Crawley Pool League

POOL LEAGUE CONSTITUTION

 

  1. NAME

The organisation will be known as the Crawley Pool League, hereinafter referred to as the League

  1. OBJECTIVES

 

  1. To promote and organise the game of pool in Sussex in an area covering seven miles in all directions from Crawley town center.
  2. To ensure the game is played in a sportsmanlike manner.
  3. To be a non-profit making organization.
  4. To be fully affiliated to the English Pool Association through the Sussex County Pool Association.

 

  1. MEMBERSHIP

  1. Membership is open to all pool players over the age of 14 years (if under the age of 18 years they may not be permitted into certain public houses) providing they are not suspended by the Committee of this League or any other League affiliated to the English Pool Association.
  2. Membership is open to all teams (a minimum of seven players constitutes a team) from pubs or clubs within the prescribed area.
  3. Application for team membership must be on the Entrance Forms provided which must be received by the League Secretary by the date published and must be accompanied by the fee applicable.
  4. A team may add to its members at any time up to six weeks before the last scheduled match night. A maximum of 15 players may be registered to play for a team at any one time. New members may only play for a team after 3 days have elapsed from registration.
  5. A player may transfer only once in any season for a fee of £3, but this may only be up to the end of the first half of the season. Transfers after that will only be permitted if the Committee of the League grants such transfer under special circumstances. Transferred players may only play for a new team after three days have elapsed from the date of the transfer providing the transfer fee has been paid.
  6. A player wishing to transfer must inform their current Captain of the transfer prior to their new Captain making an application for transfer.
  7. Players who are suspended by the League Committee may not take part in any event of the League until the suspension is lifted.
  8. Two registered players from each registered team are entitled to a vote at an AGM or any EGM.
  9. The League shall pay part or full entry into the Champion of Champions Tournament at the discretion of the committee. The League Champions and the Men's and Lady's singles winners will be entered. In the event that those entered do not attend this Tournament the League shall be entitled to ask for reimbursement from the players in question.

 

  1. MANAGEMENT

 

  1. The management of the League will be vested in a committee elected each year at the AGM.
  2. All Officers and Committee Members must stand down at the end of each year and may stand for re-election if they so wish.
  3. The Committee will consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and 5 general members.

 

The main duties of the Officers of the League are as follows: -

     

Chairman.

 

 

Vice-Chairman

 

 

Treasurer

 

 

Secretary

 

 

  1. COMMITTEE RULES

  1. At least 5 members of the Committee must be present at any meeting to form a quorum.
  2. The Committee may remove any member, from the Committee who has been deemed to be acting against the best interests of the League or for persistent non-attendance of meetings.
  3. The Committee may co-opt new members to replace those who have been removed or who have withdrawn.
  4. No member of the Committee, who has a direct interest in decisions to be made at a meeting, may sit at that meeting.
  5. The Committee will decide on all disputes or complaints concerning any team or member of the League. Their decisions will be final and binding.
  6. All complaints must be sent to the League Secretary in writing. Verbal complaints cannot be entertained.
  7. Any team or player that has a proposal for a the League Annual General Meeting must present the same in writing to the League Secretary at least 14 days prior to the-meeting
  8. An Emergency General Meeting may be requested in writing by any team or player for a specific matte relating to the League. At least 5% of the registered players of the League must sign such a request, which must give a detailed account of the matter needed to be discussed. Only the matter in question will be discussed at the subsequent EGM when it is called.

 

  1. MATCH RULES

 

  1. The League will play all matches on Wednesday evenings starting at 8.00 pm.
  2. All players names must be entered on the result card by no later than 8.15 pm. unless both Captains have made a prior agreement.
  3. The 'home' team enters their player's names first on the result card and are responsible for table costs.
  4. Once a player's name has been entered on the result card no alterations can be made unless agreed by both Captains If a player is called to the table to play and is not present he/she must be given a 5 minute 'grace' period to arrive, after which time the frame shall be forfeited.
  5. Matches will consist of 7 singles frames and 2 doubles frames. One point is awarded for each frame won. (2010/11 Season format will change to a 10 Singles format.) any changes to the format can be changed at the AGM but the changes do not take effect until one year after the forthcoming season.
  6. Four players must be present to constitute a team. Failure to have four players present will result in the match being referred to the committee (see rule 7 4).
  7. Any team found playing a non-registered or a suspended player is liable to lose that match to their opponents. The Committee will decide on what action is to be taken after taking all relevant matters into consideration. This may result in team suspension, points being taken away or any other action deemed appropriate.
  8. A player may only be registered to play for 1 team at any one time.
  9. The home and away team Captain are responsible for getting the match result to the League Secretary by whatever means and as soon after the match as is possible, but certainly by no later than noon Saturday following the match. No excuses will be accepted now that there are so many ways in which results can be submitted. Result Cards must be sent or delivered to the League Secretary following matches even if the result has been communicated by any other means. Any home team failing to get the result of a match to the League Secretary by the time stated will receive no points for that match and (the away team will receive only those points it gained from the match). Failure to submit a result by the time stated, together with failure to get the result card to the League Secretary, will result in a £5 fine being imposed. The fine must be paid within 4 weeks of issue. If the fine is not paid before this time the matter will be brought before the committee and the team will be suspended until such time as the fine is paid. If a team is suspended the Committee will, at the same time, determine the action to be taken regarding matches not played during the suspension.
  10. If a team withdraws or is suspended from the League then all points from previous matches involving that team will be withdrawn and the match night will become a 'bye'

 

  1. POSTPONEMENTS

A team may request a postponement of a match by giving at least 3 days notice to the opposing Captain. The exception to this is a postponement on the evening of a match because it is not practical to play because of another event at the venue (e.g. football on TV not allowing enough room to play). As long as the match has not begun both Captains can agree to postpone the match.

  1. Emergencies are acceptable reasons for a postponement but shortage of players is not.
  2. All postponed matches must be played within 4 weeks of the original date.
  3. Any Match not played will go to the Committee, who will decide what action is to be taken.
  4. No team may request a postponement of a match within the last 4 weeks of the season but matches may be rearranged for another evening in the same week.
  5. All arrangements that are agreed upon by both team Captains regarding a postponement must be made known to the League Secretary as a matter of courtesy.
  6. If a Team does not fulfil a fixture and do not go through the correct procedures that Team will incur a Twenty Pound fine, which must be paid within 4 weeks of being issued.  On failure to do so or commit the same offence twice will result in expulsion from the League.

 

  1. SUSPENSIONS

 

  1. Teams who have been suspended or who withdraw from the League or fail to pay any fine(s) will not be permitted to rejoin the League for one season. Only special dispensation by the Committee can alter this.
  2. Players who are suspended by the League Committee may not take part in any event of the League until the suspension is lifted.

 

  1. TOURNAMENTS

 

  1. All tournaments must be played on the advertised dates.
  2. Tournaments will be played on Tuesdays and Thursdays or as advertised. Entry Forms for tournaments will be found in the team folders and will be available from the League Secretary.
  3. In the Three-Person Team competition only 1 current County player may play in any one team and all members of the Three-Person Team must be from the same registered League Team.
  4. In Doubles/Mixed Doubles competitions any 2 registered players of the League may enter as a team.
  5. In Doubles/Mixed Doubles competitions if a partner is unable to play then a replacement is permitted but only prior to the 1st Round or Preliminary Round if applicable. Thereafter the replacement player must remain in the partnership.
  6. In Doubles/Mixed Doubles both players must be present when called to play.
  7. In the Chairman's Cup the competition is restricted to Captains and Secretaries only.
  8. All draws to be done by the draw committee which will consist of at least 3 members from the current elected committee.

 

  1. PLAYING RULES

The playing rules for the League will be the amended World Eight Ball Pool Federation Rules as laid out in a separate booklet in your folder.

 

  1. CONDUCT

 

  1. All players should conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner.
  2. The Team Captain will be held responsible for the conduct of team members and supporters at all times. This rule also applies to Presentation Evening.
  3. Team Captains must inform their players/guests that smart dress only will be permitted at the Presentation Evening.

 

  1. DUTIES OF CAPTAINS AND SECRETARIES

 

  1. To inform their players of all fixture dates and venues for League matches. They should also inform their players of tournaments, entry dates and playing dates. They should arrange that a copy of the League Fixtures and all tournament draws are available for their players. These can be obtained from the League Secretary or can be printed from the League Web-site.
  2. To arrange for all appropriate Registration Fees to be paid for their team entry into the League, these should be delivered to the League Secretary before any relevant closing dates.
  3. Captains must sign Result Cards for each match after checking that the details are correct both Captains must initial any alterations. ‘Home’ teams Captains/Secretaries are responsible for getting match results, and the delivery of Result Cards, to the League Secretary.
  4. To ensure the eligibility of their team members, this includes ensuring that every player has signed his or her own Membership Card at the start of the season and particularly before playing in any match.
  5. Any Captain may, if they have doubts about a player's eligibility to play, request to see that player's Membership Card, if the card is not signed the player is NOT eligible to play.
  6. To inform the Landlord/Landlady/Manager of their venue of any dates that the League has arranged for the use of their venue for any tournaments.
  7. To arrange through their Landlord/Landlady/Manager that the pool table(s) to be used are clean and level.

 

  1. NEW TEAMS

 

  1. All new teams must start in the lowest division of the League.
  2. Any team that has 5 or more players from the previous season's team may not enter as a new team. They may, however, be allowed to enter under a new team name and/or from a new venue.
  3. New teams who have entered the League in the lowest division because they have less than 5 players from the previous season may not, at a later date, register other players from that previous season.

 

  1. DISPUTES

 

  1. All disputes arising during a match will, in the first instance, be decided by the referee calling both players ONLY together to try and settle the dispute. Failure to arrive at an agreement must result in the frame being stopped and the matter should then be reported to the League Secretary who will consult the Committee for a decision. The match can continue.
  2. The Committee shall rule on any disputes and their decision shall be final.
  3. The Committee will not get involved in any disputes with a Landlord/ Landlady/ Manager where a player is refused entry into a pub or club.
  4. Some pubs/clubs do not allow junior players and if a team has a junior player (under 18 years) then the Captain must clarify in advance with whoever is in charge of the venue they are visiting.
  5. If a team is refused entry to a venue on match night the two Captains must set a Date for the match to be played and at what venue. Such matches must take place Within 4 weeks of the original date.

 

  1. REFEREES

 

  1. All frames must be refereed on League Matches with the 'home' team going first and alternating thereafter.  The ‘home’ team to referee both doubles.
  2. It is desirable that tournaments should also be refereed. In the past, where referees are not called upon, disputes have arisen and the League will not enter into any disputes where referees are not used.
  3. Any players, asked to referee, should be conversant with the playing rules.
  4. The referee's decision is final, unless a playing rule is in doubt. In which case the referee should attempt to get in contact with the League Secretary, or any other League Official, for guidance.
  5. A player can ask the referee for a ruling before playing a shot but the referee should only give that ruling and not give any other advice about the shot to be played or any other advice that can be construed as coaching. (Refer to Referee guidelines and duties).
  6. A referee should not allow a player to waste time over a shot or a visit.
  7. The referee should toss a coin to determine who should break.
  8. 'Home' teams are responsible for the provision of a stopwatch for doubles matches. A warning must be given after 30 seconds have elapsed from the balls coming to rest and then failure to play a shot within one minute means the visit is passed back to the opponents with two visits given The shot may be played from where the cue ball lies or the cue ball may be lifted and played from bulk.

 

  1. PERPETUAL TROPHIES

  1. All perpetual shields or trophies will remain the property of the League and must be returned to the League Secretary at least 4 weeks before the close of the season
  2. Failure to return such trophies will result in charges being imposed on teams/individuals to cover the cost of replacement. Failure to pay such costs will result in the team/individual not being allowed to rejoin the League.
  3. Perpetual shields /trophies may be displayed in a safe place at the venue of the winners
  4. The team is responsible for team trophies whilst the individual is responsible for any individual trophies.

 

  1. DIVISIONS

  1. The League will be constructed of Divisions according to the number of teams who have registered in any one season.
  2. Promotions or relegations will depend on the number of entries for the season but the League Committee will endeavor to maintain a 3 up / 3 down system.