Rules
LEAGUE RULES AND REGULATIONS
RULE 1
That the combination of Clubs is called the Leamington and District Billiards and Snooker Association.
RULE 2
That the Association be governed by a President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and General Secretary assisted by such Assistant Secrataries as deemed necessary.
RULE 3
That the Association be managed by a Management Committee comprising of up to fifteen members, five of which form a quorum. No club to have more than two members on the Management Committee. If not enough volunteers come forward at the AGM then the committee shall have the power to approach and co-opt further members as necessary. The Management Committee shall have power to:
- Deal with all Association business
- Investigate all complaints and report on irregularities.
- Give decisions which shall be final and binding.
RULE 4
That the Annual General Meeting shall be held in August/September each year when the Officials for the ensuing year will be elected. Each club to send a representative from each team, teams not represented to be fined £5. Each team representative to have the power to vote.
RULE 5
That clubs may submit entries for as many teams as they wish, in either section, at an annual subscription of £10 per team payable by the 15th July - such entries being subject to the approval of the Management Committee.
Failure to register teams, with payment,by the due date may result in teams being excluded from the league. Non registered and paid for places will be offered after 31st July, on a first come first served basis.
RULE 6
That only bona-fide financial members of a registered club and their children are eligible to represent a club in any competition run by the Association, and shall only play for one club at either snooker or billiards during that season, unless the Committee decide otherwise, or a club resigns from the league in the first half of the season. A servant of any registered club may play at the Committee's discretion.
All players to be registered at a fee of £1 per player - this fee to be forwarded to the Match Secretary, together with registration forms, 7 days before the start of the season. Any player owing monies to be refused registration.
A list of registered players to be retained by the Match Secretary with a signed copy returned to the club - this list to be posted on the club's notice board for the whole of the season. Additional registrations can be made by contacting the Match Secretary giving a minimum of 48 hours notice - the £1 fee will be added to the team's next match levy payment - an amended list of registered players will be issued.
No new registrations will be accepted after the first half of the season unless submitted to and approved by the Committee.
Any player not registered who plays in a league match will forfeit the frame, additionally the team will have one point deducted from the league irrespective of that player winning or losing.
RULE 7 - TROPHIES AND PRIZES
In addition to the relevant prizes, the winners of each competition (individual and team) will retain the competition trophy for the year. The winner must sign the trophy register at Presentation Evening as proof they have possession of the trophy, and are therefore responsible for its return, even if the trophy is taken to and left at the players' club. Trophies must be returned to the committee by 31st March each season. Failure to return a trophy by this time will result in a £5 fine per trophy.
Should a trophy be returned damaged or unacceptably dirty, the recipient(s) will be held accountable for the professional cost of repair/cleaning.
Should a trophy be lost or damaged beyond repair, the recipient(s) will be held accountable for the cost of a like for like replacement.
The General Secretary will write to recipients who receive fines under the above rules, with payment of the fine due within 10 days of the date of the letter. In the instance of the General Secretary not having a postal address for the recipient, they will telephone the recipient to inform them of the fine.
Players/teams must collect their prizes/trophies at Presentation Night. Winners may send or appoint a representative on their behalf should they be unable to attend, providing the General Secretary has been notified prior to the evening. Should any players/teams fail to collect their trophies/prizes on Presentation Night and subsequently fail to contact the General Secretary within seven days, they may lose the right to such prizes at the discretion of the management committee. The competition trophy owned by the league will also be retained.
Failure to comply with the above rule will result in the individual, or in the event of a team - all team members, being suspended from all league matches and competitions until all outstanding monies have been paid.
RULE 8
A match levy fee of £3.50 is made against all teams playing weekly in the Association's league matches. This fee to be collected by team captains after each match is played and forwarded to the Match Secretary or Treasurer:-
- 1st half fees by 31st January
- 2nd half fees by 31st May
The above dates are also the deadline dates for Billiards match levies.
In the event of a team being short of players for a match, the full match fee of £3.50 will still be due for that week's match. Should a team fail to turn up to play a match, neither team will be charged for the match. Rule 12 of the association rules regarding this situation will still apply.
If match levy payments are not received by the "due date" then the club in default will be notified by letter by the Match Secretary and will incur a fine of £10 per team in default, which must be paid in addition to the match levy fees.
Failure to pay match levy fees, together with any fines and/or registration fees within 7 days of the "due date" for the first half will result in immediate expulsion from the league with all results being expunged. All players for such teams will also be excluded from any competitions. Failure to pay match levy fees, together with any fines and/or registration fees within 7 days of the "due date" for the second half will result in that team and/or players being excluded for the following season.
Any appeal from teams or players must be made in writing to the General Secretary.
RULE 9
Matches may be postponed only in very exceptional circumstances and with the approval of the Management Committee. If a team wishes to postpone a match due to a lack of players, they must contact the Match Secretary at least 48 hours before the match is due to take place, and both teams MUST agree to the postponement. Failure to contact the Match Secretary will result in a £5 fine. The Match Secretary reserves the right to make judgements other than this on a "per case" basis.
All postponed matches should be rearranged at the earliest opportunity. If a postponement occurs in the first half of the season, the committee will make a "score decision" to allow the Competitions Secretary to calculate the team handicaps for the Stan Ward Cup. The match must still be re-arranged and played at the earliest opportunity. The Match Secretary must be advised of the rearranged date of any postponed match.
Should a postponement occur in the last three matches of either half of the season the Committee reserve the right to decide the rearranged date for the match. In any event the Committee will decide the score in all cases where teams do not abide by the rules.
RULE 10
All billiards and snooker matches to conform to the International Snooker and English Billiards Rules as approved by the International Snooker and Billiards Federation - a copy of which must be available at each club. All scoreboards must be illuminated.
RULE 11
All protests to reach the General Secretary within 3 days of the match and confirmed by both club secretary and team captain within 7 days.
The General Secretary to give notice to the offending club, the particulars of the protest.
SNOOKER SECTION
RULE 12
Players registered for a club may represent any of that clubs' teams on any given week. However, no player shall play for more than one of their clubs' teams in the same league week. Once a player has played four matches for one team, that team is then deemed to be their team and they will not be permitted to represent any other team for the rest of the season. Where a team is short of players for a match, they may use players who are registered for the club as long as they meet the above criteria.
RULE 13
Snooker matches to be played on Thursday evenings. Clubs with only one table to play Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Clubs with three or four teams in the league will play their 3rd/4th team matches on Wednesday evenings if necessary. Any team failing to turn up and play a match will be fined £10, have 7 points deducted from their league total and the match awarded 7-0 to their opponents. The opposing team should fill the card out with their 7 players, indicating 1-0 for each frame and forward to the Match Secretary.
It is the responsibility of the captain to inform his opposing captain if any of his players are going to be late. Any player who keeps his opponent waiting more than 15 minutes will render himself liable to forfeit his game if claimed by his opponent's captain. This includes a player having to wait more than 15 minutes when a match table is free.
Matches to be seven players per team. A minimum of FIVE players is required to fulfil a fixture. Should a team turn up with less than 5 players available, without prior notification to the Match Secretary and the opposing captain, they will be deemed as to have not shown up for the match and will be subject to the rule governing this (see RULE 13 paragraph 1 above). With prior notice a team may be allowed to complete the match, but any frames that cannot be played under the rules will be treated as "NO PLAYER" with the opposing player awarded the frame 1-0.
Where a team is short of players, two players may play twice in a match in order to fulfil all 7 frames. No player may play twice in a match on more than one occasion during any season. All eligible players for the side that is short should be entered into a random draw to decide the player(s) who will fulfil the "empty games". This to be decided before the match commences, or when necessary should a player expected to show, not turn up to play.
Should any frames not be played due to ineligibility of those players present to play twice, the frames to be recorded as 1-0 on the match scorecard. Players who are awarded frame wins in this manner will receive a win towards their averages. Any occurrences of this in the first half of the season will also count towards the players' eligibility for the league handicap cup competitions. Losses in this manner do not count as losses for players named on the card as these are treated as "NO PLAYER" present. In the case of players who play more than once in a match, BOTH results in that match count towards the averages and eligibility to play in the handicap cup competitions.
When invoking this rule, teams to adhere to the following guidelines.
- Any games that have to be given away (NO PLAYER) should be written at the bottom of the card (position 7, then 6 etc).
- The player playing twice should be written above any NO PLAYER games. For example, if one game is given away as NO PLAYER, and one player plays twice. The NO PLAYER game will be at position 7 on the card, and the player playing twice will be at position 6 on the card.
All matches MUST commence at 7.45pm with continuous play. Any agreement reached between captains will be binding for the whole match.
Teams to be exchanged before play commences - in the case of a 1 table club 'team' means those 3 players chosen for the first night and, on the second night' those 4 players chosen for the second night. Each player's opponent being decided as follows:- Away Captain to write his seven players onto the match card and the card folded in half to conceal the names. The Home Captain to then write his list of players onto the card without looking at the away team's list. The card to then be unfolded to reveal the seven games.
Home team to be marked on spot. Home captains to have sole charge of match i.e. order of play.
One league point is awarded for each frame won during a match. Additional points are awarded for winning a match. One extra point awarded for a home win, two extra points awarded for an away win. The team with the highest points total will win each division.
Home captains to be responsible for scorecard reaching the Match Secretary by the Monday after the match. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £5 which must be paid by the following Monday – non payment of this will result in a one point deduction for each late week (Tuesday to Tuesday).
RULE 14 - VENUE MOVING, PROMOTION AND RELEGATION
If a team playing in a division higher than the bottom division wish to move to a new venue, they will be allowed to retain their league status providing ALL of the following conditions are met:
- AT LEAST NINE of the previous season's squad sign on for the team at the new venue.
- Where a team had less than nine players the previous season, then ALL the squad must sign on for the team at the new venue.
- In the case of a squad larger than 9 players being involved no player from the previous season's squad will be permitted to sign for another team in the same division unless at least 9 have signed for the team at the new venue.
A team entry must be submitted by the 15th July deadline. If the "move" is asked for after this date, the team concerned must inform the Match Secretary before the Annual General Meeting.
Should a club close, then a team will be permitted to move venues and retain their league status. This also applies during the season, and for temporary closures. The Match Secretary MUST be informed ASAP should this situation arise.
Should a club close and its teams not enter the league the following season, or if during the season, fulfil the outstanding fixtures, then the teams will lose their league status should the team(s) wish to re-enter the following season.
Promotion and relegation will be on a two up and two down basis. Any teams finishing the season level on points will be separated by (in order): frames won, matches won, head-to-head record. Should this fail to separate team a play-off will be played within seven days of the end of the season at a neutral venue. This is subject to the Committee's approval.
Should a team from a higher division pull out of the league, then relegation will either be reduced to one team, or promotion increased, unless a league re-structure is required. Where a team in one of the automatic promotion positions (currently first and second) in a lower division fails to register for the following season then the team finishing third shall be promoted. If both promotion teams fail to register then the teams finishing third and fourth shall be promoted. The committee reserve the right to make judgements other than those covered above if any situations not mentioned arise.
RULE 15
The Association does not recognise the "miss" or the "foul and miss" rule in any league match or Handicap Cup match. However, these rules will be applied in competition semi finals and finals where the referee is qualified, and in the case of semi finals, where both semi finals are officiated by a qualified referee.
SNOOKER COMPETITIONS
RULE 16
Only registered players may enter these competitions. The appropriate fee must be paid at the time of applying for all competitions. It is a condition of every competition that dates decided by the Committee are strictly adhered to.
With the exception of League Handicap Cup Competitions, all rounds will have a "play by" date which must be strictly adhered to. There will be no contact date and both home and away players/teams are jointly responsible for arranging the match. Failure to play the match by the "play by" date may result in both players/teams being expelled from the competition.
League Handicap competitions to be played on the dates shown in the fixture book.
With the exception of Handicap Cup competitions, all players partaking in semi-finals and finals must comply with the dress code
DRESS CODE: smart dress is essential - jeans, shors, trainers, T-shirts/vests etc will not be allowed. Any player not complying with the dress code will not be allowed to play. In the event of a dispute arising as to whether an item of clothing/footwear is considered to be smart or not, or falls within the foregoing definitions, then the matter shall be referred to the Competitions Secretary, whose decision will be final.
LEAGUE HANDICAP COMPETITIONS
A player must have played in a minimum of two league games in the first half of the season to qualify to play. When a player has played enough games to qualify for more than one team, he can only play for the team for which he played the most games for in the first half of the season. If a player transfers from one club to another and subsequently plays enough matches to qualify for their new team in the cup, they must represent their new team, regardless of the number of matches played for their original team.
Should a team play an unregistered or non-qualified player then the match will be awarded to the opponents.
Teams to be exchanged before match starts and not be altered without consent of opposing captain. The playing order is alternate choice of play, with home captain to pick first. For matches played at one-table clubs, the home captain to get first pick of player on both nights. The result of all matches shall be decided by number of frames won.
Any team failing to attend and play a match will be fined £10 and expelled from the competition and if in the first round of the Stan Ward Cup will also be excluded from the Courier Cup.
The semi-finals shall be played on a home and away two-leg basis. In the event of a tie after 14 frames the match will be decided by one extra frame being played. Captains to place that night's team players into the hat and a name drawn out to represent and play the deciding frame.
The final to be a one-off match during Finals Week.
EJ RILEY SINGLES
Entry is £2.00 per player and must be paid at time of entry.
Matches are best of 5 frames. Semi-Finals and Final best of 7 frames.
PAIRS COMPETITION
Entry is £4.00 per pair and must be paid at time of entry.
Matches are best-of-3 frames, with the semi finals and final best-of-5 frames. A penalty of 28 points may be awarded at the start of the first frame (if claimed) to the players who have been kept waiting for more than 15 minutes to start the match.
ERIC BRIGGS TROPHY
Entry is £2.00 per player and must be paid at time of entry.
All players must be under the age of 35 on the 1st October in the current year. Matches are best of 3 frames. Semi-Finals and Final to be the best of 5 frames.
PETE HILEY CUP
Entry is £2.00 per player and must be paid at time of entry.
All players must be over the age of 50 years before 1st October in the current year. Matches are best of 3 frames.
CLIFF WEBB TROPHY
Entry is £2.00 per player and must be paid at time of entry.
Match format uses 6 reds and is best of 5 frames. Semi Finals best of 7 frames. Final best of 9 frames.
THREE MAN TEAM COMPETITION
Entry is £6.00 per team and must be paid at time of entry.
Up to four players to be registered for each team. All four players to be named at time of registration. Three of the players will constitute a team. At the start of the match the captains will draw the name of the players to compete against each other in frames 1, 2, and 3. This will immediately be followed by another draw to decide the players to play each other in frames 4, 5, and 6. It is not necessary for the players to compete against the same player in both frames.
If after six frames have been completed the match score is three frames all, the match will be decided by an extra frame played between a player from each team, drawn out of the hat.
If the first named players are not present at the start, then the second named players will commence play, and so on. Any player not present at his second call will forfeit the frame.
FRED COWELL CUP
Players must have played AT LEAST half of his teams' matches during the league season. One player to represent each league team. Player should be averages winner. If the winner is not able to play, then the second placed player shall take part, and so on through the qualified players. Handicaps are awarded, and are the handicaps given to each players' team for the Stan Ward Cup. Matches are single frame elimination.
FINALS WEEK
Each evening begins at 7:30pm. If a player is not present and ready to start at 7:30pm, or for the beginning of their match (if second match of the night), they will forfeit the first frame. For the Pairs competition, the team that is late will receive a penalty of 28 points, as per the Pairs Cup rule above.
BILLIARDS SECTION
RULE 17
Matches to be played on Tuesday evenings. Clubs with only one table on Monday and Tuesday evenings or Tuesdays only by notification to visiting club. Matches to be four players per team. Result on number of games won. One point for each game of 100 up.
All matches to commence at 7.45pm with continuous play. Any player who keeps his opponent waiting for more than 15 minutes will render himself liable to forfeit his game if claimed by the opposing captain.
Teams to be exchanged before play commences. The home captains to have sole charge of match i.e. order of play.
Billiards balls must be yellow (spot ball), white and red.
Spot ball player to be marked on spot on scoreboard i.e. on top
When a team only has three players available then the first player to finish his game will play in place of the absent player i.e. the fourth game. The result of this fourth game to count towards the match result.
Each player will play off an individual handicap which will be adjusted after each game.
Home team captain to be responsible for score-card reaching the Match Secretary by the Friday after the match. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £5 which must be paid by the following Friday. Non payment of this will result in a one point deduction for each late week (Friday to Friday).
The Billiards Section will have its own sub-committee to make decisions affecting policies appertaining to the Billiards League in respect of organising handicaps and cup competitions and any other matter that may arise.
Match levy fees will be 50 pence per game.
BILLIARDS COMPETITIONS
Only registered players may enter the competitions and must have played in at least two league matches in the first half of the season to qualify.
The appropriate fee must be paid at the time of applying for all Competitions. All rounds will have a "play-by" date which must be strictly adhered to. There will be no contact date and both home and away players are jointly responsible for arranging the match. Failure to play the match by the "play-by" date may result in both players being expelled from the competition.
BIRMINGHAM MAIL CUP
Preliminary rounds are 200 up, semi-finals are 90 minutes play and the final 2 hours play.
KENILWORTH TROPHY
Open to anyone not having achieved a 100 break, preliminary rounds are 150 up, semi-final 1 hour play and the final 90 minutes play.
CAMKIN CUP
Handicap as end of league matches.
RULES
Any proposed changes of these rules to be sent in writing to the committee. Each club representative will then be informed of the proposed change, and that this change will be discussed at the next Management Committee meeting, where it will be decided whether the proposal is viable. A vote will then take place as to whether or not to implement the change. Implementation of any rule changes voted for will come into effect the following league season. A list of changes will be made available to all teams at the Association's Annual General Meeting.
Where interpretation of these rules is necessary, or questions arise not covered by these rules, the decision of the Management Committee in all matters will be final. These rules superseded all previous rules and must be strictly adhered to.
OCTOBER 2012
