Normal Rules of Snooker Apply

Constitution

1.  The League shall be called 'Sponsors Name' Saffron Walden & District Snooker League.

2.  The object of the League shall be to promote social intercourse and healthy rivalry at the game of snooker between clubs and institutes within the Saffron Walden area. All new clubs shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, where combined team registration fees (Cup and League) for the season shall be agreed, together with individuals match fees. All fees due to the League must be paid by 31st December at the latest. Failure to do so will result in a £10 fine.

3.  An Annual General Meeting shall be held each year, which will include Secretary's & Treasurer's reports, together with an audited set of accounts. Any Agenda items, motions or propositions must be received by the Secretary at least 28 days prior to the meeting. Rules may only be changed at the AGM or at an Extraordinary General Meeting, notice of such alterations must be notified to all Clubs fourteen days prior to the date of such meeting.

An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by a minimum of five team captains of either discipline or by a majority vote of the committee. In such an event the Secretary is to advise all team Captains who in turn will will be responsible for advising their registered players

4.  The officers of the League shall consist of :- President (elected annually), Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The League Management Committee shall consist of these officers (excluding the President), together with those committee members elected at the AGM. League officers and Committee members shall be elected for a three year term (one third of the committee plus one officer to retire each year on a rotational basis), after which they may stand for re-election. Committee meetings shall be held regularly throughout the year, at the discretion of the Chairman and Secretary. In the event of a League office becoming vacant during the season, the committee is empowered to appoint a successor until the next AGM.

The League Management Committee shall have a maximum of two registered players from the same Club. Minutes of the AGM, EGM and monthly committee meetings shall be made available for inspection by registered player of the League on request to the Secretary once they have been signed as a true and accurate record of the meeting. Any registered player in the League may request a personal hearing with the committee to discuss any decision made by the committee that personally affects that player. The request shall be made in writing to the Secretary stating the reasons why a personal hearing is being requested. Such meetings will normally be arranged to fit in with monthly committee meetings.

4a  A committee meeting shall be held with a minimum of five persons present, one of which must be an officer of the League. No decisions shall be made by the committee without the approval of at least five members.

5.  The Committee shall have full powers over all matters concerning Clubs and Players, whether or not they are specifically mentioned in these rules, and their decision shall be final.

General Rules

6.  All players must be registered with the League at least forty-eight hours before playing, at a cost agreed at the AGM (to cover affiliation to the National Amateur Governing Body). No registration will be accepted after 31st December, for playing during that season. The playing of unregistered players will result in the deduction of any points won by that player and may also incur additional penalties against the offending team. Clubs may register any number of players and teams (each team to include at least one reserve), providing they are Bona Fide members of that Club and they shall play off the Handicap allocated, (see Handicap section). Where more than one team is concerned, players must be registered to a particular team. Reserves must be registered as reserves and may play for any team once, after which they shall become members of that team. Any player registered with a Club must be allocated to a specific team within that Club by the halfway stage of the season. A player may play in both disciplines for a Club, but they must nominate a specific team for the League Cup. With the consent of both Clubs concerned a player may seek a transfer from one Club to another during a season.

6a. Should the league committee be approached by a professional player to enter the League the handicap will be reviewed on an individual basis.

7. Teams must advise the Secretary (when registering) of which week night they wish to play their home fixtures (Monday to Thursday), these fixtures will be arranged and published by the Committee prior to the commencement of the season.

8.  The League shall have two separate sections to cater for teams playing either of the following disciplines:-

Four player teams - each player to play  one frame against a member of the opposition.

Three player teams - each player to play  one frame against two separate members of the opposition. (e.g. 1 v 1, 2 v 2, 3 v 3, then 2 v 1, 1 v 3, 3 v 3)

9.  There shall be as many divisions in each discipline as deemed necessary by the Committee, who shall have the power to allocate any team to any division. New teams entering the League will be expected to commence in the lowest division within that discipline.

10.   One point shall be awarded for each frame won and the scores for each frame shall be noted on the result sheet provided. These must be signed by both captains and forwarded to the Secretary within three days, together with any match fees due. Both captains must mutually agree referees, whose decision shall be final. When scoring, the home team should always be scored on spot.

11.   Play to commence at 7:30 pm (for all team competitions), with all players present by 8:30 pm except by agreement of both captains. Penalties for teams being one player short are listed under their particular rules, no matches shall be completed if either team has more than one player missing, in this event penalties will apply as per Rules 18 & 21 and cost as per Rule 12.

12.   In the event of a team being forced to postpone a match due to unavoidable circumstances, the captain should notify the captain of the opposing team and the League Secretary at least twenty-four hours before the match is due to be played. Failure to notify opponents and the League Secretary as required, will result in penalties being applied according to the discipline (see Rule 19 and Rule 22), and the offending team will be expected to reimburse their opponents for any expenses incurred. Any postponed matches should be rearranged within fourteen days and played within a further fourteen days, failure to do so will result in the deduction of two points (Four player Division) or three points (Three player Division) from there aggregate total. This will be repeated at monthly intervals. When a match has been postponed it is the responsibility of the home team captain to offer three dates on which the postponed match can be played.

13.  Trophies will be awarded to winners and runners-up in all divisions, Knock-out Cup, Singles, and Doubles , plus a high break prize for players from each division. A maximum of five trophies will be given by the League for team awards. Any extras required will be at the team's expense. Clubs or players holding trophies shall be responsible for their care and shall return them to the Secretary in good condition on or before a date determined by the committee.

14.  Normally two teams will be promoted and relegated between Divisions of the same discipline, with the Committee empowered to adjust the size of each Division according to the number of teams available. In the event of a tie with frames won at the end of the season, (regarding champions, promotion, relegation etc.), there shall be a play-off on a neutral table to determine the highest placed team

15.  Should a team withdraw from a League during the season, outstanding matches will be cancelled and existing results declared null and void, justification for such withdrawals will be considered by the Committee, with the Club and Players concerned liable to various penalties.

16.  Failure to complete any fixtures at the end of the season will result in penalties being applied, including and outstanding match fees and/or expenses. Failure to pay will result in the team and players being banned from the League until those fines are redeemed.

17.  When determining order of play the home team captain shall list his order of play first followed by the away team. When teams play one another three times in a season, order of play will be drawn when the second visit to the same team occurs.

17a. Miss Rule Summary

a) A miss shall be called, if, in the opinion of the referee, the striker has not made a genuine attempt to hit the ball (or any ball) on. To judge this, use the criteria of whether you, as a player of similar ability, could do better.

b) If the striker can see any part of any ball on, (in a straight line) and fails to make first contact with the ball on, a miss shall be called.

NB  For either a) or b) above a miss shall not be called if either player requires a snooker or as a result of the foul, snookers are required.

c) Should the striker be able to see any ball on "full ball" (not both edges but centre to centre) and fails to make first contact with a ball on, a miss shall be called regardless of the difference in the score.

If the ball are replaced and the shot repeated, again a miss shall be called if first contact is not made with the ball on.

Should the non-striker request the shot to again be replayed, the referee shall warn the striker that a third offence will result in the frame being awarded to his opponent.

Four Player Teams

18. In the event a team is one player short, that team shall forfeit one point from their accrued total at the discretion of the committee. Unless otherwise agreed between both captains, all players from the offending team must remain at the match to enable their selection to play the deciding frame. Failure to do so will result in the frame being awarded to the other team. 

18a. If a team is more than one player short, the match must be cancelled and rearranged, The defaulting team shall be deducted four points from there aggregate total at the discretion of the committee.

19.  Failure to notify opponents and/or the League Secretary at least twenty-four hours prior to the match being postponed, will result in four points being deducted  from that accrued point total, and the team shall reimburse their opponents for any expenses incurred (see Rule 12).

20.  Failure to complete end-of-season fixtures will result in four points being deducted from that teams accrued points, which may determine into which division that team shall be placed the following season (assuming any fines imposed under Rule 15 & 16 have been redeemed). see also Rule 5.

Three Player Teams

21.  In the event a team is one player short that team shall forfeit two points from their accrued total at the discretion of the committee. Unless otherwise agreed by both captains all players from the offending team are to remain at the match to enable their selection to play twice. Failure to do so will result in both frames being awarded to the other team.

21a. If a team is more than one player short, the match must be cancelled an rearranged, The defaulting team shall be deducted six points from there aggregate total.

22.  Failure to notify opponents and/or the League Secretary at least twenty-four hours prior to the match being postponed, will result in six points being deducted  from that accrued point total, and the team shall reimburse their opponents for any expenses incurred (see Rule 12).

23.  Failure to complete end-of-season fixtures will result in six points being deducted from that teams accrued points, which may determine into which division that team shall be placed the following season (assuming any fines imposed under Rule 15 & 16 have been redeemed). see also Rule 5.

League Cup Competitions

24.  The League Cup shall be competed for annually by teams from both disciplines, the format for Four Player teams shall apply. A draw shall be made to determine the ties for each round, with the first team drawn having home advantage. The Semi-Finals and Final shall be played at a neutral venue to be arranged by the Committee except when both teams represent the same Club, when their match may be played at home. Referees will normally be appointed for semi-finals and the final and in these situations, standard rules of the game will apply.

25.  Players names for both teams shall be drawn to determine order of play and players will use their allocated handicaps.If a match is tied after four frames a deciding frame shall be played and the team captains may nominate whom they wish to play.

26.  In the event a team is one player short, that team shall forfeit the frame. Unless otherwise agreed between both captains all players from the offending team are to remain at the match to enable their selection to play a deciding frame should the match be tied after four frames. Failure to do so will result in the frame being awarded to the other team. The non-offending captain shall have the right to nominate the players from both teams to play the deciding frame.

Knock-out Competitions

27.  A Scratch Singles, Scratch Plus Singles, Handicap Singles and a Handicap Doubles shall be arranged each season with all registered players eligible to enter. Entry fees for all competitions will be determined at the AGM.

Scratch Singles - all matches to be the best of five frames and the final the best of seven frames. There will be a seeded draw.

Scratch Plus Singles - open to all players with a handicap of scratch and higher. All matches, including the final to be the best of five frames. There will be a seeded draw.

Handicap Singles - all matches, including the final, to be the best of five frames. The draw for each round will be made by the committee.

Handicap Doubles - all matches to be the best of three frames, the fianl the best of five frames. The draw for each round will be made by the committee. A pair of players entering the competition must be from the same Club. When assessing the handicap of a pair of players their combines handicaps are divided by two and rounded up to the nearest whole number.

In all competitions the first name on the draw sheet shall have the choice of venue. Normally semi-final and finals will be played at a neutral venue except when both players or pair of players represent the same club when the match may be played at home. Referees will normally be appointed for semi-finals and finals and in these situations standard rules of the game will apply. There will be a separate high break trophy for the Scratch Singles and the Scratch Plus Singles. High breaks made in the Handicap Doubles and Handicap Singles will not count towards the League high break.

28.  It is the responsibility of the home player to advise the away player of three dates when they are available to play the match. If the away player has any circumstances which limit availability, they should advise the home player once the draw has been issued. Where matches have not been played the committee shall consider the circumstances and decide which player shall be awarded the match. The winner of each match played shall inform the Secretary of the result as soon as possible and recording any high breaks.

Additional Competitions

34.  The Committee shall introduce additional competitions and tournaments as desired, provided sufficient funds are available and the season's diary can accommodate the requirements.

Handicaps

1.  In all League matches, Cup matches and Competitions in the Saffron Walden and District Snooker League, players will play with the Handicaps allocated to them. Handicap assessments are carried out at half way and end of each season and are based on results achieved in that period.

2.  At the discretion of the Handicap Committee all new players to the League will be given a Handicap or +14 and this will be reviewed at the halfway stage of there first season. Their end of season review will be based on their second half results. Any new player entering the League who is given an unsatisfactory handicap (high or low), will have it adjusted by the committee as soon as possible.

2a At the discretion of the committee the winner of the Handicap Singles competition may have an additional adjustment for the start of the following season

3.  There shall be a maximum handicap difference of 80 points between players.

4. All players in promoted and relegated teams will receive half of their end of year handicap adjustment and they will be reviewed again at the halfway stage of the following season. The handicap of players changing code at the end of a season will be reviewed and any exceptional cases will be left to the discretion of the handicap committee.

5.  Handicap assessments are based on a minimum of five frames played. The percentage of frames won from frames played is calculated and the Handicap is adjusted in accordance with the following table.