Chard and District Pool League – Annual General Meeting Minutes

Date: December 14, 2025

Venue: Kings Head, Chard

Chairperson: Shauna

1. Opening Remarks

• The Chairperson, Shauna, opened the meeting with a summary of the 2024/25 season, noting that it was largely positive with several valuable learning points.

• Congratulations were extended to Pete for reaching the nationals and to Tony Wiltshire for his ongoing refereeing at national events.

2. Acknowledgements

• Special thanks were given to Alex for a generous of £250 donation to the Gary Hill Memorial fund, raising the total to £600.

3. Shot Clock Discussion

• The proposal to introduce a shot clock was unanimously rejected.

• Ray recalled a previous attempt under Les Sloman’s leadership, which was discontinued due to friction and disputes.

4. Fixture Gaps

• Attendees raised concerns about excessive gaps in the match schedule during the past season.

• The Chair acknowledged this as a learning experience and committed to addressing the issue for the 2026 season.

5. Teams and Divisions

• The league anticipates having 20 or possibly 21 teams for the 2026 season.

• If there are 20 teams, the league will be split into two divisions, with each team playing others three times.

6. Singles and Doubles Matches

• Singles and doubles matches will no longer be scheduled for Sunday nights. Instead, a draw and deadlines will be set, and participants will arrange matches independently.

• Division I, singles, and doubles competitions will be retained, including open singles and doubles events.

• Doubles matches will NOW use the ‘scotch doubles’ format.

7. Penalties

• A 5-point deduction will be applied for non-attendance at singles matches, and a 10-point deduction for doubles matches.

8. Communication

• A WhatsApp group for team captains will be established to facilitate feedback and allow captains to raise concerns directly with the committee.

9. Data Protection

• GDPR compliance was discussed regarding the handling of player data.

• Nevil Salisbury will investigate and, if necessary, draft a GDPR form for distribution to all captains.

10. Safeguarding

• With juniors participating in the league, safeguarding officers will be appointed.

• Shauna and Nevil Salisbury, both experienced in safeguarding, have volunteered for these roles.

11. League Associations

• The league confirmed it has no association with the ‘King of the Hill’ competitions, following ongoing issues with a former committee member.

12. Memorial Cups

• Testimonial cups will be renamed as anonymous Memorial Cups.

13. Season Start Date

• The new season will commence on January 18, 2026.

14. Team Registration and Match Scheduling

• Teams may register up to 12 players.

• Matches cannot be cancelled but may be played in advance if necessary.

• No player may play consecutively this includes separate sets i.e. cannot play frame 5 and 6

15. Play-Off Proposal

• A proposal was made for the winners of Division I and Division II to compete in a play-off at the end of the season.

16. Treasurer’s Report

• Treasurer Neil Hopkins is preparing the accounts, having recently gained access to the bank account.

• A full report will be provided soon.

17. Sponsorship

• Miles has offered to sponsor some trophies for the league.

18. Youth Development

• Chard Youth Club welcomes support for coaching young players.

• Interested parties should contact the Chairperson.

19. Technical Support

• For assistance with the Rack Em app, members should contact Mike Willoughby.