The updated League Rules for the 2023/24 season have been approved by the Committee, and are available via the Rules link under 'General' on the homepage.

Please familiarise yourselves with the rule updates, most of which reflect the revised Ladies' League format. The main updates are:

• Rules 2.2 & 8.6: This gives clubs an additional month up to the end of July to notify the League Secretary of team additions or withdrawals for the following season.
• Rue 2.3: The Ladies' League will have two divisions of 6 teams each.
• Rule 2.5: The Ladies' League and Cups will have 4-player teams.
• Rule 3.1: The Ladies' League will have three rounds of fixtures.
• Rule 3.2: There will be an additional fixture deadline of 5th November for Ladies' League 2nd period fixtures.
• Rule 3.8: Only the final fixture between two teams from the same club in the same division has a deadline (of 28th February).
• Rule 4.4: In the Ladies’ League, clubs with multiple teams must nominate a minimum of two players (only) for their first team and a minimum of four players for each lower team.
• Rule 4.4: Clarification that existing nominations carry forward to the playoffs.
• Rule 5.2: Explanation that when becoming tied, in the event of having an equal number of play-ups per team, a player becomes tied to the next-higher team.
• Rule 5.3: New rule that to be eligible for the playoffs, a player must have not only played three times for their club overall but at least once after the first period of fixtures.
• Rule 5.6: If two teams from the same club are scheduled to play in different playoff matches on the same night, a player nominated for the lower team may also play for the higher team.
• Rule 5.6: Ladies may play for two teams in the Ladies' League on the same day.
• Rule 6.2: Clarification that the County pays for the courts and balls for the Cup semis and finals and the playoffs.
• Rule 8.2: The Ladies' League will have 1-up, 1-down automatic promotion/relegation with a playoff for the teams either side of the automatic places.

Joe Witherspoon (League Secretary)

northumbriasquashleagues@gmail.com