1 – Introduction
(a) The name of the organisation is the Ayr & District Pool League
(b) The league shall be affiliated to the Scottish Pool Association for the purpose of promoting the game of blackball pool and fostering harmony amongst its members
(c) The league will organise all local, regional and national heats and competitions that may be deemed of interest to its members
(d) Monthly meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of each month during the playing season. All teams must be represented
(e) League AGM will normally take place the first Sunday in August (unless otherwise notified)
2 – Committee
(a) An elected committee will manage the business of the league
(b) The committee will consist of the following office bearers Chair, Vice-Chair, League Sec, Fixture Sec, Treasurer, SPA Rep, Ayrshire Rep & Social Media Rep. Any team without representation will be entitled to a general committee position (GCM)
(c) A minimum of three office bearers will be required to constitute a quorum in order to conduct business on behalf of the committee
(d) The treasurer will provide a balance sheet at AGM and a current statement at each monthly meeting
(e) Voting rights at AGM or EGM is one member one vote. Voting rights at ordinary monthly meetings are one vote per team
(f) The Chairperson will have the casting vote in the event of a tied vote
(g) EGMs can be called on any given issue if the majority of committee members deem it necessary. Members must be given a two week notice of the date of any such EGM
(h) Any member that cannot attend the AGM in person can still stand for an elected position by writing to the secretary in advance intimating his/her willingness to stand for their stated post. All candidates will still need a proposer & seconder
(i) Honorariums will be decided at the AGM
3 – Membership
(a) League membership will be open to all players/teams playing blackball rules with venues residing within the Ayr & District boundary. The boundary is deemed to be a 12mile radius of Ayr Town Hall
(b) Any player banned by either the SPA or Ayrshire committee shall be suspended immediately by A&D pending further investigation
4 – Registration
(a) All players must be signed for a team and registered at a cost of £10. If a player signs for more than one team then the first team they play for will be their registered team
(b) Transfers can take place by consent and agreement of team captains. After agreement new captain must submit details to the league secretary (preferably via the captains “WhatsApp” group). Any disputes should be entered into in the same way
(c) Transferred players will be ineligible to play cup games for their new team if they have already played in that competition before transfer (rule 4f will also apply)
(d) No transfers between teams will be permitted after the Christmas break
(e) Teams may sign previously unregistered/new players up to 8pm on matchdays. Names should be submitted to the captains WhatsApp group accordingly.
(f) Any player signed after Qtr-Final stages of cup will be ineligible for the remainder of that particular cup
(g) All fees for players, teams and venues will be decided at the AGM
5 – Rules & Regulations
(a) League & Cup games will be played mostly on Thursdays with some Fridays used for early prelims and finals. Weekends may be used where appropriate for certain competitions (all subject to venue availability)
(b) League games will consist of 6 singles, 3 doubles then 5 further singles. No player can play in the same set more than once
(c) Each Cup will have its own distinct format to be decided at the monthly meetings prior to cup taking place
(d) All games will have a maximum 3.5hr duration commencing at 8pm and proceeding with continuous play until finished or alternatively until white ball is lifted at 11.30pm (no exceptions)
(e) In all games both league & cup (excluding sponsored stages) it is the home team responsibility to get their player to table within the normal expected “shot time” Away team match up within the same time period. (Cup semi-finals are alternate picks, cup final selections are simultaneous)
(f) Players will lag for break every frame (both league & cup games)
(g) Shot Clock – In the case of perceived slow play (or frame getting bogged down) a 1min shot clock can be requested by either player(s) at the table or the relevant team captain (shot clock will then run for the duration of that frame)
(h) Operating Shot Clock – first time player exceeds 1min referee will give them an extra 30secs to play their shot (this is known as a 30sec warning) Next time a player goes over his/her minute there will be no warning (extra 30secs) it will be a FOUL, player will lose control of table, opponent will have 1 free shot & 1 further visit (commonly known as 2shots)
(i) Due to an increasingly packed calendar a “no postponement” policy has been adopted. Teams will be expected to fulfil fixtures with whatever players they have available. Forfeiting a match will incur a fine and possible further committee sanction (see section 8)
6 – Discipline
(a) All registered players must conduct themselves in a respectful manner both in person, at events and in all communications online and off. Any player cited for disruptive, abusive or threatening behaviour may be suspended immediately pending investigation
(b) A player exhibiting any of the aforementioned behaviour may be removed from play and/or asked to leave the venue. In team situations this may result in a loss of frame or match. Teams and/or players shall also be deemed responsible for supporters in their company
(c) Sanctions may range from verbal or written warnings through to varying suspensions and in extreme cases indefinite expulsion. Please avoid these measures
(d) The committee reserve the right to fine, suspend or expel any player, team or member found in serious breach of league rules or for any act deemed to have brought the league into disrepute
7 – Debt Suspension
(a) If a team folds “in debt” (owing fees/fines etc to league) and 50% of these players move to new team(s) these players will be held responsible for previous debts incurred. Debts must be paid in full before playing for new team
(b) Any individual player entering league organised competitions must pay their entry fee or risk committee sanction.
8 – Fees & Fines
Fees
Team Registration - £70
Player Registration - £10
Cup Entry Fee - £20
A&D Singles - £10
A&D Doubles - £10 per team
A&D Masters - £10
A&D Grassroots - £5
Fines
Non-attendance by team captain or team rep at monthly meeting - £20
Failure to fulfil a fixture in full or in part - £20
Playing an unregistered player - £20 plus £10 player reg & loss of match (or 2pt deduction)
An incorrect or incomplete online team sheet - £10 (Captains will have until 2pm on the Sunday following the game to make any corrections needed to avoid the fine (for transparency these should be submitted in the captains “WhatsApp” group)
9 – Protests
(a) All protests must be lodged with the league secretary by 2pm on the Sunday immediately following the game. Protest will then be examined by committee at the earliest available opportunity.
(b) Any committee member whose team is involved in any protest (complainant or defendant) will not be permitted to vote on the outcome
(c) An unsuccessful protest will cost £10 (equivalent of a team sheet fine)
10 – Competitions
(a) As well as “the league” the committee shall also organise the following competitions with associated administration on behalf of its members…
*League Cup
*8ball Cup
*Knockout Cup
*Ricky Bicker Cup
*Consolation Cup
*Super Cup
*Willie McCartney 4man
Graham McKeown Ayr & District Singles
Ayr & District Doubles
Ayr & District Grassroots Singles (no supers/county A players past or present)
Ayr & District Masters (season opening top16 invitational)
(b) Team events (marked *) are compulsory entry, Singles & Doubles events are optional
(c) All teams/members should pay fees in a timeous manner as requested. Any overdue fees shall be pursued by the treasurer asap
(d) All entry fees and/or sponsorship monies must be paid in full to the treasurer prior to the “sponsored stages” of events
(e) Team or member entry/participation may be restricted (debt suspended) if they have fees outstanding which have been unsuccessfully pursued by the treasurer
(f) Sponsored stages (2 semi-finals & final) of team cup competitions should be played out in full at the sponsor venue
(g) Payouts for all team cup competitions shall be from semi-final stages except consolation & super cups which will be finalists only
(h) Payouts shall be guided by the treasurer and agreed by committee
(i) No changes will be made once a legitimate draw has taken place except in the case of A&D Doubles where a substitution of one player will be permitted up until registration. The substitute player cannot be a player already in the draw
(j) Any player drawn to play at a venue at which they are barred can only play at the venue with the consent of the landlord/proprietor
(k) In the case of singles & doubles events all competitors must be present for the declared start time unless a “15minute window” is requested
(l) 15mins leeway may be granted by contacting the named TD or committee member in charge in advance of the competition registration time
(m) No player shall be allowed to play in two different leagues on the same night
(n) Only players that have attended 33% of league games will be permitted to enter the main league singles & doubles events
(o) Non playing attendances at league games must be recorded in the captains WhatsApp group to count towards appearance totals. Word of mouth say so will not be accepted
(p) The league members will elect Super 11s & Super 15s county captains for SPA annual events. Captains will select teams and submit to committee before publication
(q) Captains will be responsible for the distribution and return of sponsored county shirts. Players will be held responsible for any damage or the non-return and may incur a fine accordingly for replacement
11 – Constitution
(a) Changes to the constitution can only be made at an AGM or EGM
(b) To promote positive change proposals should be made in advance of the AGM either online or in person by writing to the league secretary