Teams will play two timed matches per night.  Match length will depend on the permit time for each gym. The EC will determine how long each match will be; and notify you of the time limit.

• Each team will play best of 3 Games per match.  The first two games are rally-point scoring to 21 points, first to 21 wins. Players must win by two points, to a capped limit of 25.  The third game is also rally-point to 15; first to 15 points wins. Players must win by 2 points, up to 17. In the third game, a total of 5 total points must be played for the result to count; otherwise the match will be considered a tie.

• Teams will switch sides after each game. If a third game is played, the teams will also switch sides after the first team has reached 7 points.

BADMINTON RULES

SCORING SYSTEM

• A game shall be won by the team which first scores 21 points.

• The side winning each rally shall add a point to their score. A side shall win a rally if the opposing side commits a ‘fault’ or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of the court inside the opponent’s court. A fault consists of many different concepts, which are listed here.
• If the score becomes 20-all, the side which gains a two point lead first shall win that game.

• If the score becomes 24-all, the side scoring the 25^th point shall win that game.

SERVICE

• The server and the receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service courts (click here) without touching the boundary lines of these service courts.

• NEW RALLY POINT SERVICE SYSTEM IN EFFECT: If YOUR teams serving score is even - serve from the right court; if your teams serving score is odd - serve from the left court. Click here for more details

• Some part of both of the server’s and the receiver’s feet must remain in contact with the surface of the court in a stationary position from the start of the service until the service is delivered.

• The server’s racquet must initially hit the base of the shuttle.

• All serves must be underhand.  The whole shuttle must be below the server’s waist at the instant of being hit by the server’s racquet, and the racquet must be pointing in a downwards direction.

• In attempting to serve, the server shall not miss the shuttle or let it drop, it shall be considered a fault if they do.

SSC LEAGUE SPECIFIC RULES

• Teams may throw the shuttle in the air, or use any other suitable means to determine who gets first serve.  First service alternates between teams for the start of each game. If a third game was played, another toss will be made to determine who gets the service.  Teams may waive their first serve privilege to the opponent if they choose to do so.

• The team that wins the shuttle toss (or other means of drawing) would thus either be able to pick side or service. The team that does not receive service has the option to pick either side of the playing surface.

• Players MAY play short handed with only one player on the court. The player must still play within the boundaries of a “doubles court” (wide and long).

• If a serve touches the net on the way over and will land within the serving square, the shuttle is in play. If the shuttle hits the net and lands before the serving square, it will be considered a fault and loss of serve.

• Players are to call shuttles in or out of bounds. If there is a dispute, resume play by calling a “let” and re-serving the shuttle with no point awarded.

• Players are to call their own fault. If an obvious fault is missed, a player on the opposing team may politely point this out, assuming that their opponent either does not know the rule or missed their own fault. Generally, teams should NOT call fault against their opponents. Obvious fault may constitute a double hit, racquet hitting the net, or shuttle making contact with the ground first.

• If a player touches the net or crosses over or under the plane of the net at any time this is considered a fault and will result in a point for the opposing team.  Exception: you may follow through the plane of the net with the racquet ONLY if you have contacted the shuttle before you have broken the plane.

• GYM RENTALS:  The SSC asks all players to arrive 15 minutes prior to the rental start time (for example, 8:30 arrival for 8:45pm start time).  This 15 minutes should be used to change shoes, stretch, set up nets, and any other pre-game preparations.  PLEASE NOTE:  We are not allowed into the gym until the start of the permit time so be patient.  Some schools will allow us into the gym early and some will not, please ask your EC or the caretaker before entering the gym. 

• Teams are expected to help set up and take down the nets/posts, the more help there is the sooner you can get playing and the longer you can extend the matches.

• If time only permits for 2 games to be played and each team has won a game the match the go to point differential. If the point differential is the same, the game will then be recorded as a tie.

• If you run out of time during game 2, the team leading will win the game.  If the teams are tied in the second game (if ‘time’ is called), the team who won the first game will win the match.

• You cannot start a third game if there are less than 5 minutes remaining in the match.  A total of 5 points must be played for the third game to count. 

• If the match ends (‘time’ is called) before the third game is completed, the team leading the third game will win the match. If time is called and the third game is tied, the match will be considered at tie.

• If the Event Coordinator is required to call ‘time’ on a match, stop play immediately.  Do not finish the rally, do not start another rally.

WAIVER

• All players must sign a waiver before playing in our leagues.  This can be filled out online.  All subs must also sign waivers.  Captains are responsible to ensure that this is done.
• The waiver covers liability and sportsmanship.

SUBS

• A team may bring in subs that are not listed on the roster. Subs at any time must not have, or play at a higher skill level than the player(s) they are replacing.
  
  
• If you are playing in a league where games may be played before yours, or if teams in your gym offer to lend you any players, you may only borrow players to increase your team to a full roster (1 male, 1 female OR 2 females). It is not recommended to borrow players at the game, please contact the club for a sub list.

• Teams may bring in subs for playoff games but these players must have played at least one game during the regular season with the team.

• Further to subs for playoff games: it is each team’s responsibility NOT to bring in ‘ringers’ – respect your opponent and the league by making it a fair game!
  
  
• A sub-list can be requested from the office. If you recruit a sub, it is your responsibility to ensure they are ready to play (know the rules, will play at the proper level and have submitted a waiver).

ROSTERS

• A full team on court consists of two players with a minimum of 1 female. 

• Two female players may play at one time but at no time should two males on the same team be on the court at the same time.

• Players MAY play short handed with only one player on the court. The player must still play within the boundaries of a “doubles court” (long and wide) and the one player MAY be a male.

EQUIPMENT

• All types of racquets are allowed

• EC’s have only 2-3 spare racquets available

• If you are looking to buy a racquet contact the office info@edmontonsportsclub.com

• EC’s provide shuttles

DEFAULTS

• All teams are to be at the gym at the time listed on the schedule (varies gym to gym).

• At game time any teams not meeting the minimum player requirements will default game 1 in their first match.

• After 15 minutes, any teams not meeting the minimum player requirements will default match one.

• Defaults are recorded as 21-0 and 21-0 game scores.

• The $25 default deposit will be processed for each match that a team defaults. If a team misses an entire night the default amount is $50 in total. Teams must provide the fee before being allowed to play their next games. If a team defaults on a second night, their status in the league will be under review.  Teams defaulted against will receive a refund of $25 to the credit card that was used to register with. The Default Fee policy does apply to singles teams. All teams are responsible for ensuring that their team mates will be at the games and finding subs if necessary.
  
• The reason that default charge remains at $25.00 per match in Badminton is because you are only required to have one person on the court in order to not default your match. The SSC considers it to be negligent behaviour for both players to miss a game without finding at least one replacement.
  

REPORTING RESULTS

• After a game or match each captain must submit the game scores (for example:  21-19, 21-12) from each game to the EC and/or directly to the score sheet that the EC provides.

STANDINGS AND PLAYOFFS

Standings are calculated weekly and teams will be ranked on:

• Percentage of matches won

• Differential of games won and lost

• Points differential

If after those three criteria are met and teams are still tied, standings will then be judged by:

• If the tied teams played each other in the regular season, the winner of the game that was played between them will be ranked higher in the standings. If the tied teams did not play each other in the regular season, the team that will rank higher in the standings will be determined by the team that has the most points overall.

FOR PLAYOFFS/FINALS: BEST-OF-3 GAMES MATCH as above.  In most cases, there should be enough time for all matches to be completed. However; IF TIME IS CALLED AND THE MATCH HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED, the following scenarios can occur:

• Time is called during the 2nd game.   If the 2nd game is tied, the team who won the first game will be the match winner.

• If each team has ‘won’ a game, then the team with the highest points differential is the winner.  (In the event that this is ties, teams should then rock, paper, scissors or flip a coin to determine the match winner).

• Teams may not start a 3^rd game unless more than 5 minutes remain in the match time.

• In a 3^rd game, 5 total points must be played for the game to count.

• If time is called in a third game, the team who is ahead when time is called is the match winner.  If the game is tied when time is called, ONE MORE POINT would be played to determine the match winner.  Serve would remain with the team who had the serve when time was called.