Rules

1. The league shall be called the “Burton & District Clubs Snooker League”.

2. Subscriptions shall be payable at the AGM (Annual General Meeting). Fee as agreed by the committee at their last meeting of the previous season. Nomination for entry to the season and subscriptions must be paid on the night of the AGM.

3. Players must be bona-fide members of the club for which they play. Where a player plays for team but is not a member of the club the following penalty shall be incurred: 1) The offending team is deducted 16 points, 2) The offending player is banned from playing for 6 weeks.

4. Matches to be played under WPBSA rules, with the exception that a “miss” cannot be called in Divisions 1 and 2 league matches, however, the Premier Division will use a 3 miss rule as laid out below.

The 3-miss rule works as follows:

The striker shall, to the best of their ability, endeavour to hit the ball on. When a foul is committed a foul and a miss is always automatically called. After a foul and a miss has been called, the non-offender has three options:

i. they may play the next shot from where the cue ball has landed.
ii. they may request the offender to play again from the position left, or
iii. from the original position, in this case all balls shall be replaced (to the best ability of the referee) and the ball on shall be the same as it was prior to the last stroke made.

Each time the balls are replaced the striker has the option to play for a different ball:

i. any Red, where Red was the ball on;
ii. the colour on, where all Reds were off the table; or
iii. a colour of the striker’s choice, where the ball on was a colour after a Red, or a free ball nominated as a Red had been potted.

A further 2 fouls and misses can be called and on the fourth attempt, if missed, a final foul can be called. Therefore a maximum of 4 fouls with 3 misses and therefore a potential minimum of 16pts in total fouls.

A miss cannot be called when any player required penalty points before, or as a result of, the stroke being played.

The 3-miss rule will be played in player and, where appropriate, team cup semi-finals and finals. Presidents Handicap Divisional finals for Divisions 1 and 2 will not play the 3-miss rule. For the Presidents Grand Final and Orme Shield and Plate semi-finals and finals a decision will be taken at the time as to whether the 3 miss rule will be played.

5. The teams shall consist of four players and matches decided over two frames per player. One point shall be awarded for each frame won and one point for the overall match win.

6. There shall be no more than sixteen teams in any one division. The top three teams of each division below the premier shall be promoted, and the bottom three teams of each division other than the lowest shall be relegated. The number of teams in each division will be dependent on the total number of entered teams within the whole league. To create divisions with an equal amount of teams it may be necessary to relegate or promote teams. This will be at the discretion of the Secretary and ratified by the Committee. Any team withdrawing from the league or not completing their fixtures is placed in the relegation zone until season end. They re-join in the lowest division.

7. Once a player has played one match for any team he cannot play for any other team without prior consent of the committee. With the exception of a registered floating player. These players may play 5 matches per team per season. Competition matches played are included within this total of 5 matches.

On completion of a sixth match for any one team that player may only play for that team for the rest of the season. Floating players must be registered on the match card by placing an “F” in a circle next to the relevant player.

2 teams = 2 floating players
3 teams = 3 floating players
4 teams = 3 floating players
5 teams = 4 floating players
6 teams = 5 floating players, etc…

8a. League matches shall commence at 7.30pm prompt or, at clubs with one table, 6.45pm prompt, unless other mutual arrangements have been made between the two teams. In the event of a player being unable to attend at the specified time he shall arrive no later than 8.00pm or, at clubs with one table, 7.15pm. Any players not present at 8.00pm or, at clubs with one table, 7.15pm shall forfeit two frames.

8b. Player competition and team competition matches shall commence at 7.30pm prompt or, at clubs with one table, 6.45pm prompt, unless other mutual arrangements have been made between the two teams. In the event of a player being unable to attend at the specified time he shall arrive no later than 7.45pm or, at clubs with one table, 7.00pm. Any players not present at 7.45pm or, at clubs with one table 7.00pm, shall forfeit their frame(s). If a team is not present at 8.00pm, or at clubs with one table 7.15pm, they shall forfeit the whole match.

9a. All matches to be played as per the fixture schedule online. If this is not possible, for any reason, both captains must inform the Fixtures & Competitions Secretary within 48hrs prior to the original match date, giving details of the re-arranged match date within a further 48hrs and sent to the Fixtures & Competitions Secretary asap.

9b. Should a fixture not take place as per the league fixture schedule online then the following penalties will apply unless re-arranged as per the conditions in 9a.

i) If a team cancels a game within the period 24-48hrs prior to the original match date and time, i.e. 1-2 days before, then that team will receive an immediate 4pt penalty and must give details of the re-arranged match date to the Fixtures & Competitions Secretary within a further 48hrs.

ii) If a team cancels a game within the period 4-24hrs prior to the original match date and time, i.e. on the day of the match, then that team will receive an immediate 8pt penalty and must give details of the re-arranged match date to the Fixtures & Competitions Secretary within a further 48hrs.

iii) If a team cancels a game within the period 0-4hrs prior to the original match date and time or does not show for a game, having made no attempt to contact the opposition, then that team will receive an immediate 12pt penalty, forfeit the match and the opposition will receive an 8 – 0 victory.

iv) If a team does not show for a match at all, with no contact with the opposing captain and Fixtures & Competitions secretary, they will receive and immediate 16pt penalty.

v) If a match has been rearranged by the teams but neither captain has informed the Fixtures & Competitions Secretary 48hrs prior to the original match date of the change in date then both teams will receive an immediate 4pt penalty and must give details of the re-arranged match date to the Fixtures & Competitions Secretary.

The penalties will be applied at the discretion of the committee.

9c. All penalised teams have 7 days to appeal in writing to the committee.

10. In all cases complaints/disputes will be dealt with by the committee as elected at the AGM. Disputes over rules of the game shall be referred to the WPBSA or their representatives. The committee decision in all complaints/disputes is final.

All complaints/disputes should be made in writing to the League Secretary within 7 days of the actual incident date. The committee will not hear any cases that have not been put in writing as per the deadline above.

11. This rule to apply for championship, promotional or relegation purposes only. Teams at the end of the season tied on points will have their placing decided with priority to wins, then losses then frame difference. If still tied, placing will be decided by a play-off on a neutral table with players playing two frames. If drawn, nominated players (before match) play a sudden death frame.

12. Match cards must be received by email or text by the Fixtures and Competitions Secretary no later than 12.00 noon, Saturday following the match. The match card should not be posted. The completed match card is to be given to the Captain of the winning team (unless the match is a draw then the home team Captain keeps the card). It is then the Captain’s responsibility to ensure the card is emailed or texted and arrives on-time. Failure to do so will result in a 2 point penalty for the responsible team.

13. That no alteration to these rules shall take place except at the AGM or SGM (Special General Meeting) convened for that purpose. The date of such meeting will be placed on the website. Any proposed alterations to the rules must be submitted to the secretary 7 days before any such meeting. Votes allowed, one per person per team (e.g. if a club with four teams is represented by two members, two votes are allowed, if represented by more than four members then only four votes are allowed). Any changes made at the AGM or SGM will take effect immediately.

14. A player can play for one club only during the season, unless prior consent of the committee is obtained.

15. There shall be a prize for the player in each division with highest average and break at the end of the season. The average will be calculated in the following way. Frames won divided by frames played. A player must play 70% of all possible matches to qualify (rounded down to nearest frame). Frames in claimed matches count towards the averages.

16. In all team competitions and player singles and doubles competitions, both teams/players are responsible for arranging the fixture to be played by the closing date as issued by the Competitions & Fixtures Secretary on the website.

Should the fixture not be played by the closing date then both teams/players will be removed from the competition with immediate effect.

If in any unforeseen circumstances the fixture can’t be completed players or teams should inform the fixtures secretary no later than 7 days before the fixture completion date.

The winning side must send the match card to the Competitions & Fixtures Secretary within two days of the completed match. Failure to comply will result in elimination.

There will be no recourse or opportunity to appeal by teams/players once the fixture date has passed.

17a. Orme Shield/Plate. This competition consists of 4 players per team. Match to be played in two parts of 4 singles each. Thus, each player plays 2 frames in two separate 4 player single frame draws. If after 8 frames the match is a draw then a deciding doubles game over one frame will be played. The draw for the 8 singles frames and deciding doubles frame must be done on the Orme matchcard before the match begins. All these players will be deemed to have played and are not allowed to play for any other team in this competition that season. The doubles game, if required, will start within 10 minutes of the singles games finishing. A floating player for the club may be used and should be indicated on the card, but after playing for that team in the competition will not be allowed to play for any other team in this competition.

The Orme Plate is a handicap competition. Premier league teams playing in the Orme Plate will be based on handicaps of 28pts per frame where they play a Division 2 team and 14pts per frame where they play a Division 1 team. Final handicaps for all teams will be set at the discretion of the Competitions and Fixtures secretary with approval from Committee.

Division 1 teams playing in the Orme Plate will be handicapped 14pts per frame where they are playing a Division 2 team.

Teams who do not turn up to Orme Shield Round 1 matches, or award the fixture to the other side, will not be placed into Orme Plate Round 1 draw.

The winning side must send the match card to the Competitions & Fixtures Secretary within two days of the completed match. Failure to comply will result in elimination.

The final to be played, to same rules, at a venue to be arranged on one night. Matches will be played as per the fixture schedule on the website.

17b. Presidents Team Handicap. This competition consists of 4 players per team each playing a two frames. If after eight frames the match is a draw then each team captain will nominate two players to play the deciding doubles game over one frame. The doubles game, if required, will start within 10 mins of the singles games finishing.

At the start of the match all four members to be entered onto the card. These shall be the same players that play for that team in the league. If there are more than four players in the league team then any combination of those players will be allowed.

A floating player for the club may be used and should be indicated on the card, but after playing for that team in the competition will not be allowed to play for any other team in this competition.

At the start of the match all four players to be entered onto the card. The home team will decide the order of play and indicate this on the card. The match will be played as four games of two frames.

The winning side must send the match card to the Competitions & Fixtures Secretary within two days of the match. Failure to comply will result in elimination.

The final will be played in two halves when there are four divisions. Should the result in a 4-4 draw then a doubles frame will decide the match. When there are three divisions then the final will consist of a round robin competition.

Matches will be played as per the fixture book or the website.

18. All matches to be played with “Super Crystallite” or equivalent balls.

19. (1) Where a club, for whatever reason, has rules of its own which excludes a member or members of visiting clubs from playing snooker, either as an individual or as a member of a team, that club shall notify the League Secretary of the fact prior to the commencement of the season or, in the event of such an exclusion occurring during the season, within seven days of the rules being made.

a) If a player of a team has been barred from another club due to alleged misconduct, then the team must produce another player to play in the match and not claim the points.

(2) Where such an exclusion exists, the intending visiting party shall contact the home club no later than seven days before the date of the match to rearrange the match according to the following provisions: –

a) In the event of a league match the away team will forfeit two frames (where one player only is barred) or produce another player as per Rule 19 (1a). If more than one player is barred the home team will forfeit home advantage. In the former case the home team must produce four players before 8.00pm as Rule 8).

b) In the case of all other competitions the home team or player(s) shall forfeit home advantage.

c) The match card should indicate that the match has been rearranged in accordance with this rule.

20. That the committee shall not suspend, ban or caution any player or players until the defendants have been given the opportunity to defend themselves at a committee meeting.

a) The defendant to be informed in writing 14 days before said meeting.

b) The defendant to inform the secretary 7 days before the meeting if he is unable to attend, listing dates when he is able to attend OR the case will be adjourned to the next meeting.

c) If unable to attend the next meeting, case to be heard without the defendant.

21. That any new club or teams entering the league should be placed in the lowest division.

a) The exception to this will be when a team moves clubs and that the club that the team has moved from does not wish to put one of its teams in that position. The moving team will be allowed to stay in its position under the new team name. This cannot take place if it effects promotion and relegation positions.

b) When this move is allowed then the team must play at least four of its original team members by week seven. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of 15pts per man not played.

22. Competition entry form and full amount of moneys to be received by the 3rd Thursday of the league season. The league’s website will be used to inform competition entrants of the next round draw and date.

23. All allegations of players playing under false or assumed names are to be reported to the Competitions & Fixtures Secretary without delay. Should a player be deemed by the committee to have offended the following penalty shall be incurred: –

1) The offending team is deducted 16 points.

2) The offending player is banned from playing for 4 weeks.

24. The wearing of T-shirts (no collar), jeans, shorts or trainers is prohibited for league semi-finals and finals. Players attired in said garments will forfeit the fixture.

25. Trophies must be returned to the league when requested for presenting at finals. They must also be in a condition that you would expect to receive them in. Failure to do this will result in a fine at the discretion of the committee.

26. A quorum of the committee will be 3 with at least two of the officers (chairman, secretary and treasurer) be present.

27. Mobile telephones should be on silent during a match. Anyone on-call or needing their phone turned on will inform the opposing team captain before the start of the match. Anyone refereeing a match should at no point be using their mobile phone. Captains should report such instances of players using their mobile phones whilst refereeing to the committee. Teams and players will receive a written warning for a first offence. A team penalty of 2pts will apply for each additional offence. The penalties will be applied at the discretion of the committee. All penalised teams have 7 days to appeal in writing to the committee.

28. In all competitions the break off of a deciding frame will be decided on the toss of a coin. Winner to choose.

29. Should the League dissolve for any reason, then once all liabilities have been paid, any money or property left shall be donated in equal amounts to the active participating clubs.