Updated 15/08/22
HORNCHURCH & UPMINSTER DISTRICT DARTS LEAGUE RULES
1. There will be 2 league meetings, one at end of Summer League & the A.G.M at the end of the winter league. Each team will have a representative attending the meetings. Any player registered within the team can represent the team but each team is only eligible for 1 vote. Failure to attend will result in a 5 point deduction. Missing 2 consecutive meetings will result in team being suspended from league and competitions. The League Officials can call an A.G.M., E.G.M. Secretaries or Committee Meeting at time, date and venue agreed, where possible, at the previous meeting.
2. An entrance fee of £50 for winter league and £50 for summer league will apply, competitions will be £1 per player. Fee’s to be paid at meetings/competitions to the treasurer.
3. All new teams venue must be vetted by a League Official, ideally prior to an AGM, or within 14-days, before being notified if acceptance is granted. The team will be informed as to what is expected of their team, i.e. sportsmanship; friendly environment; compliant with league rules.
4. All new teams shall be placed in the division dependant on the strength of the team and shall pay all of that season fees, not refundable, as a guarantee of their commitment to playing.
5. At the end of each season, two teams will be relegated & two teams promoted from each division. However, the League Officials reserve the right to adjust the balance of the divisions as need be including promoting more than two teams and requesting a team to remain in a division.
6. The board shall be 5ft 8in (173cm) from the floor to middle of bull, & the throw 7ft 9.25in (2.73metres) marked clearly with a raised oche, a chalk mark on the floor is not acceptable. Players must stand behind the oche; they must not stand on it. Any player over stepping the oche, will be warned by the referee and if this happens again the referee is entitled to call “No Score”. There must be no fruit machines, televisions or flashing images in the player’s eye-line once on the oche.
7. Both captains in a league game, or competition officials in competitions, should mutually agree that the board & conditions are satisfactory. Protests or objections of any kind in both league matches & competitions including conditions of play (i.e. poor quality board) should be noted on the result sheet as “played under protest” details of the situation should be sent to the League Chairman within 7 days explaining the situation.
8. Any club or players proven guilty of any breach of the rules will be brought before the Committee. Any player referred to the Committee for violent or disorderly conduct or bringing the League into disrepute will be brought before the Committee to explain their actions & may at the discretion of the League Officials be banned from the League.The decision made by the Committee will be final. A team’s behaviour is the responsibility of its captain.
9. Any team playing unregistered player without getting prior authorisation will be deducted 10 points. The league will decide if further action will be taken.
10. In the event of a team dropping out of the League (or is expelled) in the first half of the season; all their results shall be null & void, and all points shall be deducted. If a team drops out (or is expelled) in the second half of the season then their results for the first half will stand. Any results in the second half will be null & void.
11. Teams must be registered prior to the start of the season. Teams will be notified the latest date for registering, late registrations will only be allowed at the discretion of the committee.
12. Each player shall sign an official team registration sheet once for the winter season & once for the summer season, these names will be posted on the website against each team. They should be written on the sheet declaring which team they shall play for in the coming season, any player signing in a false or assumed name shall be liable to suspension.
13. If a team has an underage player, it is their responsibility to call the Home Venue/Landlord and ensure that the player will be allowed into the venue – this is purely at the Landlord’s discretion. The underage player must be accompanied by their Parent or Legal Guardian.
14. No player shall sign for a team in the league if they have debts or liabilities to another team or the league itself.
15. Each team may register as many players as they wish. New players may only be signed on during the first half of the season unless agreed by committee, all new players will not be able to play for seven days after the notice is given. First and second half of season is denoted by fixture dates. New players or transfers during the season must be notified to the chairman prior to their first game before being eligible to play. In all cases of players transferring the league chairman must be informed prior to playing. Transfers can only play in competitions if they have not previously played in any round for their previous club. Once first round of any competition is played the team must stay as it is for rest of the competition with no change to players.
16. No late signings will be permitted after the halfway stage of league fixtures unless there are extenuating circumstances which would have to be agreed by committee.
17. No player having signed for one club will be allowed to sign on, or play for, another club after the first match of the season unless they have not played for their original club or the team have dropped out the league.
18. Any player not having played for their registered team may transfer without the permission of the committee.
19. The home team to chalk & the away team to call in all league games.
20. No call is to be made or information given except by the referee (the caller) the player should ask the caller what is scored & what is left. Other players should not shout out what number or double to go for. The referee has the right to disqualify any player not observing this rule.
21. Three darts shall constitute as a throw, all darts count under any circumstances, should a flight fall out while being thrown it shall count, any protest as to the legality of a dart thrown should be made to the referee. All darts thrown at the dartboard will count, no loose darts to be thrown. At no time must the darts be removed from the board before the score has been announced, the point of the dart will decide the score.
22. All trophies that need to be returned are to be returned to the chairman at the relevant meeting.
23. To start a league match away team will throw first them the home team will throw first in the next game and so on throughout the match. If there is to be a deciding leg then the team who went first will start the leg. The caller’s decision shall be final. Method of play will be two games of 3 -a-side of 601 One point for each game. Followed by three pairs playing 501, best of three games for one point per pair. Six single games of 401, best of three games for one point per single, thus enabling the team to score a maximum of eleven points. Winning teams will receive 2 bonus points. For all the order to be decided by the team captain’s drawing from a hat the names of the opposing team players.
24. Names of competitors must be recorded on a board by 8.30pm and play to start at approx. that time. Open board to be declared at 8.15pm.
25. Each team must have at least 4 players to constitute a match. If a team only has 5 players they are permitted to play 2 players against the 3 missing a turn each time. For pairs the same, the player who is on there own misses a turn each time.
26. Teams must give at least 24 hours notice to cancel a match & inform the league and opposition. Any games postponed with insufficient notice will cause a 4 point deduction. Failure to turn up without notice will result in a 10 point deduction, the team that has had the cancellation against them will get average points minimum of 6 plus the 2 bonus points, if it is the away team they will also be liable for the cost of any food provided. Teams will only be able to postpone a maximum of 2 games per season which should be played in the spare 2 weeks. Teams cancelling more than 2 games will be referred to the committee and face a deduction of 10 points as a consequence. If a team has had more than 2 games cancelled against them and do not have spare weeks to play the game the cancelling team will lose all points, the team that has had the cancellation against them will get average points minimum of 6 plus the 2 bonus points
27. The winning team must send the result in by 22.00 the following day. Result sheets can be sent via WhatsApp or email. The result sheet is kept by the home team and can be handed in at meetings. Late results will result in having 4 points deducted.
28. Result sheets must have the players full names entered & signed before the match starts. (No nicknames) Players must be in attendance when the draw is done, if you have a player who is going to arrive late, you should tell the opposing captain; if you do not then the opposing captain has the right not to let that player play. Names must be legible. Any lost or missing sheets will result in 2 points per sheet deduction.180’s and high finishes will only be counted if confirmed on sheet.
29. Winners & runners up of the league will be entitled to 8 trophies, if extra are required the secretary should be informed and a deposit will be required. Amount to be decided by the secretary.
30. All K.O finals to be played over the best of 5 leg’s.
31. Players must play 50% of league matches to qualify for competitions.
32. Players names that are on the result sheet but do not turn up must have the names crossed out, captains to sign to say this has been done.
33. Teams not completing the fixture list will be banned from the league for the next season either summer or winter unless there are extenuating circumstances. If they want to join again after that it will be put to the vote before they are accepted again.
34. In the event of a tie at the end of the season, the result will be decided by count back, if the teams are still level then a playoff will be played at a neutral venue.
35. Players in comps who lose and do not chalk the next game will be banned from future competitions, Players can ask somebody to do it for them but there must be no delays.
36. Sandwiches/food for winter league is expected to be provided, sandwiches/food for summer remains optional.
