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Winter Darts League Rules

Our league is a friendly, but competitive, local league. These are the agreed rules that cover, team/player entries, registrations and transfers, dart board set-up, league rules, knock out cup rules, general etiquette and result cards.

There are deliberately few rules to make playing simple and fun, but are rules allowing the committee an amount of freedom to adjudicate and settle any disputes through the season. These decisions are made by the committee and covered by rules 2.3 to 2.5.

Rules

NAME: The league shall be known as Poole & District Darts League

2. Administration

2.1 All league matches and competitions shall be under the jurisdiction of the elected committee.

2.2 A delegates meeting shall be held annually to elect Officers and Committee etc. To approve the financial report and to vote on motions tabled.

Delegates at the A.G.M may only vote on those matters applicable to their own sections. The Chairman to advise on voting rights.

2.3 The Committee, who shall meet as necessary throughout the season, will adjudicate on any complaint or protest, if and when they are made in writing to the Secretary. The player or captain concerned will have the right to be present.

2.4 The Committee shall have full power to make or waive any rule they deem necessary and provide for any contingency that may arise to ensure the smooth running of the league.

2.5 The Committee reserve the right to act as they deem fit in all matters concerning the formation, constitution and management of the league.

3. Registration

3.1 Teams may be registered in the league on payment of the fee agreed at the A.G.M

3.2 All new and existing teams should make every effort to play within a reasonable travel distance of the centre of Poole (BH15 1LD)

It is preferable that teams should play within 5 miles of the centre, but each request outside of this range will be taken on its merits with the over-riding aim of improving the Poole & District Darts League.

3.3 Players must sign the appropriate team registration form and pay the fee agreed.

A minimum of 6 players must be signed for the team registration to be accepted.

Additional player’s registrations form must be submitted to the league before 8pm on the day of the match. The player registration fee must be paid into the Poole & District Darts League bank account within 48 hours of the game being played.

All new player registrations must be submitted by December 31st of each year. Any new player registrations must be submitted on the appropriate form found on the league website for appraisal by the committee.

3.4 The committee reserve the right to refuse any individual player to enter the league.

3.5 All players transfers or registration must be submitted by December 31st each year.

Requests must be made, in writing, to the Committee by the teams concerned for extenuating circumstances for appraisal by the committee.

4. Playing Rules

4.1 DARTBOARD. The dartboard shall be of the standard clock with double bull pattern, set at a height of 5ft 8ins (1.73m) to the centre of the “50” bull

4.2 THROWING DISTANCE. The throwing distance shall be 7ft 9 1⁄4 ins (2.37m) measured horizontally from the face of the dartboard and must be clearly marked. For reference the diagonal distance from the bull to the oche is 9ft 7 3/8ins (2.93m)

4.3 LIGHTING. The dartboard shall be adequately lit.

4.4 DARTS. Any team or player may use their own darts.

4.5 MATCH:

4.5.1 All league matches to commence by 8.00pm

4.5.2 Teams that are late and not ready to start on time are liable to forfeiture of points if reported by the opposing team captain not later than the Friday following the match.

4.5.3 All league matches to be played on Monday evenings in accordance with the fixture list, unless a postponement is mutually agreed between the two teams. A team wishing to postpone a match must give at least 24hrs notice to (a) the opposing team and (b) the Result Sec, and should an agreement be made to mutually postpone the match by all parties, then an alternative date when the match is to be played will be set by the committee. A Match postponement form will need to be completed by both teams found on the leagues website.

Any team that fails to give at least 24hrs notice to the opposing team and Result Sec of the postponement of a league match shall forfeit that match.

4.5.4 Any team that fails to turn up to a league fixture without the minimum of 4 players shall forfeit that match. If a team turn up with 5 players the team will forfeit 1 singles and one doubles match.

4.5.5 In the event of a match being forfeited then the non-offending team shall be awarded the match and a score of 9 games (i.e. a theoretical win). The offending team shall be awarded 0 games and a record of their offence made. The match shall be deemed as played.

If a team has a match awarded by default, then a result sheet must be submitted listing 6 individual names who will be awarded an individual win for the purpose of winner of most games in that section. No wins will be awarded to the offending team.

If both teams refuse to play a fixture, then the match will be declared a 0-0 draw and no wins will be awarded to any individual. Both teams shall be recorded as having forfeited the match. The match shall be deemed as played.

4.5.6 Any team that is recorded as forfeiting 3 matches shall be withdrawn from the league and all league records for that team expunged, including individual records. Such teams shall be guilty of Non-Fulfilment of fixtures. All registered players of that team may not play in the Poole & District Darts League for the remainder of that season.

The committee reserve the right to request that a game is played rather than forfeited if the result has a bearing on the outcome of the league positions.

If a team refuses such a request then they shall be withdrawn from the league and all league records for that team expunged, including individual records. Such teams shall be guilty of “Non-fulfilment” of fixtures. Teams failing to fulfil their fixtures shall have all registered players banned for the following season, unless an individual is given special dispensation by the committee. The team must seek re-election at the A.G.M for the following season.

Should the A.G.M deny the team(s) entry to the league then all named players of those teams shall be barred from registering for any team for the whole season.

4.6 League matches shall consist of:

    • 1 “Team Game” Leg of 1001
    • 3 “Pairs” games, best of 3 legs 501 (5 legs Prem & Div 1) straight in, double out. 1 point per game
    • 6 “Singles” games, best of 3 legs 501. (5 legs in Prem & Div 1) straight in, double out.

4.7 The Chalker will be classed as the referee representing both teams, and their decision shall be final. Any dart that in their opinion constitutes a foul shall be discounted.

4.7.1 Before each game the Home captain will declare their player/s on the result sheet with the Away captain then declaring theirs. This should be carried out directly after the previous game.

4.7.2 The scorer shall name the score required to complete the game before each throw, if requested, check the darts if the thrower is in any doubt.

4.7.3 Scoring will be by subtraction and be shown on a board visible to the players. Scores are to be checked if required. The “Bust“ rule shall apply – If a score achieved exceeds that required to allow a double finish, then that score is discounted and the score remains the same as it was before that throw. Bull shall be counted as a double and when 50 is required is game shot.

4.7.4 Electronic score boards maybe used as long as the last 6 scores for both teams are visible. This must be agreed by both captains before the game.

4.8 A captain may use any number of players but each player may only play once in the 1001 leg, pairs and singles.

4.9 The away team throw first in first for bull.

4.10 A team having 3 or fewer players to play on the match night shall forfeit that match. A team having only 4 or 5 players available at the start of the match will forfeit the 1001 game. If the team is still not at full strength (i.e. 6 players) at the scheduled start of the third pair’s game, 1 pair’s game will be forfeited. If the team consists of only 5 players at the scheduled start of the sixth individual game, 1 individual game shall be forfeited. If the team only consists of 4 players at the scheduled start of the fifth individual game, then 2 games will be forfeited.

4.10/2 A team may only play 3 county players per night in singles or doubles match.

4.11 RESULT SHEETS. Result Sheets must be signed by both captains, to certify a true record of the match, and that all games have been played in accordance with the rules. Winning captains are to send the completed result to the league WhatsApp no later then 9am on the Wednesday after the game is played.

If any sheet is subsequently proven, to the committee’s satisfaction, to contain a fraudulent game, then the offending team shall forfeit that game which will awarded to the opponent(s) regardless of indicated result.

4.12 LATE RESULT SHEETS. 1 points will automatically be deducted from the offending team for late or non-arrival of a result sheet. The individual results will still be recorded by the Result Sec. The league table will indicate when points have been deducted.

5. Leagues

5.1 Position in the league will be decided by points, then number of wins. Should there still be a tie, the league results between the tied teams shall be taken followed by the number of “gallons” won. If still tied the teams shall play off as directed by the committee.

5.2. Promotion and relegation shall operate as the committee deem fit to keep the league sections as equal as possible. No team shall be allowed to sign ‘en-bloc’ for a lower section, unless relegated. The League will endeavour to promote two teams & relegated two teams each season.

5.3 Any team re-entering the league after a lapse of membership shall do so in their original section, subject to the discretion of the committee.

 6. Trophies

6.1 League and competition trophies won by teams, pairs or individuals are held by the recipients for 12 months, subject to the discretion of the committee. These trophies must be displayed in a safe and secure place in the recipient’s club or pub, maintained in good condition and must be returned to the league upon request. Trophies not collected after 8 weeks following the Presentation night shall be disposed of as the committee deem fit.

 6.2 Competition Rules

6.2.1 All competitions are to be played on Mondays directed by the committee. Final of the Cup & Vase to be played as arranged by the committee. Failure by a team to fulfil a competition fixture on a date will result in that team forfeiting that match.

6.2.2 In open competitions, houses may enter more than one team, subject to eligibility. Players from an entered team may not play for any other team.

6.2.3 All rounds of individual and pairs competitions will have duly appointed officials. Team competitions semi-finals and finals will be played on neutral boards.

6.2.4 All decisions by the committee regarding competitions shall be final.

6.2.5 No player will be allowed to compete unless the appropriate fee has been paid.

6.2.6 The away team throws first in odd number games and the home team throws first in the even number games. When a third leg is necessary the team throwing first in the first leg shall throw first in the third leg. The home player is whose name is draw out first.

6.2.7 The committee reserve the right to cancel any competition if the number of entries is insufficient.

 7. Cup and Vase Competition

If a team forfeits the first round of the cup the team will then not be eligible to play in the vase.