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Wells & District Darts League - Rules (Winter Season 2024/25)

 

The League shall be known as “Wells & District Darts League”, open to licensed premises within a ten-mile radius of Wells.

Tuesday night will be the night of play, unless otherwise stated on the fixture list.

League matches shall consist of 5 singles and 2 doubles.  A player may only play in 1 single and 1 doubles game in the same match.  Teams must have a minimum of 4 players to start a match.

A - If there aren’t enough players to make a full team on one side, the draw is to take place as normal, the captains each put 5 names down and then the player drawn against the player not there get an automatic win (3-0 in both Divisions).

B - If both teams only have 4 then the blind draw is to take place as normal with only 4 players for each team.

League games shall be best 3 out of 5 legs in the singles, and best 2 out of 3 legs in the pairs for both Divisions, 501 up, flying start, finish on a double.  ‘Bust’ rule shall apply, i.e. if a player scores more than the number required then that score shall not count, and the players score will revert back to the score the player required prior to the opponent’s last throw.  Home player to start first leg, away player to start second leg etc, up for bull to start fifth leg. Each leg won is worth 1 point to the winning team (i.e. it is no longer 1 point per game, if the score is 2-0, 0-2, 2-1, 1-2, the score will be 5-5).  An additional 2 legs will be given for a win and 1 leg for a draw – these will be added by the Secretary.

Each captain is to nominate five individual players at the start of each match, a blind draw will then take place to determine who will play against whom. The captains may put their cards down in order of which they would like them to be drawn. This process is to be repeated in the pairs.  Matches should be played in the order drawn, but if a team has a player arriving late, or who needs to leave early, the sequence of games can be altered to accommodate this.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOME CAPTAIN TO INFORM THE SECRETARY OF THE RESULT (07907 449959) THE SAME NIGHT, IF FOR ANY REASON THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, RESULTS WILL BE ACCEPTED UPTO 6PM THE FOLLOWING DAY. RESULT CARDS TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED AND SENT TO THE SECRETARY, EITHER VIA WHATS APP, WELLS DARTS FACEBOOK MESSENGER OR EMAIL.DARTS CARDS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO BE SENT BY POST. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RULE WILL RESULT IN THE MATCH BEING FORFEITED 21-0.  THIS RULE WILL BE RIGIDLY ENFORCED.

180’s, highest checkouts and legs of 15 darts or less will count, however, they will only be valid if confirmed on the photographed result sheet which should be signed by both captains.

Height of the board to be 5’8” to the centre of the board.  The throw to be 7’9¼, CLEARLY marked on the floor, a chalk line will not suffice, the oche should be raised and fixed to the floor.

All matches should start by 8.30pm at the very latest.

Anyone is permitted to take part in the league, however if a player is 16 years of age or under it is down to the discretion of the licensee if they are allowed in the premises. They must also be accompanied by an adult.

A dart will be considered thrown once it leaves the players hand, whether it is in the board or otherwise.

Dartboards are to be fixed to, and not hung from the wall or partition as the case maybe, lighting to be 100 watts minimum.

Scorers are to be provided by the home team, checkers by the away team.  Scoreboards are to be hung in a place clearly visible to the player on the oche.  Electronic scoreboards may be used, but the away team must have the option of using a handwritten scoreboard.  However, if the away team insists on this method they MUST assist in the marking of games.  When using electronic scoreboards, the home captain must ensure the marker can use it properly.  If a mistake is made which cannot be rectified in less than 30 seconds, the leg (not the game) will be awarded to the away team, irrespective of how it affects the match position.

New players can only be registered up until the turnaround point of each season.  Prior to this time players should be registered up to 24 hours before a match, however, the secretary must be informed before they take part in any match.

Entrance fees will be set at and are payable at the annual general meeting.

Postponements / cancellations WILL NOT BE PERMITTED (with the exception of bad weather – winter) except due to exceptional circumstances with the express approval of the committee.

A - At least 24 hours’ notice must be given, or a £5 fine will be incurred and food will have to be paid for (except in extreme circumstances).  Should it be agreed that a game be postponed / cancelled, the committee will give both teams a date that the game will be played by/on. Failure to play this game by the date given will result in both teams being fined £20. And then the game will be forfeit by the team who originally cancelled the game. (Including points and legs).

B – If no notice is given and you just don’t turn up, you will automatically forfeit the game and will be deducted 10 legs from the table.

All complaints must be submitted to the Secretary in writing within 7 days with a £3.00 fee which will be refunded if the complaint is upheld.  Disputes will be settled by the committee.  Any dispute which cannot be settled by the committee will be settled by the executive of president, chairman and secretary.  THEIR DECISION WILL BE FINAL.

Cup Matches

The League Knockout will consist of 2 doubles matches, followed by 5 singles matches, 501 start.  Teams are entitled to play as many players as they wish.  When the final result is a draw (legs), each Captain should nominate a player to play a best of three legs ‘shootout’ to decide the winner (normal singles games rules apply). The first round of the knockouts will be best 2 out of 3. Then once split into the Team knockout and the Pete Bridge Cup, both knockouts will be best 3 out of 5 for singles and 2 out of 3 for the pairs.

Following the first round of the League Knockout, there will be a First Round Losers Knockout Competition (this will be known as the Pete Bridge Cup), this should be played as outlined in Rule 18.  All teams knocked out in the first round will automatically be entered into this competition.  Due to the number of teams in the league, it will be necessary to incorporate a bye later in the knockouts, this is unavoidable.

All registered players may enter the individual knockout, upon payment of the appropriate fee.  Any player who enters the individual knockouts and subsequently fails to turn up will be fined £3, and all that players team will be suspended from that tournament until the fine is paid.  Any individual who enters the individual knockout MUST have played a minimum of 3 league games prior to the individual knockout details being circulated.

All registered players may enter the pairs knockout tournament, upon payment of the entry fee.  Pairs players must play for the same team, substitutes are not allowed in the pair’s knockout under any circumstances.

All individual and pairs knockouts will be, where possible, played at neutral venues.  A roll call will be made at 8pm.  Players not present will be disqualified.

All knockouts will now be run on a knockout basis and not each round being redrawn.

Trophies

All winning teams are required to sign for any trophy they win and are therefore confirming that they will be responsible for that trophy and that it will be returned in the same condition as it is taken.  If there is any need for the League to either replace or repair / clean the trophy, the team will be responsible for any costs incurred.  Failure to pay these costs will result in the Darts Team being prohibited from entering any future Wells & District Darts League until such costs have been paid.

Finally, would players remember it is only a game and should be played as such.