Rule Proposals for 2026

(In the order they appear in the handbook, almost. Adjusted to put Leigh's in the right order for voting)

Leigh & Holcombe Brook:

Rule 1 – after the word “Competition” in the second sentence the following words are inserted “or is not currently registered or affiliated with a Professional Tennis Body with an active ranking in singles or doubles or has not played in a Senior Professional Tour Event within the last 3 years of the first day of the current season.”

Carried 21 for 11 against

The Committee: That there should be an addition to Government Rule 1

1. Competitors shall be amateurs. For the purposes of these rules, an amateur is one who does not receive remuneration or consideration (appearance
money or travel expenses) of any kind directly or indirectly, whilst representing their club in a Competition. Any player with a doubles or singles ranking in the top hundred at the time of a match will be deemed to be fully professional.

Carried 20 for 10 against and 1 abstention

The Committee:

Re Players and Eligibility rule 7 (e): That the second part of this rule be amended.

When a club's higher team is short of player (s) for a particular match, ~~then points~~ games won may be deducted from all lower teams, with fixtures on that day, as follows:
~~First offence - one point; Second offence two pts; Third offence three pts~~

First offence - the lower teams should lose the last won set to love.
Second offence – the lower teams should lose the last two sets won to love.
Third offence – the lower teams should lose the last three sets won to love.

Amendment:

Re Players and Eligibility rule 7 (e): That the second part of this rule be amended.

When a club's higher team is short of player (s) for a particular match, then points may be deducted from all lower teams, with fixtures on that day. ~~as follows:~~
~~First offence - one point; Second offence two pts; Third offence three pts~~

The amendment was carried 21 for 10 against and 1 abstention

Lostock:

That Registration & Eligibility Rule 7 (b) be simplified:

(b) ~~A player in a lower team may play in a higher team but cannot represent~~ No player shall play for two teams in the same league in the same fixture week, unless the fixture date has been altered by the Administrative Committee. However, in the Junior League players may play more than once in the same fixture week on two occasions during the season.

Carried 26 for 5 against

Lostock:

That Registration & Eligibility rule 7 (a), (c) & (d) be replaced as shown:

7. (a) In multi-team clubs, players should be selected in order of ability. Lower ranked players shall not play above higher ranked players. If it appears that a lower team has been artificially strengthened, the Administrative Committee may score sets in the lower team's match 6-0.
c) If a team does not have a match for any reason, a player cannot play for the team immediately below if they have played two or more league matches for the higher teams than they have played for the team below. If a club has broken this rule, the same criteria will then be applied to all its lower teams playing in that fixture week.
(d) In the second half of the season a player who has played half or more of their league matches for the higher team cannot play for the lower team if that leaves the higher team weakened or short of players

A team shall consist of 3 couples except in the junior league where it will consist of 2 couples.

Teams shall be selected in order of playing ability so that the best 3 couples form the first team, the next best 3 couples the second team, and so on through all the teams within a club at the discretion of the club’s selection committee.

For each week of the scheduled fixtures during the season a club must select players for all its teams as if all the teams were fulfilling fixtures on the same evening. Thus, if in a given week a higher team(s) does not have a scheduled fixture, lower teams must not be strengthened by players who would normally have played for the team(s) without a fixture.

If it appears that a lower team has been artificially strengthened, the Administrative Committee may score sets in the lower team’s match 6-0.

Defeated 7 for 22 against with 2 abstentions

The Committee: Subject to the above, that the second sentence of 7 (a) be deleted.

Defeated 8 for 20 against with 3 abstentions

The Committee: Registration & Eligibility should have the following addition:

Any player in Division One who was not registered at the start of the season, must have played for their club at least twice in any of the Bolton League competitions or have their sets forfeited to love.

Carried 25 for 6 against

Registration & Eligibility rule 7 (f):

Holcombe Brook:

In the Ladies A team it should be a player has to have played 2 matches to be eligible for last 2 weeks not 3.

Amendment by David Lloyd Bolton:

That the Ladies League be exempt from the Division One rule requiring three appearances to be eligible to play in the last two weeks of the season. i.e. They only have to have played once.

The amendment was carried 17 for 9 against with 5 abstentions

Lostock:

That 7 (f) para 3 onwards should be amended as shown:

In all other divisions, with the exception of the junior league and the lowest team in any club with more than two teams, only players who have played at least once for their club in that competition prior to the last two fixture weeks are eligible to play.
The Match Secretary must be informed prior to ~~in advance of~~ the match of any player needed for the lowest team who is not eligible as above and confirmation given that the said player is not of a higher standard than the usual team players.

Carried 28 for 2 against and 1 abstention

Men's, Mixed & Ladies Competition Rule 1

Hawkshaw: That in the mixed league we should revert back to a system similar to to old format where ladies and gents sets are also played. An example from the Badminton League was suggested.

3 mixed pairs

MIXED - Home 1 Vs away 1
MIXED - Home 2 Vs away 2
MIXED - Home 3 Vs away 3

MIXED - Home 2 Vs away 1
MIXED - Home 1 Vs away 2
MENS - Home man 3 and 1 Vs away man 3 and 1
MENS - Home man 3 and 2 Vs away man 3 and 2
LADIES - Home lady 3 and 1 Vs away lady 3 and 1
LADIES - Home lady 3 and 2 Vs away lady 3 and 2

Defeated 3 for 26 against with 2 abstentions

Leigh:

Rule 6 – Proposal for Mens and Mixed Division1 teams only: The general provisions of Rule 6 are unaltered in that if both captains agree for an abandonment, then the abandoned result will stand. However, if the match has commenced and a ‘milestone’ has been reached (for example – the completion of 6 sets) and there is then a question as to the whether the courts or conditions are unfit for play AND the result has yet to be determined then the match is capable of being completed at a later date picking up exactly at the point of the original cessation of play.

Defeated 4 for 23 against and 1 abstention

Leigh amendment: Rule 6. The rule is removed completely, and a new system is introduced where all fixtures are played, with matches rearranged in the event of inclement weather or an unfit playing surface.

Defeated 4 for 26 against and 1 abstention

Subject to the above. If either of the above are passed the following are not needed.

Leigh:

Men's, Mixed and Ladies' Competition Rules - Rule 4 – That this rule is amended to1 this rule is amended to: “The points awarded shall be as follows: a match won 2 points; a match abandoned 0 points, unless a team is in a winning position (meaning 5 sets have been achieved) then the result shall stand. (The result shall be determined by the aggregate sets won in the match).

Leigh Amendment:

The points awarded shall be as follows: a match won 3 points; a match abandoned 1 point, unless a team is in a winning position (meaning 5 sets have been achieved) when the result shall stand. (The result shall be determined by the aggregate sets won in the match).

The amendment carried 17 for 9 against with 5 abstentions

Proposed Rule Changes for 2026