Mid Cheshire Table Tennis League

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PLAYER SUBSTITUTION

The ‘substitution’ rule prior to the 2009 AGM allowed substitutions, providing the substitute did not ‘strengthen’ the team.  The rule prevented teams from using a substitute to gain an advantage, but did allow clubs some flexibility to use a ‘weaker’ player from a ‘lower ranked team’ in order to fulfil a fixture. 

Unfortunately, the rule was open to interpretation as to the definition of ‘strengthening’ a team – leaving the potential for disputes requiring a Management Committee decision to resolve the issue after the event.   In the interest of ‘fairness’, the change to the rule at the 2009 AGM led to the adoption of a ‘no substitutes’ rule. 

The Management Committee now considers that the principle of allowing substitutes, whilst NOT strengthening a team, has two potential benefits:

1.    Fewer cancelled matches and fewer matches played with only two players.

2.    Clubs may register fewer players per team, creating the potential for clubs to field more teams, expanding the league.

The Management Committee therefore seeks to re-instate and provide clarity of the substitution rule:

Rule amendments, principles for voting:
 

1.    Do you want to consider allowing substitutes, providing the substitute does not ‘strengthen’ the team being assisted? :carried

2.    Should substitutes only be allowed provided a team is unable to field 3 team members from its registered players (i.e. to prevent ‘tactical’ substitutions)? :carried

3.    In attempting to provide a definition that prevents  strengthening the  team, the Management Committee has identified this option..

a) Any substitute must be of equal or lower banding than the lowest banded member registered for the team he is aiding :carried

4.    In attempting to provide clarity of who can substitute for whom, the Management Committee has identified this option. 

a) Any member of any club in the league may play as a substitute only for another team of the same club

Amendment

a) Any member of any club in the league may play as a substitute for any team of any club :carried

5.   In addition, should players be prevented from playing as a substitute?

a) for any team in a lower Division than they are registered? :carried

(this has given some concern in the past but maybe nothing more is needed if the banding restriction is satisfied)

 6.    Should there be a limit on the number of times a team may use a substitute?        

        the committee recommends no more than 4 times without reference back to the committee. :carried

Peter Clarke

MCTTL League Secretary

last updated 18/08/2010