The advantage of the pyramid rather than the simple linear ladder format is that it provides a more rapid movement of participants to the level of their peers. For example, a top player joining at the bottom could rise to the top of the ladder within 5 matches in a 5-row pyramid if he/she chose to always challenge a participant the row above (see Operation and Rules, below). Similarly, if the weakest player joined at the beginning of the pyramid start it is unlikely that they would have to survive more than a few thrashings before they reached the level of their peers on the bottom row.
Joining Operation once registered Rules
1 you need to be:
- a member of Herts Badminton Association (and therefore have BADMINTON England insurance cover),
if not, contact the Registrations Sec., Malcolm Fraser, if not sure email the Pyramid Manager
- able to play matches within Hertfordshire
- able to play a minimum of 1 match per month (with one exception per year):
If you know that you will be unable to fulfil this in any month email the Pyramid Manager
- of league-playing standard, or above
2 Email the Pyramid Manager who will ask some simple questions regarding your preference days to play, etc.
You should have an email reply confirming your acceptance within a maximum of 10 days with
- your username and password
- your name added to the lowest rung.
1 If you are accessing the Pyramid from the HBA Website open the link in a new Window.
2 Log onto the pyramid using your username and password
NOTE: There is currently a strange problem whereby you need to click your browser's Refresh
button to complete the log-on. It is being investigated.
3 Here you can challenge anyone:
- two rung numbers lower than yourself
- one whole row above.
4 When you first go to challenge, you need to click on the player's link in the challenge window
- which will fire up your email client - and then you send them an email yourself, before
clicking on the ‘challenge’ button
4 If for unseen circumstances on the day you cannot get to a match please phone the person
5 If the challenger loses then the participants stay in their same places.
6 The winner updates the Pyramid: if the challenger wins then he/she changes places on the pyramid.
1 It is open to both sexes but participants must be at least 16 years old.
(If 10 or more women participants ask for the setting up of a separate pyramid this will be sympathetically considered).
2 Each match consists of the best of three games to BADMINTON England rules, except that:
- games including women participants will be played to 15 points
- if the match is not completed the winner of the final game when court ownership is terminated is the one with the
higher score - if the score is even then the person challenged is 'the winner'.
4 The player who is challenged chooses and provides shuttles which can be either feather or cork-based plastic.
5 The challenger takes the lead on finding and booking suitable courts at a mutually agreed date and time.
6 Participants who do not accept a challenge will automatically be swapped with the challenger providing it can be proven that the challenger has made 3 offers of dates taking the challenger's preferences into account.
7 The winner is responsible for updating the positions on the ladder.
8 Appeals for decisions can be made to the Pyramid Manager whose decision (after consultation with HBA Officials) is final.
9 A minimum of one match per month should be played
10 Medals will be awarded to the top 3 at the HBA AGM, June, 2006.
Dave Bartlett