2024amendments – International Blind Tennis Association

Proposed Amendments

The proposed amendments to the IBTA Constitution are available for review and approval by the IBTA member associations. Please submit the form below with any comments by the 30th of April 2025.

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Amendment 1
Under 2- Objects, recommendation to update and add the following as:
Clause 2.1

(i) Increasing global participation in Blind and Visually Impaired Tennis by promoting and coordinating activities, programs and major events.
(ii) Develop and grow Blind and Visually Impaired Tennis to engage people who are blind or have low vision to pursue healthy lifestyles and be part of active communities.
(vi) Encouraging the development of Consistent and high-quality specialist equipment, this includes the approval of the ball, racket size and court dimensions for the game.
(vii) Ensuring the necessary safeguarding and child protection policies are applied as appropriate to the game of Blind and Vision impaired tennis

Clause 2.3

Seek recognition of the game of Blind and Vision Impaired Tennis from the ITF and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA)

Clause 2.5

Stage World Championships at least every two (2) years (instead of every 4 years)

Clause 2.6

Sanction of international events conducted between Members (instead of international events conducted between Members)

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Amendment 2
Under 3- DEFINITIONS, recommendation to update the following as:
(b) “MEMBER” shall mean any organisation affiliated with the Association in accordance with clause 6 below.

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Amendment 3
Under 6- MEMBERSHIP, recommendation to update and add the following as:

6.2 - In a country, where blind and vision impaired tennis is played, a local or a regional body may apply for Associate Membership of the Association including a tennis club that is affiliated to a National Federation
6.3 - Where a player resides in a country that does not have national or local bodies as members of the association, they may apply for Individual membership of the Association
6.4 - Organisations applying for national or local membership should have in place or undertake to have the following:
1. A formal constitution
2. Appropriate governance and financial processes
3. Be of a Not-for-profit nature
4. Committed to training qualified coaches in blind and vision impaired tennis
6.7 - The Secretary shall advise such organization of the outcome of their application for membership within 14 days after the decision by Executive Committee of such application. [They will then have 30 days to pay the membership for the year and any joining fee that may exist.]

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Amendment 4
Under 7- CEASING MEMBERSHIP, recommendation to update and add the following as:
7.1. – Any member may resign from membership by giving a 30-day written notice to the secretary.
7.4. – Membership is also terminated if:
the member ceases to exist; or at a meeting of the Executive Committee at which half the officers are present, a resolution is passed resolving that the member is expelled on the ground that his or her continued membership ins harmful to or is likely to be harmful to the interests of the Association. Such a resolution may not be passed unless the member has ben given at least 14 business days’ notice that the resolution is to be proposed, specifying the circumstances alleged to justify expulsion, and has been afforded a reasonable opportunity of being heard of making written representation to the Executive Committee. The member shall nevertheless be liable for any outstanding subscriptions or dues owed to the Association.

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Amendment 5
Under 9- THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, recommendation to update and add the following as:
9.1. – The membership of the Committee shall consist of up to seven (7) officers
i. President
ii. Vice President
iii. Secretary
iv. Head of Finance
v. Head of Public Relations and Marketing
vi. Head of Technical
vii. Head of Medical and Research
…
9.2. – The Committee shall have the power to:
(d) Co-opt up to two (2) members to the Committee for a maximum of one year, if deemed necessary.
…
9.4. – "The officers of the committee shall be elected at a General Meeting and shall hold office for a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms of three (3) years." Remark: 9.4 to be applied at the end of the 2025-26 term. The duration of the current term will remain the same as previous terms, which is 2 years.
…
9.6. – No member country may have more than two (2) officers nominated to serve on the Executive Committee at any one time.

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Amendment 6
Under 10 - NOMINATIONS FOR ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE, recommendation to update and add the following as:
10.3 – Nomination forms are to be circulated to all Members at least eight (8) weeks prior to the General Meeting and the Secretary shall be receipt of nominations at least six (6) weeks prior to the General Meeting.

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Amendment 7
Under 11 - COMMITTEE MEETINGS, recommendation to update the following as:
11.2 – The quorum for such Executive committee meetings shall be four (4) people.

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Amendment 8
Under 12 - HONORARY POSTS, recommendation to update the following
12.2. – A patron or past president shall have the right to be given notice of, to attend and speak (but not vote) at any general meeting of the Association and shall also have the right to receive accounts of the Association when available to members.
12.3 Each member country shall appoint a Country Representative (CR). The role will:

Act as the communication link between the players in the country and the President and Executive Committee of IBTA
Facilitate the growth development of blind and vision impaired tennis in the country including building strong coaching skills and growing the number of clubs and players. A country representative must be prepared to attend at least three County Representative meetings in twelve months. He or she may appoint a replacement for the fourth meeting via their member association. Failure to do so will result in the member country being asked to appoint a replacement.

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Amendment 9
Recommendation to add a new section 19 - GRIEVANCE:
The Association may put in place a disciplinary and grievance committee that shall have the power to consider disciplinary action up to and including expulsion for behaviour, which brings the game into disrepute. Members, players and coaches shall have the right to bring appeals on any issue that is in relation to this constitution or rules of tennis. Appeals under sight classification decisions shall be heard as prescribed in the classification rules and procedures.

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Amendment 10
Under 19 – WINDING UP, recommendation to update the following as:
In the event of the Association being wound up for any reason whatsoever, the funds, after sale of assets and payment of debts, liabilities and costs incurred in winding up the Association, shall be distributed amongst Members or other Organisations as determined by the current nonprofit IBTA Community Interest Company (CIC) articles or future charity status.

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Amendment 11
The laws of the United Kingdom as the country in which IBTA is currently registered shall govern this Constitution

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Proposed Amendments

The proposed amendments to the IBTA Constitution are available for review and approval by the IBTA member associations. Please submit the form below with any comments by the 30th of April 2025.

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