Club Etiquette

The club has a set of unwritten rules and guidelines to help ensure all players have an enjoyable night of badminton. As the club has grown in size in recent years, it is becoming increasingly difficult to communicate with everyone the fundamentals on which the club is built. This brief guide aims to remind all players of the club's core values and the spirit in which we play the game.

Most of the guidelines are common courtesy, whilst others are specific to the badminton court. By adhering to the club's guidelines on etiquette, you will be helping us provide a safe, warm, and friendly environment for playing badminton.

Courtesy

• The number one rule is respect and consideration for other players. Treat others as how you would like to be treated. Under no circumstances shall a player subject anyone to abuse of any kind (be it verbal or physical). At the discretion of the committee, players who are found to be in breach of this rule will no longer be permitted to play.
• At times, you may be paired up with players less advanced than yourself. Look after them, offer help, and make them feel welcome on court. Remember, everyone has to start from somewhere and you were once a beginner too.
• Try not to complain about the games you have or have not been given. The committee members are all volunteers and believe the peg board system is the fairest way of setting up games. If you aren't receiving a good mixture of games on a particular night, you may kindly bring it to the attention of a committee member who should be able to assist.
• Avoid using foul language.

Equipment

• If you arrive early please assist with setting up the club box and the net heights and position on court. If no keyholder has arrived please go to reception to obtain the spare key.
• On arrival members are to ‘peg and pay’ before walking on to court to warm up or commence a game.
• Similarly if you are the last players at the club, please help put away the equipment and collect any remaining shuttlecocks left on the floor, lock the club box and return to the store cupboard provided by the centre.

Court

• To ensure everyone's safety, do not walk across the court whilst games are in progress. Walk around the court instead.
• Please leave the courts tidy. Take away or dispose of any rubbish you are responsible for.

Games

• Introduce yourself to your partner if you have never met. You may optionally introduce yourself to your opponents, if practical.
• Toss the shuttlecock up to determine which side will serve.
• If your shuttlecock lands on another court, wait for a break in play before retrieving it.
• If you lose the point and the shuttlecock is on your side of the court, it is considered polite to fetch and return the shuttlecock to the opponent's court.
• After a game, thank everyone by giving them a high five or handshake.
• Help us keep the court clean by returning all used shuttlecocks to club box. If a shuttlecock can be re-used please place it in one of the tubes to the right hand side. Damaged ones should be disposed of in the bin provided by the centre at the end of the evening.

Line Calls

• Make fair line calls when the shuttlecock lands on your side of the court.
• The person nearest to the shuttlecock has the final decision and the call should not be disputed.
• If you are in doubt as to whether the shuttlecock is in or out, either call it in favour of your opponent or play a let.
• Importantly, respect and accept your opponent's calls - no matter how wrong it may be.
• If the shuttlecock hits the ceiling, it is considered a fault.
• You should play a let if the shuttlecock hits the lights, vents, or anything else below the ceiling.

Have Fun

• We encourage friendly competition and rivalries, but we place greater emphasis on having fun.
• Don't take things too seriously.
• Be gracious in victory and defeat.
• Smile and laugh often.