Merseyside Inter-League Match Arranged!
Please note that the St.Helens representative team in the Merseyside Inter-League Senior Championship will be playing their first match, against the Kirkby league, on Tuesday 21st February at St.Teresas. The start time is 8.00pm so get down and support our league chaps to victory! Thanks, Dave.

Competitions and Closing Dates
It is becoming evident that teams and players are becoming a bit blasé when it comes to arranging and playing matches in the Competitions.
Because of this, myself and Chris are having to constantly remind teams and players of their closing dates, fixtures and even to the point of arranging games so that dates are adhered to. Whilst we will help out where we can, it isn't our place to be constantly reminding when the information is posted on our website, facebook, and emailed to all team captains and representatives. We have also allowed extra time for games to be played which result in our schedules falling behind time and reducing the time available to future rounds of games. Where we can, we allow at least 4 weeks between dates for games to be played (up to 8 weeks in early rounds) which is more than enough time for games to be arranged and played.
Therefore, please make sure that ALL teams and players are aware that we will be enforcing the disqualification rule in ALL competitions if games are not played by the closing dates. This will come into effect after the 2nd round games are completed for the Pairs, Open, Three a Side and Scratch competitions on the 9th February.
It is not something we really want to do, but we have been left with little choice in the matter. Closing dates are put on all rounds of competitions for a good reason so that tournaments are played and finished (and neutral venues can be arranged and confirmed) in good time for our season to finish. Only in exceptional circumstance will we consider allowing extra time for games to be played after deadlines have passed.
The onus in Thursday league competitions is on the HOME team/players to arrange and offer suitable dates to their opponents. This is so that clubs are aware of games being played by their team members and that tables are made available. Being drawn at home is an advantage so we feel it is only fair that the home players must make the arrangements with their clubs for tables to be available.
PLEASE PASS ON THIS MESSAGE TO ALL PLAYERS IN COMPETITIONS WITHIN YOUR TEAMS.
With Regards
Dave O'Dowd (League Secretary)
Chris Hill (Competitions Secretary)

Merseyside (AMBSL) and North West (NWBSA) Open Championships
Please find below Entry Forms and details for a number of Merseyside Association and North West Association competitions that will be held in 2012. The Merseyside Open, The Merseyside Under 19s, The North West Individual Snooker Championship and the North West Under 18s Championship. All details about entry forms, dates and dress codes can be found on each of the forms. Please forward your entries directly as instructed, please do NOT return the details to myself. If you decide to take part, we wish you the very best of luck!
Merseyside Open 2012
Merseyside Under 19s 2012
NWBSA Snooker Championship 2012
NWBSA Under 18s 2012

Handicap Review Time!
Well, its that Marmite time of the season, but love it or hate it, the Handicap Review will take place in TWO Weeks time on 8th December(after Game Week 14). Changes will be posted to the website under the "Player Stats" section, and will also be e-mailled to all contacts that I have.
Because our season started a week earlier than last year, the halfway point falls just before the Christmas break. Therefore, the review will take place after I have received match details for fixtures of the players involved, and their records have been updated for week 14. Details will then be released in phases of receipt so PLEASE check your e-mail and the website for daily updates. I just want to make teams aware that changes will be limited to TWO automatic player reviews per team maximum (up or down). As I have stated a few times in the past, this is not a punishment or witchhunt, just trying to level a playing field for fairness all round. Changes will come into effect IMMEDIATELY and must be used from Game Week 15 (15th December) onwards.
Also, a quick reminder that any players that Captains wish to suggest for a handicap review MUST be logged with me by MONDAY 5th December at 5pm. I have already received suggestions from some captains (both UP and DOWN) which will be considered on their individual merits. These will be considered in addition to any automatic changes but are also limited to TWO suggestions per team.
Handicaps will be changed based on EXCEPTIONAL performance (both good and bad) only and will apply to ALL players in the league. Handicaps can be changed both UP and DOWN based on a number of criteria, which are but not exclusive to:
Win/Loss Records, Percentage of Games Played, Own Handicap, Opponents Handicaps, Margin of Victory/Defeat (with and without handicap)
As per last years scheme, there will be a SEVEN point ceiling on any changes made to handicaps if necessary. This change will then run until the end of the league season and the Knockout Cup. Once the league season is complete, New season handicaps will be adjusted as normal (based on win/loss records), but we will use the ORIGINAL Season Start Handicap to change, and not the adjusted mid-season handicap.
We feel this is a fair criteria to judge as it was felt that just taking Win/Loss records was not enough to judge as players could feasibly win and lose a majority of games on the last pink and black, and not by exceptional score and performance. The idea is to ensure that players are performing based on their own ability and merit and not being helped by a handicap which doesnt reflect their ability.
Changes will not be made lightly because as you are aware handicapping has been, is now, and will always be a subject of great debate and grumbling within our league. If we could find the correct formula for it, then we would be millionaires!!

Merseyside ABA Team Championship
Ive received information about the 2012 Merseyside ABA Team Championship. Last year, three of the four teams in the semi-finals play in our league, and Scala Snooker went on to win the tournament. The competition is open to ALL our teams as our league is affiliated to the AMBSL. There are brief rules show in a link below along with an entry form which is to be returned to the AMBSL directly (dont send it to me!). The competition games are played off scratch with a TEAM handicap being used. ABA Entry Form and Competition Rules

Start Times
For ALL CAPTAINS and TEAM MEMBERS. Please note that this league does not, and never has, operated a uniform start time. Each team/club nominates their own start time for their home games. This MUST be adhered to by all visiting teams. All start times are available on the large A3 sheets that were given to each club, and also on the website under the "clubs" link. Please be respectful to teams and ensure that you arrive before the scheduled start time for your fixtures. If you are unable to make it on time for whatever reason, INFORM THE HOME TEAM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE with a possible ETA. Thanks, Dave.

MMS Scorecards
Please note. As from Thursday 10th November, we will now accept results and scorecards by MMS (Picture Text). These are to be sent to the usual text number and cards MUST be completed in full and readable. We hope this will help get in all results and scores quicker so things are updated as best we can. The usual post, e-mail or website scorecard are all still available and can be used. Thanks, Dave.

Mid-Season Handicap Review
Love it or Hate it? The mid-season Handicap Review will take place AFTER GAME WEEK 14 (Halfway) and any changes will take effect immediately in ALL competitions. Please note that there is a maximum of TWO players per team that can be reviewed and each is assessed subject to a set criteria with the league committee. Reviews are then based on win/loss records, influence of handicap, frame scores and a couple of other minor items. Please DO NOT ask us to reveal the criteria for selection as we will not tell you, this would be unfair to all as we would not like to think that captains selections would be influenced by our criteria. Changes will be issued as quick as we can so that matches in Game Week 15 are not adversely affected. Handicaps can go Up as well as Down up to a maximum of 7 points difference. Thanks, Dave.

League Update 10/9/11
A couple of items have come up this week which need to be clarified for all teams. Firstly, matchday results should be sent, by text, by BOTH captains of the teams. This is to ensure that the result gets to me in good time and the site can be fully updated as quick as possible.
Secondly, players who wish to transfer their registration to another team during the season can do so providing they have NOT PLAYED a game for another team. Once you have played in a match for your current team, you CANNOT play for another team in that season. Players must also pay the £2 registration fee again to complete any transfer. Thanks, Dave.

New Season Update 21/7/11
The minutes from the recent AGM for the new season are now available. Please ensure that all teams are aware of the changes for the new season, including handicap reviews, change of team venue, new Over 50's competition and general conditions. The full minutes can be viewed by clicking on this link: AGM Minutes 2011 Thanks.

New Season Update 20/7/11
Reminder to All Teams: League Registration will take place on MONDAY 8th AUGUST at GREENALLS, from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. Please ensure that ALL Fees are paid on registration (Team, Players and Outstanding if applicable). Player Handicaps will NOT be issued until after this date. We will continue to accept late registrations of players up until the 19th January 2012 (end of the 2nd period of fixtures). Players will only be accepted after this date if there is evidence your team cannot raise 6 players on a reglular basis. Late registration will cost £2 per player as normal. Thanks, Dave.