Preamble

The Great Yarmouth Pool League was established to:

• A Pool league ran by the players, for the players
• Improve the skill level of pool in the local area
• Provide a social night out for the players
• Increase revenue for the venues on typically quieter nights

Article I: Name

The league is known by the following names:

·         Monday Night: D.P. Leisure - Monday Great Yarmouth Pool League

·         Thursday Night: Merlin’s - Thursday Great Yarmouth Pool League

Article II: Sponsorship

The Great Yarmouth Pool League is proudly supported by its sponsors, whose contributions are greatly appreciated by all members of the league. The ongoing success and growth of the league would not be possible without this support. While we value the sponsorship provided, sponsors do not hold decision-making authority regarding the administration of the league, including venue selection or scheduling of matches and finals, which are governed strictly in accordance with the league’s constitution and preamble.

Current Sponsorship

·         D.P Leisure

·         Merlin’s Sports Bar

1.       New Sponsorship

·         The G.Y Pool League is always looking for new sponsors to support the league and allow it to grow. If company wishes to sponsor the league they can get in contact with the League Secretary. The Committee will get the vote on new sponsorship opportunities

Article III: Membership

1.       Eligibility:

o    Players are eligible to play for one team per season on Monday night and one team on Thursday night. Players must be able to present their Pool league ID card or a clear picture of it on any match/event.

o   Lost ID Cards will be £4 to replace if lost. New members registered at the start of the season will get one ID card issued for free

o   Any player wishing to be registered during the season will be a one off cost of £4 per player. There ID card will be sent to a location of the captains choice.

o    Players under the age of fourteen are eligible to play in the league, but no more five under the age of seventeen are eligible to play in away matches. Landlords of the home pub may refuse entry to players under the age of eighteen. If a landlord refuses entry, then no fines will be applied.

o    Any new players wishing to register for a team midway through a season should contact the league secretary. This may take up to one week before they can play to be registered.

o    There is no Option to transfer team half way through a season.

2.       Team Entry:

o    Before a season starts, team registration forms will be giving to each. These must be returned before the date stated on the forms.

o    The cost to enter a team is £35. This needs to either be paid by the or the team before the first fixture. Failing to do so could result in that team being withdrawn from the league.

3.       Venue Change Eligibility

o    Teams may only change venues midway through the season under the following circumstances:

o   The pub/venue closes, or the pool table is permanently removed.

o   A dispute arises between the team and the landlord, resulting in the landlord agreeing to the team relocating to another venue as they no longer wish to host them.

o   If the landlord can replace the team by signing new players or retains sufficient players from the original team to continue participating in the league, the team will remain at the venue. The Landlord has the final authority in deciding whether the team remains or is replaced.

4.       Landlords:

o     Landlords and Landladies must register to play in the league. If they have more than one team playing out of their venue, they can pick which team to play but can only play for one per night or per competition

o   New Landlords taking over a venue midway through a season can play as a landlord as long as they have not played for another team in that same season. If they have, they will need to wait until the start of the new season.

5.       Termination of Membership:

o    Any dispute brought before the committee may result in a player or venue being banned from playing in any or all the leagues.

Article IV: League Structure

1.       Summer/Winter Leagues

o   The Summer and Winter leagues will run consecutively but operate as separate entities. The number of teams per league will depend on factors such as the total number of teams, bank holidays, the number of available weeks, and other pool events.

2.       Fixtures

o   All matches must be played as per the fixture list published.

o   The League Secretary must be informed promptly of any cancelled matches, along with the reason for the cancellation.

3.       Teams Withdrawing from the League

o   If a team withdraws before the end of the season, all fixtures and results involving that team will be declared null and void.

o   Players registered with teams that withdraw from the league, will be allowed to register for another team, subject to being vetted by the committee.

o   Players in any other competitions will also be withdrawn even if they decide to play for another team.

4.       Promotion and Relegation

o   Other than the Premier League winners, the top team(s) from each division will be promoted. The bottom team(s) will be relegated for the following season, provided the team composition remains the same. If changes in the league structure occur, the committee will strive to adhere to this promotion/relegation framework to the best of their ability.

Article V: Governance Structure

1.       Executive Committee/Board:

o    Chairman: Chairs meetings, represents and liaises with organisations on league-related issues, and makes the final decision on tied committee issues.

o    League Secretary: A paid role responsible for running the league, which includes managing fixtures, results, draws, and disputes.

o    Elected Executive Committee Members: Involved in making decisions on disputes and refereeing on finals nights.

o    Elected Non-executive Committee Member: Participates in decisions on disputes and voting on issues.

2.       Elections:

o    Committee members, excluding the Chairman and League Secretary, can be appointed or removed at any time by a committee vote.

o    The committee board is elected and confirmed at each AGM, requiring nomination and seconding by different venues.

Article VI: Meetings

1.       Types of Meetings:

o    Annual General Meeting (AGM): Reviews rule changes, financials, committee elections, and other business.

o    Monthly Draw Meetings: Conducts the competition draw for the Monday pool league, with mandatory attendance from a representative of each participating venue.

o    EGM – The committee can call an emergency general meeting at any time

2.       Frequency:

o    AGM: Held once per year, with the date specified on the fixture sheet. Each team/venue depending on the AGM must send a representative to the AGM. Failing to do so will result in a £10 fine. Monday AGM’s will be held on the first Monday/Sunday in September. Thursday’s AGM will be held on first Thursday/Sunday in March.

o    For the Monday AGM, a representative must attend the AGM from each team.

o    For the Thursday AGM, a representative must attend the AGM from each venue.

o    Monthly Draw Meetings: Held once a month as indicated on the competition draw sheet.

3.       Procedures for AGM:

o    AGM Agenda

o    Apologies for absences

o    Minutes from last meeting

o    Roll Call

o    Financial statement/Treasurers Report

o    Chairman’s report

o    Secretary’s report

o    Election of committee/board

o    Proposal to rule changes (if any)

o    Any other business (AOB)

Article VII: Decision-Making

·         The Committees decision is final

1.       Voting:

o    Proposals by teams for changes in the league rules must be submitted in writing to the league secretary at least 21 days before the AGM. They must be proposed by one team and seconded by another from a different venue.

§  No rule can be changed without the Committee consent. After approval from the committee, it will go to the floor for a vote.

o    There is no option to change playing rules, which are governed by the English Pool Association.

o    At the AGM, the proposing team explains the rule change and answers questions before a vote. Each team/venue has one vote to pass, reject, or abstain. Passed votes are implemented in the next season.

o    Monday’s Pool League AGM will allow one vote per team.

o    Thursday Pool League AGM will allow one vote per venue.

2.       Amendments:

o    The structure can be amended at any time by committee members or via voting system.

Article VIII: Finance

1.       Financial Year:

o    Finances are published at the AGM, typically held in September, and include finances from the previous winter and summer leagues.

2.       Budget:

o    The league is a non-profit organisation, with entry and competition fees adjusted as needed to maintain financial stability.

3.       Financial Oversight:

o    The Secretary is responsible for the league’s finances, which are reviewed and presented at the AGM. Questions about finances are addressed at this meeting.

Article IX: Dispute Resolution

1.       Grievance Procedures:

o    Disputes or grievances must be submitted in writing to the committee.

o    The committee reviews the case and may gather evidence, leading to one of two outcomes:

§  A decision is made based on the provided information via a committee vote.

§  A hearing is held for individuals/teams to answer questions, followed by a committee vote.

o    In case of a tied vote, the Chairman casts the deciding vote.

2.       Possible Outcomes of Disputes:

o    Ban on a player or team for a specified period or type of competition

o    Deduction of points for a team

o    Fine imposed on a venue/team

o    Written outcomes are provided to the individual/team, who have 7 days to appeal with new information.

o    Disputes will reman on the player/teams file for 36 Months

Article X: Code of Conduct

1.       Behavioural Expectations

o   Players are expected to respect the other players in the league and the members of the committee. This includes but is not limited to, abusing other players, respecting a referee’s decision, respecting a venue. Failing to do so will result in disciplinary action as seen fit by the committee.

o   The committee reserves the right to use discretionary powers. These powers will only be used under extraordinary circumstances outside the normal league rules. The powers can be used against any individual, team, venue or representative of the Great Yarmouth Pool Leagues

2.       Disciplinary Actions

o   The following actions can lead to the following fines:

§  Playing an unregistered player - £30 fine for the team & lose match 15-0. Unregistered player will also receive a £30 fine and a 12-month ban.

§  If no referee is present, the home team will be fined £10 and will lose the match 10-5

§   A Second offence will result in a £20 fine and will lose the match 10-5.

§  Any team failing to fulfil a fixture, £20 fine and lose 15-0.

§  Failing to fulfil 3 fixtures will lead to expulsion from the league for a time determined by the committee

§  Incorrect result/failing to text in a result the same day will result in a £10 fine

§  Not sending a representative to a meeting/AGM/hearing will result in a £10 fine

§  Players failing to attend semi-finals/ finals night without informing the league secretary will be fined for an amount deemed fit by the committee and a minimum of a 6 month ban from the competition.