DARTMOOR POOL LEAGUE

Document 2

PLAYING RULES

Version: 1.0

Adopted: __________________

Effective From: __________________

Next Review: AGM __________

PLAYING RULES NOTE

These Playing Rules shall be read in conjunction with the:

• Constitution and Governance Document
• Code of Conduct
• Disciplinary Policy

Where any conflict exists, the Constitution shall take precedence.

DEFINITIONS

a)       Participation

A player shall be deemed to have participated in a fixture if they have played at least one (1) frame.

b)       Registered Player

A player approved and recorded as part of a team’s registered squad in accordance with these Playing Rules.

c)       Authorised Committee Member

The Chairperson, Secretary / Fixtures Officer, Treasurer, or any Committee Member delegated authority by the Committee.

d)       Cup Tied

A player who has represented a team in a cup competition and is therefore ineligible to represent another team in the same competition during that season.

e)       Fixture

A scheduled League or Cup match.

f)         Match

A fixture consisting of sixteen (16) frames played over four (4) sessions.

g)       Session

A block of four (4) frames within a match.

h)       No-Show

A team deemed unable or unwilling to commence a fixture by 8:30pm without prior communication accepted by the opposing Team Captain.

i)          Team-Requested Postponement

A postponement initiated by a Team Captain and not caused by weather, venue issues, Committee direction, or other exceptional circumstances.

j)          Conceded Frame

A frame awarded to the opposing team due to an unfilled player position or other circumstance recognised by these Playing Rules.

k)       Shoot-Out Frame

A single deciding frame played to determine the winner of a tied knockout match.

l)          Active Team

A registered team currently participating in the ongoing League season.

1. APPLICATION OF RULES

a)       All League and Cup fixtures shall be played under the current Blackball Rules unless otherwise specified by the League.

b)       These Playing Rules govern all League and Cup competitions organised by the Dartmoor Pool League.

c)       Team Captains are responsible for ensuring compliance with these Playing Rules.

d)       Matters not specifically covered by these Playing Rules shall be determined by the Committee.

2. TEAM REGISTRATION

a)       Teams must register with the League before the commencement of each season.

b)       Each team shall nominate a Team Captain responsible for communication with the League and opposing teams.

c)       Teams accepted into the League shall become Registered Teams for that season.

3. PLAYER REGISTRATION AND ELIGIBILITY

a)       All players must be registered with the League before participating in a League or Cup fixture.

b)       A player may only represent one team at a time.

c)       A player may not represent more than two (2) teams during the same season.

d)       The maximum registered squad size for any team shall be ten (10) players for the season.

e)       Once a team has registered ten (10) players during a season, no additional players may be registered, regardless of whether a player leaves, transfers, becomes unavailable, or is removed from the squad.

f)         A player who has represented a team in a League or Cup fixture shall be deemed registered to that team for the purposes of transfer and eligibility rules.

g)       Team Captains are responsible for ensuring all players are eligible before participation.

h)       The Committee may request evidence of eligibility where necessary.

i)          A new player may be registered and become immediately eligible to play on the same day, including on match night, provided Committee approval has been obtained before the player participates in any frame.

j)          Approval may be granted by an Authorised Committee Member.

k)       Immediate registration remains subject to the maximum seasonal squad limit of ten (10) registered players.

l)          It is the responsibility of the Team Captain to obtain and retain evidence of approval if requested.

3A. REGISTRATION PRINCIPLE

a)       The League recognises that player availability may change throughout the season and encourages teams to fulfil fixtures wherever possible.

b)       Subject to these Playing Rules, new player registrations may be approved at any stage of the season.

c)       The purpose of player registration rules is to promote fair competition whilst supporting participation and completion of fixtures.

d)       The Committee shall seek to apply registration and eligibility rules in a manner that supports both fairness and the continued operation of the League.

4. PLAYER TRANSFERS

a)       A player wishing to transfer between teams during a season must submit a request through their Team Captain.

b)       No transfer shall take effect without Committee approval.

c)       The Committee shall consider each request on its individual merits.

d)       A player shall remain ineligible for their new team until approval has been granted.

e)       Once approved, the transfer shall apply to all League competitions.

f)         No player may transfer if doing so would result in them representing more than two (2) teams during the same season.

g)       The Committee’s decision regarding transfers shall be final.

5. CUP ELIGIBILITY

a)       A player may only represent one team in the same cup competition during a season.

b)       A player who has played in any round of a cup competition for one team shall be deemed cup tied for that competition.

c)       A cup tied player may not represent another team in the same competition during that season, regardless of any approved transfer.

d)       Cup tied status shall apply only to the specific competition concerned.

e)       The Committee shall determine eligibility in exceptional circumstances.

5A. TEAM CUP SEMI-FINAL AND FINAL ELIGIBILITY

a)       To be eligible to play in a Team Cup Semi-Final or Final, a player must have participated in at least fifty percent (50%) of their team’s completed League fixtures prior to the Semi-Final or Final.

b)       Participation shall be defined as having played at least one (1) frame in a League fixture.

c)       Eligibility shall be determined at the date of the Semi-Final or Final.

d)       Team Captains are responsible for ensuring all selected players meet the eligibility requirements.

e)       The Committee may verify eligibility and request supporting records where necessary.

6. MATCH FORMAT

a)       A fixture shall consist of sixteen (16) frames.

b)       Fixtures shall be played over four (4) sessions.

c)       Each session shall consist of four (4) frames.

d)       Match results shall be determined by total frames won.

7. SQUADS AND PLAYER NUMBERS

a)       A team may select any eligible registered player for a fixture, up to the maximum number registered to that team for the season.

b)       Teams must have a minimum of three (3) players available to fulfil a fixture.

c)       Prior to each session, players shall be assigned positions numbered 1 to 4.

d)       The player assigned to each position shall play the frames allocated to that position during that session.

e)       Team Captains are responsible for recording player positions accurately.

8. SUBSTITUTIONS

a)       Substitutions may only be made between sessions.

b)       A player who has been substituted out may not return later in the same fixture.

c)       A substitute player shall assume the playing position of the player being replaced.

d)       Any substitute must be an eligible registered player.

e)       Substitutions should be communicated clearly to the opposing Team Captain before the start of the next session.

9. SHORT-HANDED TEAMS

a)       A fixture may proceed where a team has a minimum of three (3) players available.

b)       A team with only three (3) players shall concede the frames allocated to Player Number 4 in each session.

c)       Any unfilled player position shall result in the automatic concession of the relevant frame or frames allocated to that position.

d)       Conceded frames shall be awarded to the opposing team.

e)       Conceded frames shall count as won by the opposing team for all scoring and statistical purposes.

f)         Teams with fewer than three (3) available players shall be deemed unable to fulfil the fixture.

g)       By agreement between Team Captains, alternative player arrangements may be permitted where doing so promotes participation and does not materially affect fairness.

10. FIXTURES

a)       Fixtures shall be played on dates determined by the League fixture schedule.

b)       The official match start time for all League and Cup fixtures shall be 8:00pm unless otherwise agreed by both Team Captains.

c)       Team Captains are responsible for ensuring their team attends scheduled fixtures.

d)       Teams should make every reasonable effort to be ready to commence play at the scheduled start time.

e)       All fixtures should commence no later than 8:30pm.

f)         A team that has not arrived and is not ready to commence play by 8:30pm shall be deemed a no-show unless prior communication has been received and accepted by the opposing Team Captain.

g)       A team deemed a no-show shall be subject to the provisions contained within Section 12.

h)       Fixtures may only be rearranged in accordance with these Playing Rules.

11. POSTPONEMENTS AND REARRANGED FIXTURES

a)       A team requesting postponement must notify the opposing Team Captain before 12:00 noon on the scheduled day of play.

b)       Failure to notify before 12:00 noon shall result in a fixed five (5) point deduction.

c)       No frames may be claimed as won due solely to a postponement.

d)       All postponed fixtures must be replayed.

e)       Each team shall be permitted a maximum of three (3) team-requested postponements during a season.

f)         The three-postponement limit shall apply only to postponements requested by a team and shall not apply to postponements caused by weather, venue issues, Committee decisions, or other exceptional circumstances.

g)       Rearranged League fixtures must be completed within twenty-eight (28) days of the original fixture date unless otherwise approved by the Committee or prevented by circumstances beyond the reasonable control of both teams.

h)       Team Captains are jointly responsible for arranging a suitable replay date.

i)          Failure to rearrange and complete a postponed fixture within the required period may result in Committee action.

12. FAILURE TO FULFIL FIXTURES

a)       A team that fails to attend a scheduled fixture without prior notification shall receive a fixed five (5) point deduction.

b)       A team cancelling after 12:00 noon on the day of play shall receive a fixed five (5) point deduction.

c)       Any missing player positions shall result in conceded frames.

d)       Repeat offences may be referred under the Disciplinary Policy.

e)       Where both teams are responsible for a breach, neither team shall gain an advantage and the Committee may determine an appropriate resolution.

f)         Persistent breaches of these Playing Rules may result in disciplinary action under the League Disciplinary Policy.

13. SCORING SYSTEM

a)       Teams shall receive one (1) League point for each frame won.

b)       A team winning nine (9) or more frames in a fixture shall receive an additional two (2) bonus League points.

c)       The maximum number of League points available from a fixture shall be eighteen (18).

d)       Examples:

• 16–0 = 18 points
• 12–4 = 14 points
• 9–7 = 11 points
• 8–8 = 8 points each

e)       Any points deductions imposed under League Rules shall be applied directly to a team’s League points total.

14. LEAGUE TABLE POSITIONS

a)       League positions shall be determined by total League points.

b)       If teams are level on League points, positions shall be determined by:

1.       Most Frames Won.

2.       Most Match Wins.

3.       Head-to-Head Record.

4.       Play-Off Match or other method determined by the Committee.

15. CUP AND KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS

a)       The League may organise knockout competitions in addition to the League Championship.

b)       Cup matches shall be played under these Playing Rules unless otherwise specified.

c)       Cup fixtures may be brought forward by agreement between Team Captains.

d)       Cup fixtures shall not be postponed beyond the scheduled fixture date unless directed by the Committee in exceptional circumstances.

e)       If a cup match is tied after sixteen (16) frames, a one-frame shoot-out shall determine the winner.

f)         Each Team Captain shall nominate one player.

g)       The nominated player must have played at least one frame during the match.

h)       The winner of the shoot-out frame shall progress to the next round.

i)          The shoot-out frame shall determine only the winner of the match and shall not alter the recorded match score.

15A. INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS

a)       The League may organise:

• Singles Knockout
• Doubles Knockout
• Captains Cup
• Other competitions approved by the Committee

b)       All entrants must be registered members of an Active Team.

c)       Doubles pairings may consist of players from different teams unless otherwise specified by the competition rules.

d)       Entry to the Captains Cup shall be restricted to officially registered Team Captains.

15B. INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION SEMI-FINAL AND FINAL ELIGIBILITY

a)       To participate in the Semi-Final or Final of any Singles, Doubles, Captains Cup, or other individual competition, a player must have participated in at least fifty percent (50%) of their team’s completed League fixtures prior to the Semi-Final or Final.

b)       Participation shall be defined as having played at least one (1) frame in a League fixture.

c)       Eligibility shall be determined at the date of the Semi-Final or Final.

d)       In doubles competitions, both players must satisfy the eligibility requirement.

e)       The Committee may verify eligibility and request supporting records where necessary.

16. RESULTS SUBMISSION

a)       Match results shall be recorded using the League’s approved results system, currently RackEmApp.

b)       Team Captains are encouraged to enter results live during the fixture wherever reasonably practicable.

c)       It is the responsibility of both Team Captains to ensure that the result is accurately recorded.

d)       Team Captains are encouraged to verify the recorded score before leaving the venue.

e)       All match results must be submitted no later than twenty-four (24) hours after completion of the fixture.

f)         Where a discrepancy exists, both Team Captains should attempt to resolve the matter before referring it to the Committee.

g)       The Committee may request supporting evidence, including score sheets, player records, or other relevant information, when investigating a disputed result.

h)       Failure to submit results within the required timeframe may be referred to the Committee for further action.

i)          In the event of a disputed result, the completed scoresheet shall be considered the primary supporting evidence.

j)          The officially recorded result within RackEmApp shall be considered the official match result unless amended by the Committee following review of the available evidence.

17. DISPUTES

a)       Team Captains should attempt to resolve disputes on the night wherever possible.

b)       If no agreement can be reached, the fixture should continue where practical and the matter referred to the Committee.

c)       The Committee’s decision shall be final, subject to any appeal process contained within the Disciplinary Policy.

18. GENERAL PLAYING PRINCIPLES

a)       The League exists to promote competitive pool in a fair, inclusive, and enjoyable environment.

b)       Captains and players are expected to act in a sporting manner at all times.

c)       Where these Playing Rules permit discretion, captains are encouraged to favour participation and common sense over technical advantage.

d)       Nothing within these Playing Rules shall override the Constitution and Governance Document of the Dartmoor Pool League.