What is the StriveX National Club League?
The StriveX National Club League is a national doubles team competition bringing clubs and players from across England together in a structured league environment.
With four levels of competition — Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze — the league is designed to accommodate players ranging from national-standard competitors through to lower-intermediate club players.
Clubs can enter as many teams as they wish, across as many tiers as they are eligible for. You do not need to have an established club to participate — teams can enter independently with a minimum of four players.
The league will run from March to June 2027, with regional group matches followed by knockout stages and London finals.
The League at a Glance
The first-ever all-England badminton club league
Four Competition Tiers
Teams choose their category but must meet eligibility criteria for every player. Teams that appear too strong or too weak for their level may be moved up or down starting Round 2, subject to availability.
Platinum
2 categories
- BE-Rated A or Lower
Gold
2 categories
- Badminton England: C or Lower;
- BBFUK: A+ or Lower
Silver
2 categories
- Badminton England: E or Lower;
- BBFUK: C+ or Lower
Bronze
2 categories
- Badminton England: G or Lower; BBFUK D+ or lower
Prizes & Awards
Top 3 teams in each category will receive medals Category and winners will receive team trophies.
Locations
Finals held in London on a single day
Tentative Schedule / Rounds
Round 3 may be merged with Round 2 or Round 4 depending on how many teams qualify in a category.
Player Ratings & Eligibility
Every nominated player receives an individual StriveX rating out of 10 at registration.
9–10 — national-standard ability
8 — capable of reaching the top four in a Gold event
7 — capable of reaching the top four in a Silver event
6 — capable of reaching the top four in a Bronze event
5 — capable of reaching the top four in a lower tier
These descriptions are guides rather than automatic ratings. StriveX management will assess players using available Badminton England and BBFUK data, previous StriveX performances and information provided by the team or club manager. Ratings may also be reviewed after group-stage matches.
Players without a Badminton England profile or reliable rating require prior approval before registration.
Team Rating Limits
The combined rating of the four players fielded in each match cannot exceed the relevant tier's team limit.
- Platinum — maximum 34
- Gold - maximum 28
- Silver - maximum 22
- Bronze - maximum 16
Teams can choose their preferred tier provided they meet its eligibility requirements. StriveX may move a team up if it is considered too strong for its selected level, or down where appropriate and subject to availability.
How a Team Match Works
When four players are selected — A, B, C and D — they create six possible doubles combinations:
- A + B
- A + C
- A + D
- B + C
- B + D
- C + D
A team match consists of six sets. Each pairing plays the corresponding pairing from the opposing team. The six pairings are fixed and ordered according to strength, from Pair 1 (strongest) to Pair 6 (weakest).
Proposed scoring: 2 points for each set won; 1 bonus point for winning at least four sets; 2 bonus points for winning all six sets. The detailed set format and final scoring rules are still to be confirmed.
Female Participation
Women are welcome to compete throughout the National Club League. In Platinum, at least one of the four players fielded in a match must be female. StriveX will allocate comparable ratings to female players to support fair competition. Any rating adjustments will be handled case by case; the detailed methodology is still to be confirmed.
Important Details
Key Dates
| MILESTONE | DATE |
|---|---|
Expression of Interest |
15 July 2026 |
Rules, committee, locations & format finalised |
31 August 2026 |
Entry deadline + player nominations |
30 September 2026 |
Players & teams onboarding completed |
31 October 2026 |
Group draws, match schedules, timings, locations, etc |
31 December 2026 |
League period |
March – June 2027 |
Team Formation
- Minimum 5 players nominated per team; maximum 8
- Only 4 players play per match; lineups can change between matches
- Multiple club teams are labelled A, B, C, etc.
- Players can't play for more than one team, except playing up for a higher-numbered team of the same club (which then locks them to that team)
- No new players can be added after Round 3 is complete
- Clubs not yet formally established can still register a team
Player Scoring & Team Selection
- Each player is scored out of 10 (male C-rated doubles players score around 8; D-rated lower-intermediate players around 3)
- Combined score of the 4 players fielded per match must not exceed: Gold 30 · Silver 22 · Bronze 14
- This allows teams to field mixed-gender lineups or give game time to lower-rated players
Eligibility
- Players rated B or higher by Badminton England (in any category) are not eligible
- Players without a Badminton England profile or reliable BBFUK rating need prior approval before registering
Cost
- £295 per team, covering the first 5 nominated players
- £60 flat fee per additional player (up to 8 total)
- Includes: 1 customised StriveX shirt per player, hall hire, CS100 shuttlecocks, and all 2–4 appearances
- Extra/replacement shirts: £9.99 each
Other Requirements
- Teams & clubs are expected to join StriveX's free Club Sponsorship programme
- All teams & players are expected to follow StriveX on social media