2023/24 Winter League

So it’s time to start thinking about the 7th(!) incarnation of the Winter league, I have published details on Facebook and an email will be circulated this week, however if you wish to register interest now then let me know via [email protected] no need to pay now….

As always format will be a triples (played first) followed by a doubles and a singles – teams can consist of 3 players or more with no limit on the number used throughout the season – registration remains at £12 per team, (£2 per team increase for the first time , trophies are getting more expensive!) which will include entry into the cup unless you indicate otherwise.

The league will start on 22nd Oct and run through until late March (date tbc) and will be leagues of 5 as far as we can accommodate – matches will be scheduled but I will impose no deadlines for them to be played and trust that if you register to play in the cold and rain then you are keen enough to play 8 matches in over 5 months, experience to date has largely proven this to be true so fingers crossed it continues….

The Summer League 2023 fixtures list is posted on the SCPA website. It gives the dates on which both home and away fixtures are expected to be played and all fixtures should be played within six weeks of the original fixture date or before the end of the season, whichever is the sooner. The guidance on arranging fixtures in the Captains Handbook makes it clear that as soon as any fixture is rearranged details of the change to the fixture list should be submitted to the Fixtures Officer.

Some teams have been rescheduling matches by reversing the home and away fixtures, but this will usually mean that the fixture listed to be played first on the website will fall outside the six-week window. Fixture reversal is often a sensible way to get around problems with the availability of a playing venue and this is the only reason that fixture reversal should be used. As soon as both teams agree on fixture reversal, the home captain must notify the Fixtures Officer, giving details of why the venue could not be used. If reversed fixture games are played without notifying the Fixtures Officer, the fixtures list can show games as not being completed within the six-week window and the teams involved may be referred to the Disputes Panel who will then request clarification.

After the successful introduction of a triples league last year we will be running the second incarnation this year. The leagues will be randomly drawn and will be no bigger than 5 but aiming, dependent on numbers, for 4 teams per league so 6 games between April 3rd April & 17th September alongside a knockout cup and plate – each team can consist of 4 players (the same 4 players throughout the season) and a match will consist of 2 games with 3 points awarded for a 2-0, 1 point each for a 1-1 and in the event of a 1-1 a bonus point will be awarded for the team with the highest aggregate over the 2 games.

The cup event will, from round 1 be best of 3. The entry fee is £10 with all fees going to trophies and prizes. If you haven’t already entered or have any questions please contact [email protected] – payment details and final format will be confirmed subsequent to the entry closing date of 19th March

Scheduling of games is flexible but largely these should be played on evenings and Saturdays to avoid fixture congestion with the league…

After the successful introduction of a triples league last year 2023 will see the launch of season 2 – leagues will be drawn randomly with some geographical limits applied – again each match in the league stage will consist of 2 games with 3 points awarded for a win and 1 for a draw with a bonus point awarded to the team with the highest aggregate score in the event of a draw.

Teams can consist of up to 4 players all of whom can play in a match – unlike last year we will run the leagues independently witha view to divisions in 2024, but will also run a cup and plate competition – season will start towards the end of March and finals day will be late September (dates tbc in next 2 weeks) – expectation is that games will be played primarily weekday evening and Saturdays and scheduling will be flexible, there will however be hard cut off dates for each round of the cup and plate – £10 per team, initial notes of interest to [email protected]