Hello gals and guys - and badminton fans..

So after a break last season we are restarting the Badminton Team
League. We have made a few changes to the rules, so here is the
list of the essentials:

1. One Round Robin play will be followed by single elimination Play-
offs. Based on number of teams, we will play about one team match in
every 3 to 4 weeks.

2. Each team match will consist of 2 MS, 2 WS, 1 XD, 1 MD, 1 WD. Women
can play in both women and male events. Scoring will be same as
official IBF scoring system (currently 21x3), and all the rules of IBF should be
followed, including sportsmanship and clothing regulations.

3. In each team match-up, a player can play in maximum of two individual
matches.

4. In each team match-up, for each team, two individual matches must be
played with a player who is EITHER under 21 years old on the day of
the match, OR has never made it to a final of A, consolation A, or B
brackets in any tournaments (regional, national or outside-the-USA)
in the last two calendar years. The players must be identified to the
opposing team captains 2 days before the match in the proposed line-up.

5. For a first team match-up, the teams are designated as "Home" or Away"
by mutual agreement of team captains or by coin-toss. This will
change by rotation the next time there is a match-up. The Away team
must provide the players and doubles teams as the line-up of the
match 2 days prior to the match - while the Home team will be allowed
to field suitable players and doubles teams against the proposed line-
up on the match day - but prior to start of the first match. Teams
can make changes to the line-up only due to serious injury or by
mutual agreement of team captains. If an Away player in the line-up
is a no-show, the match in which the player was to play will be
considered a default to the opposing team. Emergency excuses may be
accepted - but the league organizers decision will be final. The next
time the teams meet, the Home/Away designation will switch - if there
are more than two meetings, the designation will continue to switch.

6. There is at least $400 available for the price money, plus team
registration of $50 per team. Half of the cash will go to the
winning team, a quarter to the runner up, and the rest to the
reminder of teams. There will be an MVP award for both male and
female player, and a Sportsmanship award, all voted by the team
captains and the league organizer. Moreover, funds will be available
for gasoline reimbursement for participating teams based outside of
Chicago area.

7. Match results will need to be emailed by "Home" team captains within a
day, and will be posted on the league's web
http://www.BadmintonLeague.com
To register, team captains should send email with name of their
teams, list containing their teams initial roster, including the
contact information (at least email and a phone number) for
themselves, and place of their gym (place where they intend to
host their matches), and a check for $50, to
Milan@...
Teams need not have a gym to host matches as the "Home/Away"
designations will rotate as stated in #5.

8. Once a player has played a match for one team in the league in the round
robin phase, she/he cannot play on another team unless a request is
made and approved by all team captains. Only those players playing
in at least one individual match in round robin phase are eligible to
play in play-off phase.

9. Advertising of team sponsored is allowed, and definitely encouraged. A
small sponsorship of a team can go a long way. Teams could include
the name of their sponsor in the name of their team. (e.g. a
sponsorship could help pay for team uniforms…)

10. Decision of the League Organizer will be final and binding in the
event of a disagreement.

More details will be posted at:
http://www.BadmintonLeague.com
So Ladies and Gentlemen
- start your engines and lets get the teams going!

[Thanks to Milan Kratka for the initiative]