West Dunbartonshire & District Pool League

Constitution v.1

The club will be known as ‘West Dunbartonshire & District Pool League’, hereinafter
known as the WDDPL. This document is the constitution of the WDDPL and the
executive committee shall be the authority for the interpretation of this document, and
shall have the authority to make a decision on any matter arising which affects the
WDDPL not covered by this constitution. The executive committee are also responsible
for ensuring that this document is modified to include any points of clarifications that
arise through queries raised by any members of the WDDPL.

AIM

To encourage and promote the teams and the playing of blackball pool and in particular
encourage playing of pool within the Dumbarton/Clydebank and surrounding Districts.

GOVERNING BODIES

1.1. Scottish Pool Association, hereinafter known as the SPA.

1.2. The West Dunbartonshire & District Pool League, hereinafter known as the
WDDPL, is a region within the SPA.
1.3. The WDDPL will ensure that they promote the league and the good name of their
associated public houses to the best of their abilities.

STRUCTURE

The WDPL hierarchy is as follows:-

Executive Committee:-

Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer
SPA/IM Rep

2.1. The executive committee shall only conduct business for the WDDPL.
2.2. These elected members are voted in for a one year’s term unless they resign their
post or asked to leave whereupon an election will take place to find a
replacement.
2.3. This committee will meet once every month or when is deemed necessary.
2.4. The committee will take decisions that are deemed for the good of the WDDPL.
All committee decisions on any aspect not covered by the rules and constitution
are final.
2.5. Once elected to committee, neither the committee or one individual committee
member have the power to make any decisions which a financial gain is
forthcoming. Any such decisions then that member/s will be dismissed from the
WDDPL.

General Bodies

Each team will have to elect an individual member from their own team to represent their
team at each monthly meeting, who will be responsible for voting on general issues
raised at such meetings on their teams’ behalf.

Appeal Board

Five members from the general bodies will be asked to sit on the appeal board whenever
this is required. Each team will be asked to put forward a team member to be elected to
this role if/when required, they will be drawn out of a hat so that not the same five people
all the time. However the reps from the team/teams involved in the appeal will not be put
into the draw. The appeal board’s decision will be final and should the team/person still
be in dispute they have the right to withdraw from the WDDPL or indeed the executive
committee may have to release them from the WDDPL if they continue to dispute the
decision.

MEMBERSHIP

3.1. All WDDPL members must adhere to the following:-

SPA Blackball Rules
WDDPL Constitution
Pay monthly dues on time (i.e. at each monthly meeting or in full at start of the
season, these are non-refundable)
Pay any fines advised at a WDDPL meeting by the next meeting, if not paid then
an extra £5 will be incurred.

MEETINGS

General Meetings will be held the last Monday of every month, time date and venue will
be confirmed at end of previous meeting by the secretary. All meetings will be fully
minuted and made available to the members. An EGM can be called by either the
executive committee or by six or more teams petitioning the chairman on an issue,
whereupon the chairman will decide if an EGM should be called or it can wait till the
next general meeting.

Any AGM proposals should be made in writing to the secretary 14 days prior to the
AGM date. Then they can be included within the agenda for such. An agenda will be
given out 7 days prior to the meeting to ensure that all members have a chance to discuss
matters arising and decide how to vote with their team members. All fully paid up
members have a right to vote on issues at an AGM. All members have a right to attend
either an EGM or an AGM. Neither phone or postal votes will be taken.

Should there be a tie on any decisions the Chairperson will have the casting vote.

GENERAL RULES

4.1. All games consist of 8 singles and 4 doubles matches. If during a cup game and
the score is tied a singles game will be played to determine a winner – who plays
this is the Captains sole responsibility.
4.2. Tuesday night is deemed pool night, (exceptions 4.7; 4.11; 4.15)
4.3. The home team shall ensure that the table is ready for the away team to play on
from 7.30 onwards for practice and fault finding. The table should be made
available whether or not the away team have arrived or not. The home team shall
ensure that the away team are playing with the match balls and table cleaned
before they start practice. All teams MUST have match playing balls for start of
next season 10/11.
4.4. All matches will start at 8 pm prompt. If the away team fail to show by 8.15 the
Captain of the home team has the right to claim the match. Appeals will be
considered for exceptional circumstances.
4.5. The home team captain will pass the team sheets to the away team captain who
will complete it and pass it back by 7:50, this means 8 singles have to be named
on the team sheet before it is given to the Home team. Then after the singles the 4
doubles will be completed the same way before the games start. Singles played
first doubles second. Any captain can refuse to play an early doubles match – with
NO reason given. Two teams sheets should be signed and kept thus both teams
have a copy.
4.6. All players named on the team sheet MUST be available to play when their match
is called (e.g. on sheet to play 8th, will arrive in public house around 9pm, in time
to play their game, hopefully). All reserves named on the sheet MUST be
available to play all evening i.e. from start at 8pm till finish of all matches. These
reserves can be played in any order a Captain may wish to play them if necessary.
A reserve can only be played if a valid reason is given to the opposing team
captain for the named player not to be playing (e.g. caught up in traffic, going
home ill – they must not still stay in the public house – unless the player is part of
the away team and awaiting transport for such). It is not allowed to play a reserve
if they are not already noted on the team sheet at the start of either the singles or
the doubles matches. Reserves are important to each team and should be placed
on the team sheet along with players at the time of addressing the teams; you
cannot add them at a later date.
4.7. All tables to be kept in a good and level playing condition. Should any problems
be noted, the away team captain MUST advise the Home team captain to try to
correct the problem before the matches start. If not noted then no complaints can
 be made during the games played. If not corrected on the night the game MUST
be re-arranged when the problem is fixed the table is deemed unplayable.
4.8. All members are expected to behave in a suitable manner at all fixtures and
events. Any incidents must be reported to the committee which could result in
suspension, fine or exclusion from the WDDPL.
4.9. We will not tolerate any individual member or team using violent or threatening
behaviour to other players. Any such behaviour may result in being
dropped/suspension from the WDDPL and or a heavy fine incurred, this decision
will be made by the committee, should a letter of complaint be issued to them.
4.10. Players can transfer at any time during the league season, not during the cup
matches, to any other team as long as the two captains agree and a transfer fee of
£5 is paid to the WDDPL. If there are any objections by the players captain it has
to be brought to the WDDPL’s next monthly meeting before the transfer will be
allowed, as both team captains must agree to the transfer. Only valid reason will
be accepted, e.g. that player owes the team money. If not resolved it will come to
a committee decision. Transfer can only be made at a WDDPL meeting.
4.11. Any cancellation of games MUST be given 24 hours before the start of the game
or a fine is imposed. To be exact by 8.00 on the Monday before a game. The fine
will then be given to the team which has turned up for expenses incurred, i.e.
food, petrol. You are not able to cancel a game due to football. As of season 10/11
you can cancel one game within the season under exceptional circumstances.
4.12. Home team will pay for table, food and a drink for each registered player present
in away team, up to a maximum of 12 drinks, equivalent to a pint..
4.13. Team sheets to be brought to each monthly meeting. Results must be either e-
mailed or text to secretary every week. A fine is incurred should this not happen.
4.14. Points given are as follows:- 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and none for a
loss.
4.15. All matches MUST be played till the finish, all 8 singles and 4 doubles.
(exceptions: disputed games) Thus not leaving early and matches given as one
team lost early in the singles. Should the team leave early and not play the
matches out 3 points will be deducted from their league points. Should the two
team captains agree to forfeit the matches (doubles) then as long as the team sheet
is signed by both of them this will be allowed, however if one captain wishes to
play on then the games must be completed, whether the home team captain is in
agreement or not. Again if not completed the team who do not wish to play on
will have the points deducted, whether that team won or lost.
4.16. When the league is complete and there are two teams tied at the top of the league
then the following will come into play:-
The results of the head to head against each team will be looked at (so if one team
beat the other in the head to head then that team will be the league winners) and if
still a tie then the two team must have a play off to decide the ultimate winner of
the league.
4.17. ‘Late signing’s’ of players can be noted on the team sheets on the night before
start of play at 8.00 by either captain and paid for at the next WDPL meeting, thus
allowing that play to play on the night. No late signings can be signed after the
 league finishes and the cups start, although individual circumstances will be
considered by the committee.
4.18. Any players barred from any venue are not a league issue and the team MUST not
allow that player to attend at the barred venue, even just to play their game and
leave.
4.19. Each team MUST have a representative present for the duration of the monthly
meeting; failure for this is a fine of £10 will be placed upon that team. All teams
have the right to 2 apologies then a fine of £10 will be incurred if not staying all
night. The fine for non-attendance is £10 also.
4.20. Any new team to join the WDDPL at the start of the season will have to play half
their dues upfront, non-returnable, thus showing commitment to the WDDPL.
4.21. A strict dress code for the singles and doubles finals will be adhered to. This will
consist of Trousers, shoes and polo shirt/dress shirt.
4.22. To constitute a team you must have at least 5 players to fulfil your commitment
on any given pool night.
4.23. Any fines or forfeits will be adhered to by the given team or person, which may
include dismissal from the WDDPL.
4.24. At least one member of each team MUST attend the presentation night/day to
collect any trophies won and collect any payout to their team. Should no-one
attend to collect monies the money will then be given to charity – decided by the
WDDPL executive.
4.25. The constitution cannot be changed until an AGM or an EGM is called. The
executive committee have to right to clarify any rules and to update the
constitution as long as not changing the fundamental structure of such.
4.26. All complaints must be given in writing to the WDDPL asap, then upon receiving
such complaint the committee will call an urgent meeting.
4.27. Any non-pool team members who disrupts or interferes in a game the following
steps should be taken:-

1. Inform team captain if there is anything he can do

2. Ask the team captain to speak to the bar-staff to see if they can help in any
way. If nothing can be done by bar staff rule 3 can take effect.
3. The team can leave the premises and play another night or at another venue
without penalty, the Home team will not be penalised if done in this order.

PLAYING RULES

5.1. SPA, Blackball rules apply to all games played within the league and the cups.
5.2. Four referees must oversee at least one game during a match. Their names must
be placed on the team sheet and they must actually have refereed a match, if they
did not the captain must not sign the team sheet – should he sign and then try to
dispute such, the WDDPL will not look at it as any team sheets which are signed
cannot be disputed nor results of that match changed. Referees can be placed on
the team sheet as a referee is actually referring the match. Should a Captain advise
the opposing team Captain that they do not wish a certain player to referee a
 match they can do so without giving a reason and the Captain must agree to such.
A maximum of two referees can be refused per match.
5.3. Any disputes can be settled on the night by the two Team Captains (as long as not
to overturn the referees decision,) if it is not settled on the night the team sheet
must not be signed by the opposing team captain and brought to the next WDPL
meeting, you must bring along any witnesses, photos if any on phones for
example, both teams should provide as much information on the dispute as
possible to allow the committee to make a decision on such. If anyone of the
disputed parties fail to show at the next meeting called for the dispute, without
giving a reason, the attending teams’ stance. If the team sheet is signed as before
you cannot dispute the point. Senior referees can give advice.
5.4. Any unfinished games MUST be played before the following Tuesday.
5.5. A cancelled or re-arranged game must be played before the next WDDPL
meeting. If not played before then it will be brought before the committee who
will then advise both teams of a date to play such game – should a team not show
to play the game on the date given, the team which turns up will obtain the points
for that game i.e 12-0 result.
5.6. In the WDDPL League Cup, the winning teams for each section will have the
choice of starting the first leg of the semi-finals home or away.
5.7. Team sheets must be filled out clearly in BLOCK CAPITALS.
5.8. Any player can have a ball cleaned at any point during a match; however you
must use an actual ball pool marker (not a bit of chalk or other marker). If not
available you can only get the ball cleaned at the end of the match in play. It is
advised that all teams have a ball marker.
5.9. Disputed games, if any player or players feel that due to circumstances beyond
their control playing the remainder of the game will be to their disadvantage the
game will be stopped and remain outstanding and another game will start. At the
end of the match going for example 6 – 5, then the out standing game will be re-
played, if not the dispute can be brought before the committee. See dispute
procedures.

SPA

6.1. All members can enter the SPA Individual Membership’s (IM’s) it is £25 to enter
(as of writing) which allows you to enter 5 tournaments during the year. It is due
paid by the SPA rep at the November SPA meeting, so monies due by October
WDDPL meeting, to allow SPA rep to pay.
6.2. All SPA events will be advised by the SPA rep at the WDDPL monthly meetings
to allow any clubs to advise their player of such and the chance of entering the
events.
6.3. For all SPA events the SPA rep is given permission to put forward the WDDPL to
attend such events and pay any deposits required for such. (As such we enter the
event we MUST pay in full for such whether or not we attend). The SPA rep will
have the final say in who is able to attend these events, the decision will be based
on the following:- performance; willingness to attend; availability; payment and
behaviour.
6.4. For all SPA events it is up to the individual to advise the SPA rep of their interest
in entering any event.

Dissolution of League/Team leaving

Should the league fold all financial matters be resolved in the following way:-

• Any debts owed by the league will be paid in full out of the funds and
debts still to be paid will be called in.
• All monies left after all of above is paid out and received will be
distributed to all member teams evenly. (unless any team owes monies
which can be taken off the amount given back to them)
• Any debts that go unpaid will be the responsible of all members of the
WDDPL.
• Should a team withdraw or be released from the WDDPL they will not
receive any monies back and will be liable for all debts owed to the
WDDPL.

WDPL Fines & Fees

Late Team Sheets Fine - £5.00

Cancellation of game without 24 hrs notice fine- £20.00
(which will go to the team who are able to attend)
League monthly dues - £15.00
Transfer fee - £5.00
Disputes - £10.00
(if you win you get it back, if you loss the dispute the money goes to charity)
Entrance into cups - £15.00 each
Registration fee - £1.00 each
Failure to attend a monthly CPL meeting - £10.00