This document was last updated at the 2024 AGM.

LEAGUE RULES

  • It is an expectation of the League that all players and teams should play pool in the true spirit of the game and in a friendly and sportsmanlike manner.
  • Matches will be played on Monday nights, exceptions can apply.
  • The Disputes Committee will decide on the quality of a table and its playing environment, following a complaint.
  • The home team must ensure that a current set of League Regulations & Rules are readily available to both teams for reference to (if required) during a match.
  • It is intended that matches should start at 8.00 pm, otherwise the offended team may claim the first game. If the match has not started by 8.15 pm the second game may also be claimed, and so on for 8.30 pm and 8.45pm. At 9.00pm if the match has not started then the team at the venue are entitled to claim all 9 frames.
  • A team consists of 6 registered players, who must have been registered with the Secretary before the date of the match.
  • Once 75% of the fixtures for the season is played, player registrations are then closed and teams are not to register any further players.
  • Any team playing unregistered players will result in having the whole match forfeited, being a 9 result added to the innocent party.
  • If requested, the name of the player must be given to the opposing captain before the game is commenced, otherwise there is no need to exchange players' names until the end of the match when signing each result sheet.
  • In some venues, under-18 players have restrictions placed upon them.  Each landlord/manager is required to state any restrictions pre-season. These potential problems are highlighted so that a visiting team can make adjustments to their team as appropriate. The League Committee must be informed of any changes straight away.  A team is responsible for the conduct of each one of its players.
  • If more than one team wish to share a venue at the same time, then this is to be raised at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) where each case will be taken on its own merit.  There will be no transfers of players between co-hosts during a season.
  • A team wishing to alter the date of a League fixture is required to inform their opponents and the League Committee of such, giving at least 48 hours’ notice.  If the other team involved agrees, the match date can be altered and is to be played within one month of the original date.  No matches can be played after the last League Fixtures.
  • Should a team be unable to field 6 players, then the game(s) where there is no player is counted as a loss.
  • Home team to update scores and match information via the app, or contact League Secretary at the very least.
  • One point is scored for each individual game won plus a bonus point for an overall match winning team
    • E.g. Team 'A' beats Team 'B' 5-4: Team 'A' scores 6 points and Team 'B' scores 4 points.
  • Each team should provide the League Secretary with at least one email address, for ease of communication.
  • Proposals for Regulation and Rule changes, nominations for Committees' memberships and offers of League sponsorship must be received in writing by the League Secretary at least one month before the AGM.  Delegates will be advised of this date.
  • The dates and venue of League Meetings and the fees for the forthcoming season will be finalised at the AGM.
  • Each team is required to have a representative present at each League Meeting which will start at 19.30. One delegate cannot represent more than one team (e.g., Team 'A' and Team 'B' from one venue). A maximum of two delegates from any one team can be present at a meeting due to limited capacity, the ease of chairing the meeting by the Chairman and to allow other delegates present to participate fully in the meeting.
  • No disputes will be discussed in a League Meeting.  If a team has a dispute it should be brought to the attention of the Chairman when discussing ‘Any Other Business’.  The details of the dispute should be put to a member of the League Committee at the end of the meeting. 
  • In deciding any issue or dispute, the League Committee and/or Disputes Committee may only apply rules which are written. This means the rule to be applied must be either:
    • In the published 'League Rules & Rules of Play' for the season; OR
    • A minuted addition or alteration decided by the delegates at a League Meeting in the season concerned.
  • No other Regulations or Rules will be applied or enforced. If a Rule is subject to alteration or addition at a League Meeting, any alteration or addition must not be applied retrospectively to situations or issues prior to that meeting. If changes or additions are made to the 'Regulations & Rules of Play' at a League Meeting, these must be minuted at that meeting.  At the end of the season any such alterations or additions MUST be proposed by the League Committee at the following season's AGM, to be either confirmed or removed by the delegates, either individually or en bloc, for publication in the ‘Rules of Play' for the following season.
  • All disciplinary and disputed matters will be dealt with by the Disputes Committee. Their decision will be final, and where appropriate or for clarification of Rules, a report will be given at the next League Meeting.
  • Any warnings issued for harassment, etc., during a season will be carried forward to the following season, and only removed following a full season without further issues.
  • All new bonds, registration fees, raffle ticket fees and K.O. fees agreed at the AGM are to be paid at the first League Meeting.
  • Defending champion(s) of a K.O. with an entry fee can defend their title the following season free of charge.
  • No entries will be accepted into a K.O. after its Preliminary Round has been drawn. The dates for these draws will be advertised beforehand. The Team K.O. Preliminary Round will be drawn at the AGM from those present.
  • Following an agreed date and start time for a K.O. match, the first frame may be claimed after 15 minutes and the match may be claimed after 30 minutes.
  • Where a K.O. match has been agreed, then a minimum of 48 hours’ notice (except in exceptional circumstances) is required to cancel.  This must be with full agreement of both parties, getting names of person(s) spoken to.
  • Where players/teams fail to arrange a mutual date to play the K.O. match, either with or without contact being made, then the Tuesday night immediately before the Wednesday League Meeting will be the cut-off date.  This means that the players/teams should be at the 'home' player's/team's venue at 8.00 pm prepared to play the K.O. match.  That player/team must then ring the League Secretary after 8.30 pm to state that they have turned up, their opponent(s) have not and they are claiming the K.O. match
  • If a result of any K.O. (except the rounds to be played at the Sponsor's venue) is not brought to the League Meeting and the League Secretary has not received a phone call which claims a match, then that match will be assumed to have not taken place by the cut-off date and that place will be deemed a 'bye' in the next round.
  • Whereas K.O.s can be arranged by the relevant players, it will ultimately be the captains' responsibility to ensure that this has been done. Therefore, if the match has not been played, it will be for the captains to explain to the Disputes Committee why the match has not taken place. Both parties will be eliminated unless exceptional circumstances can be shown.
  • In the 3-Man K.O., a team may replace any of its registered players (maximum of 4) with another player, so long as that player has not played for, or been registered in, another 3-Man team. The replaced player(s) cannot be re-registered, once changed.
  • In Doubles & Scotch Doubles K.O. competitions, there is no talking with your partner after your oncoming player has initially addressed the cue ball for the first time.
  • A team not completing their fixtures will forfeit their 'Bond' and any later application to re-join the League will be jeopardised.  All points from the matches involving that team will be void and will be deducted from the League Tables.
  • The Divisional Championship and placings will be decided on points. In the event of a tie it will be decided on frames won. If frames won are tied at the end of the season then the aggregate score of the two matches between the teams will determine placings.
  • Normally, three teams will be promoted and relegated each season but will be decided by the League Committee based on the number of teams entering the League at the beginning of the season.
  • The maximum number of teams entering will not exceed 54, divided into 3 divisions of 18 teams.
  • The divisional make up will ensure that the Premier Division will not be less than Division 1, and Division 1 will not be less than Division 2.
  • If the total number of teams is an odd number, then only the lowest division will have an odd number of teams.
  • When, during the course of a season, a team moves their playing venue either by choice or for reasons out of their control, then that team will not lose its divisional status in the following season.
  • New teams will join the League in the lowest division.