PADIHAM AND DISTRICT POOL LEAGUE RULES

  1. All team games will consist of five singles, two scotch doubles, and five singles.

  2. Padiham & District Pool League Official International Rules will apply.

  3. All games will commence at 8:00pm unless otherwise stated by the league. Two players must be present to start. If no players are present at 8:00pm, the first frame may be claimed. If there are still no players present at 8:15pm, the second frame can be claimed. At 8:30pm, four players must be present to continue. If four players are not present at this time, the captain of the team present will allow 15 minutes for sufficient players to arrive to be able to finish the game. If not, the game is claimed by the highest score on the night in that division. If no players are present at 8:30pm, the game should be claimed at that time.

  4. Teams cannot register any more players after the halfway point of the season. Should a team’s circumstances change, the league may allow a team to register new players, provided the request is made in writing clearly explaining the exceptional circumstances. League captains will then vote whether to allow or deny the application. New players will only be registered with correct fees and signatures, and in exchange for a player’s name being removed from the registration sheet. One player must be removed for each new player. Players dropping out will forfeit their £5 fee.

  5. A copy of all registered players is on RackEmApp under individual team names.

  6. If any game continues after 11:05pm, it is at the licensee’s discretion whether the game is continued or stopped and completed on another night.

  7. There will be a 60-second shot clock for doubles matches only between shots in a game. The timer should remind players when there are only 10 seconds remaining, after which a foul will be awarded to the opposition (see I – Time Allowed). Note – the referee should be supported by a non-playing person from the opposing team to do the stopwatch timing.

  8. During a game, if a referee clearly makes a rules error (i.e. a misinterpretation of the rules), then the two captains can agree to overrule the error and the game continues.

  9. If a referee is in any doubt during a game, please telephone Dale Markham or Carl Ormesher at the Bridge Inn for assistance.

  10. There can be no rearrangement of league or team knockout games unless by prior consent of the committee, and then only in very exceptional circumstances. Any rearranged games must be played before the date originally set. The league will give a minimum of 14 days’ notice for all knockouts, giving ample time for games to be played before if required.

11a. Playing Out of Format - Playing a league match out of the standard format will not be permitted without prior consent from the committee. If both captains agree that a fixture cannot be fulfilled in the normal format, a request must be made to the committee before the match is played, and approval must be given before the game takes place.

Permission will only be granted where playing out of format is the only way for the requesting team to fulfil the fixture. Where approval is given, the minimum number of players required to complete the match must be used, and no more.

If a match is played out of format without committee approval, or the minimum player requirement is not followed, the requesting team will receive a 4-point deduction and the opposing captain will receive a 2-point deduction for allowing the match to be played without authorisation.

  1. Competitions — it is the winning team captain’s responsibility to ensure that match results are updated on RackEmApp by midnight on the day of the game. Failure to consistently update the result after two previous warnings will incur a £5.00 fine to that captain and the loss of the two points. If the game is still going on, the current state of the game must be updated. The captain will not be allowed to play any further games until the fine is paid.

  2. All disputes must be submitted to the league in the form of a letter accompanied by £5 within 48 hours of the game being played. No dispute will be heard without the fee being submitted. Captains must still sign the card and endorse it on the reverse that a dispute is to be made within 48 hours.

  3. Food will be provided throughout both seasons with the exception of cup matches.

  4. Any player wishing to make a complaint to the league must do so by submitting a letter in a sealed envelope along with a fee of £10, passed to the Bridge Inn. Under no circumstances should an individual approach any committee member or Bridge Inn staff to discuss the nature of the complaint, other than to inform the league that a letter has been submitted.

  5. Any player or players reported for using bad language or abusive behaviour by any venue, licensee, or manager of said premises on match nights will be fined £5 and suspended immediately for two weeks. Failure to pay the fine will prolong the suspension. Payment must be passed to the Bridge Inn.

  6. If a team fails to turn up for a league match, the team present will be awarded the highest score in that division on that night, plus two points for the win. A card must be filled in and signed by the captains agreeing the scores of the night and then submitted on WhatsApp. This is now updated whereby the home team updates the online scoring on the evening of the game. Any issues on scoring should be brought to the attention of the league, and a 1-to-1 can be arranged if needed.

17a. If a team fails to turn up for a league match, they will be fined £10.00, plus rule 18 fine if it applies. The fine must be paid within 10 days of the match missed, or they will be expelled from the league.

17b. If a team fails to turn up for a second league match during a season, they will be fined £25.00, plus rule 18 fine if applicable. The fine must be paid within 10 days of the unplayed match, or they will be expelled from the league.

17c. If a team fails to fulfil three fixtures within a season, then it will automatically be expelled from the league. All matches played will be void and no replacement team will be brought in.

  1. If a team fails to turn up for an away fixture where supper has been provided, and without giving at least 48 hours’ notice, then that team will be fined £10. It is the responsibility of the licensee who provided the supper to claim reimbursement from the league in writing.

  2. Any team failing to pay fines will not be allowed to re-enter the league until such fines have been paid.

  3. Any team wishing to drop out of the league should do so in writing to the league. All games played will be void, and the team will not be replaced. All competition draws will stand, and the team dropping out will lose its fees. This applies to the whole season.

20a. Any new team, or an existing team dropping out or being expelled from the league, will have to pay a £25 retainer fee before being allowed to enter or re-enter the league. This will be returned to the licensee of that team, subject to all fixtures being completed.

  1. All future dates set by the league for singles, doubles, team knockout, or charity cup competitions must be played on or before the date stated, and at the venue stated, unless by prior agreement from the league or under rule 21a. The winner or winning team must be WhatsApped or posted to the Bridge Inn on the night. Any games played after the date set will be void and both teams/players will be eliminated.

21a. If a game is to be played before the stated date, both players must contact the committee to state the alternative arrangements. This will prevent any disputes as to the result. The rearranged game must take place at the venue stated by the league, and they should also check with the landlord that the table is free. The winner must register his win via RackEmApp or notify their captain on the date the game should have been played to ensure the result has been registered. No phone results will be taken prior to the official date.

21b. It is the responsibility of the winning player(s) to ensure their name has been recorded on the result sheet on the pool room notice board in the Bridge Inn.

  1. Any individual or team failing to turn up to play their game, and not having rearranged that game prior to the official date, will be eliminated from that competition, irrespective of what stage the competition is at.

  2. With regard to players being banned from any public house, it is up to the player concerned to contact the licensee of the public house he/she is banned from and ask if they will be allowed to play their game and then leave the premises.

23a. Padiham & District Pool League supports the Padiham Pub Watch scheme and, as such, any player banned under Padiham Pub Watch is not allowed to register or play within the league until their name is no longer on the Pub Watch list.

  1. Children under 14 years of age are not allowed to play in the league. Those who are within one month of their 14th birthday when the league starts may register but not play until they are 14. They are the responsibility of their parents/team captain. All teams should check with the opposing licensee to ensure they are allowed in the pub.

  2. Any major trophy requiring repair on return to the league will be paid for by the team responsible for it. The licensee accepts responsibility for trophies left on their premises. Teams failing to return trophies on time will be fined £10.

25a. Any pub leaving the league must return all major trophies to the league before they leave. It is the committee’s responsibility to ensure trophies are returned to the Bridge Inn.

  1. All captains must attend (or send a representative to) meetings when announced periodically.