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Constitution
- The
league will be known as the Benson Fours Darts League (BFDL) (summer
and winter).
- The
officers and committee, to be elected at each AGM, will run the
league.
- The
committee will consist of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary,
Treasurer, and up to eight additional committee members who should
include, where possible, one representative from each competitive
section of the league.
- Each
competing team should send a representative to the AGM.
- Each
Team present at the AGM will have One vote.
- League
rules may only be amended at an AGM.
- League
fees will be decided at the AGM (both Summer and Winter).
Format
- Registration
fee is £20.00 per team. A team must consist of 6 players with no
upper limit to ensure that fixtures are not cancelled unnecessarily.
- All
players are to be at least 14 years of age. Any player under the age
of 18 must be identified to the Secretary on the registration form.
Ages will then be displayed against names on registration lists as
issued by the Secretary for the benefit of teams and licensees
alike.
- The
Secretary will be responsible for the distribution of fixtures to
each team prior to the start of each season and for the distribution
of league tables and any other information as and when applicable.
In addition the BFDL also runs a Web site (WWW.BENSON4S.CO.UK)
where up to date results, league tables and news will be posted.
Teams are requested to try to look at the site on a regular basis to
keep up to date with any general administration matters.
- The
league match night is Thursday. The draw will take place at 20:15
and the match to start at 20:30. The draw will be strictly adhered
to.
- Each
match to consist of Four singles and Two pairs games.
- Singles
games will be the best of Five legs (in all sections) and the
pairs the best of Three.
- All
legs will start on 501 and will be played in the format – Straight
in, Double out, No bust (in both Summer and Winter Leagues).
- To
determine which team will throw first in each game a coin will be
tossed at the start of the match. The team winning the toss will
throw first in the 1st and 3rd singles games
and the 1st pairs game. The looser of the toss will throw
first in the 2nd and 4th singles games and the
2nd pairs game. Within each game the throw will alternate
from leg to leg.
- All
players competing in the singles must be present for the draw.
- The
draw for the singles games will be conducted as follows. Each
captain will shuffle and deal out his opposite numbers cards, face
down, onto the table, then, turn them over one at a time to
determine the order of play. This is to be a ‘blind draw’ and no
pre-selection of playing order is allowed. The players name or
initials and their membership number should then be entered onto the
scorecard in the order that they were drawn. The draw for the
pair’s games may be conducted at the same time or, if preferred,
after the singles games have been concluded and will take the same
format. A team may change any of all of their players for the pairs
draw. This will be another ‘blind draw’ and no pre-selection
of pair’s partners or playing order is allowed. Pairs will
throw in the order that they are entered onto the scorecard.
- The
home team is responsible for providing the chalker. Both the number
scored and the total remaining must be clearly displayed. Any
queries with the scores must be made promptly and with respect to
both/all players.
- Digital
scoreboards may be used only if both teams agree.
(Landlords/Stewards are reminded that they should be prepared to
provide an alternative if requested).
- The
throwing distance will not be less than seven feet, nine and a
quarter inches for everyone. All venues are to have an oche.
- The
height of the board will be five feet eight inches from the floor to
the centre of the bull and should allow for any uneven floor
conditions, unless restricted by ceiling height.
- The
league will operate a two up, two down promotion and relegation
system, in each section, at the end of each season, for both the
summer and winter leagues. However, if new teams enter the league
the committee will consider the individual and comparative team
strengths when formulating sections. This may mean that depending on
the numbers of entrants, the exact section compositions may need to
be adjusted. This may also be the case when teams withdraw for the
following season.
Discipline
- Any
registered player barred from a participant pub/club for violent or
abusive behaviour will be banned from the league with immediate
effect for a period to be determined by the committee.
- Any
team reported to the league for unruly behaviour will be required to
improve that behaviour or be disciplined by the committee.
Registrations
- Only
registered players may be used. Registration cards will be provided
by the Secretary. Teams playing unregistered players will forfeit
all match points.
- A
player may only register and play for one team. Players may only
transfer if they have not played for their original team. However if
for any reason a team withdraws from the league within four weeks
those players may sign on for another team in either the same
section or a higher section, which is left to the committee’s
discretion.
- A
team may register additional players up to one month after the start
of the season. The committee have discretion to waive this rule
should they feel it is necessary to maintain the competitiveness of
a section and/or to avoid a team pulling out of the league mid
season.
- Landlords/Landladies
and Stewards/Stewardesses of pubs/clubs with two or more teams
entered in the league may play in any of their teams at any time
during the playing season, but may play for one team only on any
given match night. They must also be registered (see rule 25).
Match Cancellations
- No
match should be cancelled during the season. In exceptional
circumstances the committee will rule if required. This rule
will be strictly enforced and offending teams will be withdrawn
from the league.
- If
a team is withdrawn from the league by the committee for a breach of
rule 29 the league points for that division will be adjusted
accordingly.
- If
a match has been cancelled, by what the Committee have deemed to be exceptional
circumstances, a sound and valid reason must
be given at the time of cancellation. The unavailability of one or
more key players will not be accepted as a reason as there is no
limit to the number of players that a team may register for a season
(see rule 8). Teams are expected to play even if only 1 or 2 players
are available.
- Any
team not satisfied with the reasons given by their opponents for a
cancellation should approach the secretary or committee for a
ruling.
- The
secretary must be notified of any cancellations and subsequent
re-arrangement that the secretary or committee have agreed too.
- Failure
to comply with rules 29 – 33 above will result in all match points
being made void. Teams have the right to appeal should they feel
that they have forfeited points or been ejected for reasons beyond
their control.
- Should
a dispute arise the secretary will have the right to intervene in
order to obtain an amicable solution.
Results
- All
league fixtures must be fulfilled by every team. The only exception
being matches previously cancelled by agreement with the secretary
or committee.
- All
result cards must reach the secretary or their nominee by the
Wednesday following any match. Failure to comply will result in the
loss of all match points. Cards must be signed by both captains.
- The
winning team, or the home team in the case of a draw, is responsible
for sending in the result card.
- League
points will be awarded as follows: - One point for each Game
won in a match. Please insure that result cards are filled in
correctly, notes on the expected format are available from the
secretary.
Tie-Breakers
- In
the event of two or more teams having equal points at the end of a
season the following list of ‘Tie-Breakers’ will be applied to
separate teams. a) Legs ‘For’ and ‘Against’ will be counted
and the team with the better ‘Leg Difference’ deemed to be
placed higher. b) If still equal the team with the greater number of
‘Wins’ deemed to be placed higher. c) If still equal, deciding
match(es) of four-a-side, best of three, 801 will be played.
Trophies
- League
prizes will be awarded as follows: - Six trophies each for section
winners and runners up. Additional trophies may be ordered from the
secretary. Please notify the secretary as early as possible as the
league will put the trophy order in early to ensure all prizes are
available on finals night.
- Perpetual
trophies will remain the property of BFDL. Teams winning trophies
(winners and runner up) will be responsible for keeping those
trophies in good order at the pub or club that they represent. It is
not permitted for trophies to be removed under any circumstances
unless it is by a BFDL committee member acting on behalf of the
league.
- The
committee have the right to withhold trophies should they feel that
rule 42 is not being adhered to.
Competitions
- Competition
entrants must be registered with the league with the exception of
being the unregistered playing partner in the mixed pairs, or, with
the committee’s approval, a member of a team in one of the
memorial competitions.
- Each
player/team may play in any competition only once per season, i.e.
if a player loses at venue ‘A’ they cannot go to venue ‘B’
and compete. No player/team may enter a competition at a different
venue than at the one that has been previously allocated by the
draw. If a player/team feels that they have legitimate reasons for a
change of venue they should contact the secretary or committee.
- The
interchange of players on competition nights will only be allowed
with prior permission of the secretary or committee.
- If
any player(s) or team fails to turn up by the time specified the MC
will be within their rights to eliminate those persons/teams from
the competition.
- One
MC will be appointed by the committee for each venue and should
ensure that the competition runs smoothly. If the MC is unable to,
or dose not, attend, there will be a spare copy of the draw at the
venue and another player may take on the MC’s role. The players
present should agree on this new nominee.
- Any
action made by an MC (or person acting in lieu of an MC) is final
- Player(s)
or teams may appeal to the committee should they feel that they have
been unjustly disqualified. All players are reminded that to arrive
for a competition at 20:32 is not 2 minutes late but seventeen (17)
minutes late (20:15 being the appointed time). Sympathetic hearings
will not be given to people disqualified purely for late arrival.
- In
all competitions the loser always chalks the next game on the board
or provides a substitute (with the MC’s agreement). NO EXCEPTIONS!
- It
is the responsibility of the winner (not the MC) to notify the
secretary of the competition result by the date specified.
- Failure
to comply with rule 52 will result in the entire venue being made
void thus disqualifying the winner from any further part in the
competition.
Finals Night
- Teams
and players will only qualify for finals night having won the
right to do so in previous rounds of competitions. Runners up will
not be accepted.
- The
venue of finals night will be decided and arranged by the committee.
- Competitors
should arrive in plenty of time on finals night to register with the
MC (20:15 as in all other BFDL matches and competitions). Failure to
comply could result in players or teams being eliminated from any or
all competitions qualified for (see rule 47).
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