Fleetwood and District Darts League Rules

Fleetwood and District Darts League Rules

1. / The league shall be known as the Fleetwood and District Darts League (FDDL).
2. / Teams shall consist of eight players.
3. / Every player must be registered by his team before playing. New registrations, not already in the possession of the League Secretary, can be recorded on the rear of the match card prior to players taking part.
4. / Players registered with the FDDL are not allowed to participate in another Friday night darts league. The registration of any player, who plays in another Friday night darts league, will automatically be cancelled for the remainder of the season.
5. / Any team playing an unregistered player is liable to disqualification from the League. Any team playing an unregistered player loses the match with the winning points awarded to the opposition. However, registered players representing the guilty team shall retain their individual scores towards the individual merit. The player against whom the unregistered player competes shall be awarded a win by default.
6. / A player may transfer from one club to another, providing that he has not played in more than two league matches. No transfers are allowed after the December Committee meeting. A player transferring to a new team must have written permission from his old team before the transfer can take place. A player may only transfer once during a season.
*** / All eventualities regarding the registration of players are covered by Rules 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Team Captainsmust adhere strictly to those rules at all times.
Any concerns about player registrations should be tabled for discussion at the next League Committee Meeting.
The League Secretary cannot make a ruling on registration matters.
Any retrospective action deemed necessary must be sanctioned by the delegates of ALL member teams.
7. / All games must be played on a standard British board (as recognised by the FDDL) numbered 1 to 20 with doubles and trebles. The board shall be suspended at a height of 5 feet 8 inches from the centre of the bull to the floor and will have independent lighting. The recognised throw will be a minimum 7 feet 9 1/4 inches. Any board not being set at the correct height, or the throw being different to that prescribed above, maybe disputed by the away team captain. Should the home team fail to correct the board on request, the away team has the right to claim the match points.
8. / All home teams are entitled to use an oche and the away team must comply.
9. / All games will be played under the rules of the FDDL, i.e. eight games of 301 up, nominated starting double and finish on a double. The starting double may be changed after each set of three darts. The bull to count as double 25. The “no-bust” rule applies. Away team players are allowed to throw the identical number of darts as the home player to ensure equality.
10. / Only darts in the board at the completion of a throw count. The player is to remove his own darts at the completion of the throw subject to the marker being satisfied that the score is correct.
11. / Two points are awarded to the winning team, one each following a drawn match. Match cards will be provided by the League and after each match must be delivered back to the League by noon on the following Sunday.
12. / Both captains should have their completed match cards ready for a prompt 8.30 p.m. start. In the event that a visiting player is unavailable when called by the home captain, then a registered reserve must be entered as substitute. If no substitute is available then that game is forfeited. The player originally called is no longer eligible to take any part in the match. The home captain nominates the order of play in all league matches, but must have all his players present before 9 p.m.
13. / League matches are played on Friday evenings, preferably at 8.30 p.m., but no later than 8.45 p.m.
14. / In the event of any team being unable to fulfil a fixture they will forfeit the match 8-0. Games can be played prior to the date of the actual fixture on the strict understanding that both captains agree to this arrangement and that match cards from both teams are in the league secretary’s possession by noon on the Sunday after the original fixture date. Postponing games to be played on a date later than the original fixture date is not allowed.
15. / Team captains are responsible for the conduct of their players and must report any cases of misconduct to the League whom, if they desire, may impose suspension or take such action, as they deem appropriate against any player(s).
16. / The League Committee shall have the power to deal in any way it feels fit with regards to any matter coming before it that is not covered by the foregoing rules.
17. / Any darts may be used during a match. A player is allowed to change his darts during the course of a game should he/she wish.
18. / A League Averages prize will be awarded to the player(s) with most wins during the season. Each win scores two points towards a player’s accumulated total, a draw counting as one.
19. / A Highest Finish prize will be awarded to the player(s) with the highest finish in League matches. All such finishes must be entered on the rear of the match card by both captains.
20. / A Player of the Year prize will be awarded to the player(s) with most Man of the Match awards in League matches. A player need not be a winner to qualify for a nomination.
21. / The Rob Wilkinson Trophy will be awarded to the player(s) achieving the least number of darts in a winning leg. Only legs of eight or less shall qualify for this award.
22. / A Champion of Champions Knockout will take place on Final’s Night, between the individual merit winners of each member club. No substitutes are allowed to take the place of a club champion. Should a club champion be unavailable on Final’s Night, then his club’s entrance fee shall be subsumed into the league accounts. This contest is fully funded by the member clubs, whose entrance fees should be paid to the league by no later than the March Committee meeting.
23. / Any team whose contributions fall below the £50 league entry fee must offer themselves for re-election, along with any new applicants.
24. / All subscriptions due to the League are to be paid by the December Committee meeting.
25. / The team providing the venue for the Finals and Presentation Evening are to supply the entertainment for the evening.

Team and Plate Knockouts

27. / The first round of the Team Knockout will be seeded,the eight bottom teams in the league on the Friday prior to the date of the meeting at which the draw is made, to play at home to one of the eight top teams.
28. / The home team captain will select the first player to the board with the away team having the arrows. The away team captain will select second player to the board with the home team having the arrows. Thereafter selections alternate until the match is completed.
29. / In the event of a draw occurring at the end of any team knockout match both captains will select three players each to take part in a play-off. The three players selected by each captain will play in the order recorded, each throwing first for the bull, the nearest throw to go first in the leg. There are no arrows in the play off the result of which is to count as the match result.
30. / Replays in Team and Plate Knockouts are not allowed.
31. / In the event of the team drawn at home being unable to have use of their own board on the prescribed night then, they shall be entitled to select an alternative venue at any of the league’s registered outlets. The away captain has no say in the selection of a venue.

Champion of Champions, Individual and Pairs Knockouts

31. / Individual and pairs knockouts will be played as best of three legs. Players will toss a coin for the right to throw first or second in the first leg. First to the board is alternated during each leg thereafter. Arrows apply in each leg. Drawn legs contribute to the overall score and do not change the sequence of starting.

Roger BleasdaleLeague SecretaryAugust 2014