Badminton Club At New York University

This is the proposed NYU Club Constitution. As the club is still in its nascent stages we are still making modifications, so please send us your comments, concerns, feedback.  (to ec1214@med.nyu.edu)

The NYU Badminton Club Constitution

Written May 9, 2007

Article I - Purpose

The purpose of the NYU Badminton Club is to attract and assemble badminton enthusiasts into an organization that promotes awareness to the sport and university by providing to its members a way to maintain health, meet other players, compete, and have fun. 

The badminton program is divided into both a competitive team and a recreational club, both supported by the NYU Athletics Club Sports organization.  The team and club work in close conjunction to provide a richer relationship between their members and with the sport. 

Article II - Club Membership

The NYU Badminton Club is an equal rights and equal opportunity organization that does not tolerate discrimination. 

To be eligible for club membership, one must be an NYU undergraduate student, graduate student, faculty member, or a Coles alumni member. To be recognized as a full club member, one must understand the guidelines of the NYU Club Sport Handbook and have submitted the NYU Student Club Sport Athlete Information Form.  Membership fees are due at the start of each semester and their value may fluctuate depending on the year’s budget and are estimated by the current coach and president.  Club members should be knowledgeable of the rules of the sport, but are welcome to join without any previous badminton experience.  Members must show courtesy to other players, be respectful of arrangements made by the coach and club officers, and wear proper attire.
Membership to the NYU Badminton Club entails benefits such as access to the court set-ups, use of shuttlecocks for games, access to professional coaching, access to the club mailing list, restring discounts, a chance to experience the sport with other players, and invitation to social activities.

Article III - Team Division

To represent the NYU Badminton Team in intercollegiate tournaments, one must first be a club member and a fulltime graduate or undergraduate student.  Tryouts are based on a ladder system.  The ladder order for each category (MS, MD, WS, WD, and MD) will be determined at the beginning of the semester.  Players may place themselves on ladders they wish to compete in. Players may move up and down the ladder by arranging a challenge with the player immediately above them.  When a tournament is scheduled, the team will generally take the highest-ranked players who are available for the meet.  Challenges can be made throughout the year, but no challenges can be made within the week before a tournament. Challenges must be reported to the coach and team captains. The ladder will be updated monthly on the club webpage. The NYU Badminton Team competes on an annual basis in the Northeast Intercollegiate Badminton League of the Southwest division and also competes with local teams. 

Article IV - Meetings

Practices and meetings will be held when the badminton courts are available.  Notice of special meetings will be delivered via the membership mailing list. 

Article V - Executive Board   

Club officer positions include a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and Webmaster. 
The president must direct the organizational responsibilities of the club including team tournaments. If a coach resigns, the president must appoint a new coach.
The vice president will assist in the president’s duties and keep club and team records.
The secretary will notify club members about changes and additions to the club schedule through weekly e-mails. 
The treasurer will manage the club budget and prepare monthly reports.  He or she must work in close connection with the coach who will provide the upcoming year’s budget estimate.
The Webmaster will be in charge of updating the club website.
If an office position becomes vacant, the current president will appoint a replacing officer.  If it is the president who resigns, then the vice president will become the new president and that person will appoint a new vice president.

Article VI - Elections

The office positions listed in Article IV will be elected every year starting on the third club meeting of the spring semester. 

Any badminton club member who has been a member of the club for at least one semester may run for one of these positions but only the coach, team members, and current Executive Board officers are qualified to elect.  The reason for this is that there are certainly club-only members who are competent enough to hold the office position, but the coach, team, and Executive Board constitute the body with the most thorough understanding of how the team works and how it will be guided and represented by the next elected Executive Board.  Elected officers must be able to carry out their duties for the entirety of the following academic year.      

Elections will be conducted by having each candidate within the club state his or her running position on the election board.  Afterwards, each person within the electing body will cast their vote for each officer position and the winning candidates will commence with their one-year tenure.  Any officer may be elected to their office position or any other position for a consecutive, unlimited number of years.

Article VII - Funds

The coach and president will handle the allocation of funds.  Club members who have suggestions or concerns about the allocation of funds should consult the coach and Executive Board.

Article VIII - Affiliations

The NYU Badminton Club is affiliated with the NYU Athletics Club Sports program.  The club also has a close working relationship with the NYC Badminton Club.

Article IX - Ratification 

The coach, president, and vice president of the 2007 NYU Badminton Club will approve the Constitution.

Article X - Amendments

Any badminton club member may present an amendment to the constitution.  The club member must submit the amendment to the current president who must address it before the following club meeting.  At that meeting a vote will be held by all present club members.  The amendment will be passed if there is a majority vote or dropped if there is not.  If the amendment is dropped, the amendment may be presented again after a full year.  If the vote is hung half and half, then there will be a revote at the next meeting until it is concluded. 

NYU Badminton Club Member Guidelines & Agreement

Welcome to the Badminton Club at New York University. Typical set-ups are on Fridays (7:00 -10:30 p.m.) and Sundays (5:00 – 7:30 p.m.). We accept members during the first two weeks of fall and spring semesters. You must be an undergraduate student, graduate student, faculty member, staff or alumni Coles member to join the club as a member.

Occasionally, scheduled practices will be interrupted by NYU events. We will try to keep you informed via e-mail and the webpage as soon as we find out about the cancellations. However, if you want to be sure you can call 212-998-2020 for the most updated information about scheduling.

Based on past experience, sometimes we have more people on the floor than four courts can actually accommodate at one time. Thus, to avoid potential conflict, we have set up the following guidelines for our members to follow:

1. You must have your name on the roster to use our facilities. Sign in before you play.

2. Members are not allowed to bring in any guest to use the set-up unless space permits or prior arrangements have been made.

3. Leave your bags / belongings in the locker.

4. Please refer to the court schedule in order to optimize use of the court space. Generally, the team will use the first hour for training. Depending on team use, some courts may be open during training hours for recreational play.

5. Play doubles: four people play on one court. Single-play is not encouraged, especially when other members are waiting for courts. Play one game up to 21 or 15-20 minutes. Winner stays on court for three games max. Players should keep track of who called next. A written list may be necessary if lots of people are waiting.

6. Warm up with old birds. Take one new bird when the game starts. Try to make one bird last.

7. If you are the last one or group to leave the courts, please help with the clean up. Clear up all the used shuttlecocks on courts and put them into the birds-reuse box.

8. Help with policing. Remind members of basic rules if they break them and if someone new asks to play, explain how the club works.

9. Be willing to play with members of all levels. Try to make games even by dividing the sides to have the most even skill combination. We will try to organize courts depending on level.

10. This is a membership club. Membership dues are collected at the beginning of each semester (fall, spring and summer). The current due is $15 per semester.

11. Wear proper attire when using the set-ups. Sport wear is required when playing. No jeans or flip flops. Coach and officers have the right to ask you to leave the court immediately if you break this rule. This is for your safety safety concern.

12. For your safety concern and out of courtesy to other players, do not walk into the court while others are playing.

13. In order to become a NYU Badminton Club member, please make sure you have also read and understand the NYU Club Sport Handbook which is available online at http://www.nyu.edu/athletics/clubs/

14. In order to become a NYU Badminton Club member, please make sure you have handed in a completed NYU Student Club-Sport Athlete Information Form before the deadline.

By entering your name and email in this form, I understand and agree the guidelines listed above. Any violations of the guidelines listed may lead to the discontinuation of your membership at NYU Badminton Club.