Oxfordshire Men’s & Ladies Darts Super League.

Rules & Constitution Season 2008/2009

1.      The leagues will be known as The Oxfordshire Men’s/ Ladies Darts Super League, (here onwards known as the super league), & match nights will be Thursdays for men & Mondays for ladies.

2.      Only teams within the Oxfordshire boundaries will be permitted to play in the super league, unless under special circumstances agreed by members at an A.G.M.

3.      The committee will consist of The Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer & members of the Oxfordshire County Darts committee. Ladies will also include 1 member from each registered team

4.      Only players from the super league will be eligible to play for the Oxfordshire County Darts Organisation & to qualify must have a running average of 21.5 (Men) & 14.5 (Ladies)

5.      All players must read & agree to abide by the rules fully, before signing the team registration form. All players must also sign the green B.D.O. registration form for which a fee of £1 must be paid. The secretary will be responsible for distributing these to member teams.

6.      If, on a match night a team wishes to register a player they may do so as long as the opposing teams captain agrees. Please note the registration in the comments column on the score sheet. A B.D.O. form must also be filled in & returned to the secretary with the scoresheet. (see rule 5)

7.      A player may only register & play for 1 team. The only possibility of a transfer the committee can consider is in the case of a team folding. This decision will be entirely at the committees’ discretion.

8.      All teams must register a minimum of 10 players (Men) or 8 players (Ladies)  

9.      All teams accepted into the league will pay a registration fee of £100 for Men or £50 for Ladies (changeable at an A.G.M), which includes automatic entry into the knockout cup (9-a-side Men, 7-a-side Ladies). The fee is payable with league entry form.

10.  Weekly match fees are £18 (Men) or £21 (Ladies). This fee must be sent to the secretary with the completed scoresheet. If this fee is to be posted it must be a cheque or postal order & made payable to The Oxfordshire Men’s/Ladies Darts Super League. Ladies incentives are to be sent to the treasurer on nominated dates on the fixture list. Match fees are payable in advance if so wished but no arrears will be allowed under any circumstances.

11.  Players registered with other counties may play in the super league. Players playing in other counties super leagues must notify the secretary.

12.  The minimum age for players is 14 years old. Any team with players under the age of 18 must inform their opponents when playing away fixtures to ensure such players are allowed to use the venue. All Players under the age of 16 will be the responsibility of their team captain.

13.  Any team not fulfilling their fixtures shall forfeit the right to any prizes that may be due to them. All league fixtures must be fulfilled before the last scheduled league fixture.

14.  It is not permitted to cancel any fixtures whatsoever, the only exception being an emergency or inclement weather. The secretary must be notified immediately should any fixture be cancelled for the reasons stated.

15.  For a scheduled fixture each team will consist of 9 (nine) players for men or 7 (seven) players for ladies, who will play 9/7 singles games (sets) of 501, best of 5 legs, Straight in, double out. The away team will throw 1^st in sets 1,3,5 & 7 (+9 for men) with the home team throwing 1^st in sets 2,4 & 6 (+8 for men). The captains will draw registration cards to determine the order of play.

The draw must be done in time for play to commence at 8.30 p.m. sharp. This will also apply to all of the competitions.

16.   9/7-a-side knockout is as per league format except toss for start. Ladies triples is 601 best of 5 legs, toss for start, winner of toss to go 1^st in legs 1,3 & 5, loser in 2 & 4.

17.  Once the draw has been completed any player not present when his game is due to be played shall forfeit that game immediately.  This also applies to all competitions. For a league matches their opponent will given their running average + 1 bonus point for a win.

18.  Players wishing to play in the super league pairs & singles must be registered for at least 5 weeks prior to the said competition taking place (Men). For the Ladies, any player wishing to enter & play in any super league competition they must have played 5 games prior to the said competition taking place. Any reserve players are also eligible so long as they have attended 5 matches prior to the said competition taking place & these attendances must be recorded on the score sheet in the comments column & signed by both captains.

19.  You must enter a minimum of 5 players in the singles & 3 pairs in the pairs. (Ladies only) 2 teams in the triples. Failure to comply will result in a fine of £10 for your team.

20.  Chalking. If you play in a competition & are defeated you must chalk the following game on the board that you have just lost on (or find someone to do it for you). Failure to do so will result in a fine of £5.

21.  A player must play at least 30% of the league fixtures to qualify for a running average.

22.  The throwing distance shall be no less than 2.37 metres (7ft 9 ¼ inches). There will be a raised oche at least 38mm in height & 610mm in length (1 ¼ inches & 24 inches respectively).

23.  Matchboards will be of bristle type & in good condition (winmau boards recommended), according to B.D.O. rules.

24.  Scoreboards & electronic scorers must be positioned in front of the players & clearly visible. The only person(s) allowed to be in front of the players whilst playing are the scorers & callers. A competent scorer(s)/caller(s) will be provided by the home team & this person will act as referee in the event of any dispute.

25.  All teams will be provided with score sheets & both teams (home & away) must complete a sheet for each match played. Once completed they must be verified by both captains as correct & signed accordingly by the scorers/captains. The completed score sheet must then be sent with the correct match fee (£18/£21) to the secretary after each match. They must reach the secretary within 72 hours of a match being played. There will be a fine of £5 for any late sheets &/or match fees. (See rule 10)

26.  It will be the responsibility of the home team to ensure that the best of order is given during all matches & any distractions (juke boxes, gaming machines, pool tables, etc) are kept to a bare minimum.

27.  The league will start usually in August/September & run concurrently from start to finish with the county season to finish at approximately the same time.

28.  The fixture schedule will be league fixtures & competitions intermixed, with each team playing each other at home & away (or vice versa).

29.  A further 3^rd fixture against each team may be played to avoid unnecessary blank weeks in the fixture list. Whether fixtures are twice or 3 times will be decided at each A.G.M.

30.  Teams winning a league fixture will be awarded 3 points for each match won.

Mens incentives are as follows

31.  Each team will play for cash incentives/prizes awarded as follows.

(A)   £3 for every set won

(B)   £10 for top average  <running not dynamic>                )

(C)  £10 for most 100+                                                         ) in each team

(D)  £10 for most 100+ finishes                                            )

(E)   £5 for top average each week

(F)   £250 for top 7 averages

1^st £100

2^nd £70

3^rd £30

4^th £20

5^th £15

6^th £10

7^th £5

(G)  £40 most wins play-off winner

(H)   £20 most wins play-off runner-up

Ladies incentives are as follows

All players in each team will play for weekly prizes consisting of

(A)   £2 for each set won

(B)   £5 for the highest winning average

(C)  £5 for the highest game shot

At the end of the season there will be a cash of the following

(D)  £5 for the player with the highest average in each team

(E)   £5 for the player with the highest shot out in each team

(F)   £5 for the player with the most 100+ in each team                        

(G)  £5 for the player with the most wins (after play-off) in each team     

There are cash prizes for the overall individual player at the end of each season awarded for

(A)   The highest overall winning average that season

(B)   The highest overall shot out that season

(C)  The overall most tons scored for that season

(D)  £10 for most wins play-off winner                                                        

    Top 3 averages

 1^st £50

2^nd £40

3^rd £30

32.  Competition monies will be paid per entry.

33.  All awards will be presented to each team/player on the official presentation night. Any team/player not present on this night will forfeit the right to receive any such award due.

34.  The Men’s secretary will be awarded an honorarium of £100 to be paid at the end of each season.

35.  If a team/player wishes to protest against any team/player involved in any match, they must do so in writing & enclose a £10 protest fee. This much reach the secretary within 7 days of the match being played. Should the protest be upheld the fee will be returned.

36.  In the event of a team/player being involved in, or causing actions considered to bring the game of darts into disrepute, that player/team will be subject to disciplinary measures taken against them by the disciplinary committee.

37.  The league reserves the right to expel any player/team found to be in breach of the rules (with right to an appeal)

Rules 38, 39, 40 & 41 applies to the mens league only

38.  If 2 or more teams are tied for the league championship, then the team with the most sets will be awarded the title, if still level it will be decided by leg difference & if still level a play-off will take place.

39.  If 2 or more players (each team) are tied for the most wins then it’s the best average followed by leg difference, most tons, 180’s then a play-off.

40.  If there’s a tie for most tons (each team) then it’s the most 180’s.

41.  If there’s a tie for most 100+ finishes then it’s the highest finish.

    In both cases (rule 40 & 41) if still level prizes are shared.

42.  There will be a fine of £10 for any team failing to attend any meeting called.

43. The super league competitions will be played at the home of The Oxfordshire County Darts Organisation. The exception being the preliminary rounds of the 9-a-side & 5-a-side competitions, which may be played around the pubs. Ladies 7-a-side will be played at the home drawn team’s venue instead of one play-off.

         B.D.O. playing rules also apply throughout.