FRIMLEY TENNIS CLUB LIMITED (Feb ’21)

(trading as Frimley Tennis Club)

GENERAL RULES

1.              The Club shall be called Frimley Tennis Club (“the Club”) and is duly registered as a Community Amateur Sports Club (“CASC”).

2.              The directors of the Club will be appointed by a general meeting of the Club or otherwise in accordance with the Club’s Articles of Association (“the Articles”).

3.              The main purposes of the Club are to: –

a.     provide facilities for and promote participation in the amateur sport of tennis in Surrey Heath and the surrounding areas;

b.     provide the opportunity to play tennis in a congenial club atmosphere; and

c.     provide, maintain, and develop the premises (including the tennis courts) occupied by the Club.

AGM and Management Committee

4.              The Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) shall normally be held no later than 13 months from the previous AGM.

5.              The AGM shall (among other matters) elect:

a.     members who may include any of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Match Secretary and Safeguarding Officer and other members to form the Management Committee;

b.     such additional members as are required to serve on any other committees which have been established; and

c.     a ladies’ and a men’s club captain who will serve for a period of no more than 3 consecutive years.

6.              No member of the Management Committee may serve in any position, or plurality of positions, for a period of more than 3 consecutive years, except in exceptional circumstances.

7.              The Management Committee may co-opt additional members to it or any other committee.

Membership of the Club

8.              Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport of tennis on application, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, or other beliefs, except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of tennis.

9.              Subject to meeting any requirements in order to maintain the Club’s status as a CASC the Management Committee or a general meeting of the Club may from time to time review and change the then current categories of membership and the conditions applying to each (including any limitation on numbers) and (subject to paragraph 10) the subscriptions and other fees applying to each category, on a non-discriminatory and fair basis. The Management Committee will only make changes to subscriptions where as a matter of urgency or practicality such action is required before the next general meeting.

10.           The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people wishing to join the Club or participate in its activities. The Club may deny or remove membership, but only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute.

11.           There will initially be six categories of membership namely: Family, Adult, Student, Country, Junior and Social.  Family membership is open to partners, plus any children under the age of 22 living in the family home or in full time education. Student membership is available for adults under 22, and in full time education at the start of the club subscription year. Social membership is open to non-playing members and is limited to attendances at club social events. Country members must reside 45 miles or more from the Club and are not eligible to play in league matches or the club tournament.

12.           The Club will consider, on individual merit, a request to waive any applicable joining fee upon re-joining after a break in membership.

13.           A Junior member shall become an Adult or Student member for all club purposes when their 16th birthday falls on or before the 31st December immediately prior to the start of a subscription year.

14.           A Junior member upon reaching their 16th birthday, is entitled to attend all adult functions for the rest of a club year.

15.           Age at midnight on 31 December immediately prior to the start of the subscription year will be used to determine qualification for club championship entries.  This is in line with current LTA rules.

16.           Subject to paragraphs 9 and 10, membership and joining fees shall be reviewed annually at the AGM and the amount for the forthcoming subscription year set by the meeting. Subscriptions shall be due and payable on a date set annually by the Club.

Use of the Courts.

17.           The tennis courts will be available for various club sessions at times advised by the Club. There will be separate sessions for Juniors and Adults.  In each case members will be expected to mix-in together.

18.           Maximum time of play will be 20 minutes if any members are waiting.

19.           At non-club times, the maximum period of play will be 40 minutes, unless courts have been pre-booked, if other members are waiting. This rule does not apply during official club tournaments, club matches or club coaching.

20.           All coaching must be provided by a member of the Club or by a coach in relation to whom the Club has a coaching agreement. The use of non-affiliated coaching will be the exception and only sanctioned with prior written approval from the Club. Outside of organised club coaching sessions a court must be booked in advance.

21.           A member shall not use the courts for commercial coaching of other members or non-members unless a recognised club affiliated coach or the prior written approval of the Club has been obtained.

22.           Members may invite one guest each to play at the Club at a charge set by the Club.

23.           No one individual may play as a guest more often than 6 times in a subscription year.

24.           Only recognisable tennis clothing and non-marking footwear shall be worn whilst on the courts.

25.           Rules pertaining to public use of the courts are the subject of a separate document.

26.           Floodlit courts are available to members.  The rules of operation are the subject of a separate document which is displayed at the courts.

27.           All members will be issued with membership identification and must produce it on request.

Registration with LTA

28.           The Club will be registered with the Lawn Tennis Association (“LTA”) as its governing body.  It is a condition of registration with the LTA that the Club complies with the LTA Disciplinary Code and any other applicable LTA policies (“the Codes”). Members must comply with the Codes and it is acknowledged that the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 applies, so that the Codes are enforceable by both the LTA and the Club, in accordance with the provisions of the Code.

Club finances

29.           Any Club bank account shall require that cheques drawn against the account are signed by the Treasurer and one of the following:   Chairman, Secretary or Vice-Chairman.

30.           The accounts will be audited annually. All surplus income over expenditure will be reinvested in the Club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.

Dissolution

31.           Upon dissolution of the Club any remaining assets, having met any outstanding liabilities, shall be given, or transferred to another registered CASC registered with HMRC, a registered charity or the LTA, for use by them in related community sports.

General Meetings

32.           With minimum notice of fourteen days (unless a shorter notice is agreed by the members entitled to vote) an extraordinary general meeting of the Club can be called at any time at the discretion of the Management Committee or shall be called within 14 days after receipt by the Secretary of a request to that effect signed by at least 5% of members entitled to vote.

33.           Every such requisition shall specify the business for which the meeting is to be convened, and no other business shall be transacted at such a meeting.

34.           Either 15 members or 10% of the number of members entitled to vote as at the date of the meeting, whichever is the greater, shall form a quorum at a general meeting of the Club.

Management

35.           The Club will keep these Rules under review and may make changes to them from time to time. Members will be given reasonable notice of any changes before they take effect.

36.           The Club may develop implement and review policies procedures and processes for the safe and efficient management of the Club. Members will be given reasonable notice of any changes before they take effect.

Interpretation

37.           If any of these Rules conflict with any provisions of the Articles then the Articles shall prevail.