ALSAGER POOL LEAGUE
CONSTITUTION AS AT 22nd February 2026
1. The league shall be known as the “Alsager Pool League”, hereafter entitled A.P.L. whose objectives will be to promote and provide competitive pool in Alsager and the surrounding area and to arrange competitions in accordance with the International 8 Ball playing rules.
2. The league shall consist of a management committee consisting of a Chairperson, Secretary, and/or any number of Assistant Secretaries plus a Treasurer and a committee of one delegate per registered team. The management committee will hold office until the next AGM when positions shall be open to election except for the Secretary whose position will be retained until voted out of office or upon resignation being accepted. The management committee has the authority to make any majority decision deemed necessary or beneficial to the league. This shall be consistent and final.
3. Anything not covered by this constitution may be discussed at a bi-monthly meeting where a decision shall be reached. If approved, the proposal will be added to the constitution as a byelaw and minuted for inclusion at the next AGM or an EGM The constitution shall remain unchanged until the next AGM except where a decision is taken at an EGM.
4. An EGM may be called by any delegate but must be seconded by two others. An EGM must be publicised to all league teams with all its members entitled to attend and vote. Any decisions taken at an EGM must be written and forwarded to each league team.
5. Any person is cordially invited to attend and speak at meetings. However, only one delegate vote is permitted per team, the exception being the AGM or an EGM where every attendee is entitled to a vote. The Chairperson has a casting vote at all meetings.
6. League meetings shall be convened on the first Sunday of each alternate month whenever possible at Alsager Social Club (AKA Radway) commencing at 11.00am. Teams may miss one during the season if apologies are communicated to the Secretary.
7. The Treasurer looks after all league finances with any two from three of the management committee responsible for signing cheques. Any league member may inspect the books at any time with all finances and transactions being dealt with and made available at meetings.
8. The management committee has the right to expel any player or team whose conduct is liable to bring the league into disrepute. Such persons shall subsequently have no claim on the league for fees paid.
9. The management committee has the right to scrutinise team lists and exclude any player from receiving an award if it is felt the said person is not a ‘genuine’ player. As a guideline, a ‘genuine’ player shall be defined as having played a minimum of 25% of league games since they were signed.
10. Players must be signed with the league prior to the first match of the season. No transfers will be permitted unless extenuating circumstances arise which shall be agreed and minuted. Additional players may be signed throughout the course of the season with the agreement of a member of the management committee. Relevant teams must also pay £5.00 for each one more than the set threshold of 10, irrespective of the fact they may be replacing existing signed players. Only one professional is permitted per team. Any team found playing an unsigned player is to be fined £10.00, the frame conceded, and the player banned from the league for the remainder of the season.
11. League fees are as follows:
a) £145.00 per team per season, £5 of which is to cover the cost of Rackemapp.
b) £3.00 per person in all merit’s competitions (i.e. £6.00 per pair in doubles).
c) £9.00 per team (same) of 3 or 4 players in The Dave Smith Memorial Trophy.
e) £20.00 fine for failing to turn up at a match plus £10.00 to reimburse the home team for refreshments (for exception see rule 22).
f) £10 fine ditto in merits to reimburse player(s) who had a wasted journey plus barred from next year’s competition.
g) Teams who owe >£60 two weeks after a meeting, one point is deducted for every £10 owed.
h) £15.00 each for presentation evening tickets to include a 3-course meal plus a
disco subject to discussion when the cost becomes apparent. Additional charges
to recover meal costs may be levied against teams if ticket holders fail to turn up.
12. Perpetuals to be played for which must be returned to the league each year are:
a) League Division One Winners & Runners-Up plus any other Division Winners
b) League Cup & Subsidiary Cup Winners
c) Singles & Ladies Singles Merits Winners, Doubles Merits Winners
d) The Dave Smith Memorial Trophy Winners – League Threes
e) The Ian Bough Memorial Shield Winners – Delegates evening
f) Most Sporting Team of the year Shield Winners
g) The Colin Higginson Memorial Shield Winner – 1 frame competition
13.Commemorative trophies are awarded for the following: * = Cash option
a) All League Winners and Runners-Up *
b) League Cup & Subsidiary Cup Winners and Runners-Up *
c) Best player in the League Cup final
d) Singles Merits Winners, Runners-Up, Semi-Finalists. Plate Winner/Runner-Up
e) Ladies Singles Merits Winner and Runner-Up
f) Doubles Winners, Runners-Up, Semi-Finalists. Plate Winners/Runners-Up
g) 1 frame knockout Singles Winner and Runner-Up. Plate Winner/Runner-Up *
h) Players of the year - Division One, Two, Three & Four
i) Lady player of the year
j) Eight-Ball and Total Clearance Winners
14. Match nights.
a) League awards shall be played for in accordance with the International 8 Ball playing rules. The break is determined by lagging. From behind the string line, the player(s) whose ball is closest to the baulk cushion after contacting the top one having the choice. The second ball must be struck before the first one has come to rest or the choice of break is forfeited as do side rails and jaws of pockets that are struck or an in-off.
b) Matches shall commence by 8.15pm on Tuesday evenings except where rules 14c and 22 apply. The format is 4 singles frames, 2 scotch doubles and a further 4 singles in that order. The final 4 singles may be utilised for players to be picked from the first four for a second frame, but they can only play after allotted singles players have played their first frame. EG six players in singles occupy the first four plus frames 7 and 8. Two singles will be 9 and 10. All frames must be played except where there are walkovers. One point is awarded for each frame won. Three points will also be awarded for a team win and one point for a draw.
c) The League and Subsidiary Cup competitions will also take place on a Tuesday where possible, the first team to win six frames being the victors. If any match ends 5-5, team captains are to nominate one player to face a one frame sudden death cue-off. All matches shall be played at neutral venues unless the draw pairs teams from the same one. Leading Division 1 teams when the initial draw is made will receive byes to the last sixteen should there be less than thirty-two teams registered with the league. Players must have played 25% of league matches prior to the commencement of each round.
d) All singles merits and the plate competition are drawn at neutral venues where possible. Preliminary rounds are played until a manageable number of players are left (i.e. 64), from where they shall be played on a Wellington basis. Matches must be played on or before the stipulated dates unless agreed by both parties and the management committee beforehand. This ruling also applies to e) and h). Players must adhere to the venues as drawn unless prior convenient arrangements have been made between the parties concerned and the stipulated drawn venue notified. Where no other arrangements have been made, they must arrive before 8.15pm on the date stipulated. If agreed proof of a late arrival is not apparent, defaulters shall be scratched from the competition at 8-30pm prompt and fined £10. The league recommends that you obtain an independent witness in such an event to claim recompense. Matches are to be the best of 5 frames, semi-finals 7 and finals 9. Any players found arranging matches other than the prescribed number of frames will be expelled from that season’s competition. The break is decided by lagging for the opening frame only, winner having the choice with alternate breaks thereafter.
e) All doubles merits and the plate competition (scotch format) shall take the same format as the singles. Pairings must be from the same team with both players present at matches to compete. Breaks must be alternate from each pair.
f) Player of the year awards will be given to those with the best percentage of all league singles games won. Players must have played in 66% (2/3rds) to qualify. In the event of a tie, a decision will be made regarding the amount of funds available for them.
g) The best player in the A.P.L. Cup final will be judged on all ten frames played by members of the management committee or neutral players as designated by same.
h) The Dave Smith Memorial Trophy commences mid-season and is self-financing. Matches consist of 3 singles frames, a doubles frame and if tied at 2-2, a triples decider. The semi-final consists of 6 singles frames, 2 doubles frames and if tied at 4-4, a triples decider with the final, 9 singles frames, 3 doubles frames and if tied at 6-6, a triples decider, both played to a formatted order. Players of 3 or 4 must be from the same team and can be substituted after each set of games. Doubles and triples will both be played to a scotch format.
i) Eight ball / total clearance awards are given to players who pot all seven balls in their colour group plus the black on their first visit to the table (singles frames only). They are awarded for league matches only. Break should be noted on the app in all matches with the relevant box marked.
15. It is the management committee’s responsibility that all teams entered in the league shall play on adequate tables. Any subsequent complaints about the state or situation of tables will be discussed at the next meeting where, if no agreement is reached, a delegation from the league shall visit the venue to try and rectify the complaint.
16. Prior to any match, captains must indicate their teams’ order of play by “locking in” on Rackemapp. Games must be continuous and if teams have not turned out a full squad at the conclusion of the last game, walkovers will be entered on the results page. Ditto the doubles and subsequent singles.
17. Teams should arrive by 8-15pm. prompt and at least two players must be present at the said start time before the match may begin. Teams consistently starting late shall be penalised.
18. It is considered sporting to allow visiting teams to practice between 8.00pm. and 8.15pm.
19. The home team is responsible for paying the table and shall also referee frames 1,3,5,7 and 9. The away team will referee frames 2,4,6, 8 and 10.
20. Once frames have commenced, players can only receive guidance from their partner up to a maximum of 2 minutes. In the absence of timekeeping, referees should warn and caution any player taking excessive time in the first instance. This will then be monitored, and any repetition shall result in the referee awarding a ball in hand to the opponents.
21. Match results must be completed on Rackemapp by 9:00pm the day after any match has concluded or a £1 fine will be administered against the defaulted team.
22. Matches can only be postponed where the elements take their toll. If they cannot be played on the night for any other reason, both teams must agree to a rearrangement and the match played beforehand whenever possible. If genuine extenuating circumstances arise, the match must be played by the next monthly meeting with the exception that should the fixture fall in the final week before a meeting, it must be played during the week after. Remember, you have the right to refuse if you think a team is “trying” it on. Teams who fail to turn up for any match without notification shall be fined £20.00 by the league, £10.00 of which will be to reimburse the home team for refreshments. The offenders shall forfeit the match 10-0 as will teams who do give notice of being unable to play. This notification must be received by 5:00pm on match night. All matches must be completed by the last week of league matches.
23. If a team folds during the season, points shall be expunged from the time of fold to the last set of fixtures completed, e.g. the 2/3 mark.
24. Teams to be promoted will be those who occupy the top two positions from each Division with relegation coming from the bottom two at the end of each season where possible.
25. Should teams share the same points total during a season, league positions are determined by the number of matches won. If teams are still level, they shall be placed alphabetically. At the close of any season, if such teams occupy a promotion or relegation place, the management committee will arrange date(s) for play-off(s) to decide the final placings.
26. Teams may not attempt to avoid promotion or relegation by the formation of a different team at the beginning of a new season. The management committee shall scrutinise team lists and make decisions regarding “genuine” new teams and “restructured” teams.
27. All registered players have the right of appeal to the management committee regarding any constitutional or league matter.