• 1) LEAGUE MATCHES
  
• a) League fixtures will normally be played on Monday nights.
• b) All frames to be played to E.P.A. World rules. (See: www.epa.org.uk)
• c) League matches should start at 8pm and at least two players per team must be present at the table at this time. One league point may be claimed for every 15 minutes that a team is late.
• d) Matches to consist of 5 singles and 2 doubles. Each player to play one opposing player on a best of three frames basis. The first player to two frames will constitute one league point.
• e) Players may take part in both the singles and the doubles.
• f)   In a doubles match the break will alternate between partners. Once the order of play has been determined during the first turn of each pair, that order shall remain for the duration of the match. To clarify, in the event of three frames being played, the player who broke in the first frame is not allowed to break in the third frame.
• g) Doubles players may confer prior to, but not during a visit. (i.e. Whilst a player is in the process of taking their visit they may not be advised either verbally or by pointing, by either their partner or any other person.).
• h) Match cards should be filled in first by the home team and then by the away team for all League matches. It is allowable to complete all singles games before filling in the doubles. See rule 4(c) for filling out match cards for team KO's.
• i) A bonus of two league points will be awarded for a team win.
• j)
• i) Games may be played in any order by mutual consent of both teams. However, if a captain does not wish to agree to a change of order and rule 1(i) (iii) does not apply then the match should continue as per the order on the match card.
• ii) The match card is not to be altered in any way without the agreement of both captains.
• iii) Allowance is to be given to players with work commitments. This is to be discussed between the Captains prior to the start of the match.
• k) The home team is to provide referees of an adequate standard for all games. Failure to do so will constitute bad sportsmanship and will be dealt with by the Committee.
• l) The home team is to provide food for both teams. Failure to do so will result in a £5 fine to be awarded to the away team.
• m) A match card showing players' full names must be completed and signed by both captains following the match. It is the responsibility of the home captain to ensure a signed card is at 'The Dursley Arms', Dursley Road, Trowbridge by the Saturday morning following the game. Failure to do so will result in a £2 fine and deduction of 2 League points. If full, proper names are not used, that individual will not be included in the League Averages.
• n) No matches are to be cancelled or re-arranged unless 48 hours notice provided and with the Committee's approval. Otherwise the offending team is to pay a £5 fine to the offended team, this to be done through the committee. The game however MUST BE REARRANGED AND PLAYED, the only exception being - see Knockout Competitions 4(b). In the event of a cancelled match, scorecards must still be submitted in the normal manner showing the reason and the agreed re-scheduled date.
• o) In the event of a cancelled fixture the game must be rearranged within one calendar month of the original date and on a day agreeable to both captains and with the Committee's approval. Failure to play this game may result in the offending team being withdrawn from the league.
• p) In the event of a cancelled fixture without the statutory 48 hours notice, the game is STILL TO BE PLAYED, the offending team is to pay a fine of £5 to the offended team and may be deducted up to 5 points at the discretion of the Committee. If the offending team were the home team then they will also lose the home advantage in the rearranged match.
• q) Any extenuating circumstances must be reported to the Committee within 48 hours of the fixture.
• r) In the event of a tie at the end of the season, a one-match play-off will take place at a neutral venue.
• s) A team may not, under normal circumstances, apply to postpone a match if it has a minimum of three players at its disposal, (the match can be won with three players); unless, if the match is of vital importance to the opposing team, i.e. an end of season fixture where points are of paramount importance; in which case the Committee must be informed prior to the match commencing in order to determine whether or not they should proceed.
• t) Under no circumstances should a match commence if a team knowingly has less than three players at its disposal. The Committee must be informed immediately.
• u) None of the rules above provide a team with the right to postpone a match without any appropriate punishments as previously outlined.
• v) In the event of a game not being played within 4 weeks of the last fixtured league date of the season, or if a team refuses to play a game, the offending team will be deducted 7 points and the offended team will be given a fair number of points for that match (up to a maximum of 7 points) as decided by the Committee. Rule 1(o) however may still be enforced.
  
• 2) FEES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
  
• a) The League Fees are as follows:
• i) Team Registration £10.00
• ii) Match Fees £4.00
• iii) Additional Players signing on fee £1.00
• iv) Singles Knockout entrance fee £2.00
• v) Doubles Knockout entrance fee per pair £2.00
• vi) Team Knockout Matches FREE
• vii) Home team to pay for all table fees.
  
• b) All outstanding match fees are to be paid at the Monthly Paying-In Meetings.
  
• 3) REGISTRATION OF NEW PLAYERS
• a)      Any team who plays an unsigned player on the night of a match will pay an extra £1.00.  The new player should be highlighted on the match card. (If the player wins the point will stand.)  This player then becomes registered.  This is however not allowed in a knock-out match.
• b) Players may transfer once a season prior to the half-way stage. The half-way stage is deemed as being on that date when half of the fixtures have been played.
• c) Players must be a minimum of 14 years old.
• d) If a new team consists of 3 or more players with 1^st division experience then that team may be placed in Division 1 depending on places and at the discretion of the committee.
• e) It is the responsibility of the captain to ensure that any new players have not been previously barred by the League.
  
• 4) KNOCK-OUT COMPETITIONS
  
• a) Knock-out competitions will be structured in the same way as league games. First team to gain 4 points wins.
• b) In the event of a team cancelling a knockout fixture without the statutory 48 hours notice and prior approval of the committee, then they shall forfeit the game and their opponents shall proceed into the next round.
• c) The match card should be folded down the centre prior to filling it in for K.O. matches so neither team captain knows the playing order of the other. It is allowable to complete all singles games before filling in the doubles
• d) Knock-out games may be played on evenings other than a Monday.
• e) A team may not sign a player on the night of any K.O. match. This includes the Doubles K.O.
• f) In all the Doubles Knockouts, partners may not be changed without at least 48 hours notice, and with the committee's approval, prior to the first round of the competition. After the first round has commenced you may not change partners under any circumstance.
• g) Knockout draws will take place at paying in meetings wherever possible witnessed by committee members.
• h) Any player not present for a knockout competition 15 minutes after the stated start time (normally 8.00pm) will be eliminated from the draw irrespective of the circumstances and no refund shall be due.
• i) In the Singles and Doubles K.O.'s, if a player fails to turn up in any subsequent round other than the first round then that player will be barred from taking part in that K.O. the following season.
• j) Only licensees, managers, landlords may play in the Landlord's K.O. Cup. No other member of staff may substitute. In the case of more than one licensee from a venue, they will be eligible to play.
  
• 5) LEAGUE MEETINGS
  
• a) The dates for meetings are printed at the bottom of the fixture list, normally the 1^st Wednesday of the month. It is the captain's responsibility to ensure a representative from each team attends these meetings.
• b) Failure to pay League dues on time and/or failure to send a representative to a paying-in-meeting without prior approval from the committee will result in a fine of £4 and a deduction of 2 League points for each offence. This applies up until the end of the fixtured season.
• c) If a team fails to receive information due to non-attendance at a meeting e.g. a date for a rearranged match, no claims will be entertained at a later date.
• d) Meetings will be held at 'The Dursley Arms', Dursley Road, Trowbridge starting at 8pm prompt. Captains or their representatives will be expected to be there at this time.
• e) Any disputes will be dealt with by the committee at the meetings. The committee will not entertain disputes on match nights.
• f) Failure to send a representative to three consecutive paying-in-meetings without permission from the committee will result in the offending team being expelled from the League.
• g) Items for discussion at the AGM must be received in writing by the Secretary two weeks before the scheduled meeting.
  
• 6) TROPHIES
  
• a) Trophy winners are responsible for their safe return upon the request of the Committee.
• b) In the event of a trophy being damaged or missing, each signed-on members of the team concerned will be held responsible for their share of the repair/replacement cost.
  
• 7) BANNED PLAYERS / Outstanding Debts
  
• a) Any player who has previously played for a team owing money will be suspended from signing-on for any team in any future season until 1/5 of that money owing has been paid.
• b) Individuals who are currently serving bans as a result of any ‘Pub Watch Scheme' are not allowed to play in the League until that ban has elapsed or been lifted.
• c)       If a team withdraws from the League without the Committee's approval, all players signed on for that team shall be barred from playing for any team in future until a £5 fine is paid by each individual. Each individual has the right of appeal.
  
• 8) STATEMENT
  
• a) The above rules will be strictly enforced and therefore captains are requested to make themselves and their players aware of them.
• b) The committee's decision will always be final.
• c) In extreme circumstances, especially where time is an important factor, the available main Committee members shall make a decision in the League's best interests.
• d) Fair play and common sense should apply at all times.
• e) The committee and all players should make every effort to ensure that all matches are played in the true spirit of the game.
• f) The referee is the sole judge of what is fair and unfair play and will take whatever action is necessary to ensure these rules are observed.
  
• 9) COMMITTEE MEMBERS: -
  
• Russ Matthews                 Chairman                     (07831) 830038
• Barry Moss                       Finance                        (07914) 721760
  
• Sub-Committee Members: -
• All Captains, Landlords.
  

                                                Russ Matthews (Chairman)