tennisnerdsleague

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE "TENNIS NERDS COMMUNITY LEAGUE"

(An Unincorporated Association)

1. Name

1.1 The name of the group shall be [Tennis Nerds Community League] (hereafter referred to as "the Association").

2. Objectives (Aims) - For Public Benefit

2.1 The Noble Goal (Telos): The fundamental Objects of the Association shall be, for the public benefit, to promote the total human flourishing (Eudaimonia) of the community by fostering strong local networks and genuine Civic Friendship (Philia) among its members.

2.2 The Mechanism of Virtue: To achieve the flourishing stated above, the Association requires the cultivation of moral and intellectual virtues (Arete), demanding from player/members the regular practice of Practical Wisdom (Phronesis) and Justice (dikaiosynē) in all competitive and organizational duties.

2.3 Health and Accessibility: The Association shall remain free, organised, and accessible for all members, regardless of background, age, gender or ability, as a means of advancing health and social engagement for the benefit of the wider community.

3. Non-Profit Status & Finance

3.1 The Association is established on a strictly non-profit, non-monetary basis. No part of the income or property (if any) of the Association shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly to members or Organisers.

3.2 The Association shall not charge membership fees, court fees, or any other costs to members. It shall not seek or accept cash grants or donations. The Association may, however, accept non-cash contributions (e.g., sponsored prizes or services) for the benefit of its members.

3.3 All expenses incurred by Organisers in the running of the league shall be met personally and shall not be reimbursed by the Association.

4. Membership

4.1 Membership shall be open to all individuals who support the Objectives of the Association and participate in the League activities. Membership is free.

4.2 Automatic Cessation of Membership:

Membership shall automatically cease if a Member:

5. Management & Roles (The Management Committee)

5.1 The direction and day-to-day management of the Association shall be carried out **EXCLUSIVELY** by the Organiser (Chair), who shall function as the sole governing body until such time that a Committee is formally appointed.

5.2 The Organiser (Chair) shall hold all powers and responsibilities described for the Management Committee, including the power to amend this Constitution and the League Rules until such time that a Committee is formally appointed.

5.3 Role of the Organiser (Chair):

The Organiser shall be responsible for:

5.4 Future Committee Appointments:

The Organiser (Chair) may, at their sole discretion, appoint additional individuals to the Committee to fill the roles of Secretary and Committee Member (Treasurer) at any time. Once appointed, the Committee will collectively govern the Association as per the roles outlined below. The Committee members (Organiser, Secretary, and Committee Member) shall then be **APPOINTED** by the existing Committee members, and not by vote of the general membership.

5.5 The Committee shall ensure the league's operations are compliant with the principles outlined in this Constitution.

5.6 Volunteers and Non-Committee Roles: The Organizer (or the Committee) may, at its sole discretion, appoint Volunteers. Volunteers act only under the express direction of the Organiser and hold no executive power, governance rights, or decision-making authority regarding the League's Constitution & rules.

5.7 When the Association reaches a sustained membership of twenty (20) or more active players, the Organiser (Chair) may initiate the formation of a full Management Committee comprising at least three members (Chair, Secretary, Committee Member). At that time, the Constitution may be amended by Committee resolution to introduce elected or appointed positions and define their terms of office. Until such time, all powers remain vested in the Organiser (Chair) as set out in this Constitution.

6. Meetings

6.1 Annual Review Meeting (ARM):

The Management Committee shall convene an internal Review Meeting at least once per year. The attendance, vote, and approval of the general membership are **NOT** required.

6.2 Management Committee Meetings:

Decisions shall be made by consensus among the Management Committee members who meet at least twice a year to conduct the operational business of the Association. All such meetings must be formally minuted.

7. League Rules and Dispute Resolution

7.1. All Members & Players agree to be bound by the official Tennis Nerds Community League Rules published on the League's website. These Rules govern all matters relating to match play, scheduling, scoring, and standings.

7.2. The Management Committee reserves the exclusive right to create, amend, or revoke the League Rules via a simple majority vote of the Committee.

7.3. The Organiser shall have final and binding authority in the resolution of all disputes or interpretations of the League Rules. By consenting to this Constitution, all Members & Players agree to abide by the Organiser's decision as final.

7.4 Limitation of Liability and Assumption of Risk:

7.4.1 The Association's activities are strictly limited to the organisation, scheduling, and communication required for the League fixtures.

7.4.2 The Association does not own, manage, maintain, or inspect any courts or facilities used by Members. The Association is not responsible for the condition, safety, or suitability of any venue, court, or equipment used for matches.

7.4.3 By consenting to this Constitution, every Member & Player confirms that they understand, agree, and **assume all risk** associated with participation in physical activity, including the condition of the playing surface, and waives any right to hold the Association or the Management Committee liable for any injury, loss, or damage incurred while arranging, travelling to, or playing a match.

7.5 No member of the Management Committee, Organiser, or Volunteer shall be personally liable for any loss, damage, or liability incurred by the Association in the lawful discharge of their duties, except in cases of wilful misconduct, criminal act, or fraud. The Association shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify such individuals against any claim or proceeding arising from actions taken in good faith on behalf of the Association.

8. Resignation & Vacancies

8.1 A member of the Management Committee may resign at any time by providing written notice to the Organiser/Chair.

8.2 The Committee shall have the power to appoint a replacement member (co-opt) to fill the vacancy until the next Annual Meeting.

8.3 If a resignation would cause the Committee to drop below the required minimum of three members, the departing member must remain in their role for a maximum transition period of thirty (30) days from the date the written notice was received, to allow time for co-option. Regardless of whether a replacement is found, the departing member's resignation automatically takes effect at the end of the thirty (30) day transition period.

8.4 The appointment of a co-opted member must be formally approved by a resolution recorded in the Minutes of the next Committee Meeting.

9. Data Processing and Privacy

9.1 The Management Committee shall serve as the Data Controller for all Member (Player) data collected by the League.

9.2 The full text of this Constitution, particularly this Section 9, serves as the League's official Data Processing Policy (Privacy Policy), published on the League's website.

9.3 All Members must provide explicit and active consent to the League's Data Processing Policy as a condition of membership.

Any Member may exercise their rights under UK GDPR (including the right of access, the right to rectification, and the right to erasure) by submitting a written request to the Organiser (Chair) (The League's formal contact for data processing matters) at tennisnerds@icloud.com.

9.4 The Committee's power to process data is strictly limited to:

9.5 For transparency, the Management Committee may publish summary minutes of Annual Review Meetings or key operational decisions on the League's website. Such publications shall exclude any personal data not expressly consented to by the individuals concerned.

10. Dissolution

10.1 If the Association is wound up, any remaining non-monetary assets (e.g., equipment, web domains) must be given or transferred to another local voluntary group with similar community or sporting objectives.

11. Jurisdiction and Interpretation

11.1 This Constitution and all matters arising from it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

11.2 In the event of any ambiguity or conflict between this Constitution and the League Rules, the interpretation of the Management Committee (or, in its absence, the Organiser/Chair) shall be final.