Colliery Darts League
League Rules
As amended at the commencement of the 2008/9 season
Rules for League Competitions
General (all competitions)
1. Games will be played on a standard board, at a height of 5 feet 8 inches, with a throw of 7 feet
9.25 inches.
2. Games are straight start and double finish.
3. If there is a dispute, the marker / referees decision is final.
4. Bust rule does not apply.
League Matches
1. A match will consist of 14 legs of darts made up as follows:-
a) 2 legs of pairs from 801 played by four players (i.e. a player cannot play in both legs).
b) 9 legs of singles from 501 played on a round robin basis by 3 players from each team. The away team
changes their order of play after the fifth and eighth legs to ensure that the three players from each team play each other
once. (i.e. The order is 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 then 1v2, 2v3, 3v1 then 1v3, 2v1, 3v2. This ensures that all players get to throw first
at least once).
c) 3 further legs of singles from 501 played by any 1,2 or 3 players who have not played in the round
robin phase (b) above.
2. The order of play is chosen by the captain of each team (i.e. not drawn out). Home team write their
team down first.
3. Matches are to commence at or before 8.30 pm, though both teams should be at the venue by 8.20 pm.
4. The away team throws first in the odd numbered legs (1,3,5,7,9,11,13), home team throws first in
the even numbered legs (2,4,6,8,10,12,14).
5. The home team provides marker / referee.
6. One point is awarded to each team for each leg won. League positions are decided by the number of
points won. If points are level, the team winning the most matches will be deemed to be in the higher position. If teams are
still level, the aggregate of the points between the two teams will decide league placing.
7. It is the responsibility of the home team to inform the league secretary of the result of each match
by the Monday following the match.
8. If a match is postponed for any reason, the team responsible for postponing the match is automatically
docked 7 points. The team has then a right to appeal to the league for the re-instatement of the points. They must do so in
writing to the League Secretary or Treasurer within 7 days of the postponed match. All appeals will be adjudicated on by the
league’s Executive Committee. It should be noted that points will only be re-instated in exceptional circumstances (e.g. Bereavement). If teams
are short of players they are expected to use occasional players from within their club or request that they may “borrow”
players from the opposition, if that is possible (in the interests of competition, the rule regarding registration of players
is relaxed in these instances).
9. All fixtures must be played. Postponed games must be replayed at the earliest opportunity.
Team Knock Out Cup Competition
1. Normal league match rules regarding format apply except for the following: -
- Should the score be level after fourteen legs there will be a sudden death singles leg of 1001,
throw being decided by a coin toss. The two participating players will be chosen by the respective captains.
- The final and both semi-finals are played on a neutral board; a toss of the coin
to decide which team is to be regarded as the “home team” (i.e. throw first in the even numbered legs).
2. Teams should be in the venue by the prescribed start time of 8.30pm (or 8pm for the semi-finals).
If a team is not in the venue by 9pm (or 8.30pm, for a semi-final fixture) on the prescribed date, they are deemed to forfeit
the match and will be disqualified from the competition.
Singles and Pairs Competitions
1. Singles and pairs competitions will be drawn, in order to commence at 7.30pm on the allotted day.
The competition is deemed to have started at that time. Any player who is not in the dart area at that time, but who is included
in competition entries will be included in the draw and will be given until the end of the round of their first game to be
in the venue. Gordon Elliott Pairs will be drawn at the secretary’s discretion in order to ensure all players have a
partner.
2. Any player is eligible to play in the singles and pairs competitions as long as they have played
for a team during that season. Team captains are responsible for ensuring that competition entries are appropriate. League
Secretary has the power to query any entry he deems as not in the spirit of a friendly league.
3. Standard matches are the best of three legs. Finals will be over the best of five legs.
4. Legs will be from 801 for pairs competitions and 501 for singles competition.
5. Players must “bull up” in order to decide throw. The players or pairs teams (one player
nominated from each team) throw for the bull in the order they were drawn. The second player may request that the first player’s
dart be removed from the board, if inside the 25 ring. Two darts in the bullseye or two in the 25 are deemed to be equidistant.
If this situation occurs, players must bull up again in reverse order. Nearest the bullseye (as adjudicated by the marker
/ referee) will throw first in the odd numbered legs (1,3 and 5)
6. The referee / marker shall be agreed by all players involved before commencement of the game.
7. Entry fees for these competitions are £1 per player. All proceeds are paid over to the chosen charity
/ good cause for that season.
Administration of the League
Election of Officials
1. The election of officials will take place annually at the Annual General Meeting prior to the commencement
of the season. League officials to be elected are, Secretary, Treasurer and five members of the Executive Committee. No one
team should be represented more than once on the Executive Committee.
Entry of New Teams into the League
1. Teams must pay a £20, non-returnable fee on entry into the league. Payment must be made to the League
Treasurer or the League Secretary at or before the Annual General Meeting for that season.
Fines
1. Fines may be imposed at the discretion
of the Executive Committee or at a league meeting when a team(s) or individual(s) have been deemed to be at fault.
2. Any fines are payable at or before the Annual General Meeting, prior to the commencement of a new
season.
Registration of Players
1. No registration of players will take place. A player is eligible to play for any team as long as
he has not played for another team in the league during that season. (Note league matches rule 8).
General
1. As well as adjudicating on appeals to do with postponed games, any situation or dispute not directly
covered by these league rules may also be adjudicated upon by the Executive Committee.