Terms & Conditions of Membership
Rules, court etiquette, equipment accountability, and sportsmanship standards governing athletes and guests of ShuttleLions at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
1. Acceptance & Club Eligibility
By accessing the ShuttleLions portal, registering an athlete profile, or stepping onto the badminton courts at the UNN indoor gymnasium during official sessions, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
Membership is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, alumni, staff of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as well as approved guest sparring partners. All participants are expected to uphold the prestige of UNN athletics.
2. Mandatory Court Etiquette & Footwear Policy
To preserve the wooden indoor courts at the UNN Gymnasium and guarantee athlete safety, strict footwear regulations are enforced:
Non-Marking Gum Rubber Soles Only
Athletes must wear specialized badminton or indoor court shoes with non-marking gum soles. Running shoes with black carbon soles, spikes, or outdoor gravel soles are strictly prohibited.
Appropriate Athletic Attire
Breathable sportswear (shorts/track pants and varsity jersey or t-shirt) must be worn. Jeans, flip-flops, sandals, or street clothing are not permitted on the playing surface.
3. BWF Laws & Fair Play Sportsmanship
All training sessions, league games, and intra-faculty tournaments follow the official Badminton World Federation (BWF) Laws of Badminton:
- Line Calling: When no umpire is appointed, players make line calls on their own side of the net fairly. In case of doubt, a "let" is played.
- Zero Tolerance for Aggression: Verbal harassment, racket throwing, deliberate net kicking, or unsporting conduct will result in immediate suspension from sessions.
- Rally Scoring System: Matches are standard best of 3 sets to 21 rally points (with 30-point ceiling in deuce), unless a time-restricted format is announced by the coach.
4. Session RSVPs, Court Rotation & Attendance
Because gymnasium court capacity is shared among all varsity athletes, the following rotation policies apply:
• RSVP Requirement: Athletes should RSVP on the Games & Schedules page at least 2 hours before weekly practice routines so coaches can plan court drills and shuttlecock allocations.
• Cancellation Etiquette: If your schedule changes and you cannot attend, cancel your RSVP immediately to surrender your court slot to waitlisted athletes.
• Peak-Hour Rotation: During high-attendance sessions (10+ athletes per court), doubles matches take precedence over singles matches, and court rotation occurs every 1 set or 15 minutes of play.
5. Equipment Borrowing & Club Property
Club equipment represents community investments funded through dues and alumni sponsorship:
- Loaner Rackets: Athletes borrowing club rackets must sign out with the logistician on duty and return the equipment undamaged at the end of the session.
- Feather Shuttlecocks: Goose feather shuttlecocks are reserved for structured match play and advanced drills; nylon training shuttles are provided for warmup and beginner rallies to conserve supplies.
- Net & Post Set-Up: Athletes are expected to participate cooperatively in setting up and taking down net posts before and after sessions.
6. Membership Dues & Financial Transparency
ShuttleLions operates as a self-sustaining student sports society:
₦5,000
Covers official digital player ID card generation, club induction, and subsidizes initial varsity gear procurement.
₦1,000 / month
Funds ongoing weekly consumption of feather shuttlecocks, gymnasium lighting/cleaning dues, and court maintenance.
• Non-Refundability: Dues contributed are committed immediately to non-refundable club operations (shuttlecock batches and court bookings). In exceptional medical circumstances, credit may be deferred to future months upon review by the club treasurer.
7. Media, Photography & Match Highlights
By attending public training sessions and tournaments, you acknowledge that photography, video recordings, and highlight reels may be captured by designated club media personnel.
Footage is used exclusively for coaching tactical analysis, social media match recaps, and university sports publicity. Athletes who prefer not to appear in promotional materials may notify the media lead in writing to have their likeness excluded from public posts.
8. Physical Fitness & Assumption of Athletic Risk
Badminton is an intensive racquet sport requiring rapid lunges, high-speed lateral pivots, jumps, and sustained aerobic effort:
- Medical Clearance: Athletes certify they are physically fit to participate in sports and possess no undisclosed cardiovascular or orthopedic conditions that would make high-intensity athletics unsafe.
- Voluntary Assumption of Risk: Athletes voluntarily assume standard risks associated with court sports, including muscle strains, ankle twists, or accidental collisions.
- Hydration & Warmup: Athletes are responsible for their own pre-match warm-ups, adequate water intake, and personal first-aid items (e.g. knee braces or ankle tape).
9. University Authority & Dispute Resolution
These terms operate under the overarching authority of the University of Nigeria Nsukka Sports Council and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Any grievances or disputes between club members shall first be addressed amicably through the ShuttleLions Executive Committee. Matters not resolved internally will be escalated to the UNN Director of Sports.
10. Amendments & Executive Board Inquiries
The Executive Committee reserves the right to amend these guidelines to reflect changes in university policies or BWF rule updates. Any substantial changes will be posted on this portal and announced on the club WhatsApp channel.
Governing Body: ShuttleLions Executive Committee
Court Facility: UNN Indoor Sports Gymnasium, Nsukka Campus
Contact: Reach out via the official community channels