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Bristol Snooker League |
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League Standing Rules |
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Rule 1 - Title of the League The League shall be known as the Bristol Snooker League Rule 2 - Objects The objectives are to promote the interests of the game of Snooker and carry out Championships and Competitions, between Clubs and Individual Players, in membership with the League. The Management Committee may award prizes and trophies as deemed appropriate. Rule 3 - Membership Membership shall be open to all approved Clubs in the Bristol area. Membership shall not be available to any Club indebted to the League. Honorary Life Membership of the League may be awarded at an Annual General Meeting to a person so recommended by the Management Committee Rule 4 - Management The affairs of the League shall be managed by a Management Committee comprising of a President, Vice Presidents, Chairman, Vice Chairman, General Secretary, Registration and Records Secretary, Treasurer and Eight other persons, to be known as the Management Committee Members. Except for the President and Vice President/s, all shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, and be eligible for re-election. The Management Committee is empowered to fill vacancies as they arise and co-opt at any time. The General Secretary shall convene meetings of the Management Committee at which any FIVE Members present shall form a Quorum. Each Member shall be entitled to one vote with the Chairman empowered with a casting vote where necessary. Rule 5 - Annual Audit Joint Auditors shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting to audit the financial and other affairs of the League, and to advise the Management Committee as necessary. An audit certificate will be issued to accompany the presentation of the League’s annual accounts, and a report their findings will be presented at the next subsequent Annual General Meeting. Rule 6 - Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting shall be held at the earliest convenient date after the conclusion of the playing season. The meeting will receive the Chairman’s report for the proceeding year, together with such other reports as may be considered appropriate, and receive the League’s annual accounts from the Treasurer, with accompanying audit certificate and Auditor’s report. The meeting will deal with the election of League Officers and other Management Committee members for the ensuing year, and any other business that may be presented in accordance with these rules. The General Secretary shall give all Clubs in Membership 14 day’s notice of the date, venue and agenda of the Annual General Meeting. Each Club in Membership shall have ONE vote, with no voting by proxy. Rule 7 - Alteration or Amendments of Rules These Rules may be altered or amended only at the Annual General Meeting of the League, subject to SEVEN Days notice in writing to the General Secretary, or at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose. A Special General Meeting may be convened only at the request of 50% of the Management Committee or TEN Clubs in Membership of the League. Each Club in Membership is entitled to ONE vote, with no voting by proxy. Rule 8 - Annual Subscriptions Approved Clubs may enter teams subject to receipt of the required registration details by the Registration and Records Secretary. A registration fee, for each team entered, may be levied as determined by the Management Committee. Rule 9 - Player Registration and Transfers No player shall be eligible to play for any Club until he/she has been approved and registered by the Registration and Records Secretary. Post the initial registrations, a player can be registered up to the 1st January, by either the Club Secretary or Team Captain, by telephone or in writing, and with the approval of the Registration and Records Secretary. The appropriate registration details and fee must be received by the Registration and Records Secretary within SEVEN Days from the date of the first match he/she plays, otherwise Rule 15 will apply. Club Secretaries or Team Captains must state the team and division in which the player wishes to play, and the Division he/she played in previously if applicable. Only a Club Secretary or Team Captain can register a new player in place of an existing registered player, providing the existing player has not played a match, or transfer a player, by the 1st January, at the discretion of the Registration and Records Secretary, with no additional fee involved. This will be subject to the approval of the Management Committee at the first available meeting. The Management Committee will have overall control of all player registrations and movements, the Division in which a player will play, and any handicap imposed, should this be considered necessary. A player shall not be registered or transferred until subscriptions, or any other obligation owed to the League or a Club, has been settled. Any player found to have been registered contrary to this Rule will be suspended until the obligation has been fulfilled. Rule 10 - Players Any Club entering teams in more than one division may play lower-division players as reserves in higher divisions, up to a maximum of THREE times in total during one playing season. On playing a fourth time the player will be transferred by the Registration and Records Secretary to the next higher division in which the player’s Club competes. Where Clubs have two or more teams in the same division, players shall not play for a team other than the one for which they are registered. The Management Committee shall have power to waive or vary this rule in abnormal circumstances. Rule 11 - Fixtures The Management Committee shall determine the divisional structure and compile all fixtures. It will also determine the number of teams to be promoted and relegated appropriate to the number of teams in the divisions. Should there be a tie for promotion or relegation, the results of the ‘head-to-head’ matches between the teams involved will be used as a tiebreaker. If still tied, the teams will play a ‘play-off’ match on the same basis as a normal league fixture i.e. home and away etc. League matches are to be played on the designated night for each division, according to the published fixture list, subject to approved playing night changes as listed on the fixture schedule. In exceptional circumstances re-arrangements are allowed, with the responsibility being with the team that cannot play to reach a mutually acceptable alternative date for the fixture. To postpone any fixture, notice must be given to the Registration and Records Secretary and the opposing team. Where only 50% of a match is postponed, if possible, the team requesting the postponement should send their 2 available players away, leaving their home element to be re-arranged. Postponed fixtures must be re-arranged within 14 days and played within 28 days of the original date, or by the end of the published divisional programme, whichever date is earliest. The result should be sent to the Registration and Records Secretary within 10 days of the re-arranged fixture, or within 3 days of the end of the published divisional programme, whichever date is the earliest. Any team, having received a postponement and their opponents failed to re-arrange within 14 days, must advise the Registration & Records Secretary within 28 days of the original date to claim the match points. Failure to do so will result in the fixture being rendered void with no points being awarded to either team. Rule 12 – League Matches Teams shall consist of FOUR players, TWO playing at home and TWO playing away. The home players must nominate in which order they will play. Players must be in attendance for matches no later than following times: First player 7:30 pm; Second player 8:30 pm The first player may claim the first frame if the opponent is not present and ready to play by 7:30pm. If the first player’s opponent arrives after 7:45pm then he/she may claim the entire game. If the first game is finished, the second player may claim the first frame if his/her opponent is not present and ready to play by 8.30pm. If the second player’s opponent arrives after 8:45pm then he/she may claim the game. All matches shall be played under the rules of the WPBSA, except for the Foul and Miss Rule, which does NOT apply to fixtures or competitions, up to semi-finals, involving Div One or Div Two teams and/or players. For the Open and Premier competitions, up to the semi-finals, and the Premier fixtures, a form of the Foul and Miss Rule will apply as follows: “If the striker, in making a stroke, fails to first hit a ball on when there is a clear path in a straight line from the cue-ball to any part of any ball that is on or could be on, the referee shall call FOUL AND A MISS unless; (i) Any player needed penalty points before, or because of, the stroke being played. (ii) Before or after the stroke, the points available on the table are equal to the points difference excluding the value of the re-spotted black. After a miss has been called per the above when there was a clear path in a straight line from the cue-ball to a ball that was on or could be on, such that central, full-ball, contact was available (in the case of Reds, this is to be taken as full diameter of any Red that is not obstructed by a colour) then: (i) a further failure to first hit a ball on in making a stroke from the same position shall be called a FOUL AND A MISS regardless of the difference in scores; (ii) if asked to play again from the original position, the offender shall be warned by the referee that a third failure will result in the frame being awarded to his opponent; and (iii) if asked to play again from a different position, the Foul and a Miss situation starts again. If a player is snookered, then a Foul and a Miss cannot be called” Clubs are requested to ensure tables, balls and equipment allocated for League matches are kept in a presentable condition. All players should switch off mobile phones, or at least put them on to silent mode, for the duration of a match. Home teams must provide a referee for all frames and failure to do so will lose 1 point per match. If a team loses more points than won, the points deduction will be carried to the next match. Snooker - each player plays best of 3 frames. One point will be awarded for each frame won. To avoid frames dragging on unnecessarily, a frame will be conceded if, when coming to the table, a player requires 4 or more snookers, irrespective of the balls remaining. If it is not possible to complete a game due to a club’s closing time, any unfinished frames will be void with no points awarded to either player. Rule 13 - Results Results for matches and competitions can be entered directly via the League’s website www.bristolsnookerleague.co.uk, or by email to the League’s email address: bdbsl@hotmail.co.uk. If necessary, results can be submitted via post. Results must be submitted by both teams to be received no later than 10 days after the date of a match. All result notifications must include Match Date, Team Names, Players and Opponents Names, Frames Scored and High Breaks Scored (30+). Failure to comply with this rule will carry a 2-point deduction for each result not received within the 10 day period. If after 10 days only one team has provided a match result, then that will stand as the valid result. Any request by a team regarding the result received from any other team, must be made in writing to the Registration and Records Secretary, within 21 days of the date of the match in question, after which period, no request will be considered. If both teams fail to provide a result within the prescribed period of 10 days, then the match will be considered “VOID” with no points awarded to either team. Rule 14 - Absentees If a player or players are absent, 2 frames per absentee will be forfeited to the opposing team. Rule 15 - Ineligible Players Any Club playing an ineligible player shall forfeit all points gained in the fixture, and their opponents will be awarded 2 points for each ineligible player. Rule 16 - Resignations In all cases of resignation from the League, or the dismissal of any team or teams, the whole of the team’s record shall be deleted from the League Tables. Rule 17 – Competitions General: Players/Teams wishing to enter competitions should do so by their Captain or Secretary submitting the details to the Registration and Records Secretary, either via email to bdbsl@hotmail.co.uk or via post. The details required are the player/s name and a contact telephone number. Entries will only be accepted upon payment of the appropriate entry fee. Entries received after the competition close date will not be accepted. All matches are to be played on weekday evenings, Monday to Friday inclusive. It is only by mutual agreement that matches can be played on a Saturday or Sunday. All matches are to commence, and players should be ready to play, at 7:30pm. Late arrivals will be penalised as follows: Not ready to play at 7:30pm – Forfeit One frame Not ready to play at 7:45pm – Forfeit Two frames Not ready to play at 8:00pm – Forfeit the match The choice of table/s and balls will be at the discretion of the home player/team, but the conditions must be as for league matches. It is the responsibility of the home player/team to provide a referee if possible. In the event there is no referee, the match shall continue. The home player/team must contact the away player/team at least 2 weeks prior to the closing date and offer the away player/team a minimum of two dates, which must be in separate weeks. Each week is a period of 7 days. If the home player/team fails to contact the away player/team by 14 days preceding the closing date, the away player/team will automatically be awarded the match. The draw for each round will be sent by email to the players’ captain and will be published on the league’s website. It is the player’s responsibility to check with his captain for details of his opponent and the closing date etc., and not rely on being told. It is the winner’s responsibility to notify the result to the Registration and Records Secretary before, or on, the close date as indicated on the draw sheet. The result should be submitted using post, eMail or via the website; telephone calls will not be accepted. Failure to submit by the required date will result in both players/teams being scratched. The Semi-Final and Final matches of all Competitions, excluding the Divisional Cup, shall be played on neutral tables and on dates to be fixed by the Management Committee. No practising on a selected neutral table shall be permitted on the day of a match and any player found doing so shall be disqualified. The WPBSA Foul and Miss Rule will apply to all Semi-Final and Final Matches where an EPSB referee has been appointed by the League. A player in a Semi-Final or Final match of any of the League Competitions must be suitably attired, which precludes the wearing of denim-type Jeans or Trousers, Shorts, collar-less Tops, or Trainers. If, in the opinion of the appointed referee, a player fails to adhere, one frame will be conceded. Any player not arriving at a selected venue to play a Semi-Final or Final, will be fined £10, and will not be allowed to enter that competition the following season. Matches shall be contested as follows: Open, Premier Ind Handicap and Div One Ind Handicap – best of 5 frames up to and including the Semi-final and best of 7 frames in the Final. Div Two Handicap and Pairs – best of 3 frames up to and including the Quarter-final and best of 5 frames for the Semi-final and Final. Under-50s and Seniors Ind Handicap – best of 3 frames up to and including the Quarter-final and best of 5 frames for the Semi-final and Final. Cut-off date for age is 1st September. To avoid frames dragging on unnecessarily, a frame will be conceded if, when coming to the table, a player requires 4 or more snookers, irrespective of the balls remaining. If it is not possible to complete a game due to a club’s closing time, any unfinished frames will be void with no points awarded to either player. Should there be any reason for a player/team to raise a complaint, this should be done in writing and sent to the Registration and Records Secretary within two days of the ‘round close date’. Telephone calls will not be accepted. Open Competition: All League players may enter the Open competition. Players not attached to a League Club are also permitted to enter. Such unattached players shall be treated as away players for the purpose of the draw. Where two unattached players are drawn together in any round, their match will be played at a venue to be decided by the Management Committee. Divisional Individual Handicap Competition: Any player may enter for the division in which they are registered. However, if after the examination of the player’s record, the Management Committee may require a player to compete in a higher division’s competition. Players’ handicaps will be determined by the Management Committee and will be within a block of 7 i.e. 7/14/21 etc. Other Individual Handicap Competitions: For Over 50s (Seniors) or the Under 50s (Other) players will be entered on a league-wide basis. The handicaps will be decided by the Management Committee and will be calculated on a round-by-round basis, using players’ league records and an adjustment to take account of any difference of the division in which the opponents play. Pairs Handicap Competition: Players must be registered but do not necessarily have to play for the same club or team. Handicaps are determined by a player’s division i.e. Scratch for Premier, -21 for Div 1 and -28 for Div 2. Where a pair consists of players from different divisions, their handicap will be 50% of the sum of their respective div handicaps, rounded up to the next whole number. Team Handicap Competition: All players must be registered with the League and can only play for the club with which they are registered, but not necessarily in the same league team. There is no limit on the number of players that can register for a team, but only three players play in a match. Handicaps are determined by a player’s division i.e. Scratch for Premier, - 21 for Div 1 and -28 for Div 2. Once a player is registered for a team in this competition, that player cannot play in another team. If a team falls short of a player, permission must be given by the Registration and Records Secretary to register another player. All matches, including the semi-final and final, will be contested as a best of 5 frames. At the start of the match the captains will draw names to determine who plays whom, and in what order, for the first 3 frames. Captains then nominate who will play the 4th frame and, if necessary, nominate again for the final frame. No player can play more than 2 frames. All frames to be refereed by the home team, up to and including the Quarterfinals. The WPBSA Foul and Miss Rule will not apply. Divisional Cup Competition: All teams will be entered in their division’s competition as part of the registration process. There is no fee payable. Specific dates from the League fixture programme will be allocated for each round including the final; these will be shown in the fixture schedule. Matches will be drawn at random by the Management Committee at the monthly meeting before each round and details will be posted on the League website. Throughout the competition, matches will be played in the same format as League matches i.e. 2 players home and 2 players away, best of 3 frames. Similarly, the scoring is the same – one point for each frame won; there is NO additional point for aggregate frames won. In the event of a tie-on points, the winning team will be decided by the highest break on the night. If breaks are equal, then the next highest will count; so on and so forth. It is important therefore to keep a record of breaks scored. The venue for the final will be determined by the Management Committee. All players will play on the same night at the venue chosen. No EPSB referee will be appointed so the teams should provide a referee/marker for alternate frames, unless agreed otherwise by the captains. A minimum of four players (no maximum) will contest a best of 7 frames in the Premier and Div One. Div Two will be played as a best of 5 frames match. Team captains will nominate a player for each frame, with the first to nominate being decided by the toss of a coin. Nominations will then alternate as the match progresses. At least four frames should be played before any player can play a second frame. No player to play more than two frames. Rule 18 – Breaks & Break Prizes Breaks should be recorded and submitted with results on the following basis: Prem – 40 points and above Div 1 – 30 points and above Div 2 – 20 points and above Break prizes may be awarded by the League for both league fixtures and competitions. For competitions only, 1 prize overall may be awarded for each ‘divisional playing level’, and not for each competition. Any player previously registered and having played in a higher division, but under a special dispensation granted by the Management Committee to register and play in a lower Division, shall not qualify for any break prize in that lower division. Rule 19 - Protests or Disputes Any protests or disputes must be made in writing and will be dealt with by the Management Committee, which shall have power to order any match to be replayed. Rule 20 - Matches at Licensed Clubs No registered player under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to play any League fixture, competition or other match away from his/her home club, whereby doing so he/she would infringe the licence of a member’s club. Rule 21 - Any Other Matters Matters not covered by the foregoing League Standing Rules shall be dealt with by the Management Committee whose decision will be final.
(Post 2024 AGM – updated 1/10/24)
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