Brighton, Hove & District Billiards & Snooker League

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BHDBSL Rules

Click here to visit the World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association rules of snooker.

Click here to visit the International Billiards & Snooker Federation rules of billiards.

League Rules

▼1. Name

The league shall be called the Brighton, Hove & District Billiards & Snooker League.

▼2. Membership

All clubs within a radius of seven miles of the clock tower, Brighton, having full size tables, shall be eligible for membership and all members eligible as players, subject to the approval of the annual general meeting of the league.

▼3. Management Committee

• The league shall be governed between one annual general meeting and the next, by a management committee to be elected at each annual general meeting, and consist of eleven members, and not more than two from any club, with power to co-opt as required.
• Any committee member not attending at least two meetings in a year can be removed from the committee.
• All officers shall be ex-officio members of the management committee.
• A quorum shall comprise a minimum of two officers together with a minimum of four members.

▼4. Sub-Committees

1. The management committee shall have the power to appoint from their number members of sub-committees for any particular purpose.
2. The league secretary shall be a member of all such sub-committees.

▼5. Officers

• President, chairman, vice-chairman, honorary secretary, assistant secretary, honorary treasurer and honorary auditor shall be elected at each annual general meeting.
• Vice-presidents to be elected at the discretion of the management committee.

▼6. Annual General Meeting

1. The annual general meeting shall be convened on a date to be decided by the management committee.
2. • Notices of motion must be lodged in writing with the league secretary fourteen days prior to the date of any such meeting.
   • Proposer and seconder of any motions must be in attendance for the motion to be heard, and would each have a vote on that motion.
3. • Only the annual general meeting shall have the power to alter these rules. No more than two representatives from any one registered club may vote.
   • All vice-presidents and life members shall be entitled to a vote at the annual general meeting, and also to attend if requested, committee meetings where they shall have a vote.
4. Clubs must send at least one representative to the annual general meeting, failure to attend will result in:
   1. No entry to the league, or
   2. A £10 fine for re-entry

▼7. Registration of Clubs and Teams

1. The league shall consist of such divisions and sections as the management committee may decide.
2. Clubs shall be placed in such divisions and sections respectively as the management committee, at their discretion, shall decide at their first meeting after the annual general meeting of the league.
3. Clubs with one table may enter two teams and clubs with two tables may enter four teams for both billiards and snooker.

▼8. Registration of Players

1. • Players must be registered at least three clear days before taking part in any league match.
   • Further registrations may be accepted up to 31st December, but the management committee shall have the power to accept registrations after that date at their discretion.
2. • Each registered player shall pay the following fees: £10.00 inclusive billiards and snooker, payable within 30 days of the start of the season.
   • Any subsequent registrations will only be accepted with the fee.
   • Failure to pay will result in Rule 9G being instantly applied on the 5th week of the new season.
   • No professional player can be registered with the league.
   • Registrations are the responsibility of the individual team captains and not the clubs.
   • No warnings will be given.
   • Fixture book free for each registered player.
   • Cheques to be payable to Brighton, Hove and District Billiards and Snooker League
3. Billiard players must be registered at least three days before taking part in any league match.
4. • The list of registered players must be shown in the room where play takes place.
   • Home team to nominate their player first before the start of each frame.
5. • Any player playing six games for a higher team during the season shall automatically become registered in that team.
   • It is not permissible to play for another team if in the same division.
6. No player shall play for a team in a lower division than that in which he played the previous season (except through team relegation), unless sanctioned by the management committee.
7. All transfers shall be dealt with by the management committee, and no player having played a league game for a club may play for another club in a league game in the same season, unless sanctioned by the management committee at their discretion.
8. Any player having left a club and being in arrears with his dues shall not be accepted as a registered player by the league until he has discharged his liabilities to his previous club.
9. Any player suspended from their club for any reason shall not participate in any of the league activities during their suspension.

▼9. Fixtures

1. Fixtures shall be arranged by the league secretary; snooker on Mondays and billiards on Wednesdays.
2. Home clubs are to supply referees.
3. The league secretary shall have the power to re-arrange any match on application from a club.
4. • Individual competition games shall be arranged by home players with visiting players within time alloted for home advantage as per the competition sheet.
   • Should the home player fail to notify his opponent within that time, the opponent shall be entitled to play the game at his own club.
   • In all cases at least two dates must be offered.
5. Penalties: refer to competition rules
6. Dress:
   • for semi-finals, finals, inter-league and representative games, the wearing of denim jeans, with studs around the pockets, t-shirts, trainers or tracksuits are not allowed.
   • The preferred form of dress is white collared shirt, dark trousers and shoes.
   • All wishes of individual clubs for league nights must be observed by all players at all times.
   • Rule must apply to home and away team.
   • Offenders will forfeit their frames or individual match.
7. For playing an unregistered player 10 points will be deducted, plus loss of all points earned by the unregistered player.

▼10. Results

1. • The home club shall notify the secretary by a result card posted first class. The result of each snooker match to be received by the following Thursday, failing which, one point shall be deducted on the first offence and two points deducted for each subsequent offence.
   • Result cards for each billiards match to be received by the following Saturday. Failing which, four scoring points shall be deducted on the first offence and eight scoring points deducted for each subsequent offence.
2. • The team in each division with the highest aggregate number of points at the end of each season shall be adjudged the winner, and the trophies will be awarded to the winning teams and runner up in each division.
   • Where practicable, the top team in each division shall be promoted and the bottom team relegated.
   • In the event of a tie, matches won will be counted.
3. • Results of individual competition games shall be notified to the competitions secretary (league secretary) by the closing date of the round, as indicated on the competition sheet.
   • Failure to notify result renders the winner liable to elimination from that competition.

▼11. Protests

• All protests must be forwarded to the league secretary in writing within 21 days after the match calling for the protest accompanied by a fee of £5, which may be refunded at the discretion of the management committee, if they consider the protest to be a proper one.

▼12. Play

1. Play shall be governed by the standard laws of the game, a copy of which must be placed in each room where play takes place, subject to such variation as may be authorised by these rules or by the resolution of any annual general meeting thereafter.
2. 1. Only 2 1/16" crystallite or amarith balls are the be used in league matches.
   2. For billiards matches the use of white, red and spot white set of balls, or the use of white, red and yellow set of balls can be used.
3. • Clubs must see that the first game starts at 7pm and have their remaining four players ready to play at thirty minute intervals thereafter in the case of snooker. In the case of billiards, have their remaining three players ready at forty-five minute intervals.
   • Ten minutes grace is to be allowed beyond these periods, after which a player kept waiting shall be entitled to claim the game.
   • Deadline for last player to be ready to play - 9:10pm for snooker and 9:25pm for billiards.
   • To claim a walkover the player(s) must be in attendance to claim the frame(s), unless by mutual agreement of the captains.
4. Billiards:
   1. • Each game is scored to a series of 'scoring points' with a maximum of four points divided equally between the players start score and the final total.
      • A scoring chart is in the handbook describing in detail how the 'scoring points' will be awarded.
   2. • All players will have a handicap. Player will start at his handicap score. Winning score will be one hundred and sixty points.
      • Handicaps will be reviewed periodically.
   3. Captains on the night will put their players in the order that they will play without the knowledge of their opponents' order.
5. • Billiards: The individual points scored s well as the 'scoring points' to be recorded on the the result card and signed by both captains.
   • Snooker matches one frame per player.
6. • All trophies shall remain the property of the league and may be held by winners only at the discretion of the management committee and shall be returned when requested by the league secretary.
   • Failure to adhere to this rule carries a £10 penalty and could affect future registrations with this league.
   • Individual winners are responsible for the safekeeping and insurance of league trophies during the ensuing year.
   • Clubs are responsible for the safekeeping and insurance of team trophies.
   • Trophies not collected at the presentation by the winner(s) or a representative will be forfeited.
7. No player may play more than one league match on any one evening.

▼13. Issues not yet covered

• The management committee have the authority to resolve any circumstances, which are not adequately covered by the foregoing rules.
• The management committee may impose penalties where they consider these appropriate.
• The decision of the management committee is final.

▼14. Financial year

• The League's financial year starts 16th June and ends 15th June annually

Competition Rules

▼General rules covering all competitions

• The following rules will apply to all competitions, whether team or individual, organised by the above league. They should be read in conjunction with, and in addition to, any other rules published in the league handbook.
• All competitions shall be played under the current WPBSA and IBSF rules for the games of snooker and billiards (as amended September 1995).
• General rules covering all competitions are as follows. (For "player" read "team" or "side", whichever applicable):
  • Only players registered for a team in the above league may compete in these competitions.
  • The draw for all stages of all competitions will be carried out by the competitions secretary (normally the league secretary).
  • The draw will be despatched to all concerned clubs, both home and away, giving the date of despatch and the date by which matches should be played.
  • The first named player will be the home player, and on receipt of the notification of the match it will be the home player's responsibility to contact the other player within the time laid down for the home advantage to arrange the date, time and venue for the match to be played.
  • If the home player does not contact the away player within the specified period, for whatever reason, the away player shall have the choice of venue and date. Failure to play the match by the date laid down by the competitions secretary may result in the exclusion of both players from the competition.
  • With the exception of the semi-finals and finals it will be the responsibility of the home player to provide a referee. This may, by agreement, be one of the players concerned.
  • On completion of the match it will be the winning player's / team's responsibility to notify the result to the competitions secretary not later than the closing date. Failure to do so will result in the exclusion of the winner from further progress in the competition.
  • The Finals of the league competitions will be held at a venue and on a date to be decided by the management committee. Referees will be provided for these matches and the presentation of all league trophies will normally follow the completion of these matches.
  • No player shall proceed with the semi-final stage of a competition, if at the date of the semi-final, he or they know they are not available to play on the final date, which is printed in the handbook.
  • Any player / players dropping out of any competition after winning a quarter-final or semi-final shall mean that the losing quarter-finalist or semi-finalist will immediately be reinstated.
  • Players are instructed that dress for the semi-finals and finals must be of the highest order. The wearing of denim or jeans, with studs around the pockets, tracksuits and trainers will not be allowed. All shirts must have a collar and no logos.
  • Any matters in dispute shall be brought before the league management committee via the league secretary. The management committee shall have the final decision in all such matters.

▼The Endeavour Team Cup (Handicap)

• There will be five players per side, each playing a single frame.
• Players may only be those registered with the league for that team.
• The match winners will be those winning the most frames i.e. best of five.
• All players' names must be entered on the match card before commencement of the first frame, and played in that order unless changed by mutual agreement of the captains.

▼The De-Costa Cup (Snooker Handicap)

• Handicaps will be decided by the management handicapping committee prior to the start of the competition and will remain in force for the competition up to and including the semi-final stage
• The competition will be on an aggregate of the score over two frames, the handicap being taken into account at the start of the match.
• The final of the competition will be on an aggregate of the score over four frames, with the handicap being doubled at the start of the match.

▼The Division 3-8, The Over 50's and The Junior Championship

• Will be decided by the best of three frames with the final being played over the best of five frames.
• The title "Division 3-8" can be amended dependant on the number of divisions in the league.
• Players registered in the first and second divisions are excluded from this competition.

▼The Snooker Pairs Handicap

• Handicaps will be decided by the management handicapping committee prior to the start of the competition and will remain in force for the competition up to and including the semi-final stage.
• No change to the composition of the pair can be allowed (i.e. no substitution will be permitted). Both players must be registered with the same club.
• The competition will be decided on an aggregate of the score over two frames, the handicap being taken into account at the start of the match.
• The final of the competition will be on an aggregate of the score over four frames, with the handicaps being doubled at the start of the match.

▼The Snooker Open Championship

• This competition is open to all registered players.
• The competition will be played over the best of three frames up to the semi-final.
• The femi-final will be played over five frames and the final over seven frames.

▼The Billiards Open Championship

• The competition is open to all registered players.
• The competition will be played up to two hundred points per match during the earlier rounds.
• The Final will be played up to four hundred points.

▼The Billiards Handicap (The Sexton Cup)

• Handicaps for this event will be decided by the management handicapping committee prior to the start of the competition.
• All early rounds of the competition will be up to two hundred points, the handicap being taken into account i.e. added to the scoreboard for each player, prior to the start of the match. The Final will be up to four hundred points with the handicaps being doubled.

▼The Bill Ashdown Memorial Trophy (Billiard Team Handicap)

• There will be four players per side, the same as a normal league match.
• Players may only be those registered with the league for that team.
• Handicaps for this competition are set at the end of the season, prior to the start of the competition. Handicaps are based on final league positions.
• All players must be available at the start of the match, 10 minutes grace will be allowed, then the team will forfeit that game on a full penalty point victory.
• Playing order decided by the same rule for the billiards league rule 12d(iii)
• Running totals will be kept throughout the match so that targets can be made known to the players involved in the final match.

Management of the BHDBSL

President:

P. Phillips

Vice-Presidents:

J. Hanks, T. Harman, L. Rea, J. Wooller

Chairman:

P. Mitchell

Hon. Auditor:

D. Coppard

Life Members:

G. Chick, L. Rea, D. Rignell, P. Phillips, J. Murray, D. Alderton, D. Budde

Management Committee:

J. Murray, T. Cain, D. Penalver, I. Smith, T. Davis, T. Strange, T. Pickard, J. Trory, D. Senior, J. Gillard, R. Moogan

Hon. Secretary:

M. Childs

Asst. Secretary:

P. Mitchell

Hon. Treasurer:

J. J. Stone

This work by the Brighton, Hove & District Billiards & Snooker League
is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.