1. Name

That this League be called “St. Helens Thursday Snooker League”. The Management Committee shall have the power to consider application for membership from any Club within acceptable geographic limits.

2. Composition Of League.

That the League consist of two or more Divisions of 10 Snooker Teams (subject to rule 7 o iii).

Each Club shall pay an annual subscription of £30 per team prior to the beginning of the season.

Any variation(s) from the foregoing shall be dealt with by the Management Committee, both as to status and subscriptions.

All players must be registered each season. The league shall be on a handicap basis. The maximum handicap an amateur player can give is 55 points. Professional players must give full handicap.

In the event of a team withdrawing once the fixtures have been prepared or following the first fixtures or at any later stage, the above will be forfeited.

That each member Club shall settle their financial obligations to the League for the coming season not later than 7 days prior to the start of the season.

3. Management.

The League shall be governed by a Management Committee consisting of a Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Competition Secretary, Hon.Treasurer, up to 6 members elected at the Annual General Meeting. The committee shall have complete jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to the league. All shall have voting power and the chairman shall have a casting vote when necessary.

4. Meetings.

The Annual General Meeting shall be on the first Thursday in July each year.  The business at that meeting shall include :-

Election of officers and Committee; Secretary’s Report; Treasurers Report including a certified statement of accounts; Amendments to Rules; Notices of Motion and General Business.

(a) Notices of Motions to be in the hands of the Secretary 14 days prior to the meeting, and both Proposer and Seconder to be in attendance at the AGM otherwise the motion will be declared void. Any motion would also be void should the Proposer and/or Seconder's Club(s)fail to fulfil all their financial obligations. Voting at the AGM is one vote per Team providing they have fulfilled their financial obligation as specified above. No apologies are acceptable for non-attendance at an AGM.

(b) Applications for entry into the League for the following season must also be made at this meeting. Any such applications must be agreed to by two-thirds of the eligible ballot. All Clubs to submit the number of teams they are entering for the following season together with a list of their registered players at the A.G.M.

5. Trophies.

That trophies be awarded to the winners of all competitions held under the jurisdiction of the League and held for the following 12 months. The Clubs or Individuals be responsible for their safe-keeping and Insurance during that period and their return when requested, in the same clean and undamaged condition, and subsequent replacement if lost or damaged.  In the event of the league being lapsed, suspended or disbanded, all trophies and monies shall pass into the care of four trustees who shall be responsible for arranging their safe custody. The trustees shall consist of the Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Results/Fixture Secretary and Hon. Treasurer, who shall have the power to demand the return of all trophies by the holders, even though the twelve month period has not expired.

6. Prizes.

That in each division EIGHT prizes be presented to the Champions, EIGHT to the Runners-up and a prize to the player compiling the highest break. Prizes may take the form of either trophies or cheque.

7. Conditions of Play.

(a) That all Clubs shall have tables prepared and ready for play at their respective start time.

(b) That each player must be a bone-fide member of the Club for which he/she is registered.

(c) No player can sign for or play for more than one team or club in any one season.

(d) Late registrations will be accepted up to the Christmas break for a fee of £5.00 per player.

(e) That the games be contested under rules currently in force at that time and each Club exhibits a copy in their Clubroom.

(f) That no further late registration of players will be allowed after the Christmas break (exceptional circumstances excepted, subject to Management Committee approval).

(g) Clubs entering teams in the League must fulfil their league fixtures on the recognised nights set by the League and changes to this must be with full Management Committee approval.

(h) Each club shall notify the league of the starting times for matches at their respective clubs.

(i) That all players of professional status will be allocated a handicap of at least minus 14 points per frame.

(j) The “MISS” rule will not apply in this league, but a genuine attempt must be made. Only if a qualified referee is in charge of a frame, can a miss be called.

(k) That the Management Committee reserve the right to re-adjust handicaps half way through the season.

(l) That in snooker, teams shall consist of six players, one frame shall be played by each player.

(m) The HOME Captain nominates two players and advises the AWAY captain of the table numbers. The AWAY aptain then nominates their opponents. The HOME Captain ensures that the respective player’s handicaps are put on to the scoreboard, and so on throughout the match. Once the captains have made their nomination of players they shall not thereafter be changed.

(n) That any team which keeps a table empty for 15 minutes because of shortage of players shall forfeit one frame, and 30 minutes later if no player is available, shall forfeit another frame, etc. Where a frame is forfeited, the offending team will lose the frame 147-0. If a team fails to turn up for a match without prior agreement of the league Management Committee and their opponents, they shall forfeit the match 7-0.

(o) That all league matches will be played and points awarded as follows:-

(ii) A total of 7 points will be at stake, 1 point for each frame won and 1 point for the highest aggregate score. Each frame to be decisive.  Re-spotted black to decide drawn frame, this must be added to frame score and must count towards team aggregate score. In the event of the total aggregate scores being level at the end of the match, then the black in the final frame to finish will be re-spotted and the SAME PLAYERS will complete the match to decide the aggregate point.

(iii) Promotion and Relegation. At the end of each season the two teams with the lowest number of points in Division One will be relegated into Division Two and the two teams with the highest number of points in Division Two shall be promoted to Division One. However, to ensure a suitable number of teams are maintained in the two divisions, the Management Committee reserve the right to deviate from this rule if necessary.

(p) That the home team will be responsible for providing referees for all frames.

(q) That any team playing an ineligible player shall have ALL points deducted from that match and the points awarded to the opposing team. Any other matches affected by this infringement shall be similarly dealt with.

(r) No chalk must be left on tables during play.

(s) RESULT CARDS.

Result Cards are provided and must be completed during the actual playing of the match. The HOME team or Club is responsible for forwarding the completed result card, signed by both captains noting any high breaks etc. The result card must be in the hands of the RESULTS/FIXTURE SECRETARY no later than NOON on the SATURDAY following the match.

(t) MATCH RESULTS.

LEAGUE MATCHES: BOTH CAPTAINS shall text or e-mail the result to the Hon Secretary, Pam Welsby as soon as the match ends and on the same night.

Text: 07813 452 455 or email: pamelawelsby@aol.co.uk

COMPETITION MATCHES: Both to text or email result the Competition Secretary, Chris Hill as soon as the match ends and on the same night.

Text: 07988 610 403 or email: chris@denebnet.org.uk

8. Postponement and Non-fulfilment of Fixtures

(a) No arranged League match may be cancelled except at the discretion of the League.

(b) That in the event of any match being caused to be abandoned such match to be completed within 14 days of the original date and three weeks before the final league fixtures, otherwise a date will be fixed by the League, which must be Strictly adhered to. All completed games in the abandoned match to stand, uncompleted games to be treated as not started.

9 Protests and Disputes.

That all protests must be telephoned through on the night of the match and then in writing within 48 hours of the finish of the match, accompanied by a fee of £5.00p and sent to the League secretary. The fee shall be refunded should the committee consider it a valid complaint irrespective of their decision. If considered frivolous it shall be forfeited.

10. Three-A-Side Competition Order Of Play.

Matches will be played as in the league (Rule 7) up to the stage where rounds are to be played at neutral venues. Matches at neutral venues will consist of the respective captains tossing a coin in order to decide HOME and AWAY status.

11. Team Knock-Out Competition

This shall be arranged on a similar basis to league matches, with necessary adjustments made by the management committee.

12. Team Knock-Out Plate Competition

This shall be arranged on a similar basis to league matches. All prelim and first round losing teams in the Team Knock Out will be automatically entered into the plate, with necessary adjustments made by the management committee.

13. Finance

The Chairman, Secretary, Competition Secretary and Treasurer shall all be named on any bank mandate.

Any two signatures shall be required for the signing of cheques or the withdrawal of funds from the account/s.

GENERAL.

THAT THE ACTION OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE BE DEEMED FINAL ON ANY MATTER NOT COVERED BY THESE RULES.

Revised, reprinted and issued October 2008