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RULES FOR MATCH PLAY -- TRIANGLE DART LEAGUE

(REVISED: SEPTEMBER 1997)

SPORTSMANSHIP:

Each league member is expected to conduct him/herself in a lawful, fair and sportsmanlike manner. Any person unable to act accordingly will be warned by the President after the first offense. A second offense may constitute suspension for the remainder of the season. [EXCEPTION: Unlawful behavior, e.g., consuming alcoholic beverages of any sort by underage league members during match play, is grounds for immediate suspension until the player has reached 21 years of age.]

The Ruling Council, with recommendations from the President and/or Grievance Committee, is in charge of administering this rule. [See section below regarding grievances and how they are to be handled.]

TEAMS:

Team rosters shall consist of no less than six (6) and no more than ten (10) players. An 11th person is allowed on each team if they are a domestic partner of another team member. Only one of the two "split" team members can play in any one match. An additional fee of $5 will be paid by the additional "split" player. The "split" player is eligible for all individual awards, but no more than ten (10) team trophies are to be given to any one team, regardless of a "split" player.

1. Team Rosters

Team Rosters are to be turned in at the Organizational Meeting held prior to beginning of each season. Rosters shall include name(s) of captain(s), with addresses and phone numbers of all players (when available). After turning in a roster AND after any ranking has been completed, a new player may not be added to the roster without obtaining one-half of the captains' signatures in thee division assigned. [NOTE: Obviously, the signature requirement for adding players after rosters are turned in does not apply to Division A teams.] A team who wishes to add such a player may not count its own captain's signature. Past seasons' statistics, when available, will be provided to each team captain and placed in each TDL bar for the purposes of "checking out" such proposed players.

EXCEPTION: With the agreement of the opposing captain, a new player may play one night, but cannot play again until the necessary 50% of the other captain's signatures is obtained. If the necessary signatures are NOT obtained, all games played by the ineligible player are forfeit (i.e., NOT counted, period). That player shall remain ineligible during the remainder of that season for NOT ONLY the team which tried to add him/her BUT ALSO any other current team.

2. Player Eligibility

A player is not considered to be officially on a team's roster until after he/she has thrown a game in at least one (1) league match, at which time he becomes an official member of that team. No player may be officially on more than one team roster per season. Any ineligible player forfeits all games in which he/she plays. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE!

  1. In order to be eligible to play in the end-of-season tournament a player must meet the following criteria:

    1. must have been listed on the roster as submitted at the Organizational Meeting or added in accordance with the rule in paragraph 1 of this section, AND

    2. must have played at least one (1) game in league play prior to the beginning of the tournament.

  2. In order to be eligible to win either the All-Star Percentage trophy or the Singles Win Percentage trophy, if given, member(s) must have played a specific number of games during that season, this number to be determined as follows:

    1. In the case of All-Star Percentage trophy, the number of necessary games is to be determined using the following formula: NUMBER OF MATCHES IN THE SEASON MINUS 3 TIMES 2

      (EXAMPLE: Given a 14 week season, the formula applied is:

      14 minus 3 = 11 times 2 = 22 games needed to qualify for All-Star Percentage Trophy(ies).)

    2. In the case of Singles Win Percentage trophy, the number of necessary games is to be determined using the following formula: NUMBER OF MATCHES IN THE SEASON MINUS 2 TIMES .60 (rounding up all fractions). (Example: Given a 14 week season, the formula applied is:

      14 minus 2 = 12 times 0.60 = 7.2, rounding up to 8 games needed to qualify for Singles Win Percentage Trophy(ies).)

      NOTE FOR CLARIFICATION: These formulas do not apply to "Hot Shots" -- short games (singles and doubles, 01 and Ckt) nor for High in's and out's.

  3. In the event there are inter-divisional games during a season, any short games (singles and doubles, 01 and Ckt) or High in's and out's shot during these matches qualify for a trophy, so long as the player has met the criteria (see above) for eligibility, i.e., one game thrown.

FEES: CURRENTLY, DUES ARE $90.00 PER TEAM (WITH A $5 ADDITIONAL FEE FOR AN 11TH DOMESTIC PARTNER SPLIT PERSON MEMBER)

TEAM FEES ARE SET BY VOTE OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING FOR EACH SEASON. This fee covers all 6-10 players on a team, and must be paid when rosters are submitted (and/or at the discretion of the current Treasurer). If any team has not paid the set dues by the date designated for completion of the league schedule for that season (usually held on the Sunday following the Organizational Meeting), that team will not be included on the Schedule for Match Play (at the discretion of the Treasurer and President)).

DIVISIONAL PLAY:

League play shall be set into three ranked divisions, if sufficient teams are signed up. Otherwise, size and number of divisions are left to the discretion of the Executive Committee, with recommendation from the Ruling Council.

There will be a Ruling Council meeting prior to the beginning of each season. A five (5) point penalty will be assessed to any team which misses the mandatory preseason Ruling Council meeting. Any team captain who cannot attend the meeting, or send a team member as a representative, may request from the league president an excused absence prior to the meeting. Any dispute in granting the absence will be decided by the Ruling Council at the mandatory meeting. Actions approved at that meeting WILL APPLY TO THE UPCOMING SEASON'S PLAY, and subsequent seasons until changed. At the beginning of each season, the Executive Committee and at least six volunteers (which should include at least one representative from each division, but no more than two from any one team) shall evaluate the rosters submitted. Individual team rankings will be made by this Ad Hoc committee and then statistically correlated. Divisions are designated from that consolidated ranking, with the final decision being made by Executive Committee consensus. When possible, choice of divisions will be offered during sign-up.

For purposes of ranking, the following guidelines will be applied automatically:

The bottom team in A Division from previous season drops to Division B;

The bottom team in B Division drops to Division C;

The top team in Division B moves up to Division A;

The top team in Division C moves up to Division B.

NOTE: These guidelines apply if 75% of a team is returning intact (i.e., returning pretty much "as is"). Any questionable/either-or rankings will be decided by the Executive Committee and the "ranking committee members".

MATCH FORMAT: 6 singles games

(3 cricket / 3 301 DIDO) = 1 point each

3 doubles cricket games = 2 points each

3 doubles 501 (SIDO) = 2 points each 18 points total

TIE-BREAKER:

If a tie exists at the end of regular play, a tie-breaker game of 1001 (SIDO) will be played. Four (4) members of a team must be present to play the tie-breaker. The team unable to list four (4) players physically present automatically loses. Matches won by tie-breaker are scored as nine (9) points won to each team with no losses, and the match point awarded to the winner of the tie-breaker in the Win / Loss column in the standings. If no tie-breaker is played, games won / lost points score as .5 for each team. It is the captain's choice to determine the players for tie-breaker games, and to list the order in which each shoots (minimum of four (4), maximum of 10 players on the score-sheet). Choice of diddle rule (see below) is in effect to begin play. NOTE: All-Star Points thrown in tie-breakers DO NOT count toward end-of-season total, EXCEPT for a perfect throw of Ton-Eighty (180). An award will be given at the end-of-season party, but the 2.0 ASPs will not be counted.

STANDINGS:

Team standings are determined by the number of matches won / lost. Ties in match win / lost records are resolved based on the total number of games won. A five (5) point penalty will be assessed to any team which misses the mandatory preseason Ruling Council meeting (see DIVISIONAL PLAY, second paragraph, above). If there is an exact tie in all statistics, a coin toss will decide the higher ranking.

SCORE-SHEETS:

Winning score-sheets must be signed by BOTH CAPTAINS INVOLVED and turned in to The Pub. It is the responsibility of the winning team to ensure that match score-sheets are turned in NO LATER THAN FRIDAY MIDNIGHT FOLLOWING THURSDAY NIGHT'S LEAGUE PLAY. If an emergency arises and this deadline cannot be met, the winning captain should call the Vice President/Statistician by noon on Sunday. If a score-sheet is missing, no score is reported for either team for that week's standings. IF THE SCORE-SHEET IS NOT FOUND AND TURNED IN EVENTUALLY, THE MATCH WILL BE SCORED AS ZERO WON / LOST POINTS FOR BOTH TEAMS.

MATCH PLAY AND FORFEITS:

  1. (a) MATCH PLAY IS TO BEGIN AT 8:00 PM! --sharp!

    Captains shall have exchanged a score-sheet that contains at least four names for each team. IF ONLY ONE TEAM HAS COMPLETED A SCORE-SHEET AT 8:15 PM, AND THE OTHER TEAM HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, THE MATCH IS FORFEIT. By 8:00 pm, barring unforeseen circumstances/emergencies, etc., each captain shall have listed at least the first section of match play (all six games). If a team has less than the full complement (minimum of 4 players), the opposing captain has the right to choose who will play twice. (See paragraph 3. below for additional information). If a person is listed to play but is not physically present when that game is called for play, that game only is forfeit. At the end of the singles section, if there are not at least four members of each team physically present and ready to throw, THE ENTIRE MATCH IS FORFEIT. At the captains' discretion -- IF BOTH AGREE -- the above rule may be modified to fit the situation at match time.

    (b) At least 24 hours notice for rescheduled matches shall be given to the opposing team captain, who is not required to agree to reschedule. If postponed, the make-up match must be played prior to the following Thursday's regular league schedule. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE! (PLEASE NOTIFY PRESIDENT OR STATISTICIAN OF ANY RESCHEDULED MATCHES).

  2. Each captain has a maximum of five (5) minutes between sections to complete the next section's listings. ALL MATCHES ARE BLIND LIST.

  3. Each captain may list players on his team a maximum of three games each: once in each section of the match. NOTE: the singles games of both 301 and cricket constitute ONE ENTIRE SECTION and all six games should be listed, rather than listing the cricket and after it is played, listing the 301 games. No player may play more than two games in any one section. If absent players do not appear by the time of their scheduled game, that game is forfeit automatically the opposing team.

  4. No player is eligible to play more than five (5) games per match. If he is picked to play a sixth match by his own captain, the opposing team is awarded the game point(s). If the opposing team picks the player for the sixth time, the opposing team is penalized by losing the game point(s). NOTE: In the case of doubles, should one member of a team be unable to play the game as listed, his partner has the option of playing/continuing the game. throwing three darts to the opponents' six darts.

  5. All changes in listing must be initialed by the opposing captain.

  6. The team which wins a match by forfeit IS STILL REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A SCORE-SHEET, indicating the names of the team's players who were present. This score-sheet MUST BE SIGNED BY BOTH CAPTAINS and turned in as though a regular match had taken place (NOTE: Signature not required by a 'no-show' team but score-sheet must still be signed by the team which is present AND turned in). ANY SCORE-SHEET NOT TURNED IN (REGARDLESS IF FORFEIT) WILL BE SCORED AS A NULL MATCH FOR BOTH TEAMS!! Forfeited matches are scored 10-0 for the winning team and 0-10 for the forfeiting team. If the match is begun and then later declared forfeit, any games thrown count in the individual statistics, and any All-Star points thrown prior to the forfeit. All-Star points thrown prior to calling the forfeit are valid and will be counted IF reported on the score-sheet.

THROWING:

Players may not have EITHER FOOT extending beyond the hockey (throwing line) while taking his/her turn. A player who commits such a 'foot fault' is to be given one verbal warning by an opposing player. After on such warning, and in order for any penalty to be assessed, a foot fault MUST BE CALLED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT DART IS THROWN. Penalty for foot fault is no score for that dart only. Only the player(s) on the opposing team for that game can call a foot fault.

WARM-UP:

Twelve (12) darts maximum can be thrown as warm up immediately prior to each person's game.

DIDDLE:

A coin is flipped by the chalker (scorekeeper) to determine choice of order of diddle to begin games, including tie-breakers when required. A player for that game on the opposing team to that of the chalker calls the coin flip. The winner of the coin flip has the choice of diddling first. Single bull ties single bull, double bull beats single bull. In the event of a tie, players throw again in reverse order.

SCORING:

All darts thrown must be left in the board until scored. Penalty for pulling darts before score is written and verified by chalker: NO SCORE THAT TURN. The dart that wins the game is the last dart thrown. Any additional darts thrown do not count. When playing "-01", the turn ends with the dart that 'busts.'

ALL-STAR POINTS:

All-star points are awarded for individual efforts:

100-120, 5 marks, 3 bulls = 1.0 ASP 121-140, 6-7 marks, 4 bulls = 1.5 ASPs

141-180, 8-9 marks, 5-6 bulls = 2.0 ASPs

NOTE: Although ASPs thrown in tie-breakers do not count toward total season tallies, if a perfect score (180) is thrown, it will be recognized at the season party, so it should be recorded. Nine marks thrown in tie-breakers do not count.

NOTE: When scoring cricket ASPs, every mark in a single throw MUST COUNT FOR SCORE. EXAMPLE: Having previously hit two 20s, with the opponent's 20s closed, a current throw of a triple-20 counts as only one mark that turn.

NOTE: If two bulls are needed to win the game and three bulls are thrown, it is NOT AN ALL-STAR.

GRIEVANCES:

Grievances are to be reported in accordance with Section IV, paragraphs a-d of the TDL Constitution/Bylaws. Parts of this section are included for reference and convenience:

"4b. A formal complaint or protest must be submitted in writing within 48 hours of the incident(s) which caused the grievance. No action by the Executive Committee or the Ruling Council will take place without this written description of the details which caused the grievance to be filed. NOTE: Indication of a match played "under protest", even though such a statement is written on the back of the score-sheet for the match in controversy, does not constitute the required written notice to initiate the grievance process. A full account of the reasons for the grievance/protest must be included in this written complaint.

4c. Following notification of a filed grievance, the President will attempt to resolve the controversy only if it involves rules interpretations. All other incidents are referred to the Ruling Council. If the President is unable to resolve the problem, s/he will call a meeting of the Ruling Council to act on the grievance. Said meeting is to be at a time other than a night of match play and at a location convenient for all attendees."

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