Club Rules

Approved by Extraordinary General Meeting on 22 December 2023. All references in the Rules to persons in the plural (e.e.g. ‘they’) are also references to to the singular (e.g. she/he).

1.1 The name of the Club is Biddenden Squash Club.

2.1 The objects of the Club are to provide facilities for and to encourage participation in the playing of Squash Rackets and ancillary purposes.

3.1 The tenancy of the Club premises is vested in the Committee.

4.1 Apart from the payment of membership and other fees as detailed below, no Member of the Club shall be under any liability whatsoever.

5.1 Ordinary Playing Membership:

• Adult (26 or over at the start of the membership year).
• Young adult (age 18-25 at the start of the membership year).
• Junior (under 18 at the start of the membership year).
• Family (two adults and their children (maximum of two children) under the age of 18 at the start of the membership year).
• Social Membership (non-playing member).
• Honorary Membership (in accordance with rule 7).
• Temporary Playing Membership (at the discretion of the Committee, on payment of a fee determined by the Committee).

6.1 Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, or other beliefs, except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of Squash Rackets.

6.2 The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non-discriminatory and fair basis. The club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.

6.3 The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the members.

6.4 The number of members to be enrolled to each class of ordinary membership will be at the discretion of the Committee, except that any guidelines published by England Squash for the number of Playing Members per court will be broadly followed where possible.

6.5 The election of Ordinary Playing and Social Members will be subject to the approval of the Membership Secretary of the Committee.

6.6 When an elected person has paid the Membership Fee, or proportion thereof (see 12.5) they will be a Member of the Club with the rights of the Class of Membership to which they have been elected.

6.7 If an elected person fails to pay their Membership Fee within one month from the date when notification of his election has been posted to him, the Committee may annul their election.

6.8 By applying for and accepting membership, a Member is deemed to have agreed to be bound by these rules.

7.1 The Club, in recognition of services rendered to the Club, or in the promotion of the game of Squash, may confer on any person the distinction of Honorary Member of the Club, by election at a General Meeting, provided that the number of Honorary Members does not constitute more than 5% of the Ordinary (playing and Social) Membership as at the date of election. Honorary Members do not pay annual subscriptions but have the rights of Ordinary Playing Membership of the Club.

8.1 Any Member wishing to resign from the Club may send in their resignation in writing to the Membership Secretary before their subscription becomes due in any year.

8.2 Any Member who has not paid their subscription within one calendar month of the due date will be deemed automatically to have resigned.

9.1 Ordinary Playing Members and Honorary Members (“Playing Members”) may:

• Have keys to the clubhouse and to the courts.
• Use the squash courts subject to rule 17.
• Participate in club tournaments.
• Represent the club in teams.
• Use the bar facilities.
• Participate in club social events.
• Stand for Committee membership.
• Vote at General Meetings.

9.2 Ordinary Social Members may:

• Use the bar facilities.
• Participate in club social events.
• Stand for Committee Membership.
• Vote at General Meetings.
• Use the squash courts as a guest with a playing member subject to rule 17.11.

9.3 Temporary Playing Members may:

• Have keys to the clubhouse and to the courts.
• Use the squash courts subject to rule 17.
• Use the bar facilities.
• Participate in club social events.

9.4 Members may not give or use the address of the club in any advertisement or for any business purpose.

10.1 Members are responsible for the prompt payment of any fees and expenses they incur at the Club.

10.2 Members must notify the Membership Secretary of any change of address and telephone number.

11.1 Should the conduct of any Member either in or out of the Club be, in the opinion of the Committee, detrimental to the reputation, character, good order of welfare of the Club, the Committee may expel the Member, but before a decision for expulsion is made, the Member in question will be entitled to appear before the Committee and make a statement or resign.

11.2 A Member expelled under this Rule has no claim whatsoever against the Club, its Officers or any Member of the Club.

12.1 All Membership Fees and other payments by Members become the sole property of the Club, and the Club is solely responsible for the provision of the Club facilities and all things necessary for the carrying on of the Club.

12.2 The Rates of Membership Fees will be determined by the Club in General Meeting.

12.3 The Club’s year for the purposes of Membership runs from 1st July to 30th June.

12.4 All subscriptions fall due and payable at the beginning of the Club’s Membership Year, or upon Election in accordance with Rule 6.

12.5 For each complete month which has elapsed between the beginning of the Membership Year and the date of a person’s election to Membership, their Membership Fee for that year will be reduced by 1/12. 12.6 In no circumstances will a Member be entitled to any refund of Membership Fee.

13.1 All surplus income or profits are to be reinvested in the club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.

13.2 The Club’s Financial Year runs from 1st April to 31st March.

13.3 The Committee will determine the Club’s banking arrangements, the signatories to bank accounts and the number of signatories required to sign for specific amounts.

13.4 Signatories will normally be the Treasurer and Bar Manager.

13.5 Members of the Committee who are Juniors may not be account signatories.

13.6 A copy of the audited accounts will be circulated to Members at least 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

14.1 At least 21 days’ notice in writing or e-mail of a General Meeting must be given to each Member entitled to vote (or in the case of Family Members to either of the parents). The notice must contain an agenda.

14.2 Notice will be deemed to have been given if delivered by email to the registered email address provided at membership application.

14.3 In each year, within 45 days before and 30 days after the end of the Membership Year, an Annual General Meeting will be held on a date to be decided by the Committee.

14.4 The Committee may call General Meetings from time to time and must do so on demand in writing signed by at least 25 or 20%, (whichever is less) of the Members entitled to vote.

14.5 All Ordinary (Playing and Social) and Honorary Members are entitled to vote at General Meetings and have equal voting rights; no other person is entitled to vote.

14.6 Members may only vote in person.

14.7 A Chair who has already voted does not have an additional casting vote in the event of a tie.

14.8 The Committee will be elected by an Annual General Meeting in accordance with Rule 15.

14.9 The Committee’s report and the balance sheet and accounts will be presented to each Annual General Meeting.

14.10 The Annual General Meeting determines Membership Fees, and Court Fees for the year. These may be varied by General Meeting, except that alteration to Membership Subscriptions may not take effect until the expiry of the current subscription paid by any member.

14.11 General Meetings may decide upon resolutions which have been duly submitted. Notices of resolutions for General Meetings must be received by the Chair at least 10 days before the date of the Meeting and signed by at least one Member of the Club. Notice of any resolutions proposed by a Member or Members is to be circulated to Members by email in advance of the relevant General Meeting.

14.12 A quorum at a General Meeting is 12 or 10% (whichever is less) of the Members entitled to vote.

14.13 Club rules may only be varied by two thirds of the Members present and voting at a General Meeting.

14.14 Minutes from General Meetings will be automatically approved once sent out after 30 days from being published, unless comments are received by a member of the Committee by email or otherwise in writing.

15.1 The purpose of the Committee is to manage all the affairs of the Club not reserved for decision by a General Meeting and to carry out business in pursuance of the objects of the Club. The Committee has the power to act on behalf of the Club in all matters not reserved for the Club in General Meeting, with power to delegate to Sub-Committees to act similarly on behalf of the Club.

15.2 The Committee is elected at the Annual General Meeting and consists of the Chair, Director of Squash, Membership Secretary, Ladies’ Representative, Junior Representative, Bar Manager and Treasurer (the Officers) and not more than 8 other Members.

15.3 Officers and Committee Members must be nominated and seconded by Club Members eligible to vote, but not necessarily present at the Annual General Meeting.

15.4 All Club Members except Temporary Members will be eligible for election to the Committee except that:

• A Junior Member may not be an Officer.
• There may not be more than two Junior Members of the Committee.

15.5 Committee Members must resign at the Annual General Meeting but are eligible for reelection, if proposed and seconded.

15.6 The Committee may appoint a Member or Members of the Club who would be eligible for election to the Committee to fill any unfilled position or to replace a Member who has left the Committee for any reason.

15.7 The Committee must appoint a Sub-Committee of two or more of its Members, who may not be Junior Members, to oversee the purchase and the supply by the Club of intoxicating liquor.

15.8 The Committee may elect any of its Members to form a Sub-Committee or Sub-Committees for any other purpose or purposes.

15.9 A quorum at meetings of the Committee is 4 Committee Members including at least one of the Officers.

16.1 The purchase for the Club and the supply by the Club of intoxicating liquor will be under the control of a Sub-Committee appointed in accordance with Rule 15.7 and subject always to the terms of the applicable licence issued by the relevant licensing authority.

If any Member of the Committee appointed to the Sub-Committee ceases to be a Member of the Committee they automatically cease to have such responsibility and another Member of the Committee must be appointed in their place.

16.2 No intoxicating liquor may be supplied for consumption off the premises except to a Member in person.

16.3 Intoxicating liquor may not be supplied to a Member or guest except:

• At premises in respect of which the Club is registered,
• At any premises or place which the Club is using on a special occasion for the accommodation of Members and to which persons other than Members and their guests are not permitted access.

16.4 At any premises or place where the Club is serving intoxicating liquor, other than the premises for which the Club is registered, it may be supplied only for consumption on those premises or in that place.

16.5 Except as set out in 16.6 and 16.7, intoxicating liquor may be sold only to Members of the Club, and in accordance with the provisions of the Licensing Acts from time to time in force.

16.6 Any Member may introduce guests to the Bar (but not if such guest is a person whose application for Membership has been declined or who has been expelled from the Club). Members are responsible for their guests at all times. A guest may not remain on the Club premises after the Member introducing them has left.

16.7 Intoxicating liquor may be sold to persons who are not Members of the Club or Members’ guests, for consumption on the premises and in accordance with the Licensing Acts from time to time in force, provided that they are members of a sports club affiliated to the Biddenden Village Hall Management Committee which has been specifically approved by the Committee.

16.8 It is the responsibility of any sports club affiliated to the Biddenden Village Hall Management Committee to which the Committee has agreed to supply liquor, to supply the Committee with the names and addresses of its members who are aged 18 years and over.

16.9 Members of such Clubs may introduce guests in accordance with Rule 16.6.

16.10 Children under the age of 14 years must at all times be accompanied in the Bar by an adult.

16.11 Hours of opening will be as determined by the Committee and may not exceed the general licensing hours in force in the district, but (subject to any further restriction under the general licensing hours in force in the district)

• So that there is a break of at least 2 hours in the afternoon,
• And on Sundays, Christmas Days and Good Fridays the break must include the hours from 3 pm to 5 pm and the Bar must not be open for more than 3 & 1/2 hours after 5 pm.

16.12 No person, other than a supplier of relevant bar supplies in an arm’s length transaction, may:

• Receive, at the expense of the Club, any commission, percentage or similar payment on or with reference to purchases of intoxicating liquor by the Club,
  Or directly or indirectly derive any pecuniary benefit from the supply of intoxicating liquor by or on behalf of the Club to Members or guests apart from any benefit accruing to the Club as a whole.

This rule does not prevent the payment of wages to bar staff.

17.1 The courts will be opened and closed at hours determined by the Committee. Until otherwise determined, the courts may be used from 7 am to 11 pm. Any alteration will be notified to Members in writing (including by email).

17.2 Court sessions will be 40 minutes.

17.3 Payment for Court time will be by meter which will operate the lights.

17.4 Courts may be booked online through the booking system from 8 pm up to 7 days in advance.

17.5 If a Member is not present on Court 10 minutes after a booking begins any member waiting may use that Court for the remainder of the booked session.

17.6 Members must vacate the courts at the end of the booked time, regardless of whether the lights paid for have run out or they have finished their game, if another member has booked and is waiting to play. This rule is waived in the case of special Club Tournament arrangements from time to time, and in the case of Club matches in accordance with 17.8.

17.7 If a Club match is being played, the match has the right to finish. If possible, any waiting members will be allowed to play on later.

17.8 Court fees will be determined by the Club in General Meeting.

17.9 Separate rates will apply to : Peak Times – from 5:20 pm to 8 pm. Monday to Friday; Off Peak – all other times.

17.10 Shoes which mark or damage the floors may not be worn on the Courts.

17.11 Only non-marking balls may be used.

17.12 A Playing Member may introduce a visitor to play Squash up to a maximum of two occasions per visitor. Any visitor who wishes to play at the Club on more than two occasions must first become a member of the Club.

18.1 The rules for play will be the World Squash Singles Rules or the World Squash Doubles Rules, as amended from time to time, published by the World Squash Federation, , except insofar as they are modified by England Squash and/or any local rules adopted by the Club in General Meeting or determined by the Director of Squash for particular tournaments.

19.1 The Committee may from time to time make, vary and revoke Byelaws not inconsistent with these Rules for the regulation of the internal affairs of the Club and the conduct of Members. All Byelaws will be binding on the Members until revoked by the Committee or by the Club in General Meeting.

20.1 Admission to the Club’s premises may be refused to any non-member without explanation.

21.1 All complaints must be made in writing to a member of the Committee.

22.1 The Club, the Officers, Committee Members and employees of the Club or of the Biddenden Village Hall Management Committee, and any person connected with either have no liability to any Member, Visitor or Guest or any other person or corporation for any loss of or damage to any property or for the death of or injury to such person howsoever or wheresoever it occurs.

23.1 Apon dissolution of the Club any remaining assets shall be given or transferred to another registered CASC, a registered charity or the sport’s governing body for use by them in related community sports.

24.1 Any dispute that may arise as to the meaning or interpretation of Club Rules or otherwise will be decided by the Committee whose decision will be final and binding.