Rules and Regulations
BADMINTON
HEALTHPACT 9th AUSTRALIAN MASTERS GAMES COMPETITION
BY-LAWS & MATCH REGULATIONS
1. GENERAL
1.1 RULES OF PLAY
The Laws of Badminton as adopted by the Masters Games Committee from the International Badminton Federation (IBF) shall apply, except as hereinafter modified.
1.2 POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall control and manage the business and affairs of the Masters Games Badminton Event, and as subject to these rules has power to perform all such acts and things as appear to the Committee to be essential for the proper management and administration of the event.
1.3 SHUTTLECOCKS
All Shuttlecocks are to be approved and shall be supplied at the discretion of the Committee.
1.4 REGULATION DRESS
a) Acceptable sporting clothing suitable for badminton/tennis, squash must be worn at all times in games under the jurisdiction of the Masters Games Committee. Advertising on clothing is acceptable subject to it not being excessive. IBF Laws will be taken as guidelines when judging acceptability.
b) Footwear must be acceptable badminton, squash or tennis type and be non marking.
c) Acceptability of dress shall be at the discretion of the Referee.
d) Players not conforming to By-Law 1.4 will receive one(1) official warning either from a Committee Member or the official appointed Referee. All subsequent occurrences where the same player violates these regulations will be penalised by awarding that game to his/her opponent(s).
1.5 PENALTIES
For any infringement of these By-Laws or Match Regulations, or acting contrary to the best interest of the Masters Games, the Committee shall have the power to impose any penalty that may be considered fitting, except in those cases where the penalty is specifically stated in these By-Laws and elsewhere. Team Captains and Managers will be held responsible for the actions of their team members.
1.6 OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR
The Committee shall have the power to suspend or cancel for any period it may determine, the registration of a player or official found guilty by the Committee of offensive behaviour during a match or event conducted under the Masters Games Rules or any action contrary to the best interest of the Masters Games.
1.7 APPEALS
a) Persons and Teams shall have the right to appeal against the imposition of any penalties. Any appeals against a penalty shall be lodged in writing with the Referee within 12 hours of receipt by the Player or Team of such notification. Appeals shall be decided by the Referee or jointly by Referee and Masters Games Badminton Committee.
b) The decision on any appeal under clause 1.7 (a) shall be final.
2. TEAM MATCHES & INDIVIDUAL EVENTS
2.1 GENERAL
The Committee shall arrange, format and produce the draws for the prescribed events in both team and individual competitions. These will be done in accordance with the information provided in the entry forms but shall and may be altered depending on the entries received and any other relevant factors.
2.2 ENTRIES
Entries shall be made on the official form and lodged in the proper and appropriate manner with the Masters Games Committee accompanied by the appropriate fee. The Committee may waive any of the provisions of the By-Laws and shall have the power to reject or re-grade an entry.
2.3 REGISTRATIONS
a) All Players taking part in Masters Games must abide by the registration regulations as detailed on entry forms, players programmes, official notices, and other forms of communication used by the Committee.
b) All applications for registrations will be made as provided by the Committee. The naming of players in the body of the official result sheet or team sheet shall constitute an application for registration. Team captains are requested to ensure that players are clearly and unambiguously identified.
c) The Committee has the right to reject any application for registration or make any stipulations it considers necessary.
d) In the event of a player's registration being rejected or a player failing to comply with any stipulations made, all matches in which that player participated shall be forfeited to their opponents.
2.4 ALTERATION TO TEAM COMPOSITION
a) A player registered as a member of one entered team in a particular class or grade of competition shall not be eligible to register as a member of another team in that same class or grade of competition unless a written clearance from the team official, has been lodged with the Referee and Committee prior to the player taking part in any match or event.
b) A player shall not be permitted to play in more than one match in the same class or grade or in the same round or session of play, without approval by the Referee.
c) Any player shall have the right of appeal to the Committee in the event of his/her clearance being refused.
d) The playing of any player in a team other than those notified in the original entry forms is to be approved by the Referee. In general only players of lower standard will be approved
2.5 GRADING OF TEAMS AND PLAYERS
a) The Committee shall grade each team or player and this will apply for the duration of the Masters Games.
b) Any player currently ranked in a grade cannot play in a lower grade without prior approval of the Committee/Referee.
c) The number of teams to be included in each grade shall be decided by the Committee.
d) Any team or players failing to comply with these By-Laws shall forfeit all the games in which a player participated.
e) No player may play below the grade of their team placement.
2.6 TEAM COMPOSITIONS
Teams may be comprised of:
a) Ten person team (5 male & 5 female) of which 4 men and 4 ladies may play in any match. There will be either an 8 games doubles format in which no player shall play in more than one doubles and one mixed doubles in any one match. Or the event may be played in a 12 game format. Each player will then play in 2 ladies /men's doubles and one mixed doubles.
The format for an 8 game match is: 1MD, 1LD, 2MD, 2LD, 1 - 4 MX.
The format for a 12 game match is: 1MD, 1LD, 2MD, 2 LD, 3MD 3LD, 4MD, 4LD, 1 - 4 MX (3 = Players 1 + 3, 4 = Players 2 +4).
b) In compiling a team in any age bracket, except the 35+ category, the use of younger players is permitted, as long as they come from the age bracket below and that a ten (10) year penalty shall apply to the teams electing to use younger players in their team i.e, You add ten (10) years to the total age of your team. (eg: 45 x 8 = 360 plus 10 = 370). In this situation the total age of your team on the team sheet and throughout the whole match, shall be 370 years.
c) If both teams are unable to field the minimum of 4 men and 4 ladies, all games that can be played will be played. The result shall be the team winning the most points from the games played. Teams must be named from the top.
d) No player may play in more than one match during the time allotted for that session of play.
2.7 TIMES OF PLAY
a) The Committee shall advise all Teams and Players entered, and publish in the manner stated in the notice of the event, the venue and event schedule.
b) Players who are not present when called upon to play at or after the scheduled time, shall forfeit unless otherwise determined by the Referee.
2.8 ORDER OF PLAY
a) Team Captains may decide the order of play to allow play to be continuous. Should captains disagree the order shall be as listed on the playing sheet.
b) Completed team sheets shall be exchanged before the match commences.
2.9 MATCH TIMES
a) The duration of the match will be as stipulated in the official programme or as directed by the Committee.
b) The start and finish of each match shall be signaled. The game in progress, when the signal is given, shall be recorded at that score.
2.10 START OF THE MATCH
a) All matches shall start at the times set by the Committee.
b) If a match is not started on time, the team responsible for the late start shall be penalised:-
For each 5 minutes delay, 5 points shall be deducted from the offending team at the end of the match. Any team more than 40 minutes late shall forfeit the entire match.
c) Where a team cannot field the required number of players in a team, they must list their team from the top positions, and these games only shall be official. Other games may be played by any players. Games to be forfeited under this rule must be played last. Wherever possible, the offending teams must notify the opposition and the Referee prior to the commencement of a match if they are to play under this rule.
d) The provision of these regulations shall not be waived by agreement between the participating team captains.
3. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS FOR TEAM FINALS
a) In Masters events, no player shall be eligible to play in any matches unless the player has been registered on the official registration form at the beginning of the event and has played in at least one (1) match in the qualifying rounds.
b) The organising Committee in conjunction with the Referee may grant special exemption from the provision of this resolution in exceptional circumstances, or where the grading of a player is not an influence on the result.
4. MATCH RESULTS AND SCORING
a) In Masters events, two match points shall be awarded to the team scoring the greater number of points in a match. If points are equal, the team winning the most games will be the winner. If games and points are equal, both teams will score one match point each.
b) At the end of a round robin series, the team in each section having the greatest number of match points will be the winner. If match points are equal, the team with the highest percentage will be the winner.
c) All finals will be decided on points, then games (if points are equal). If a draw is played, the winner will be decided on the percentage of points scored in the sectional matches (round robin groups) leading up to the final play - off.
d) In timed Masters Events there shall be no setting.
e) Forfeits are counted as a score for the team not forfeiting the game. In the event of the game not being played the score is 21 - 0. In the event of a forfeit during a game the forfeiting sides score stands and the opposition receive 21 points.
f) All matches will be played on 1 court unless otherwise directed by the Committee.
g) In the individual events the Committee will at its discretion determine the scoring subject to the determined format, either best of 3 to 15 with setting, (11 for women's singles) or 1 to 21 with or without setting.
5. RESULTS SHEETS
a) Both Teams shall forward the original official match result sheet for each match to the event control centre within 15 minutes of the official match finishing time.
b) Result sheets shall be signed by the captain of each team, who will be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of all details.
6. SUBSTITUTES
a) In the event of a player being injured or becoming ill during a match so that they are unable to continue, a forfeit shall be given to the opposing team for the game in progress. The team in default shall retain all points scored prior to having to withdraw.
b) A substitute of lower standard may be allowed for all remaining games provided that the substitute is eligible in all ways to take part in the match and subject to the approval of the Committee and Referee.
c) A substitute shall be allowed for a listed player who fails to arrive in time for their game.
d) No player shall be permitted to act as an emergency player or substitute without prior approval of the Committee and the Referee.
e) The opposition or teams in the same grade or section shall the right to appeal re the grading of substitutes. If the appeal is granted (players graded too low) the substitute may continue to play but these matches will not count in the official results. This will include game points scored in all matches prior to the appeal.
f) In exceptional circumstances the Committee in conjunction with the Referee may waive the By-Laws and Match Regulations provided the teams concerned are not disadvantaged in any way. Substitution or doubling up will only be allowed with the approval of the Committee in conjunction with the Referee.
7. REFEREE
a) The Committee shall appoint a Referee for the whole of the Masters Games and he shall be responsible for the application of the By Laws and Match Regulations
b) The Referee shall determine all protests and interpretations of the Laws of Badminton
c) The Referee shall determine all appeals, applications or disputes in relation to the rules appertaining to the Masters Games detailed in the By-Laws and Match Regulations. The decision of the Referee is final.
8. WITHDRAWALS
a) Players listed in the team application entry shall be liable for any costs involved, up to the amount of the team entry should the team be withdrawn after the close of entries.
b) Players withdrawing from individual events after the draw has been done, shall not be eligible for any refunds.
9. UMPIRING
a) Teams events - all games shall be umpired by players or their appointed persons.
b) Individual Events - Players will be required to assist with umpiring as part of their obligations under the rules of entering the event. Where applicable and practical the losing player will be responsible to umpire or provide an umpire for the game following or as directed by an event official.
c) Failure to abide by these conditions or assist when requested by an event official may result in disqualification or suspension from the event or events.
10. WALKOVER OR FORFEIT
a) Walkovers or forfeit should not be given without a valid reason. The team(s) responsible may be penalised all points to the time of the offence or the match awarded to their opponents.
b) The Event Committee shall have the power to impose any penalty for each offence covered by this regulation.
11. APPEALS AND PROTESTS
a) All appeals and protests must be lodged in writing to the Referee within 30 minutes of the completion of the match.
b) All appeals and protests in "on court" situations in individual events must be lodged through the Umpire to the Referee.
c) All appeals and protests in individual events must be lodged in writing to the event control centre, in time for action to be taken that may resolve or correct the situation in question.
12. TROPHIES
Trophies or suitable equivalent awards shall be presented to the players or teams winning events.
