Phoenix Club Rules

1. TITLE. The name of the club shall be Phoenix Tennis Club.
2. OBJECT. The object of the club shall be to provide facilities for the playing of tennis, both socially and competitively.
3. MANAGEMENT. The club shall be managed by a committee consisting of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Winter Tennis Organizer, and four other members to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting of the club. Committee meetings shall be held as required, with a quorum of four.
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS. Subscriptions and match fees and payment conditions shall be set at rates determined by the members at each Annual General Meeting.
5. MEMBERSHIP. The membership conditions and numbers shall be determined by the members at each Annual General Meeting. The procedure that shall operate when someone applies to join the club is that, if vacancies exist, they are invited to join in club play for a few sessions, paying the normal club visitor's fee. This allows them the opportunity to see whether the club is right for them, and to give the club committee the chance to see whether they are right for the club. At the next committee meeting, the application will be considered and a decision taken as to whether a joining form be offered to the player for completion or whether they be advised that the club is not in the position to accept them for membership. In reaching their decision, the Committee shall have in mind the need to maintain a reasonable standard of tennis ability throughout the membership.
6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The Annual General Meeting of the club will normally be held in September of each year. At least fourteen days' notice of such meeting shall be given to all members.
7. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS. Special General Meetings of the club may be called at the behest of the committee or by written request to the Secretary, such request being signed by at least ten members. Within seven days of such request, notices shall be sent to all members giving fourteen days' notice of said meeting.
8. TEAM TITLES. All teams entered by the club in competition shall play under the title of ``Phoenix Mens,'' ``Phoenix Ladies,'' or ``Phoenix Mixed,'' dependent upon the competition.
9. LEAGUE COMPETITIONS. The club shall ensure its members are made aware of the competition rules.
10. ALTERATION TO RULES. Alterations to these rules may be made only by the Annual General Meeting. Any proposed change must be submitted to the Secretary at least seven days before said meeting.
11. WINTER TENNIS. Winter Tennis, at times and venues agreed at the AGM, is open to all members of Phoenix Tennis Club and members of other Clubs affiliated to the Colchester and District Tennis League without any further subscription but on payment of a fee for each session. It is also open to the guests of members on the payment of a visitor's fee. All guests must be introduce personally by members who should satisfy themselves that the proposed visitor's tennis ability is similar to the general standard of Club play. Visitors may not be admitted to Club membership during the winter session.
12. FORMATION OF GAMES. At all Club sessions (other than American Tournaments), members involved in inter-club matches, individual club or league events or in team practice shall have priority in the choice of courts and the formation of sets. Otherwise `fours' will be selected by the `spin of rackets' giving priority to members waiting at the time a set is concluded. If no one is waiting and two or more games conclude simultaneously, `winners move' may be adopted provided this is unanimously acceptable.
13. DRESS CODE. Normal tennis dress (shirts, shorts, skirts) should be worn and should be predominately white when representing Phoenix Tennis Club in inter-Club events. Sweatshirts and track suits can be worn as desired. Singlets, jeans and unsuitable trainers are not permitted at any time.
14. DISSOLUTION. The Club may only be dissolved after: (i) An AGM or SGM has resolved that dissolution should take place; and (ii) A SGM, called under rule 7, has confirmed that dissolution should a take place by the vote of at least two-thirds of the members present. Dissolution should be put into effect by the last-elected Club Committee who, after discharging all Club obligations, shall divide the remaining funds between all registered members of the Club during its final year of operation.
15. TRUSTEES. The Club shall elect two Trustees at each Annual General Meeting who shall be empowered as follows: (i) to enter into such contracts and agreements as are necessary to put into effect decisions taken by the Club at its General Meetings or Committee Meetings and which are in accordance with the rules of the Club; (ii) to ensure that all contracts and agreements entered into by the Club are consistent with the Club's financial programme and status. To carry out this duty they shall have access at all reasonable times to all documents and accounts relative to the finances of the Club. The Trustees shall receive notification of all Committee and General Meetings and be entitled to attend these, but shall have no voting rights solely arising from their Trusteeship.
16. OTHER MATTERS. Any matter not explicitly covered by these rules shall be decided by the Committee.

Captains' duties

Home Matches

1. Provide tea, sugar, milk, squash, dish-cloth, tea-towel, washing-up liquid.
2. Sort out pairings. Make out score-card, enter both christian and surnames.
3. Post score-card no later than the next day.
4. Enter the result on the fixture list on the noticeboard in the Spring Lane pavilion, Phoenix score first.
5. Note for C&D matches: if a match is started and then abandoned, new balls must be provided for the re-arranged match even if only one point was played with them previously. See Rule III.9. If you require more new balls contact Brian Eves.
6. Collect balls and pass them on to the Balls Controller (Brian Eves) as soon as possible after each match. (DO NOT RETAIN UNTIL END OF SEASON, DO NOT PUT INTO CLUB PLAY).
7. DO NOT put food scraps in the bins inside the clubhouse. Food scraps should be put in the bins outside the clubhouse (or, better still take them home for the garden birds).
8. Lock up courts, pavilion and gates.

Away matches

1. Sort out pairings.
2. Enter the result on the fixture list on the noticeboard in the Spring Lane pavilion, Phoenix score first.

Please note that any expenses incurred while carrying out your duty as Team Captain (phone calls, stationery etc) can be reimbursed by the Club Teasurer (David Morran).

Please note that it is the duty of higher division team captains (i.e. Ladies A, Mens' A and Mixed A) to inform players who play up that they can only play up once before they become ineligible to play for lower division teams. This must be made particularly clear to reserve players whose playing is not monitored by any team captain.