Section 2 - League Registration

1.    CLUB AND INSTITUTES
Clubs or Institutes wishing to enter teams in the League shall make application to the League Secretary, the same to be brought before the Management Committee who shall determine thereon.

2.    TEAM REGISTRATION
Each Billiard team shall consist of a minimum of four registered players and each Snooker team shall consist of a minimum of five registered players. All team registrations must be submitted to the League Secretary not later than the end of May prior to the next season.

3.    INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION
3.1 Individuals wishing to participate in any League competition must be an accepted member of a League registered club.

3.2 A registered individual must be signed as a Billiard player to compete at Billiards and as a Snooker player to compete at Snooker.

3.3 Provided he is an accepted member of a League registered club, an individual can be registered as a League member at any time subject to the League Secretary being informed, and, in the case of Billiards, he is assessed for handciap (see Section 3 Rule 17), before he plays.

3.4 Clubs will pay a fee (see Section 6) to register an individual with the League. The registration fee entitles each individual to:
(a) A fixture list and Rules card, which shall be evidence of registration and may, if desired be produced for inspection by any league member.
(b) Social membership of Haydon Village Trust as defined by the Club Rules. Social members shall on casual visits to the club, produce their league fixture card as proof of membership.

3.5 Any individual not registered in accordance with the forgoing will be deemed ineligible and will attract penalties as defined in Section 3 Rule 5.

4.    TRANSFERS
Subject to the provision of Section 2 Rule 3.1, any player may apply for a transfer. Transfer forms may be obtained from Club Secretaries and when completed be forwarded to the League Secretary for approval. If the League Secretary is unable to approve the transfer the matter will be referred to the Management Committee. No transfer will be allowed after 31st December in any Season.
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Section 3 - Match Play

General

1.    All League fixtures to be arranged by the Match Secretary before the commencement of the season.

2.    All matches shall be played under the latest Authorised Rules of the National governing body. A copy of these Rules to be displayed in each Clubroom. All players to be purely amateur.

3.    The HOME team shall nominate their team before the commencement of the match. The nomination need not be listed in order of play. VISITING teams shall have the choice of matching players. The HOME team shall be responsible for the efficient refereeing and marking of each game. In all instances the referees decision shall be final.

4.    The Home Team must play their home fixtures at their registered club venue.  Under exceptional circumstances, the Committee may permit a different home venue to be used.  Prior approval from the Committee must be sought before playing any home fixture at an alternative venue.  Failure to comply with this rule will result in the match being forfeited.

5.    Any Club or Institute entering teams in more than one Division may play lower Division players as reserves in the higher Divisions not more than twice, by playing a third time they will be transferred by the League Secretary to the next higher Division in which their Club is competing (see also Section 4, Rule 8). No player can play for more than one team in any of the League Competitions.  No player from a Higher Division can drop down to a lower Division during the course of that season.

6.    Any team playing an ineligible player (as defined under Section 2, Rule 3.5) will forfeit his game.  In the case of Snooker the opposing team will receive 147 points and in Billiards 100 points.  The Match Secretary will also deduct 2 points from the offending team score in the league table.

7.    All matches to be played on or before the last dates in fixture book.  Any team requesting a postponement must be made through the Match Secretary, and must make every effort to give opponents 48 hours notice of postponement. Should the postponement be agreed the re-arranged match must be played within 7 days of the scheduled date.  Should this rule not be adhered to the Match Secretary will decide on any further action.  This rule applies to both Snooker and Billiards.

Snooker

8.    All teams must comprise 5 players. A team fielding less than 4 players shall forfeit the match. All points shall be awarded to the opponents and the Match Secretary will also deduct 2 points from the offending teams score in the League table. Refer also to Rule 10 in respect of fines for absentees.

9.    Each player shall play one frame and a team shall score one point for each frame won.

10.    The top 2 teams in each division will be promoted and the bottom 2 teams relegated unless the numbers in new league formations require otherwise. All members of promoted or relegated teams will be considered members of their new division for the following season with particular reference to qualification for individual competitions. Should two or more teams finish level on points which affect either promotion, relegation or the top position in Division 1, then the number of games won should decide the outcome.  Should this be equal a play-off on a neutral table will be necessary and will consist of a Match of 5 frames, consisting of 5 individual team members per team (one team member per frame). Captains to draw lots to decide player/player. The league to provide a referee.

11.    Snooker Leagues Div. 1 & 2 will play on Mondays, Div. 3 on Tuesdays. Clubs who require to play on any other night shall only do so by consent of the League Management Committee. The match shall start not later than 7 p.m. Players must be in attendance to ensure the uninterrupted playing of the match. Should a player not be present immediately following completion of the previous game, the non offending team shall have the right to claim the game and points i.e. 1 point and a score of 147 in matches where aggregate scores are involved. The club of the team will also incur a fine for each absentee as stated in Section 6.
 

12.    Any Club or Institute entering teams in more than one division may play Lower Division players as reserves in the Higher Division not more than twice, by playing a third time they will be transferred by the League Secretary to the Higher Division in which their club is competitng.

i. No player from a Higher Division can play as a reserve for a Lower Division Team.

ii. No player can play for more than one team in any of the League Competitions.

iii. No player from a Higher Division can drop to a Lower Division during the course of that season.

Billiards

13.    All teams must comprise 4 players. A team fielding less than 3 players shall forfeit the match. 5 points shall be awarded to the non offending team and the match Secretary shall deduct 2 points from the offending teams score in the League table (Refer also to Rule 14 in respect of fine for absentees).

14.    Each game shall be 100 points up, 1 point for each game. A further point will also be awarded to the team with the highest aggregate. In the case of a tie, half a point will be given to each team.

15.    The match shall start not later than 6.30 p.m. unless an alternative time be arranged by mutual consent of opposing teams. Players must be in attendance to ensure the uninterrupted playing of the match. Should a player not be present immediately following completion of the previous game, the non offending team shall have the right to claim the game and points i.e. 1 point and a score of 100. The Club of the offending team will also incur a fine for each absentee as stated in Section 6.

16.    Billiards handicaps must be adjusted by each player and certified by his opponent after each game played. A winning players handicap shall be increased by 5 points and a losing player decreased by 5 points. The first game a player wins from a scratch position will have his handicap increased by 5 (five) points regardless of the number of consecutive games lost previously. Each adjustment shall be permanently recorded on a handicap card which shall be an integral part of the fixture card and shall include provision for a players commencing and current handicap, name, signature of opponent, result of game and revised handicap. Any player failing to keep his handicap record up to date shall forfeit all games won since his last adjustment and shall have his handicap increased by 10 points in addition to his revised handicap.

17.    A players handicap shall not be increased or decreased in the absence of an opponent.

18.    Any new Billiards player shall be referred to the League Secretary and shall be given a provisional starting handicap of 30 points. This handicap to be reviewed by the handicap committee after three League games.

19.    Any team unable to play home fixtures on Thursdays must play on the Friday of the same week.

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Section 4 - Competition Rules

General

1.    These rules are to be observed by all League members for all competition matches. The Competition Secretary shall have power to enforce any competition rule without reference to the League Management Committee.

2.    All competition results (Team and Individual) are to be reported in accordance with Section 5.

3.    All players listed on the Registration Forms at the beginning of any season can play in all of the Cup Competitions without restriction.  Any player registered after the season begins (for that particular Division) must have played a minimum of 2 League matches for their respective clubs.  This rule will apply for the first two rounds of all Cup competitions.  This rule applies to Snooker only.

Team K.O. Competitions

4.    All rounds of the Snooker K.O., Snooker Plate and Billiards K.O. to be played on home and away basis. Total aggregate to count. The Competition Secretary shall pre-arrange dates for the Finals of all Team Competitions.

5.    Snooker K.O. Cuo and K.O. Plate Competition.  The following handicaps will apply:
   
1st Division Player 21 points
2nd Division Player 7 points
3rd Division Player 0 points

In any one season no player can play for more than one team in any of the League competitions as defined in Sec 4 Competition Rules even if transferred during the season. Any team fielding an ineligible player in a K.O. match shall incur penalties as defined in Section 3 Rules 4 & 5.

6.    In both Billiards and Snooker team matches over two legs, the aggregate score will only be used once to decide the result of the match in the event of a draw in games after both legs have been played. Should the result be a tied match i.e. games and aggregate scores are equal, team captains are to draw lots, one player from each team to play a deciding game.

Individual & Pairs Competitions

7.    Entry into divisional individual competitions shall be restricted to players within the division subject to the following:
(a) When a player voluntarily relegates himself to play a lower division he will not be eligible to enter the individual competition for that division for a period of 2 years. He will however be eligible to enter the Individual Competition for the division from which he relegated himself for this 2 year period.
(b) That any player voluntarily relegating himself to a lower division and playing in the Plate Competition will be given, for a period of 2 years, the handicap appropriate to the division he has left. Any team fielding a player who fails to declare his/her handicap as defined shall forfeit 2 points.
(c) If a lower division player is transferred voluntarily or under provision of Section 3 Rule 4 to a higher division, he will forfeit the divisional competition he may have entered.
(d) All registered players are eligible to enter open individual competitions subject to the provisions of Section 2 Rule 3.2.

Draws for competitions (both Team and Individual) to be made at the monthly Committee meetings.
 

8.    Open and 1st Division Snooker Individual Competitions: Finals - best of 7 frames. Semi-Finals - best of 5 frames. Other rounds - best of 3 frames. Pairs Final and Semi-Finals - best of 5 frames. Other rounds - best of 3 frames. All other Snooker Individuals - Final best of 5 frames. Semi-Finals and other rounds best of 3 frames.

9.    Senior Billiard Individual; Final 500 points up; Semi-Final 350 points up. Other rounds 250 points up.

10.    Billiard Handicap Individual: All rounds 100 points up. The Individuals current handicap shall apply to all such matches and shall not alter as a result of the competition m

11.    The HOME player is responsible for arranging the fixture and must offer the opponent/s TWO dates within 7 days of the draw (avoiding weekends when necessary) on different days in separate weeks. If either of the dates offered are not accepted by the opponent/s, the home player/s has a right to claim the match, or to offer further dates at his discretion. The opponent/s (away players) shall have the right to claim the game in the event of dates not being offered in accordance with the foregoing. In such instances he/they shall be responsible for notifying the Competition Secretary on the appropriate score card prior to the closing day of the competition round.  If no contact is made by the HOME player, the opponents (away players) must make every effort to contact the HOME player to arrange the fixture.  Should this prove unsuccessful, in the first instance the opponents (all players involved) must inform the Competition Secretary prior to the closing date of the competition round.  Competition Secretary to arrange a date if necessary in these circumstances.

12.    Referees and markers shall be provided by the League for all Individual Finals and Semi-Finals.

13.    If in any League competition the number of entrants is below sixteen the Competition Secretary has the authority to organise an alternative form of competition.  Any decision concerning competitions made by Competition Secretary shall be final.
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Section 5 - Recording and Reporting Results

1. League Matches. Team captains shall be responsible for ensuring that match results are correctly recorded on score cards which shall be provided by the League. The HOME Team Captain shall ensure that the completed score card is received by the appropriate Match Secretary as stated inside the front cover of the fixture book within 7 days of the match. Teams failing to comply with this rule shall have 2 points deducted from their League score by the Match Secretary.

2. Team Competition Matches. Team Captains shall be responsible for ensuring that results are correctly recorded on the appropriate score cards. The WINNING Team Captain shall ensure the completed score card for each match (leg) is sent to the Competitions Secretary and both cards must be received by the specified closing date of each round. Teams failing to comply with this rule will be eliminated from the competition.

3. Individual and Pairs Competitions. All games must be played and the result reported to the Competition Secretary on the appropriate score card as stated inside the front cover of the fixture card by the specified closing date of each round. The WINNING PLAYER/S shall be responsible for reporting the result of the match. In the event of the result not having been reported by the closing date, both the winner and the loser shall be eliminated from the competition.
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Section 6 - Fees And Fines

FEES
1. THE FOLLOWING FEES ARE PAYABLE BY ALL CLUBS TO THE LEAGUE TREASURER:

Individual Registration           - £3.00 per individual

Match Fee                         - 80p per player per match (excluding Team K.O. competitions)

Individual Competition Entry Fee  - £1.00 per individual for each competition entered

Pairs Competition Entry Fee       - £1.00 per individual

INFRINGEMENT                           RULE                  FINE
Dismissal or resignation               Section 3             £25.00
from the League                        Rule 7

Failing to field a team of less        Section 3             £3.00
than normal compliment                 Rules 8 & 12          per absentee

Failure to honour League accounts      Section 6             £10.00
within one month of receipt            Rule 1                per month overdue

Any club not represented at League     Section 1
Management Committee Meetings          Rule 2                £2.00 per meeting

Failure to return trophies/cups to
Competition Secretary by set date                            £5.00

Section 7 - General

1.    These rules shall not be repealed, altered nor any addition made thereto unless notice of such intention be sent to the League Secretary in writing, stating the exact terms thereof, at least 30 days before the Annual General Meeting, The Secretary shall refer all proposed amendments to the Rules, to the Committee for scrutiny prior to discussion at the A.G.M. Nominations for officers of the League must also be sent to the League Secretary at least 30 days before the A.G.M.

2.    The League Secretary shall inform the Management Committee of any breach of these rules. The Management Committee will deal with the infringement as necessary.

3.    Any dispute or appeal that arises must be made in writing to the League Secretary. The League Secretary will ensure that any parties concerned are advised. In the event that no reply is received in writing within fourteen days by the League Secretary, the original appeal/dispute will be read at the next Management Meeting. Any decision reached will be advised to the party/parties concerned and will be final and not subject to appeal.

4.    In the event of any matters arising which the foregoing rules do not cover, such matters shall be dealt with by the Committee.

5.    Perpetual trophies to be signed for on receipt.  All trophies to be returned by the 3rd Wednesday in March of the following season. A fine of £5 plus any costs incurred in the collection and/or repair of the trophy.
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