March & District Pool League
Winter League Constitution
- The League is to be known as 'The March & District Pool League'. Sponsors names may be added to this as required.
- The League will be governed by the elected Committee appointed at the Winter League Annual General Meeting (AGM). Those elected will remain in place until the following AGM, but can be replaced during the season if they leave their role for any reason. The Committee is to consist of; a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and no less than three Committee Members. Payment to the League Secretary for services rendered will be made at the end of the season, and not in advance.
- The Entry Fee for the season's competitions will be set by the committee prior to the AGM for the forthcoming season, with payment required to be made at or before the AGM. New teams will be required to pay double the standard entry fee in the first season, due to previous problems with teams dropping out of the League. As long as the new team completes their fixtures, the double payment then also covers their entry for the following season. If they fail to finish the season they lose the entire fee. If the entry fee changes during the '2 season' period, no refund will be given or additional charge applied.
- The Entry Fee provides teams with the following; entry into the specified League (Winter or Summer League), entry into the Team KO Cup (Winter League only), entry into the Captains Cup (Winter League only), and entry for their players into the Player of the Season competition (Winter or Summer League). Any other KO Cups and competitions require additional payment.
- If a team withdraws or is excluded from the League, that team forfeits any and all fees paid.
- All rules will be strictly enforced. Teams playing in the League will be deemed to have accepted this Constitution.
- When entering the League, all teams shall supply to the Secretary; name, telephone number and where possible an e-mail address for the Team Captain.
- The maximum number of teams allowed to play from a single table is 2.
- Each team squad shall consist of a minimum of 4 players, and a maximum of 12 players. If more players are added during the course of the season to take the team over the maximum limit, the Team Captain must advise the League Secretary of the name(s) of player(s) who are to be removed from their team list. No team may have more than 12 players on their roster at any one time. Any player removed from a team roster may not play again for that team unless they follow the rules for player transfers. [See Rules 10/11]
- A player is deemed to be registered for the team in which they first play (league or KO Cup match). A player may transfer between teams during a season, but ONLY prior to the start of the second half of that season. Notice of transfer must be given to the Secretary in writing, together with a transfer fee of £5.00, before the player will be allowed to play for the new team. A player may transfer between teams ONCE ONLY during the course of a season. [See also Rule 11]
- If a player is dropped by a team during the first half of the season they are allowed to join another team. A written request MUST be submitted to the League Secretary prior to that player playing for the new team, along with a fee of £5.00, or they will be classed as an illegal player. If a player has already transferred once during the course of the season and is then dropped by their new team, they may not join another team until the following season.
- Any player found to be playing for a team illegally will be suspended until the matter is dealt with by the Committee at their next meeting. Any team fielding such a player illegally will forfeit any frames that the illegal player won. The team may be suspended until the Committee have completed any necessary investigation into the matter. The team will also receive 1 'strike' against them. [See Rule 30]
- Matches are played on Tuesday nights, with the matches to commence at 8:30pm (unless otherwise stated). Each match will consist of 3 sets of 4 singles frames, plus the Captain's Cup (during the Winter League only). This is subject to change at the League AGM. A player may only play once in each set of 4, and can therefore play a maximum of 3 frames per match, not counting the Captain's Cup.
- The full name of each player should be entered correctly and clearly on the scorecard. Nicknames are only acceptable if they have been listed on the original team list provided to the League Secretary at the AGM.
- If a player is not in attendance when called to play, they have 10 minutes to show up or the frame will be forfeited. Alternatively, a reserve player may replace them and play instead. The name of the reserve player MUST be written on the scorecard. If no reserve player is available, then that frame shall be forfeited. Any frame that is claimed should have "CLAIMED" written on the scorecard beside that frame. Games should be played in the correct order, unless by mutual consent of both team Captains.
- If a team is late (without notice) and/or is unavailable to start the match at the stated time of 8:30pm, they will automatically lose the first frame of the night (at 8:30pm). If a team provides notice to their opponents before 8:30pm that they will be late, the process will be delayed by 10 minutes, i.e. they will not forfeit the first frame until 10 minutes have elapsed (at 8:40pm). In either case they will then lose a further frame every 10 minutes until 9:00pm, when the match can then be claimed 12 - 0 by the attending team. Any frame that is claimed should have "CLAIMED" written on the scorecard beside that frame. Any team forfeiting a match will receive 1 'strike' against them.
- A team having only 3 players will play 9 singles frames and forfeit 3 frames (the final frame in each set). A team having only 2 players will play 6 singles frames and will forfeit 6 frames (the final 2 frames in each set). A team having less than 2 players available will forfeit the match by 12 - 0, and the 3 points will be awarded to the opposing team. The forfeiting team will receive 1 'strike' against them [See Rule 30]. The 'winning' captain will need to inform the Secretary of any 'no-shows', but the scorecard does not need to be filled in and returned to the Secretary as only frames played will now count towards the Player of the Season award. It is preferred that teams should attend with just 2 players, rather than forfeit the match and risk being excluded from the League.
- The Captain's Cup (when applicable) MUST be played by the listed Captain if they are in attendance and able to play. If the Captain is unavailable to play the frame, then the named Vice Captain may play it instead. If neither Captain nor Vice Captain are available, the frame may be played by someone nominated by the Captain prior to the match being played, but only if neither Captain nor Vice Captain are available.
- For Team KO matches, a Penalty Shoot-out will be used if the match goes to 6-6. The rules regarding this can be found on the Team KO page of this website, or on the back of the fixture sheets.
- The match result should be given to the League Secretary by 1pm the day after the match is played. This can be via text message, phone call, posting it on the Facebook group page, or by handing the scorecard in at Club Q. It is the responsibility of the winning team's Captain to ensure that the results are presented on time, or in the event of a draw it is the Home Captain's responsibility. Failure to do so will result in the team responsible losing any points accrued from that match, and they will receive 1 'strike' against them. [See Rule 30]
- Both team Captains are to sign the scorecard, which MUST be handed in at Club Q by the first Friday after the match is played. Scorecards have to be handed in for the Player of the Season award, and to enable the Secretary to check for illegal players, THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL. Penalty for failure to do so will be the same as if the result had not been put in on time, i.e. the team responsible will lose any points accrued from that match, and will receive 1 'strike' against them. [See Rule 30]
- Any league member who interferes with the handing in of a scorecard may be subject to disciplinary action (exclusion, suspension or fine), at the discretion of the Committee.
- All games must be played as per the fixture list. Any fixtures that have to be rearranged can ONLY be done so with the authority of the Chairperson or Secretary. A minimum period of 24 hours notice must be given to the opposing team Captain (i.e. BEFORE 8:30pm Monday). If a spare week is available at any time during the season the match can be re-arranged for that date. If this date is unavailable or unsuitable for any reason, the onus is then on the non-postponing team to suggest 3 dates for the match to be played on. The postponing team must then pick one of those dates or forfeit the match.
- For Singles & Doubles KO matches, rearrangements will not be permitted on the 1st date of either competition. Rearrangements will be permitted on the 2nd date (QF/SF), but only if ALL 4 players/pairs at the specified venue agree to the rearrangement. Any player/pair wishing to rearrange should contact the League Secretary, who will then ask the remaining 3 players/pairs at that venue if they will agree to the rearrangement, without revealing who it is who requested the change.
- The draws to allocate Singles & Doubles players/pairs to each venue will be done at the relevant Committee Meeting(s). The actual match draws for each venue will be done on the day at each venue, by the Steward appointed to each venue by the Committee. ONLY those players who are at the venue at the specified time (usually 8pm) will be placed into the draw, anyone who is late will miss out. Refunds will not be given to anyone who misses the draw. The appointed Steward is responsible for doing the draw, and filling in and returning the fixture sheet for their venue. They are not required to referee any of the matches.
- From the 2015/16 season the Doubles KO will be played as Scotch Doubles, not Standard Doubles. Discussion between players in each pairing is always permitted, regardless of whether either player has touched the table.
- The Ladies, Under-21's, and Over-50's KO Cups will be played on separate allocated Tuesdays during the season. Each competition will be played down to the Final, which will then be played on Finals Day. The League reserves the right to discontinue any/all of these competitions if they are not well attended.
- Entry to the Under-21's KO Cup is open to anyone who is 21 or under on the day of the current Winter League AGM. Entry to the Over-50's KO Cup is open to anyone who is 50 or over on the day of the current Winter League AGM. The 2016/17 AGM was held on the 6th September 2016. Proof of age will be required to enter these competitions.
- Any team or player who breaks these rules may be excluded, suspended or fined, at the discretion of the Committee. Any fine imposed on a player or team that remains unpaid will exclude that player or team from any further continuance within the League until payment is received by the League. While a team is suspended they will forfeit all matches 12 - 0.
- Any team that accumulates 3 'strikes' during the course of a single season will be removed from the League. This does not include accepted postponed matches, KO Cup matches, or while a team is suspended awaiting action from the Committee.
- Any team excluded from the League must apply to the Committee to be reinstated into future Leagues. If required, the team must meet any requirements put in place by the Committee before being allowed to rejoin. If a team is excluded from the League, all players currently registered to that team shall also be excluded from the League for the remainder of that season, and may not join another team until the following season.
- Any matches played by a team that leaves (or is excluded from) the League will be classed as void, unless they completed the first half of the season, in which case all first half results will stand.
- Each team is allowed 1 voting delegate at the AGM. All listed Committee members (barring the Chairperson) will have 1 vote, but they cannot also cast their team vote. In the case of a tie the Chairperson holds the casting vote.
- All League members are invited to attend the regular Committee meetings. If there is a sensitive matter that the Committee needs to discuss in private, any non-Committee members present may be asked to leave temporarily.
- Any member wishing to put a proposal to the Committee for discussion, should do so in writing to reach the Secretary not less than 7 days prior to the next meeting. E-mails to the Secretary are also acceptable, but only if the sender puts their name to it. Anonymous messages will not be accepted, and abusive messages will not be tolerated.
- League Members are expected to behave respectfully towards their opponents and towards the referee, abusive behaviour will not be tolerated. The referee has the right to ask any player guilty of poor conduct to cease their behaviour, or to ask the offending player's captain to do so for them. Failure to comply will result in a foul being called against the offending player's team, resulting in 1 free shot and 1 visit. The home team is to provide the referee for each match.
- The referee's decision is final in most matters, but if a player believes the referee has made a serious error, or any other major disagreement occurs, the frame should be stopped immediately and further clarification sought before continuing. If clarification isn't sought immediately then any errors made will stand. If players attempt to, but are unable to, obtain clarification on the night, the Committee may be asked to make a ruling retrospectively. This may lead to a request for a frame to be replayed at a later date.
- The League will be won by the accumulation of winning points. 3 points are given for a match win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. In the event of a tie at the end of the season, winning frames will be used. If teams are inseparable on all of the above, the combined results of their League matches against each other will be used. If it is still not possible to separate them, a play-off at a neutral venue will be used to decide the outcome.
- If a player has been banned from a venue, the landlords permission must be sought, with any condition set by the landlord being adhered to. If there is any doubt, a reserve player should be used instead.
- Objections and complaints should be made to the Secretary within 24 hours of the incident, and followed up by written details within 1 week.
- The League will offer support to any League Member who qualifies for their National Team. The League will set aside £100 over the 12-month period from the Winter League AGM, with a limit of £25 per claim per player. Multiple claims for multiple events from a single player will only be allowed if the budget is not used up by the end of that 12-month period. Other National/International competitions may be considered for funding, at the discretion of the Committee.
- To qualify for the Player of the Season competition, a player needs to have played a minimum of 60% of all available frames for a single team. On the stats website all players are now linked to their teams, if they change teams a new entry is created. Therefore players who transfer between teams mid-season are still eligible for the competition as long as they play the required number of frames for a single team.
- The Committee has the authority to amend or adapt this Constitution during the course of the season, should it be warranted. Any changes will then need to be voted on at the next Winter League AGM for permanent inclusion into the Constitution.