Constitution & Rules

Part 1 - CONSTITUTION

1.1 The league shall be known as The Watford and District Billiards and Snooker league and shall be open to members of any club in the Watford area.

1.2 The object of the league shall be to promote billiards and snooker in the area.

1.3 All games shall be played to the rules of The Billiards and Snooker Control Council.

1.4 The League shall be managed by an Executive Committee consisting of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Competition Secretary, and up to nine committee members, all to be properly elected at the Annual General Meeting each year.

1.5 Two members so elected shall be selected to serve for a period of two years. In the event of the resignation of a committee member, the committee shall have the power to co-opt a league member to fill the vacancy. Any committee member failing to attend 3 consecutive meetings without explanation, shall no longer be regarded as a member of the committee.

1.6 The Chairman shall preside at all committee meetings. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman will preside and in the absence of both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman the committee shall elect a Chairman for a meeting. The Chairman shall have the casting vote at any committee or league meeting.

1.7 Six members of the committee, or officers and committee, shall form a quorum, except where a sub-committee is formed.

1.8 The Secretary, or acting Secretary, shall take minutes of each full committee meeting and read the minutes of the previous meeting, which, if they are accepted by the Committee as a true record, shall be signed by the Chairman presiding.

1.9 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at any time by the committee, or by any member of a league club provided it is supported by not less than one fifth of the total of league clubs.

1.10 Any alteration to the league rules by a member or club can only be made on a majority vote at the Annual General Meeting, or, if necessary, at an Extraordinary General Meeting of which all members shall be notified and given the option to attend. Proposed alterations must be in the possession of the Secretary not less than 21 days before any General Meeting. Fourteen days notice of proposed alterations to be given to clubs by the Secretary prior to any General Meeting. Only one vote allowed to any club represented at these meetings.

1.11 All trophies remain the property of the league, but may be held by the winners for a period of one year at the discretion of the committee.

1.12 This Constitution may only be varied by a majority vote at the Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting, but the committee have the power to alter the Rules at any time to ensure the smooth running and the financial security of the league.

PART 2 - MEMBERSHIP

2.1 Entrance to the league shall be open to all clubs within reasonable travelling distance of the centre of the current area at the discretion of the committee. Any member of These clubs is eligible to participate. League membership fees and registration for the following season to be paid at the time of application each year as a condition of membership.

2.2 Any member, team or club deliberately infringing the rules of the league, or being guilty of conduct which in the opinion of the committee is detrimental to the character and interests of The league, can be required to attend a committee meeting, who shall have the power to suspend, request their resignation or expel them from taking part in league activities. 2.3 All clubs not represented at any General Meeting, and not in attendance throughout the whole of that General Meeting, will be fined £20, unless reasonable excuse for non-attendance is accepted by the committee. If the fine is not paid within 28 days of the committee notifying the offending club by recorded delivery post, that club will be expelled from the league. Any new club joining the league will not have voting power at a General Meeting until they have completed a full season in the league.

PART 3 - GAMES RULES

3.1 All league and cup games to be refereed alternatively by members of both clubs. The home club will normally supply the first referee. The home players score to be shown on the 'top' or 'spot' position on The scoreboard.

3.2 All league and cup matches are to be played on one table, with the exception that, in the event of a match being considered to finish beyond the club's normal closing time, the fourth and fifth frames may be played concurrently on adjoining tables, with The agreement of both captains.

PART 4 - LEAGUE MATCHES

4.1 A match shall consist of 5 singles games, the result of which the home captain shall notify the Fixtures Secretary.

4.2 If less than three players of any on team are present for a match, it shall not take place, but must be re-arranged for a future date. Any postponed match must be played within 21 days of the original date. In the event of the defaulting team failing to play a postponed game within the stipulated time, the defaulting team shall have three points deducted and the match shall be played at the direction of the committee. Both teams to notify the Fixtures Secretary on the day of postponement, also to be confirmed in writing within 7 days of The postponement.

4.3 Two clear days notice shall be given to the opposing team and the Fixture Secretary in the event of a postponed match, in exceptional circumstances e.g. bad weather, the two days notice of postponement may be waived at the discretion of the committee.

4.4 If for any reason a match is not able to be finished due to a club's closing times, the remaining game or games shall be re-arranged for a future date convenient to both clubs but within 21 days. The Fixtures Secretary to be notified by the home captain.

4.5 Any team failing to turn up for a fixture without the notice provided in Rule 4.3 must forward to the fixtures Secretary a satisfactory and acceptable explanation for their absence within 7 days. The defaulting team shall pay £25.00 through the committee towards their opponents expenses in any case. Should the explanation not be acceptable to the Committee, the offending team shall have three points deducted. The match shall be rearranged and played within 21 days of the original date.

4.6 The home captain shall nominate players one at a time for matching by the visiting captain.

4.7 No player shall play for more than one team in any one season, and only for that same team in cup competitions.
Except:-
1. Where a team withdraws from the League within six weeks of the start of the season.
2. Where a player has played no more than three times for a team, or in any other exceptional circumstances members may apply to the committee for permission to play for another team. The Committee shall have sole discretion in these circumstances.

4.8 Matches to commence at 7.45pm. To be played on Thursday's unless notice of postponement has been given. Matches not started by 8.00pm the defaulting team shall have one point deducted. Should the match not start by 8.30pm, the non-defaulting team shall claim the first frame. Any match not started by 9.00pm, the defaulting team will be deemed to have contravened rule 4.5. The playing of all frames shall be continuous, with the exception that one break of a maximum of 15 minutes may be allowed for refreshments after the third frame has been played. Should any player not be available to play he shall forfeit his frame.

4.9 Result cards to be with the Fixture Secretary by the Tuesday following the match. Failure to comply renders the home team liable to a two points deduction from their total.

4.10 At the end of the season, if two or more teams are eligible for promotion or relegation and finish with the same number of points, the team winning or losing the most matches will decide promotion or relegation. If this still results in a tie then there will be a play-off between those teams.

4.11 All teams not completing their fixtures by a notified date shall be placed last in their respective division unless a reasonable excuse is accepted by the committee.

4.12 In the event of any or all of the last three matches being postponed, then they must be played within one week of the finishing date of the season.

PART 5 - CUP MATCHES

5.1 A match shall consist of the best of five singles frames.

5.2 If less than three players of any one team are present for a match, it shall not take place, but must be re-arranged for a future date within seven days of the original date. In the event of the defaulting team not playing the re-arranged game within the stipulated time, they will be eliminated from the competition. Both teams to notify the Competition Secretary of the postponement.

5.3 If for any reason a match is not able to be finished due to a clubs closing times, the remaining game or games shall be re-arranged for a future date convenient to both clubs but within seven days. The Competition Secretary to be notified by the home captain.

5.4 Two clear days notice to be given to the opposing team, and the Competition Secretary, in the event of a postponed match. Failure to give such notice shall result in the defaulting team conceding the match. In exceptional circumstances e.g. bad weather, the two days notice of postponement may be waived at the discretion of the committee.

5.5 Any team failing to turn up for a fixture without the notice provided in Rule 5.4 must forward to the Competition Secretary a satisfactory and acceptable explanation for their absence within seven days. The defaulting team shall pay £25.00 to the committee Should the explanation not be acceptable to the committee, the offending team shall be eliminated from that competition. Teams defaulting without reason may be banned from that competition the following season. Persistent offenders shall be deemed to have contravened rule 2.2. The Committee shall have discretion to award reasonable costs to the non-defaulting team.

5.6 Each team captain will separately make a list of his team in playing order. The two lists will then be placed together and the frames will be played in that order.

5.7 The home captain shall be responsible for notifying the Competition Secretary of the result of the match.

5.8 No player may under any circumstances play for more than one team in any one season, and only for that same team in league matches.

5.9 Matches to commence at 7.45pm. Matches not started at 8.00pm the defaulting team shall forfeit the first frame. Should the match not start by 8.30pm, the defaulting team shall forfeit the second frame. Any match not started by 9.00pm, the defaulting team will be deemed to have contravened rule 5.5. The playing of all frames shall be continuous, with the exception that one break of a maximum of 15 minutes may be allowed for refreshments after the third frame has been played. Should any player not be available to play he shall forfeit that frame.

5.10 If two teams from the same club reach a final, the final will be played at that club, otherwise it will be played at a neutral venue to be decided by the committee.

PART 6 - INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS

6.1 Any member of any league club (unless under suspension by the league) can enter any of these competitions. However, it shall be a condition of entry that a personal contact telephone number be supplied. Only in exceptional circumstances shall a club number be acceptable to the Committee.

6.2 In individual competitions, where a lady or player under 18 years of age is drawn away to a club, the rules of which bar them from playing at that club, the committee will reverse the fixture so that they can play at home.

6.3 All rounds up to and including the semi-finals to be played at the home club of the player first named in the draw. Draw to be made by the committee. Finals venues to be decided by the committee, including the nomination of neutral referees. If two players from the same club reach a final, then that final will be played at that club.

6.6 Any players not contacted 10 days prior to the closing date shall contact the Competition Secretary and claim the game. This the player must confirm in writing before the closing date for that round.

6.7 All results to be sent to the Competitions Secretary in writing within TWO days of the closing date of the draw. This shall be the responsibility of the winning team/player(s).

6.8 Players who have not previously entered handicap competitions will be regarded as scratch players, unless that player be known to the Committee, whereupon he shall be handicapped accordingly.

6.9 Snooker competitions will consist of the best of three frames up to and including the quarter-finals. The semi-finals and finals will be the best of five frames, except the Championship final, which will be the best of seven frames.

6.10 Billiards competitions will consist of 250 up, except for the semi-finals and final, which will be 350 up.

PART 7 - GENERAL

7.1 The Committee shall determine the charges to be paid by clubs and individuals for entry into competitions.

7.2 The league books shall be open to inspection by any member of the league at any reasonable time. The venue for the inspection shall be decided by the holding officer, and be inspected in his presence.

7.3 The tickets for the Presentation Night will be sold after the final league tables have been published, winners will be given preference. A player with an individual trophy to collect will forfeit it if they do not attend the Presentation, unless they have a reasonable excuse for non attendance, or they arrange for someone from their own club to collect it on their behalf.

7.4 Team trophies will not be awarded unless at least 2 members of that team are present at the Presentation. Any team not so represented shall be liable to reimburse the League expenses incurred in the provision of the trophies, at the Committee's discretion.

7.5 Any restriction imposed on players or guests by associate clubs regarding age, sex, dress, behaviour or licensing hours are paramount and binding. Any failure to observe such restrictions shall be regarded by the committee as a breach of League Rules, in accordance with rule 2.2.

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