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LEAGUE RULES 2008-09

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   General Rules   

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1.  The League to be known as the Clacton Mid-Week Darts League.
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2.  The League to be governed by a Chairperson and a Committee.
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3.  The Committee to consist of 3 Officers - League Secretary, Treasurer and   
~  Minutes Secretary and up to 9 working members.
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4.  Team entrance per season is £10, to be paid 14 days prior to an AGM/GM.       
~  Player registration fees are £2 each per season.  These fees, accompanied 
   by a completed form, must be received by the League Secretary 7 days
~  before the first match of a season. 
~  A team must have a minimum of 6 players.
~  Only Registered players are permitted to play in the League.
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5.  The Summer League to consist of 5 Divisions - A, B, C, D and E. 
~  The Winter League to consist of 4 Divisions - A, B, C and D. 
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6.  Any team, normally playing in both seasons (Summer & Winter), which
~  misses a season and re-enters the following corresponding season,
~  will be placed in the lowest division.  Any existing team playing
~  above a division's capability may be promoted to a higher division at the
~  Committee's discretion.
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7.  The League Secretary must be notified immediately, in writing, of any
~  change of Team Captain or Secretary plus any changes of address or
~  telephone number.
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8.

 All trophies to be returned to the League Secretary at least 28 days before
~  that season's Presentation Night. Please return these in the clean condition 
~  in which they were received.  Trophies that have not been cleaned
~  properly will be subject to a charge of £5.00 per trophy.
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8a.  Presentation Night tickets may only be purchased in advance or at the main
~  bar of Wick Lodge on the night.  Tickets will not be available at the door
~  (although these may be collected if previously paid for).
   All teams wishing to be presented with team trophies at a
~  Presentation Night must have at least 50% of team players present;
~  otherwise a fine of £10.00 will be imposed.  Should teams not wish to
~  attend a Presentation Night they have the option of donating the
~  basic cost of trophies to a registered charity of their choice.
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   AGM/Committee Procedure Issues   

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9.  AGMs & GMs (Winter teams) are classed as League fixtures - all teams  
~  must be represented.  The penalty for non-attendance is  a
~  deduction of 3 League match points.
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9a.  Rule changes may be made at both AGMs and General Meetings.
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10.

 All Officers and Committee members to be elected on a 3-yearly basis

~  (Unless Rule 13 applies)..
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11.  The Chairperson, League Secretary and Treasurer to each have a copy of
~  all legally-binding documents - signed Sponsorship Agreements etc.
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12.  The League Secretary is responsible for signing all legally-binding
~  documents.
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13.  Where any Officer or Committee member fails to fulfil their duties to the        
~  satisfaction of the remainder of the Committee, the remainder of the
~  Committee can, upon a majority vote, terminate that member's 
~  term of office forthwith.  Should this relate to the Chairperson,
~  he/she may be asked to resign following a majority vote,
~   in favour, taken by the full Committee.  If either case should arise, the
~  Committee will appoint a replacement, from within the Committee,
~  until the next AGM.
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14.  Committee Meetings will normally be held on the first Sunday of each
~  month.  Any member failing to attend three consecutive Meetings,
~  with the exception of work, sickness or holiday, will be deemed to
~  have resigned.
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15.  Any proposals to be considered at any AGM/GM must be received by the   
~  League Secretary, in writing, 28 days before that meeting.
~  Proposals received will be read out in Matters Arising, and will be put 
~  to the floor and seconded before being voted on and possibly becoming valid.
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16.  Any person, or persons, bringing the League into disrepute or involved in
~  violent behaviour or reported for profanity during a match will incur a

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 penalty deemed as appropriate by the Committee.  
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17.  A Newsletter will be sent to nominated Captains or Secretaries following
~  each month's Committee Meeting - this will be published, minus financial
~  statements, to the League website: www.cmdl.co.uk
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18.  New teams wishing to join the League must apply in writing to the League    
~  Secretary before an AGM/GM.  Each new team must be represented at that
~  meeting with the Registration form and fee.  A vote will be taken on their
~  possible acceptance into the League.  Until a team has been accepted into
~  the League they are not permitted to enter into any voting.
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19.  The Committee has the right to invite more teams to join the League    
~  before a season commences, should a division require more teams
~   to fulfil its quota.  Additionally, the Committee may promote more
~  teams should the number of new teams entering the lowest division
~  make that division exceed the time limit available for a season's fixtures.
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20.  The Committee will endeavour to send out copies of the Minutes of an
~  AGM/GM to nominated Captains or Secretaries within 7 days of
~   that meeting.
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21.

 The Committee's decision shall be FINAL in all disputes.
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   Signing and Transfer Rules  

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22.  Additional players may be signed on up to, and on the night of, the first    
~  match of a season.  After this a signed Registration form and the fee must
~  be in the League Secretary's possession 24 hours before a player can be
~  classified as registered.  No new signings will be accepted after 24 hours
~  prior to the first League match of the second half of a season, unless a
~   team's only player of the opposite sex withdraws from that team,
~  effectively barring the team from playing their remaining fixtures or
~  signing for another team.  Given this situation, one player of the opposite sex 
~  may be permitted to sign on, on the night.
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23.  Transferred players may only play for a new team after the Transfer form 
~  and fee has been in the League Secretary's possession for 24 hours.
~  Both Secretaries must sign the form.
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24.  Transferred players cannot play in any team competition match once they
~  have played in a previous round for another team.  No transfers will be  
~  accepted later than 24 hours prior to the first League match of the second
~  half of a season.
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   General Match Rules  

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25.

 Height of dartboards to be 1.723m (5' 8") from the floor to the centre of the   
~  bulls-eye.  The length of the throw from the face of the board to be 2.368m
~  (7' 9 1/4") or 2.93m (9' 7 1/2") from the bulls-eye to the oche.  This is the
~  recognised standard darts throw.  All throws to have a fixed, raised oche.
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26. The 'bust' rule will apply in all matches and competitions.
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27.  Both Captains are responsible for the draw.  No player may be           
~  substituted after a draw is made.  All stages of a match are to be
~  drawn before that part of the match begins - except for the team game. 
~  The Away team to have the option of providing a Caller, with the Home  
~  team providing a Chalker. the Chalker is Referee - whose decision
~   in all matters relating to the game is  final.
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28. The Team game to be written up by 8.30pm with the Home team starting the   
~  first game and other games starting alternately.  Order of play to be
~  continuous, with the next draws commencing as soon as each stage
~  finishes.  It is permissible to make the entire draw at the beginning of 
~  the match.
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29.  If any team is unable to fulfil a fixture, the offending team will be
~  penalised with a score of 7-5 against them and deducted a
~   further 3 points.  Any visiting team failing to turn up on the night
~  for a League or team competition match will be fined £10
~  towards the cost of refreshments and are requested to pay
~  the fine to the League Secretary within 7 days of receiving notice.
~  No matches are to be postponed except for abnormally bad weather
~  (in winter) or tragedy affecting the team; although the Committee
~  would look at each individual request for postponement on merit.
~  In cases of foreseeable postponements (e.g. multiple team members on
~  holiday at the same time) the match should be played prior to the
~  fixture date.  Shortage of players is not a valid reason to postpone games.
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30.  Any player not present when their name is called will forfeit that game.
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30a. Whilst a match is in progress all mobile phones shall be switched to
~ 'silent' or 'vibrate'.  No mobile phones are to be taken to the oche,
~ and whilst a team member is playing a leg s/he will not answer or make
~ a call on their mobile.  The penalty for infringement
~ The penalty for infringement will be a deuction of 1 point from the team.
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31.  Any team playing an ineligible player will have 3 points deducted, 
~  whatever the result of the match in question.
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32.  The Secretary of the WINNING  team is responsible for ensuring the Result
~  Card reaches the League Secretary by 10am, or first post, on the Monday
~  following a League match.  Failure to do so will result in the opposing
~  team being awarded the match 7-5.  In cases of a draw, the Home
~  Secretary takes responsibility.  The Secretary of the WINNING  team of any
~  team competition match, up to the semi-final stage, must submit the
~  Result Card to the League Secretary within 3 days of that match
~  being played. 
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33.  Any team unable to fulfil all its fixtures will have their position discussed at
~  Committee level.  No team to claim winners or runners-up position of a
~  division without fulfilling all League fixtures (to the satisfaction of the
~  Committee).
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34.  All players and both Captains must sign the Result Card before sending it in. 
   Should a player leave a venue without signing the card, all games that
   player has played will be nullified with the result being adjusted accordingly.
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35.  All claims for High Shot Out and 180s must be recorded on the relevant
~  Result Card - word of mouth is unacceptable. 
~  High Shot Outs and 180s count  ONLY  in League matches.
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36.  All teams must have a minimum of one Registered player of the opposite sex
~  available to play in each stage of a match; Team Game, Triples, Doubles
~  and Singles.  Failure will result in the opposing team being awarded a 7-5
~  win with the offending team being deducted 3 league match points.
~  If a team has a reduced number of players all games must still be played
~  but the team must forfeit the throws of the players they are short of. 
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37.  In Singles games, if a team is short of players both teams will put 6 names  
~  into the draw.   Whichever player draws a 'Bye' gains the win.
~  The player cannot be chosen - this must be drawn.
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38.  A list of all registered players must be available at each venue.
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39.  No Electronic Scoreboards to be used at match venues - chalkboards only. 
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   Cup Match Rules 

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40.  Team competition matches played at Home venues: Away teams to offer 3
~  dates, with a maximum of 2 dates in one week and 1 date in another
~  week, or 3 different weeks provided there is sufficient time available
~  and the days of the week are not all the same.  Bank Holidays are
~  unacceptable unless by mutual agreement of both teams.
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41.  Team competition matches played at Home venues: The teams at the top of
~  each pair to be known as the Home team unless stated otherwise, i.e.
~  Semi-finals and Finals nights.  
~  The format will be clearly defined for each trophy.
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42.  All players in Semi-finals and Finals team competition matches to be drawn,
~  with 1 League member from the floor to witness each draw.
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43.  All registered players must play a minimum of 1 League match to be eligible
~  to play in the League tournaments being played throughout the season.
~  This rule relates to tournaments played at the Sponsor's venue and
~  not Cup matches.
~  Any team entering an ineligible player in any tournament will result in
~  that game being awarded to the opposing team/player.
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44.  Teams are required to register for team competition Semi-finals and Finals  
~  from 7.30 - 8pm when play will commence.  Any team failing to attend will 
~  be ineligible to play in that cup the following corresponding season.
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45.  Names of entrants into Mixed Triples, Mixed Doubles and all other Doubles
~  and Singles tournaments to be submitted to the League Secretary no later
~  than 7pm on the Wednesday prior to each competition.  Players  can be
~  entered on the relevant forms, by phone or by e-mail, where applicable.
~  No entries will be accepted on the night.
~  Each draw will be made at 7.45pm, with play commencing at 8pm.
~  Any player not present at 7.45pm, without prior notice, will be removed
~  from the draw.
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46.   Captain's and Secretary's Cups:  The nominated Vice-Captains and/or
~  Secretaries are eligible to play in place of Team Captains and/or
~  Secretaries only if Team Captains and/or Secretaries are
~  unavailable due to work commitments etc.  Team Captains
~  (or Vice-Captains) and Secretaries (or Vice-Secretaries) not
~  turning up to play in their Cup matches to be fined £5.00 each -
~  this being donated to the League charity.
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47.  All tournament draws to be made by a member from the floor on the night.
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47a.  All Singles & Doubles competitions (including Captains' and Secretaries
~  and all League cup matches) to be played by League match formats:
~  i.e. 501 Doubles & 401 Singles.
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48.  Doubles and Mixed Doubles partners will only be accepted if they are        
~  members of the same team. 
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49.  Spare players for Doubles and Mixed Doubles will be drawn from the hat. 
~  Selection of a partner from another team is not permitted.   
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50.  Where tournament formats state 'Loser to Chalk' and a player cannot chalk;
~  the responsibility lies with that player to find a substitute chalker.
~  Persistent offenders will be excluded from entering tournaments for the
~  remainder of any given season.
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51.  The Peter Thorne and Albert Fuller Charity Cups are for scratch players only
~  and will be drawn from the hat on the night.  At the 2007 AGM it was
~  decided that Tendring Community Transport would be the 'Charity of the
~  Year'; with the exception of the Peter Thorne Cup in which the winners elect
~  a Registered charity to receive the total proceeds of the night.
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52.  All team competition matches to be played only by the format stated for
~  each trophy.  There will be one toss only in all tournaments and
~  competitions; the player/team winning the toss to start the first and
~  each following alternate leg.
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