Stowmarket and District
Stowmarket
Friendly Summer Darts League
Sponsored by the Royal William
League Rules – 2017
1. Type of Board
All matches to be played on a standard board (Blade 4 or equivalent or better) numbered 1 to 20, with 25 and bull, with doubles and trebles rings. Bull to count as double 25, and is a valid double for a game shot.
2. Position of Board, Scoring and Oche
The height the board should be from the floor to centre of bull is 5’8” and the length of throw is 7’9¼” (a fixed bar or something similar MUST be fitted at this distance, this however can be removable).
All scoring must be done on a white board, chalk board or an electronic scoreboard that shows the previous 5 scores.
2. Registration and Age of Players
New teams entering the league, must be within a 10 mile radius of the Royal William using Google maps. (this is not set in stone, and the league members will have the final say at the AGM).
No registration of individual players is required. However, once a player has played in a league game for a team, that player will not then be eligible to play for any other team in the league for the remainder of that season. The only exceptions to this rule that will be allowed are:
► In the event of a pub closing, the complete team may move to another venue.
► If the complete team is disbanded, individual members may then join other teams.
Players must be at least 14 years old to play in the league, and no more than two players under the age of 16 can play for a team in any match.
PLEASE NOTE: although the league rules allow players under the age of 16 to play, captains should advise the landlord of any venue they are visiting, as his licence may only permit under 16’s until 9pm. If this is the case, the under 16 (in negotiation with the opposing captain) could play 1st and then leave or perhaps miss that weeks game.
4. League Matches
All matches are to be played on a Wednesday evening. The match is to consist of nine games and a captain’s game played in the following order:-
Singles Six Games, Best of Three 501
Captains One Game, Best of Three 501
Pairs Three Games, Best of Three 501
Captains to ensure the Singles draw takes place at 8.30pm on the night and that the match commences by 8.40pm.
The Pairs draw will be done after the 6 singles games have been played.
In all games, the visiting team has first shot at the bull to determine the starter. The player closest to the bull throws first in the 1st leg and 3rd leg if required.
All games will be flying start with double out, and “No bust back” rule shall apply, i.e. whatever number was required after the last dart before busting is the number carried over to the next throw.
No player may play more than once in the singles or pairs. A captain, however, can play in the pairs, singles and captains.
To compete in all 9 games a team requires 6 players. If a team has fewer players then the following applies:-
With just 5 players, one single is conceded; one pair is played 1v2, with one throw conceded.
With just 4 players, two singles are conceded. In the pairs the captain can choose to concede one pair, or play two pairs 1v2.
Etc………..
4a. Cup Competition’s
The knockout cup 1st round matches will be played on the 19th April 2017, and will only have teams from divisions 2 and 3 in the draw. The 2nd round games will be played on the 26th April and will have the eight winners from the 1st round and the eight 1st division teams.
The eight 1st round losing teams will form the quarter final in the “Zarkeys Plate”, which will be played on the 9th August. As will the Knockout Cup Quarter final games.
Both tournament semi finals will be played the following week, the 16th August, the venues will be as follows:-
1. K/O Cup Semi Final 1 – Thurston Fox & Hounds
2. K/O Cup Semi Final 2 – Stowmarket Crown
3. Zarkeys Plate Semi Final 1 – Cedars Park Aviary
4. Zarkeys Plate Semi Final 2 – Coddenham Country Club
Note: No team can play in a semi final at their own venue, so venues may get swapped to ensure that is the case.
Both finals will be played on finals night.
Cup games will be the same format as league games. 6 Singles followed by 3 Pairs. There will be no need to play a captains game. The singles shall be drawn 1st, the Pairs drawn after the singles have been played.
4b. 180’s and High Check Outs
This season, only 180’s and high outs hit in league games will count towards the end of season trophy.
Please continue to record them on every card, as they will still be included on the website.
5. The Captain
The captain is deemed to be the person who organises the draw for their team before play commences and must be 18 or over. Whoever is shown as the captain on the first week’s result card will be recorded as captain for the season unless it is stated clearly on the first card to the contrary. This season each team must also nominate a vice captain.
The captain’s game is to be played by the captain or the vice captain, and every win will be accorded 1 point per leg won.
The match will be decided by the best of three legs.
A 2-0 win will give the winning captain 2 points and the losing captain 0 point’s. A 2-1 win will give the winning captain 2 points and the losing captain 1 point.
The points will be tabulated through the season, and the captain with the most points will win the captains award. (This applies to all three divisions as there are separate awards for each division).
In the event of a tie on points, the captain with the most wins will win. If this is still the same then the aggregate score from their result’s against each other will determine the winner. If this is also a tie, the award will be shared.
In the event of a captain being absent from their game, the vice captain can play (who must also be 18 or over) any points won by the vice captain are included in the table. If both the captain and vice captain are absent, then the opponents captain/vice captain is awarded a 2-0 win. When selecting your vice captain, please ensure the person is likely to be there when the captain is absent.
6. Points
Points will be scored as follows:-
This season winning teams receive 2 points whilst the losing team gets no points.
7. League Format
This season we hope to have three division’s of 8 teams. The winners from each division will be the team with the most points at the end of the season. If teams are tied on points then the team with the most wins will win. If still tied, the team with the best leg difference will win the league. If still tied then the aggregate score from the two games against each other will be used. If this is also tied, then a play off at a neutral venue will decide it.
At the end of the season the bottom two teams in division one will be relegated to division two. The top two teams from division two will be promoted to division one. The bottom two teams in division two will be relegated to division three. The top two teams in division three will be promoted to division two.
8. Results
On the night of the match each team’s administrator will get an SMS text message from the league. Please reply to this message with the result of the match after the game. I.e. if you win at home 6-3 then reply:-
6 3
(no other characters are required but you can follow the result with the captains score).
6 3 captains 2-1
Both administrators need to reply regardless of whether you won or lost.
If a teams administrator is going to be away for any period and you would like the text sent to a different mobile number please let the secretary know via e mail. You will also need to e mail the secretary when you want the number changed back again.
It is the responsibility of the winning team to ensure the result card reaches the secretary not later than midday on the Monday following the day of the match.
I am also happy to receive a copy of the result card by e mail, Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger or a photo of the card via text.
I will confirm receipt of any cards sent this way; if you do not get an e mail or text back from me then I haven’t received your e mail/text!
9. Cancellations
The only acceptable reasons to cancel any match will be:
► The temporary closure or incapacity of the home venue.
► Bad Weather (this will not be an issue in a summer league!)
(i.e. where travel could be hazardous, such as heavy snow or high winds, floods etc – those conditions in which the Police usually advise people to stay at home).
There will be no free weeks; if a game is cancelled it will be the responsibility of the home team captain to re-arrange the game to be played on another evening. All games must be completed by the end of August.
In all cases of matches being postponed, the secretary must be informed.
If a team is short of players on the night, this will not be an acceptable reason for cancelling the game. If a team is short of players, for what ever reason, they must still play the match. Failure to do so incurs the penalty of forfeiting the match, and the resulting score would be allocated as a 9-0 defeat. There will be no exceptions to this.
Note If a match is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, and without an acceptable or valid reason, a claim for the cost of the refreshments could be incurred.
10. Summer League Finals Night 30th August 2017 (to be held at Chilton Fields Sports and Social Club)
Singles Competition
The best 2 singles players from each team will represent their team in a knockout competition. If we get 8 teams in each division, this will give us 16 players. If a division only has 7 teams, we will take the 14 players plus the 2 highest placed singles players not already entered.
The 16 players will take part in a knockout competition down to a final, which will be played on finals night.
The tournaments will be played on the 23rd August 2017, with the draws be done at each venue on the night.
The venues will be as follows:-
Division One – Stowmarket Oak
Division Two – Stowmarket Maltings
Division Three – Combs Ford Magpie
Pairs Competition –
Each team captain must choose 2 pairs to represent their team in this season’s pair’s competition.
This year, the competition will be started the same night as the singles competition, and played over 4 venues.
Players must have played 8 games to play in the pair’s competition.
(No player can play in both the singles and pairs competitions)
2 pairs from each of the 24 teams in the league mean we will have 48 pairs entering this year.
12 at each of the following venues:-
1. Stowmarket Meadlands
2. Needham Market Three Tuns
3. Stowmarket Royal William
4. Stowmarket Queens Head
The draw for each venue will be done on the night. Each venue will be played down to a final, with all 4 finals making up the quarter finals to be played at finals night.
Ladies Singles Competition – the ladies singles competition will be played on Monday the 26th June 2017 at the Stowmarket Walnut Tree. Draw at 8pm prompt. Any ladies that have played in this season’s summer league can enter. All captains to ensure that the names of those wanting to enter have been given to the secretary prior to the night. We will play down to the final which will then be played on finals night.
Under 21 Cup – Any player that has played in the summer league this season and is under the age of 21 on the 19th April 2017 can enter. Please give the secretary any names of players that want to enter and qualify for this tournament ASAP.
The date for this competition is TBC, but will be played at the Stowupland Retreat. The competition will be played down to a final which will be played on finals night.
Landlords Cup – The complete tournament to be played again at finals night. Please let the secretary know prior to finals night that your Landlord intends to play.
11. Etiquette – Although this is a friendly league, the committee felt that we should impose some etiquette guidelines due to some situations that have arisen in the past.
In any instances where individuals let themselves down, the committee would expect, in the first instance, that this will be sorted by the captain.
In the event that this doesn’t alleviate the issue, the committee will be informed and contact the team captains. Once all the information has been received and reviewed, the committee will decide on what course of action to take. The decision of the committee is final.
Darts is considered a "gentlemanly sport". There are certain things that are expected of players, chalkers and spectators.
There are however, some players that do not follow these guidelines and it is usually because they are rude, ignorant or sore losers. A vast majority of players do not want to be associated with this type of player, and often such activity can lead to the offenders receiving a "taste of their own medicine" and they usually are the first ones to complain. Stick to these simple rules, and you will have a much more enjoyable game and make a lot more friends than enemies.
Sportsmanship:
Generally, all dart players are good sportsmen. They will shake hands at the beginning of a match and wish each other good luck. Similarly at the end of the game, they will shake hands and congratulate the winner on a good performance or compliment the loser on the way they played. Although this is not a compulsory action, we remind you this is a “friendly” league and whilst we all play to win, we should not let ourselves or our teams down by a show of bad sportsmanship.