LEAGUE RULES

 SEASON 2007/08

A1.      The League will be called the Brighton and District Bar Billiards League.

A2.      The League shall be affiliated to the Sussex County Bar Billiards Association.

A3.      The function of the League shall be to organise competitive leagues and competitions within the Brighton area.

A4.      The League shall be controlled by the Executive Committee consisting of the President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, League Secretary, Assistant League Secretary, Treasurer, Competitions Controller, Results Controller, Fund Raiser, Minutes Secretary and not less than five general members.  All Inter-League Captains shall be entitled to attend Committee Meetings or may be required to attend by the Committee.  At all Committee Meetings the Chairman shall have the casting vote in the event of a drawn vote.

A5.      Committee meetings will be held at one of the houses belonging to the League, or, if it is deemed appropriate by the Committee, at a venue to be determined by the Committee.

A6.      It is at the discretion of the Executive Committee to take what action may be deemed necessary on any Committee Member found leaking information to outside parties.

A7.      Members accepting Committee Positions are expected to serve for the full term of office.  Should any elected member of the Committee absent themselves from three consecutive meetings without reasonable explanation their seat shall be declared vacant. Details of attendance at Committee Meetings shall be made available at the Annual General Meeting of the League.

A8.      The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt into the Executive Committee any League Member.

A9.      An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by (a) The Executive Committee, or by (b) Three League Teams from different houses.  In this event twenty-one days notice must be given.  Any player registered with the League may attend and vote.

A10.    At the Annual General Meeting any player may attend and vote.

A11.    All positions on the Executive Committee and any Sub-Committee(s) may be open for election at the Annual General Meeting.

A12.    Any proposed change of rules must be notified in writing signed by both the Proposer and the Seconder to the League Secretary at least fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting.

A13.    All funds shall be under the League Account at the Midland Bank Limited and any two of the Chairman, League Secretary and Treasurer shall be responsible for withdrawals and payments from the League Account.  At the Annual General Meeting two independent League Members shall be appointed to audit the accounts at the end of the season.

A14.    The Treasurer shall submit a current bank statement to every Committee Meeting.  Also, any member of the Committee incurring expenses on behalf of the League shall at the penultimate Committee Meeting submit an up-to-date statement of all such expenses.

A15.    Honoraria shall be payable to Officers of the Committee, subject to the approval of the Committee, to a maximum of £2.50 per team.  That sum, or any part thereof, to be allocated according to the Committee’s discretion.

A16.    In the event of a dispute involving a house or team played for by a Committee Member, that Member shall absent him/herself from the Committee Room whilst the dispute is being discussed unless acting as spokesman for the team concerned.  No Voting Committee Member shall be allowed to vote on any dispute concerning their team or house.  It is at the Executive Committee’s discretion whether to appoint a non-voting member to take their place during the vote on the dispute.

SECTION B – GENERAL RULES

B1.       Any licensed premises containing a bar billiard table is eligible to apply to join the League.

B2.       Entry of the teams into the League is at the discretion of the Executive Committee.  The Registration Fee for each team shall be £25.00 exclusive of fees for each player.  It shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee to determine a lesser team registration fee for any separate division comprised exclusively of new teams.

B3.       A team shall consist of six Registered Players; the maximum number of Registered Players for any team is unlimited.  Each team shall have a Captain and Secretary.  Where a separate division has been established exclusively for new teams is shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee to require a lesser minimum number per team.      

B4.       All players must be registered in writing with the League Secretary one clear month before playing.  The Registration fee for each player shall be £3.00  No player may register for more than one team within the League.  If any house enters more than one team, any player registering for one of those teams is ineligible to play for another team in that house unless transferred under any pertinent League regulation.

B5.       After Registration Night no team shall be permitted to sign any player whose inclusion in their original registration would have resulted in that team being placed in a higher division at the commencement of the season.  All registrations remain subject to the conditions specified Rule B4.

B6.       No player registered with the Brighton and District Bar Billiard League may be registered with any other bar billiards league whose playing night is the same as that of the Brighton and District Bar Billiards league.

B7.       No player may transfer to another team without the express permission of the Executive Committee and then only with the consent of both Team Captains concerned in writing.  No transfer will be allowed if by the transfer any team falls below the minimum number of players stated in Rule B3.  No transfers will be considered under any circumstances after league games have been in progress for eight weeks.  No player may transfer more than once in any season.  The Transfer fee shall be £1.00.  A transferred player shall be eligible to play in the League after four weeks have elapsed from the date of transfer.

B8.       No team will be allowed to transfer to another house during the League Season unless playing facilities have been withdrawn from that team.  A majority of players must sign a written application to the League for such transfer to be valid.

B9.       If a player withdraws for the League during the playing season any player registered for that team may register for any other league team subject to any conditions stated in rule B4.

B10.     Any teams registering for the League have the right to make a written application to the Executive Committee stating their case for inclusion in a higher or lower division compatible with the team’s playing ability subject to space being available.

B11.     Any new team entering the League shall normally be placed in the lowest division, however, it is at the Executive Committee’s discretion to place these teams in a higher division compatible with the known playing ability of the players registered for these teams.

B12.     If any team upon re-registration is found to contain three or more players previously registered in higher divisions in the previous season the Executive Committee has the discretion to place these teams in a higher division compatible with the teams playing ability subject to space being available.

B14.     The first team in each division will be promoted and the bottom team will be relegated.  It is at the Executive Committee’s discretion whether to promote more or relegate less teams to keep a size balance between each division in the league.

B15.     It shall be at the Executive Committee’s discretion, where is considers a marked balance to exist in the playing ability of teams within any division to introduce a separate championship within that division.

B16.     A team shall receive two points for winning a match and one point if the match is drawn.  The team scoring the most points in a season will be Division Champions.  In the event of a tie, aggregate games to decide position, if still level, teams concerned in promotion, relegation or trophy positions will play-off on a neutral table specified by the Executive Committee to Team Knock-Out rules.

B17.     If any team withdraws from the League during the playing season the results of any league matches played by that team will be considered null and void and will be expunged from any published league tables.

B18.     Any team failing to appear for three consecutive league matches or two consecutive away matches will be considered as having withdrawn from the league.

B19.     If due to exceptional weather conditions a league match cannot be played the Executive Committee have the discretion to have this league match played at a later date.  Where, by mutual agreement, teams wish to postpone a fixture the consent of the Results Controller or the League Secretary must be obtained at least one week prior to the proposed postponement.  If a postponement is granted the date of the replay must be agreed with Results Controller or the League Secretary at the time of the postponement.  Normally games should be completed either prior to or within four playing weeks of the original specified date of the fixture.  All fixtures, irrespective of the foregoing, must be completed by the last date allotted to League fixtures within the season.  Failure to complete a fixture within the specified time will result in the match being declared void.

B20.     All league and competition matches will be played according to League Rules and each team will be supplied with a copy.

B21.     The Highest Breaks and Scores Awards shall apply to individual breaks and scores only and will only count on an away house table.  A single break by one player in a doubles match shall be eligible for the high break award.  Should that single break also be the highest recorded score it shall be eligible for the high score award.  Eligible breaks and scores will be those made in League and Competitions matches run by the Brighton and District Bar Billiards League.

B22.     If after notification any selected players fails to attend an Inter-League match for which they have been selected without reasonable explanation beforehand to the respective Inter-League Captain then that player will not be considered again for selection during the current season.  Any player who declines selection for a higher Inter-League team will not be eligible for selection by a lower one during that season.

B23.     All perpetual cups and trophies shall remain the property of the League.

B24.     All perpetual cups and trophies are to be returned to the League Secretary on or before the last day of March each year.  On presentation of perpetual cups and trophies a signature shall be obtained from the player or team captain to confirm receipt of the cup or trophy.  The signatures shall be held responsible for the safe keeping and general upkeep of the cup or trophy whilst it is in their possession.  If any league team does not re-register for the following season then any cups or trophies in their possessions shall be collected at the earliest opportunity and shall be retained by the Executive Committee until represented.

B25.     Any Registered Players who by their conduct bring the Brighton and District Bar Billiards League into disrepute, on written complaint by League Officials, Captains Referees or Scorers, if found proven shall be disciplined with the possible expulsion from the league by the Executive Committee.

SECTION C – RECOMMENDED PLAYING CONDITIONS

C1.      The playing conditions shall conform to the standards laid down by the Sussex County Bar Billiards Association and the All England Bar Billiards Association.

C2.      All tables will be subject to inspection to ensure a reasonable standard throughout the League.

C3.      The playing area of tables shall not be less than Fifty Four and One Half inches nor more than Fifty Six and One Half inches in length when measured from the inside edge of the back cushion and the base line of the playing ‘D’ and not less than Thirty inches in width when measured from the inside edges of the two side cushions.

C4.      Tables shall not be less than Thirty Four inches nor more than Thirty-six and one half inches in height when measured from the floor to the top of the cushion at the playing end of the table.

C5.      Tables must be level and in good playing condition.

C6.      There shall be one black and two white skittles.  The black skittle shall be placed on a spot, the back edge of which shall be One Quarter inch from the front edge of the 200 pocket.  The white skittles may be used.  Mushrooms will not be permitted.

C7.      Only skittle may be used.  Mushrooms will not be permitted.

C8.      A playing ‘D’ shall be firmly fixed onto the table in the centre of the base of the playing surface and shall be One and Nine-Sixteenths of an inch is radius.  The centre of the playing ‘D’ shall be clearly marked with a ‘break’ spot.

C9.      A ‘red break’ spot shall be placed on the centre line of the table with its centre between Six and Seven-Eighths and Seven and One-Eighth inches from the centre of the break spot on the playing ‘D’.

C10.    Baulk lines shall be clearly marked on the table radiating from the outer edges of the playing ‘D’ in such a manner as to give a playing arc of not less than 150 degrees nor more than 160 degrees.

C11.    All tables shall be adequately illuminated by a lamp of not less than 150 watts, preferably with a shade.

C12.    One red ball and seven white balls of equal size and weight shall be provided.

C13.    At least two cues shall be provided.  These shall be properly tipped and straight.

C14.    A scoreboard shall be provided and shall be fixed in a prominent position in such a manner that it is at no time obscured from the view of the players on the table.  The top half of the scoreboard shall be marked HOME and the bottom half marked AWAY.

C15.    The table shall be so positioned that it is possible to play a ball into any part of the playing area from the playing ‘D’ using a cue Fifty Four inches in length and a maximum stroke of Ten inches.

C16.    The length of playing time on a table shall not be less than 15 minutes nor more than 20 minutes.

C17.    Any recommended Playing Conditions not covered by the preceding conditions shall be decided by the Executive Committee and such conditions shall be put forward at the Annual General Meeting for the League Members consideration.  Such conditions shall also be put forward for consideration at the Annual General Meetings of the Sussex County Bar Billiards Association and the All England Bar Billiards Association.

SECTION D – LEAGUE MATCH RULES

D1.      All League Match Nights will be Wednesday.  The first game must commence not later than 8.15pm.  It shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee to establish an additional match night for the purpose of any separate league competition to be held under the auspices of the Association.  Games must be continuous with a maximum break of five minutes between each game.  Should a match be subject to interference, by any other event (eg Darts matches) then the away Captain shall be permitted to claim that match subject to the provision of Rule D5.  If a player is not available to play their game at the required time that game shall be forfeit.

D2.      The Home Team pays the table charge.

D3.      A League Match will consist of five single games; the Away Team to have the break on games one, three and five, the Home Team to have the break on games two and four.  In each of the five games the Home Captain must nominate the Home Player first at the start of the game.  Where two or more players in a team have the same surname the full Christian name shall be entered on the result card and the identity of the first named player be established before the second player be named.  In any separate division comprised exclusively of new teams the format shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

D4.      The Away Team has the right to check the table by their first player playing a set of eight balls up the table one at a time not using the side cushions to check the level of the table, these balls shall be allowed to touch the back cushion.  If the table is unacceptable the matter is to be referred to the League Secretary in writing within seventy-two hours.  The match will then be played at a later date when table conditions have been correct3ed to the satisfaction of the Executive Committee.  Once a match has commenced, whether or not the preceding check has been carried out, no complaint on table level will be entertained by the Executive Committee.

D5.      The Home Team must provide a Scorer and the Away Team must provide a Referee, both persons must be fully conversant with the Rules.  The Scorer will audibly call out the accumulative break score after each shot, each 1,000 scored shall be recorded by placing a coin or similar distinctive marker on the table surround.  The Scorer shall also be responsible for warning the player when to leave ‘one-up’.  Should the Scorer fail to do so the player shall not be penalised for potting both balls more than three times consecutively, the score will stand and the player will continue the break.  Whilst a match is in progress no ball in the playing area may be touched by anyone but the Referee, balls shall not be returned to the tray via the pockets.  Whilst a match is in progress no person other than the Scorer shall touch the score board.  Any decision made by the Referee is final during the Game.  Any dispute must be reported to the League Secretary in writing within seventy-two hours.  All such disputes must be accompanied by a £1.00 fee, returnable if the dispute is upheld.  Failure to submit the fee to result in the complaint not be considered.  The Executive Committee’s decision shall be final.  If the Results Card has been signed by both Captains then there is no dispute to answer.

D6.      Both team Captains are responsible for the return of the League Results Cards.  These must be posted within twenty-four hours of the match (date as postmark), failure to do so on more than one occasion will result in the deduction of one point from the offending team’s total for each and every occasion after the first on which a card is either not submitted or is submitted late. Both Captains shall be responsible for the filling in of the League Results Cards. Entries on the card must be legible with the players name and initials printed in block capitals.

D7.      No member of the Away Team is allowed to practice on the Match Table on the day of the match.

D8.      In the event of a team found playing an unregistered player in a match, that match will be awarded 5-0 to their opponents.

D9.      Any League Match Rules not covered by the preceding Rules shall be decided by the Executive Committee and such Rules shall be put forward at the Annual General Meeting for the League Members consideration.

SECTION E – COMPETITIONS RULES

E1.       All competitions entrants must be registered players within the Brighton and District Bar Billiards League at the time of registering for a competition. Open Doubles Mixed Doubles and Ladies Doubles entries may come from different houses.  Entrants for the Landlords Singles must at the time of entry be holders of a current Justices Licence, Public House Manager, or Club Steward or Manager.  For all singles competitions the Entrance Fee will be £2.00 for the first entry, £1.00 per subsequent entry.  Doubles entry fee shall be per £3.00 per pair per entry.  The registration fee for the Summer Challenge trophy shall be £6.00 per team.  Subject to the number of entrants, and at the discretion of the Executive Committee, ladies competitions may be merged with the men's providing an open competition.

E2.       Entrance to the Team Knockout is automatic upon League registration.  Any player registered for the team is allowed to play unless having played for another team in the current competition and transferred or re-registered.  (B8, B10).

E3.       In all competitions both players, pairs of players or team Captains are responsible for arranging the match and booking the table.  All arrangements for matches must be made with the agreement of the Landlord in whose house the match is to be played.

E4.       All players or teams who fail to play their matches or submit their Competitions Results Cards to the Competitions Controller by the closing date specified for any competition will automatically disqualified from the competition.

E5.       The table charge will be divided equally between both players, pairs of players or teams.

E6.       Winning players or teams are responsible for the posting of the Competitions Results Cards, these must be posted within twenty-four hours of the match.

E7.       Any difficulties experienced in arranging matches or any complaint about the venue should be made known to the Competitions Controller immediately.

E8.       If due to exceptional weather conditions an arranged match cannot be played the Competitions Committee have the discretion to have this match played at a later date.

E9.       The time and venue of the draw for each round of competitions will be decided by the Competitions Committee.  For the purpose of the Team Knockout Matches the Committee shall be empowered to exclude as venues any public houses where it is thought likely that clashes with other events shall occur.  Competitions Results Cards will be sent to each house where games are due to be played.  Copies of the draw should normally be delivered within fourteen days of the closing date of the previous round.  If any house has not received the draw by this date any interested player should contact the Competitions Controller immediately.

E10.     All singles, doubles and team competition matches will be played on neutral tables.  No singles or doubles player or team member is allowed to practice on the match table on the day of the match.

E11.     Any disputes must be reported to the Competitions Controller in writing within seventy-two hours.  The Competitions Committee’s decision shall be final.  If the Competitions Results Card has been signed by both players or team Captains then there is no dispute to answer.

E12.     In singles, doubles and team competition matches the first players of each side are allowed to check the tables as stated in Rule D4.  If the table is unacceptable the matter is to be referred to the Competitions Controller in writing within seventy-two hours.  The match will then be played on an alternative table or on the same table at a later date when the table conditions have been corrected to the satisfaction of the Competitions Committee.  Once a match has commenced, whether or not the preceding check has been carried out, no complaint on table level will be entertained by the Competitions Committee.

E13.     All singles and doubles competition matches shall be judged won by the best of three games.  Players who win the toss shall have the choice of the break on the first or second games.  In the event of a third being required both sides shall have the break, the balls being repotted after the end of the first players break (‘even break’ game).  On this third game players shall toss for choice of first or second break. In Open Doubles the player who has not taken the break in the first two legs must take the break in the third leg. In Mixed Doubles ladies must take the break in the first two legs. If a third leg is needed either player may take the break.  If level after this third game extra ‘even break’ games shall be played until a winner is declared.  In doubles competition matters, only the first player of a pair shall have the break at the start of an ‘even break’ game.

E14.     All team competitions matches shall be judged won by the best of five ‘even break’ singles games.  Captains who win the toss shall have the choice of the first break on games one, three and vie or on games two and four.  All five games are to be played.  In each game the Captain whose player has the first of the first break shall nominate their teams player first.  At the start of the first game each captain shall nominate a player who will ‘play off’ in the event of a drawn result.  This game will be an ‘even break’ game.  The Captains of each team tossing for choice of first or second break.  Both the players nominated are eligible to play in the first five games.

E15.     In all even break games if the second break player is still on their first break when the bar drops the player shall be entitled to insert other coins in an attempt to equal or exceed the first break players opening break.  If the first break player is still on the table when the bar drops or has played the table out during the opening break the second break player shall be entitled to insert other coins in an attempt to equal or exceed the first break players opening break.

E16.     The Committee shall upon registration of a player decide whether that player shall be classed as a seeded player for the Men’s single competition.  Seeded players shall only be eligible to enter the singles competition and shall be deemed ineligible for the plate competition.  The seeding of a player shall be open to appeal to the Committee.  Unseeded players shall be eligible for the plate competition if they fulfil the other entry requirements for that competition.

E17.     In all competitions there must be a minimum of six entrants (singles, pairs or teams) for the competition if a perpetual trophy is to be awarded and a minimum of eight entrants (singles, pairs or teams) for individual trophies to be awarded.

E18.     Any Competition Rules not covered by the preceding Rules shall be decided by the Executive Committee and such rules shall be put forward at the Annual General Meeting for the League Members’ consideration.

SECTION F – RULES OF PLAY

F1.       The Rules of Play shall conform to the standards laid down by the Sussex County Bar Billiards Association and the All England Bar Billiards Association.

F2.       At the start of a game the red ball and one white ball shall be accurately placed in the ‘break position’.  This entails placing the red ball on the forward ‘red break’ spot and the white ball on the break spot in the centre of the playing ‘D’.  The white ball is then played onto the red ball with the object of potting either or both balls.

F3.       If at any time a player shall pot both balls three times consecutively from the ‘break position’ into any pockets the player shall on the fourth shot be barred from potting more than one ball into any pocket.  If a player pots both balls four times consecutively from the ‘break position’ into any pockets the break shall be terminated and the break score forfeit (subject to any conditions stated in Rule D5).

F4.       If both or all balls are potted during a game the break position shall be resumed.

F5.       When available the red ball must be used at all times from the ‘break position’.  At any other time any ball may be used to continue the game.

F6.       The red ball will count double at all times when potted.

F7.       The full playing ‘D’ may be used for all shots, other than those taken from the ‘break position’, or when taking the final 100 or 200 shot,

F8.       If after the cue ball has been spotted by hand within the playing ‘D’ it is touched by any part of the cue causing the cue ball to leave the playing ‘D’ and enter the playing area, this shall be considered a shot. A ball shall be deemed to have entered the playing area, if when viewed from above no part of it obscures the baulk lines or the outer edge of the playing ‘D’. A ball shall be deemed not to be in play if it prevents a ball being played from any part of the ‘D’.

F9.       If during a break a ball on the lip of a pocket should fall in without being played the ball shall count as if potted by the player, the score shall count and the break shall be continued providing no foul shot has occurred.

F10.     If after a shot has been played, the object ball falls into the pocket before being reached by the cue ball, the ball shall count as if potted by the player. The score shall count, also the score of the cue ball, if any. The break shall be continued, providing no other foul except the non-striking of another ball has occurred.

F11.     If a ball on the lip of a pocket shall fall in at the end of the break and the player has left the table, this ball shall not count.

F12.     When no balls are left in the ‘tray’ play continues by taking the nearest ball to the baulk line. Should two or more balls be equal distance from the baulk line, the ball nearest the center line of the table shall be taken.

F13.     In the event of two or more balls being balanced over a pocket and one has to be returned as the cue ball the other(s) shall be placed on the table in close proximity to the pocket in their respective positions.

F14.     If at the end of a game there is one ball remaining, the break score if any shall be recorded. The last ball must then be played from the spot in the playing ‘D’ off one side cushion directly into either the 100 or 200 pockets. Before the final shot is played, the two white skittles shall be placed in the 50 pockets in such a manner as not to impede play and the back five holes shall be covered. If a ball strikes a skittle in the 50 pocket, it shall be deemed a foul shot and the ball returned to the tray, but not replayed.

F15.     If during a shot a player fails to pot a ball, the cue ball having struck another ball the break shall be terminated and the break score if any recorded.

F16.     If during a shot a player fails to strike another ball with the cue ball the break shall be terminated and the break score, if any, forfeit except as provided for in Rules F10 and F14.

F17.     If during a break any ball knocks a skittle off its spot and the skittle does not fall over this skittle should be placed in position on its spot before the next shot is taken. The break shall continue.

F18.     If a ball prevents the correct positioning of a skittle on its spot at any time this ball shall be returned to the tray before the next shot is taken.

F19.     Should a ball rest against a skittle and the skittle leans the ball shall stay in position until moved by the normal course of play or until the end of the break when the ball shall be returned to the tray.

F20.     Should a ball rest against a skittle and the skittle does not lean then this ball shall remain in position until moved in the normal course of play.

F21.     If during a shot a ball shall return over the baulk line or into the playing ‘D’ the break shall be terminated and the break score if any forfeit.  A ball shall be deemed to be over the baulk line or into the playing ‘D’ if when viewed from above any part of it obscures the baulk line or edge of the playing ‘D’. The ball shall be returned to the tray before the next shot is taken.

F22.     If during a shot a ball shall mount the cushion and leave the playing area the break shall be terminated and the break score if any forfeit.  The ball shall be returned to the tray before the next shot is taken.

F23.     If during a shot any ball shall knock a white skittle over the break shall be terminated and the break score if any forfeit.  The skittle shall be returned to its position on the spot before the next shot is taken.

F24.     If during a shot a ball shall knock the black skittle over the break shall be terminated and the entire previous score and the current break score if any shall be forfeit.  The skittle shall be returned to its spot before the next shot is taken.

F25.     If during a shot any ball shall knock over a white skittle or any ball shall return over the baulk line or into the playing ‘D’ before any ball shall knock the black skittle over the break shall be terminated and only the break score if any shall be forfeit.  Any out of play balls shall be returned to the tray and the skittles shall be returned to their positions on the spots before the next shot is taken.

F26.     If the cue ball is played from the playing ‘D’ before the balls potted from a previous shot have dropped into the pockets the break shall be terminated and the break score if any forfeit except as provided for in Rule F9.  A ball shall be deemed to have fully dropped into the pocket when the whole of the ball is below the level of the playing surface of the table.

F27.     If during the game the bar drops before the minimum time stated in Condition C16 further coins shall be inserted to enable the game to continue up to the maximum time stated in Condition C16.  If towards the end of a game it becomes apparent that the bar has not correctly dropped or that the time is running in excess of the maximum time stated in Condition C16 the Referee shall call out time and after this point any balls returned to the tray via the pockets during the normal course of play shall be removed from the tray and put to one side as unplayable balls.