BELBROUGHTON TENNIS CLUB

 

- RULES -

 

1.          Name and status

 

The Club is called the Belbroughton Tennis Club (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Club’)

 

2.          Objects

 

            The objects of the Club are: -

 

               (a)    to promote interest in the game of tennis at all levels within the local area by means of club membership.

 

               (b)    to encourage junior members by making coaching and specific court time available to them.  Junior members are encouraged to make themselves available for selection for the Club Teams

 

3.          Committee and Officers

 

            (a)    The Club will be administered in accordance with these rules by a Committee (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Club Committee’) consisting of the officers, and up to four other members of the Club, one of whom shall be the Membership Secretary.

 

               (b)    The Officers shall comprise a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

 

               (c)     The election of the Officers and Committee shall take place annually at the Annual General Meeting.

 

               (d)    The Club Committee shall have power to fill a casual vacancy and a member so elected shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.

 

4.          Club Membership - The Club has the following membership categories

 

A

Family

2 Adults at the same address

(+ additional fee for each child or young person at same address) to cover the LTA subscription *

B

Single parent

1 Adult

(+ additional fee for each child or young person at same address to cover the LTA subscription) *

C

Adult

 

D

Young adult

18 – 25 (1st April)

E

Young adult

In higher education (1st April)

F

Junior

Under 18 (1st April)

G

Performance

Juniors by Invitation of Head Coach

H

Social

 

 

               *For the purpose of membership a person’s age shall be his/her age on 1st April

 

              

 

5.          Membership Subscriptions

 

            (a)   The rate of subscriptions for each category for the year commencing 1st April shall be fixed by the Club Committee annually.  At the discretion of the Club Committee a reduction in subscriptions may be made for members renewing their membership prior to 31 March.

 

               (b)    New members during the year will pay a full subscription but they will receive a pro-rata rebate less the LTA levy upon renewing their membership in the following year.   

 

6.          Eligibility for Membership

 

            Persons of either sex shall be eligible for membership. Persons below the age of 18 years are classified as junior members and do not have the right to hold office or to vote at general meetings.

 

7.          Application for Membership

 

            (a)    All applications for membership shall be on the prescribed application form and shall be accompanied by either payment of the subscription in full or by a completed standing order form. Members are also expected to provide appropriate information as requested by the L.T.A

              

               (b)    The Club Committee shall have power to accept or reject applications for membership. Such decisions shall be a vote of the Club Committee with the Club Chairman having a casting vote

 

8.          Limit on Membership

 

            The Club committee shall have the power to limit the number of members in total or in categories.

 

9.          Termination of Membership

 

            Membership may be terminated by any of the following circumstances:

 

               (a)    on receipt of a letter of resignation; members who give notice after 30th June in any year shall be liable to pay the subscription due for the full year.

 

            (b)    by expulsion by the Club Committee in accordance with Rule 10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.     Expulsion

 

            (a)    The Club Committee shall have power by a resolution passed by not less than three fourths of the members present and voting at its relevant meeting to expel

                        any member who shall infringe any rule or whose conduct shall in its opinion render him unfit for membership of the Club.

 

            (b)   No member shall be expelled without first being afforded an opportunity to put his case in person to the Club Committee. Seven days notice shall be given by the Club to the member of his being summoned before the Club Committee and such notice shall contain a statement of the complaint brought against him.

 

 

11.     Complaints

 

The club aims to avoid disagreements and hopes that all members will reach amicable settlements in the spirit of promoting harmony within the Club. If this proves not to be possible then all complaints should be in writing to the committee who will discuss the complaint at the first opportunity. Prior to this meeting Committee Members will discuss the complaint with he individuals concerned so as to ascertain the facts. Other parties involved will also be invited to make written representations stating their case. The Committee will decide on the best course of action which we hope will be accepted in the best interests of the Club.

 

If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached then the matter is to be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the full membership of the club whose decision shall be final

 

12.     The Treasurer

 

            The Treasurer shall keep appropriate records showing the income and expenditure of the Club. He shall be required to produce books and records for audit when required.

 

13.     Secretary

 

            The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Club Committee in person or by a deputy approved by the Club Committee. He shall keep minutes of the proceedings of all Club Committee meetings and shall ensure that a complete list of all members of the Club at any one time is maintained and is open to inspection by any member of the Club.

 

14.     Proceedings of the Club Committee

 

            (a)    A quorum of the Club Committee shall be four.

 

               (b)    In the event of a tie of voting the Chairman of the meeting shall have a second casting vote.

 

               (c)     Any three of the Club Committee may, by giving seven days notice in writing to the Secretary require them to call a special meeting thereof at which meeting no business other than that specified in the notice shall be taken into consideration.

 

           

15.     General Meeting

 

               (a)   An Annual General Meeting shall be held during the month of January each year.

 

               (b)    A Special General meeting shall be held whenever the Club Committee thinks expedient, and whenever 25 members so request in writing delivered to the Secretary. Should the secretary fail within 14 days to convene a Special general Meeting when so requested, the Requisitionists may convene it by giving such notice as is mentioned in the following clause.

 

               (c)     Seven days notice of every General Meeting and seven days notice of every Special General Meeting stating the business to be transacted at such meeting shall be given to every member in writing, left at or posted to his last known address, and no other business than that stated in the notice shall be brought before the meeting.

 

               (d)    At all General Meetings the Chairman, or if they are not present, the Vice Chairman shall preside. Ten members shall form a quorum.

 

               (e)    In the event of an equality of votes the officer then presiding at the meeting shall have an additional casting vote.

 

16.     Dissolution

 

            (a)   The Club may be dissolved at any time by a resolution passes by three fourths of those members present and voting at a Special General Meeting.

 

               (b)    In the event of the resolution being accepted any assets in the possession of the Club shall forthwith be transferred to any relevant creditor and the remainder to the Treasurer of the Belbroughton Recreation Ground committee.

 

17.     Playing Regulations (Appendix 1)

 

            The playing of Tennis and the use of the tennis courts shall be governed by regulations made from time to time by the Club Committee.

 

18.     Tennis Club Lease

 

            Members shall comply with the terms of ‘The Tennis Courts Lease’ dated 19th April 2005 between Belbroughton Parish Council, The Trustees of Belbroughton Recreation centre and The Trustees of Belbroughton Tennis Club.

 

19.     Alterations to Club Rules

 

            The Club Rules may be amended by the Club Committee when and if necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1

 

Playing Regulations

Correct Use of the Tennis Courts

 

 

1.        Court Rules  

Courts 1 and 2  - Club Members

 

There is no formal booking system for these courts. If both courts are occupied on arrival, the players who have been on the court for the longest period finish their set and hand over the court to the new arrivals. If court 3 has not been booked it can be utilised.

 

Doubles have preference over singles.

 

Non-members are accepted provided they are accompanied by a club member and pay a visitor’s fee of £2 per head. The club member is responsible for the visitor’s fee and their compliance with club regulations. The fee should be placed through the letter box into the honesty box situated on the inside of the Club Room door and accessed via the letter box.

 

Non-members are limited to playing four times in one year. Thereafter they should apply for membership.

 

On leaving the courts, the players are responsible for the net being lowered and the gates locked when leaving the courts empty.

 

Court 3

 

Members should be aware that at certain times this court may be booked by members of the public.

 

2.        Correct Attire

 

ONLY shoes suitable for tennis should be worn on the courts. Trainers with black soles or deeply ridged soles must not be worn as they will mark and/or damage the court surfaces.

 

Only clothes suitable for tennis should be worn – defined as recognised tennis clothing as sold in sports shops and major stores. Coloured tracksuits are allowed but jeans, jeans shorts, football shorts and socks are not considered to be correct tennis wear.

 

3.        Waiting for a court

 

If all three courts are taken and you are waiting to play, please DO NOT enter the courts. Wait OUTSIDE the netting until the players who have been on the longest finish their set and come off the court.

 

4.        Court Times

 

The Committee will allocate times for Club Mix-In’s when all full members who are able to rally are welcome to play. Junior members are welcome at the discretion of the committee. Other times will be set aside for the practice of the Teams. All members who wish to be considered to play Team Tennis are encouraged to attend these sessions. Please speak to the team Captains if you are unsure about your standard of tennis.

Times of these sessions will be advertised upon the Club Web Site. The times of team Matches will also be advertised on the Web Site and in the Window of the Club House

 

5.        Coaching

 

Sessions will also be set aside for The Club Coaches to undertake their duties with the times advertised on the Club Web Site. The Coaches may not be using all courts and at these times members are welcome to play on the remaining courts. If you are unsure please approach the Coach for guidance as they will always try to accommodate members

 

6.        Consideration for other players

 

When walking on and off the courts, please consider other players.

WAIT until a rally has ended before walking behind them.

 

If your balls stray into the other courts, please ask for them to be returned at a convenient moment in the other player’s game.

 

Appropriate conduct on court is expected. Loud and/or vulgar language should not be used and aggressive or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated.

 

 

Thank you for your help in observing these simple rules

 

 

 

 

1st February 2008