The Constitution

Aims, Objectives, and Constitution

Aim:

The aim of the league is to promote amateur sporting competition in the games of snooker and billiards for organisations based in the geographical area loosely described as ‘Tameside’. This definition is deliberately vague so as not to exclude prospective teams of the area but whose base may be outside the strict administrative boundary defined by Local Government as ‘Tameside’.

Historical background:

The league has developed from the Stalybridge and District Sunday Schools Billiards and Whist League. This league, formed in 1910, was exclusively for teams from the men’s institutes of the Sunday Schools of Stalybridge and (after amalgamation) Mossley.

Objectives:

The league seeks encourage the development and interest in amateur indoor sports and games in an atmosphere of respectful competition yet friendly fellowship. The league supports the inclusion of all sorts of condition of men and women in a framework of equal opportunities.

The Constitution

Name:

  • The league shall be called: ‘The Stalybridge and District Sunday Schools Snooker Billiards and Whist League’
  • This name shall be used on any bank accounts opened on behalf of the league
  • This name shall be used on any documents held in the name of the league.

Assets:

All assets including all trophies held in the name of the league are the responsibility of the officers of the league duly elected and serving from a properly constituted Annual General Meeting. Such assets are held by these officers on trust for the duration of their term of office. Trophies won and presented usually at the end of a season can be taken and held on the premises of the winning teams, provided that the clubs’ where the teams play have adequate insurance against loss, theft or damage to the said trophies whilst these are on those clubs’ premises. The teams holding these trophies are deemed responsible for their safe and prompt return to the officers of the league at these officers’ request. The trophies should be returned in no worse state than when the clubs’ received them. It is the responsibility of the club in possession of the trophy and housing it to replace or repair it with as near as possible ‘like’ and ‘worth’ as the one lost stolen or damaged.

Nature of the League:

The league is an affiliation of independent clubs. Membership therefore is by ‘team’ rather than ‘individual’.

The sole exception to this would be the appointment of Presidents and Vice Presidents.

These persons would be invited as an honour to fulfil such roles, which would be, to all intents and purposes, ceremonial. They would be appointed for life, however the league properly constituted reserves the right to review their positions. These persons would have no executive power within the league’s administration.

Consequent to the first paragraph above, voting at all meetings should be by ‘club’ rather than individuals on a ‘one vote per club’ basis the exception being;

All officers of the club, as defined as Chairman Secretary and Treasurer have voting rights as individuals

Clubs entering more than one team would have one vote per team.

Administration:

The league shall be administered by a minimum of two officers with executive powers within the ‘rules of the league’ (see below). These officers shall be designated as:

    1. The Chairman, whose task it will be to facilitate discussion through the agenda of General and executive committee meetings. S/he will also exercise a second, (casting), vote in the event of voting deadlock, and also make ultimate rulings in the case of interpretation of the rules of the league. S/he will also have it in his sole power to call an extra-ordinary general meeting giving all parties the due notice of dates and agenda as laid down later in the rules of the league for the calling of General Meetings.

      The Chairman will also ‘Chair’ any disciplinary and appeals hearings and communicate to those brought to appear at such meetings, the findings of such meetings.

      The Chairman will be a signatory to all legal documents pertaining to the league and on the league’s bank account(s).

      The Chairman will be elected by a simple majority vote at the Annual General Meeting and will serve for one year up to the following year’s A.G.M whenever that is called. S/He would be eligible for re-election for subsequent years.

    2. The secretary, whose task will be to address all correspondence the league has with its member clubs and with outside agencies. S/he will take minutes of all meetings, executive, general meetings, appeals and disciplinary hearings. S/he will be responsible for the formulation at of a fixture list in good time for the start of competitions organised by the league*. S/he will be the custodian of documents belonging to the league. On relinquishing of post such documents will be passed to the incoming secretary. S/he will advise club representatives of the dates, times and venues of all meetings called in the name of the league, and draw up agendas for such meetings.

      The secretary will act as Vice Chair at meetings where the Chairman is unable to attend. The secretary will be a signatory to all legal documents pertaining to the league and on the league’s bank account(s).

      The Secretary will be elected by a simple majority vote at the Annual General Meeting and will serve for one year up to the following year’s A.G.M. whenever that is called.

      * Provision is made for this task to be delegated to a ‘fixtures secretary’. Such a person, if so appointed, would have no executive powers or personal vote at meetings. The role would be purely to formulate fixture lists and advise the general or committee meetings of his/her actions.

    3. The treasurer whose job it will be to administer all matters relating to finance on behalf of the league. In particular, s/he will be responsible for the payment of all bills to third parties from league funds. S/he will be responsible for the collection of all dues to the league. Such funds collected will be held in an account styled:

‘The Tameside Snooker and Billiard League’
held at a local branch of a reputable joint stock bank or building society. The treasurer will be signatory to all legal documents pertaining to the league and on the league’s bank account(s). S/he will prepare and publish an annual statement of accounts previously audited by an auditor appointed at the A.G.M at the start of a ‘season’, (usually August/September each year).

The accounts of the league shall run from the 1st August to the 31st July of the coming year.

The office of Secretary and Treasurer may be merged to one if such a situation is agreed by a unanimous vote at an Annual General Meeting. In such a situation the A.G.M would appoint a third bank and documents signatory, usually from one of the ‘none executive officers appointed at the A.G.M. (e.g. the Hon. Auditor, or the Results Secretary, or the Communications /Publicity Officer).

All ‘signatory officers’ will have a vote independent to that exercised by the clubs to which they associated. This franchise can be exercised at all times.

Meeting Quorum:

  1. At General Meetings:
    The quorum for all general meeting will be:
    a minimum of two of the two/three officers of the league,
    plus a representative from at least two thirds of the clubs affiliated to the league at the time of the meeting. At all instances there should be a minimum of 5 (incl. the two officers)
  2. At Executive Meetings:
    The quorum will be:
    a minimum of one of the two/three officers of the league,
    plus a representative from at least half of the clubs affiliated to the league at the time of the meeting. At all instances a minimum of 4 persons (incl. the one officers)
  3. At Appeals and Disciplinary hearings
    The quorum will be half of those delegated to attend (minimum of three).

The ‘season’

The league is in place to facilitate winter autumn and spring indoor sports. The ‘season’ therefore is deemed to run from 1st August in any one calendar year to the 31st July of the following year. To follow this pattern the treasurer should organise his/her financial year along the same lines, so that the accounts go from and to the two dates above, (see above).

The organisation of the Annual General Meeting:

    1. The league has a mandatory obligation to hold an Annual General Meeting during the course of the season (see above).
    2. For the convenience of the annual organisation of the league for the ‘coming’ season it is mandatory to hold this A.G.M. before the start of play of the coming season. (It could be held at the end of the season’s just concluded).
    3. The retiring secretary should invite all officers and all clubs to be represented at an Annual General Meeting. This should be by written invitation. There should be a minimum 14 days notice of the meeting. The notice should state the date the start time and the venue for the meeting. In the enclosures should be the agenda for the meeting, plus written details of any rule changes submitted by the officers, the executive committee, handicap committee or by individual clubs. (N.B. it is clubs which submit amendments to rules not individuals!).
      Also included in the ‘notice of meeting’ package should be a signed copy of the audited accounts for the previous year just gone.The agenda for the A.G.M. should be agreed by an executive committee meeting held at least 14 days before the date of the A.G.M.
    4. Any proposed changes to rules should be taken in person and in writing to this pre season meeting. This gives the opportunity for other clubs to have sight beforehand of any proposed changes and therefore come better prepared and informed to the A.G.M. This is mandatory.
      The chairman, at an A.G.M, can not accept proposed changes to rules from clubs either in the item ‘rule changes’ or in ‘any other business’, which are proposed ‘on the night’.
    5. At the A.G.M. the retiring chairman will ‘chair’ the meeting up to the item in ‘election of officers’:
      The election of Chairman.
      The secretary will chair the meeting at this point, until a new chairman has been appointed.
    6. The formal agenda will be as follows:
      • a) Opening of the meeting by the ‘chair’
      • b) The minutes of the last A.G.M. should be read by the retiring secretary and the chairman should ask the meeting if they accept them. There should NOT be matters arising. This meeting was in all probability 12 months ago. Matters arising from them will in all probability been dealt with by the league’s committee. If there are any such matters, the chairman will direct that these be raised in ‘any other business’.
      • c) Any minutes of the most recent ‘General Meeting’ if there’s been one should be read and again put to the meeting for approval
      • d) On the agenda at all AGMs will be
        • i) Election of officers (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer).
          (No others! Roles of responsibility such as results, fixtures communications secretaries/officers, or any others deemed necessary should be elected if vacancies for such roles have occurred, at the first committee meeting held          after the AGM, from the numbers present at that meeting. Persons holding such posts of responsibility would be expect to continue ‘in post’ until the next league management meeting)
        • ii) Auditor’s Report
        • iii) The acceptance by the meeting of the previous year’s accounts.
        • iv) Election of Auditor
        • v) Financial statement (by the retiring treasurer), and discussion of accounts
        • vi) Changes to Rules
        • vii) The formal approval of the structure of the league for the coming season
        • viii) Formal acceptance into the league of new teams
        • ix) Registration of new players and the final date during the season for the registration of new players.
        • x) Fixing of the annual affiliation fee for teams, and for individual competition entry fees.
        • xii) Structure and composition of the Handicap Committee
        • xiii) The fixing of parameters for the individual handicapping of players at both snooker and billiards.

The administration of the league throughout the ‘season’ 

During the course of the league season the League will be managed by a management committee on behalf of all the clubs and individuals who play in the league.

This body will consist of the two/three officers of the league and a least one representative from each team.

The clubs can send as many representatives to the management meeting as it deems appropriate, however when votes are taken these will be on the basis of ‘one vote per team’, the officers of the league being the only persons with ‘individual’ votes. In the event of tied voting outcomes, the chairman must cast his/her ‘casting vote’. Other than the chair under these circumstances no other person whatever status may cast more than ONE vote.

Meetings will be called by the secretary of the league on a regular basis, normally monthly during the playing season. Minutes will be taken, by the secretary or someone so delegated in the absence of the secretary.

The secretary will call meetings of any sub committees deemed necessary throughout the year, in particular the ‘handicaps’ sub committee. The composition of such committees shall be at the discretion of the management committee. These sub committees shall be ‘chaired’ by the league chairman or the secretary, and their decisions reported back to the management committee at their next meeting. Minutes will be taken by an officer present.

The management shall have the right to call an ‘Extraordinary General Meeting’ giving all clubs 14 days notice and explaining the reason for the meeting in ordinary circumstances.

In exceptional circumstances an ‘Emergency’ General Meeting may be called giving 7 days notice, the secretary contacting clubs as expediently as possible.

(N.B. It is not possible to convert a management meeting into a general meeting, since members of clubs will not have been consulted by their representatives of the issues under discussion and on which major change could be made).

Rules of the league

    1. No changes to these rules can be made except at a General Meeting of the League properly constituted under the instructions given above.
    2. Any new team wishing to join the league must submit an application in writing to the league secretary. After applications have been received an inspection of the playing facilities of the prospective club shall be undertaken by the secretary one other officer and one further representative (three in all). A copy of this constitution shall be available for the prospective club. Their application will be considered at the next General Meeting, and the approval for acceptance will be on a simple majority vote.
    3. At the AGM member clubs shall decide by simple majority on the format of the forthcoming season. In particular, the proportion of billiards and snooker games to be played with the proviso that at least one of the league’s competitions throughout the playing season will be of billiards (100 points ‘up’). The nature of the ‘off table’ games to be played will also be decided.(Traditionally this has been limited to the game of whist. Subsequent member clubs may wish to expand ‘off table’ games to others. This constitution gives scope to do this, but such amendment to tradition would have to take place at the A.G.M.)(Should other ‘off table’ games be introduced in the future, rules regarding their being played would need to incorporated into these ‘rules of the league’).
    4. At the A.G.M. the annual affiliation fee shall be fixed. This shall be payable to the league secretary or treasurer by the latest 31st December each year. A receipt as acknowledgement of payment shall be issued by the treasurer. The treasurer shall send team captains a reminder if fees are due after the 31st Dec. After the 31st Dec, fee will increase by £10 per month up to March 31st, after which if no fee has been forthcoming, the team will be expelled from the league. Their records for the season in question to date will be expunged. Should they which to rejoin the league they would have to apply as a ‘new’ club, under rule 2 above.
    5. The league management committee shall be responsible for organising such ‘handicaps’ of players and /or teams as are deemed required and necessary. The review of such handicaps will be at the discretion of the management committee. The parameters for individual handicaps shall be fixed at each A.G.M and be in place for one season. They can only be changed by simple majority at a General Meeting.
      • i) New players wishing to play for clubs affiliated to the league will have their registration approved at any meeting of the management committee. Clubs can advise the secretary of their intention of registering a new player by e mail or telephone.
      • ii) A new player will not ordinarily be allowed to play until his/her registration has been approved and a provisional ‘mark has been given. However the secretary has powers to grant permission for a new player to play in emergency situations. (It is better that this happens than a team has to forfeit a match through lack of registered players on the night). In the event of the team captain being unable to contact the league secretary he can play the player provided this has been sanctioned by the opposing captain. No pressure should be brought to bear on this captain. It is in his/her gift as a favour to grant permission and is within his/her rights to refuse. In such circumstances the ‘new player’ would play ‘off His registration would subsequently and retrospectively be approved at the next management meeting. Such special dispensation should be used rarely, and the ‘new player would only be allowed to play in the one game in this match prior to his/her official registration being approved by the management committee.
      • iii) Clubs putting forward names of such prospective players will give the meeting as much knowledge of that player’s ability as is possible. Based on this information, the management committee will give the new player a provisional snooker and billiards ‘mark’ which will be reviewed after s/he has played 4 games of either snooker or billiards.If no prior information is forthcoming the new player shall play both games ‘off scratch’, (again to be reviewed after four games of one of the two sports). The ‘scratch’ mark for such situations could be reviewed and changed by a simple majority at an AGM.
      • iv) Teams failing to ‘turn up’ for matches without prior warning to the league or the opposing captain shall have the fixture referred to the management committee who have the powers to either order a rearrangement, or award all 5 points to the inconvenienced team. They also have powers to impose such sanctions for a ‘non show’ as they deem appropriate.
      • v) If the team turns up with insufficient numbers to complete the match, the first game will continue as normal as will all games up to the point where a team has insufficient players to continue. The points won/lost will count as normal. However the team would have to forfeit such singles games as they were not able to compete in, and would NOT be able to play the ‘doubles’ game which in any event should be played last (as the fifth game) and consequently would forfeit the points for this game also. The management committee needs to be informed of the in-completed situation of the result, and has the powers to call before it the captain of the team ‘turning up short’ to ask for an explanation before applying further sanctions as they deem appropriate. (Such further sanctions would be unlikely for a ‘first’ or ‘one off’ offence, but should the offending team do this more than the ‘odd time, then further sanction might well be applied).
      • vi) Ordinarily teams must have 4 players to complete a 5 match evening which includes a doubles game. This is always the final game of the evening. Each player can play one singles game per match, but having already played in a singles game can also play in the ‘doubles’, hence the minimum need of 4 players.
    7. The games of billiards and snooker will be played under the national association rules which govern the playing of each game.
      • i) The format of the ‘on table’ games of snooker and billiards shall be decided at each A.G.M. for both the league Championship Shield and the Berry Cup.
      • ii) Ordinarily there would be five games during the evening and a point awarded for the winner of each game, though this could be changed by a simple majority at an A.G.M.The team with the most points at the end of the League championship season is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the results of matches between the two tied teams will be taken into consideration on the basis of total match points for and against each of the teams over the two matches, (aggregated). If there is still no resolution, the total number of match night ‘wins’ each team has had will be calculated, the team with the higher number of these being the ‘winner’. Failing this (third) process to differentiate between the teams a play off match will be arranged by the league. The league will decide on the venue and the date to which both teams must abide.(A ‘match night win’ is for example a 3-2, or 4-1 or 5-0 result, each of these is a ‘match night win)
      • iii) The Berry Cup must have an element of ‘knock out’ in its format.
        Should teams tie for points in earlier rounds involving leagues, again both results between the two teams will be taken into consideration. Again the number of ‘match wins will be the next differentiator (as in the league championship. If that fails to decide then, providing the competition has been structured with all teams only playing each other once, the aggregate games point would be taken into consideration. This would entail all snooker games being played ‘to the black’. In the event of a tie after all these measurers are taken into consideration, a ‘play off match’ will be organised by the management committee as for the League Championship.
      • i) The game of whist will be played under the conventions of whist play.
      • ii) A match will be played over 20 hands. The number of tricks for each team will be recorded after each hand, and the team with the greater share of the 260 points available will be the winner of the match and be awarded 2 (league) points. In the event of a tie (130—130), each team will be awarded 1 point.
        Trumps choice will rotate throughout the match HCDS.
      • iv) Cards will be cut at the start of each match to determine the ’deal’, highest wins, aces high. The subsequent deal will rotate to the left.
      • v) Players’ names would not be required since registration of whist players is not required by the league, but all whist players must be bono fide members of the clubs they represent.
      • vi) In the event of a player revoking two game points will be deducted on each occasion from the offending pair and awarded to the other pair. This award should be made at the time the revocation takes place and two trick passed across the table or at a time as soon as the offending team ‘gains’ a sufficient number of tricks for the award to be claimed. A revocation is deemed to have taken place after a trick has been completed and claimed (as defined as having been turned face down on the table and a player having lead to the next trick).
      • vii)     The format described in sections 9(i) and 9 (ii) above will exist for both the League Championship for Whist (The Reporter Cup) and the Taylor Cup Competitions.
      • viii)    In the event of a tie in the Whist Championship or during ‘league’ rounds of the Taylor Cup the ‘head to head’ results will be the first differentiator. If the situation is still tied then the total number of tricks each has gained through the competition will decide. In the unlikely event of this still not deciding, a play off will be organised by the league management committee.
      • ix) All efforts should be made to provide players for whatever ‘off table’ games that the AGM has decided to play for that season. This is an integral part of the ‘evening’. Whilst teams forfeiting the odd ‘off table’ match would not cause comment, if this became a regular situation considered to be more than two occasions, the captain of the offending team is to be called before the management committee to explain this situation, consideration will be given to teams having given notice prior to the start of the game of their intention to withdraw their whist team from that particular fixture  Fines as determined by the management committee of the league will be imposed should the offending captain fail to offer a satisfactory, (in the opinion of the committee),explanation.
      • x) An annual whist ‘individual’ competition, should it be played, would be organised by the management committee. This would be along the format of a ‘whist drive’, (where trumps rotate (HCDS), over a twenty hand ‘drive’.
      • i) The match evening’s (normally Thursdays (but not exclusively so), should start by 7.30pm.If the first game ‘on the table’ has not commenced by 8.00pm the team causing the delay shall forfeit the first game. The management committee should ratify this decision, and the team having been so deprived of the point has the right of appeal.
      • ii) If no game has been started before 30pm the entire match can be ‘claimed’ by the ‘innocent’ party (5 points to Nil).
      • iii) In the circumstances of severe weather conditions locally on the evening of any match and the situation where teams have been unable to travel, the management committee should look leniently on late starts, and abandoned fixtures.
      • iv) All ‘on table’ games during a fixture should be refereed and ‘marked’ by a registered player of the league’s handicap list. It is not necessary that this person be a member of the team involved in the match in progress. Over a five match series of games the ‘home’ side would be expected to referee three of the five games. That is the home team’s ‘right’ and obligation, however either captain may waive that right in order that a match be supervised. Games can be played without ‘marker’ only with the agreement between the two captains on the night.
      • v) The principle of ‘the marker’s decision being final over disputes during the game is upheld in these rules. However, queries to the marker by either player can be made where a misinterpretation of the ‘rules of the game’ are thought to have occurred. They can also ask for rules to be explained and clarified.
      • vi) The marker will decide in his/her own mind whether a ball is ‘playable’ or not. He does not have to communicate that decision to any of the players. After the player then plays the ball in question it is then that the ‘marker will declare ‘foul’ if it be so. A player is not entitled to ask the marker’s opinion whether or not a ball is in play. It is up to him/her to make that decision before attempting the shot.
        This rule is to establish that player have the ultimate responsibility in the playing of the shot they’ve selected to play.
      • viii) The marker will keep the score. Players should watch carefully as their score progresses. Errors in placing the score on the scoreboard can be officially challenged by either player. However observers watching the game having seen an error occur are at liberty to help the scorer in this respect. Should the player/scorer/marker/observer realise a mistake, the scorer is allowed to adjust the score even after the game has progressed beyond the time that the error took place. He should stop the game and inform both players of the adjustments that he intends to make.(Players should allow time for the scorer to put the score up on the board before resuming their game. It is at this point that they themselves have the opportunity to check that the score has been put on correctly). In the case of any unresolved dispute regarding scoring the decision of the score shall be deemed as ‘final’ and irrevocable.
      • ix) The scorer/marker should keep the players informed as the game progresses as to the score. He/she should inform a player with a negative handicap when that player’s score is in the ‘positive’. He should inform a player when a single scoring shot is required for victory. Players may at any time ask the scorer to confirm the scores of a game from time to time as the game progresses.
      • x) The verbal announcing of the cumulative score of a break informs both players and verifies that an individual scoring shot is acknowledged to have been made.
      • xi) The start of each game shall be by the marker/scorer who will toss a coin and invite the away player to call. The toss winner will then have choice of striking first or second. When it is known who is to play first the scorer/marker will then post the handicaps of the two players on the scoreboard according to the current handicap list, which should be posted in the room where the match takes place. It is the players’ responsibility to ensure that the correct handicap for both players has been posted by the ‘marker’.  This posting then stands. Players cannot subsequently question the ‘mark posted by the scorer.
      • xii) During the course of the game players are only allowed to leave the playing area with the scorer/marker’s permission which should be requested. It is common courtesy for aplayer to inform her/his opponent also.The game should not be interrupted by any external sources especially the taking of mobile telephone messages/calls. Players’ mobile phones should be turned off. Such interruptions could lead to the offending player being asked to forfeit the game.Games should NOT be delayed by ‘smoking’ breaks in play.
      • xiii) There should be a virtual ‘continuous flow’ of games through the evening’s match.Once a game has finished the scores recorded and formalities concluded the home team captain should be informed. S/he should then make immediate arrangements for the next game to start. Players should be ready ‘for the call’ to play as their captain requests, and the ‘next game’ should follow the one just concluded with some degree of immediacy. It is envisaged that under normal circumstances this time frame between one game finishing and the next starting would be about five minutes at most.This procedure is essential if the matches are to conclude at a reasonable time at the end of the evening. ‘Reasonable’ in this case would be seen as approximately 11.00pm.xiiii)   There should be no interference of either player during the game by observers. Any attempt to influence either player in shot selection or how to play a particular shot by ‘non players’ should be noted by the scorer/ marker and the offender warned that his/her conduct is liable to be reported to the league management committee’s disciplinary sub committee. The verbal warning issued by the scorer/marker should be so reported. Playing members of the same team in a game of doubles are allowed to advise on shot selection and application.
      • xiv) At the end of a game the scores should be reported to the home captain, who will record it on the league’s official match score card.
      • xv) This score card when completed with all the games’ results and the results of the off table games, shall be signed by the opposing captain. Once signed this then becomes the official and definitive record of the proceeds of the match. If the score card has been signed by both captains whatever results appear on the card stand and cannot be challenged. It should be passed to the league secretary (or, if there is one, the results secretary). It is the home team’s captain who is responsible for doing this.These days ‘results’ secretaries would wish for the results of matches and games either e mailed, faxed or texted to them, however the printed signed scorecard remains the definitive record of the match and still needs to be passed to an officer of the league for league records.
      • xvi) On a match night in the league championship season and in earlier rounds of the Berry Cup (to the semi finals and final), the home team captain has the choice of game to put on the table throughout the evening. S/he is NOT obliged to say who is to play in that particular game. He simply states the game. It is then up to the away team captain to ‘put a player up to the table’. Once this is known then the home team captain can decide who he wants to play in this particular game.In the semi finals and finals of the Berry Cup a coin is tossed at the start of the evening the winning captain of the toss will then have first choice of game (as above) the second game the losing toss captain will have the choice, and so on alternating to the fifth game.
      • xvii) The doubles games will always be the final game of any match night. In the singles, players are restricted to one game of snooker or one game of billiards. Any player is then eligible to play in the doubles game whether s/he has played in a singles game or not.
      • xviii) The record of the match night results should be received by the officer of the league responsible within 3 working days of the match having taken place. This can be relayed electronically by phone or by letter mail. The match card should be passed on when appropriate, usually at the monthly management meeting.
      • xx) In the event of a match being postponed it must be played at a date convenient for both teams which is before the week staging the final matches in a league competition. If no date can be mutually agreed the league management committee will decide on a date which will be adhered to.
      • xxi) Teams wishing to postpone matches should give two days notice* to the opposing team and should inform the league secretary of the postponement.*        This notice requirement is waived in the circumstances of inclement weather situations where transport/travel would cause serious risk.
      • i) Individuals competitions in snooker and billiards and one for a ‘doubles’ snooker trophy can be organised by the management committee each season.
      • ii) Any registered player of the league may enter all or any of the competitions on payment of an entry fee to be decided by the committee.
      • iii) The competitions’ games will be played off the individual handicaps in place at the time the game takes place
      • vi) The singles individual competitions will be drawn at a management meeting prior to the date for the each round.
      • vii) The organisation of the singles competition in terns of dates played and venues will be decided each year by the management committee at their discretion.
      • vii) The Roy Nelson Memorial Cup for Doubles play will be competed for each year as a doubles competition. The organisation of this will be at the discretion of the management committee as regards dates venues pairings draw and format.
      • viii) (From 2012 AGM)A second ‘doubles competition’ is to be organized by the management committee, where players choose their own pairs prior to the draw. It is to be played using existing handicaps.
    12. All clubs will endeavour to ensure that the tables on which the league’s games are to take place are of adequate quality and are properly maintained. The league has the right to inspect tables periodically and require that teams improve their tables if inadequacies are found. (It is appreciated that teams may not be in a position to have total control over the maintenance of the tables on which they play. In such circumstances the league will help teams approach their parent clubs in order to remedy such situations).
    13. All registered players are bound by the league’s ‘code of conduct’ published in a separate place.
    14. Any player who is deemed to have acted in a manner contrary to this code is liable to be disciplined by the league at a meeting of the leagues disciplinary committee, whose decisions are not open to appeal and are binding on individual players and member club.
    15. The league management committee duly formed has the authority to interpret these rules as it deems fit. Any additions to these rules (apart from clarification and definition), or substantive changes to these rules must be done at a properly constituted General Meeting of the ‘League’.

This constitution was ratified by general agreement of those present at the AGM on 20th September 2012, and comes into force immediately as from that date.

I. Hodgson (Chairman)

D. Wheal  (Secretary)

20th September 2012