RULES STAFFORD SUMMER DARTS LEAGUE 2008

1. League be called STAFFORD SUMMER DARTS LEAGUE and be governed by a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and Committee.

2. The Annual entrance fee be £5 per team, plus a £5 refundable bond less debts incurred, payable with application to join the League.

3. If a team wishes to resign from the League, Delegate or Captain to notify Secretary in advance. Match fees payable until notified.

4. The Delegate be the person to whom correspondence be directed. The Captain be the person who signs the Match Result Sheet.

5. The Delegate and Captain shall be held responsible for debts. The Club/Pub shall be held responsible for the Entrance fee.

6. All debts shall be cleared before acceptance of any team into the League.

7. Players / Captain / Delegate / Team not complying with the League rules be liable to suspension, deduction of points, infliction of fines or otherwise
as the Committee may see fit. If a Delegate is changed during a season the Secretary to be informed.

8. If a team withdraws from the League after printing of fixtures, all matches to be claimed with Match Fee £5.60. (80p per player)
Players named on Match Result sheet - Game to count as a win. If a team takes the fixtures of a withdrawing team which has played 3 matches or
more, then those results to stand; otherwise matches to be replayed with new team.

9. Back of Match Result sheet may be used for correspondence. Committee has authority to review and decide on any question covered or not by the rules.

10. Proposals for alteration of League Rules to be with Secretary at least 7 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

11. In a division of 10 or 11 teams, 3 teams be awarded prizes. 12 or more teams, 4 teams be awarded prizes. 8 or 9 teams, 2 teams be awarded prizes, unless fixtures allow the teams to play each other 3 times, then 3 teams be awarded prizes.

12. In the case of a tie in League final placing, then matches won, then games average shall decide position. If identical, then play off.

13. Matches shall be fixtured on Wednesday.

14. All cheques shall be made payable to Stafford Darts League with Bankers Card number written on reverse.

15. All claimed matches under dispute shall be decided by the Committee and the Captains of the Teams concerned.

16. No player shall play for more than one team in a season. Any team knowingly infringing shall be liable to forfeit 2 points.

17. Players gaining a team prize in a division must play in a higher division next season or in the case of Div 1 remain in that division.

18. Any player who is ineligible to play for a team by virtue of Rule 18, defaulting team lose 7-0, match awarded to opponents.

19. The result of matches shall be counted as games won as a team. Captains must not sign Match Result Sheet until filled in and checked.
The result on the match sheet shall be final.

20. The match board shall be 5ft 8ins high from the floor to the centre of the bull, and the throw, measured along the floor in a plumb line from the face
of the board shall be 7ft 6ins minimum. The dark segment of the board shall be opposite number 20.

21. The oche be shown in a distinctive manner, not less than 2 feet long and have a maximum height of 3 ins. A player may move as far along it as he
likes, but both feet to remain behind the oche whilst throwing. This shall be judged by the opposing captain.

22. A Match comprises 7 individual games of 301 up. Win-2 points, draw-1 point, 3 games won-1 point Start and finish on a double. Bull counts as double 25. Opponents to be drawn for; any team short of players, other team to select own players to suit number required to play. Nearest bull to start. Away side throws first for bull, dart to be removed if bull or 25 scored, if both players score the same, darts to be thrown again. Players allowed unlimited practice darts at match board when called to play.

23. Any named player not in attendance when required to play in order of draw shall forfeit that game.

24. Draw be made for match to start at 9pm. Teams not present at 9pm forfeit match. Match board open for both teams at 8.45pm.

25. If a team fails to turn up, match be awarded to opponents, 2 points, games average to be decided at the end of the season, being equal to the team's overall winning match average for the season, rounded up for games for. If aggregate is below 4 then a 4-3 result will be awarded. A team will not receive a point under Rule 22 if it is awarded 3 games under this rule. For individual merit the 7 named players on the Match result sheet shall count as
a win. If a team fails to inform the opposing team that it will not turn up - £10 fine (this fine not to apply to teams that withdraw from the league).

26. The exact number must be obtained and any player obtaining more than the requisite number with any of his 3 darts, the score shall not count;
throw for the original number required.

27. The marker shall call the total score of each 3 darts. It is not the duty of the marker to tell a player what score is left during the throw. If a dart falls out before the marker calls the total score, it shall not count. Only darts touching or in the board shall count when the total score is called, and shall score the number of the segment that it entered. If a dart falls out after the total score is called, it shall count. If a dart knocks another out, the fallen dart shall not count. Should an incorrect score be written by the marker, it shall be deemed correct after one more dart has been thrown by the related player.

28. If a dart is resting on top of another or other darts, the point of such a dart must be actually touching the board to score the number it is pointing at, otherwise it shall score nothing. The point touching a wire shall not count, it shall be touching the board.

29. All darts count as a throw whether or not they stick in the board, except when throwing for nearest the bull for first to throw.

30. For scoring, the subtraction method be used. Each player's score be shown at the side. The scoring board be fixed prominently.

31. Awards be made in each division for the Highest start and finish achieved during a season. Acknowledgements of scores of 180 in a match, to be on the back of the Match Result sheet ratified by both Captain's signatures, as shall be notification of Highest scores.

32. Appearance by any player in a match shall be registration. Minimum age for a player shall be 16.

33. Winning team to ensure Match Result is through main door of 201 Oxford Gardens (not porch), by 7pm Saturday after fixture date. In the event of a match postponed under rule 35; within 3 days of match, or be fined 50p/week late. 2 points be deducted for any result over 3 weeks late, after notification by Secretary, & not handed in within 7 days of notification. Including all matches to be claimed.

34. A team comprises 4 to 7 players.

35. Match Postponement. Should a team wish to postpone a match, it must offer to play it at 9pm on the first official spare date at the end of the season. Should this not be acceptable to the opposing team then second option is to play it at 9pm on the second official spare date at the end of the season. Should this not be acceptable to the opposing team then third option is to play 2 matches on the opposing teams board on the return fixture date. Should this not be possible or acceptable to the opposing team then forfeit match to the opposing team. League Secretary to be informed of new date.

36. Match Result sheets be submitted within 7 days of the final fixture date. Results received or outstanding after this date be subject to a £5 fine additional to fines incurred under Rule 33, and be declared void; match fees still payable.

37. Record Chart be handed in within 3 days of the final fixtured date showing individual best merit, based on most games won. In the event of a tie, prize to be equally shared. All team merit winners and runners up, to compete in an end of season knockout for the Ron Horne Memorial Cup which is held by the winner for 1 year. An additional trophy be awarded for retention by the winner.

38. Any prizes not collected within one month of presentation, same to be put into league funds.