1 – Each league and cup game will be split into two sets of 5 frames – two halves making a total of 10 frames per match. A player can only play a max of twice… one frame in the first half and one in the second half. A player CANNOT play twice in the same half of the match.
At the start, each captain will only write down the first 5 players for the first half of the game. The players in Frame 1 will lag and breaks will alternative after that (Frames 1-5)…
Once the first 5 frames have been completed, the captains then write down the players for second set of 5 games. These can be the same 5 players or 5 completely different ones or a mixture.
The players in frame 6 will lag again and breaks will alternative (Frames 6-10). The second lag is required to ensure that the captains won’t be able to choose who breaks in the second half…
2 – If a team shows up with less than 5 players, the captain can play the players in whatever position on the score they want to. E.g., if a team shows up with 4 players, any position on the score can be left blank; it does NOT have to be position 5 and 10 on the score card.
3 – A total of twelve players may be registered with each team at any time before the Christmas break. It may be possible to replace up to three players at this time but these replacements must not have been already registered with another team in the same season. This can only happen with committee approval.
4 – Only registered players are permitted to play and the penalty for playing an unregistered player will be the loss of the frame(s) they play in. The frame win(s) will be granted to the opposing player regardless of the frame result(s) on the night.
5 – When the away team arrive at a fixture, to ensure a prompt start, the away team will have NO access to table for practice.
6 – The official starting time for all fixtures will be 9:30p.m. Any team failing to comply with this will forfeit 1 frame for every 15 minutes late. E.g.:- 9:45p.m. -1 frame.
7 – The referee may, if requested, answer questions on the rules but is not to give any advice on shot selection. (It obviously follows from this that referees should be familiar with the rules).
8 – A game can be played out of the sequence on the score card but only if both captains agree. This also applies in the 3-a-sides.
9 – Any protests or complaints must be submitted in writing to the committee within 1 week of the event-taking place. The 5 member HPL committee will make a decision with a 4 man vote with the chairman having the casting vote.
10 – Once all the league games have been completed, when deciding the top three teams, if two or more teams are equal on points, the head-to-head record, followed by number of league wins, followed by number of draws of the teams involved will decide the positions. If the positions still cannot be decided after head-to-head, wins and draws have been calculated, then a play-off will be required.
11 – A 2 minute shot clock will be used for all league/cup/shield games. This will also include the games on finals nights including doubles/3 a sides and the individuals. Each shooting player is allowed two (2) minutes for each shot, or a foul shall be granted to the opponent. The shot clock is to be started once all balls come to rest. The referee shall call out “Thirty Seconds!” once the ninety (90) second mark has been reached. Once two (2) minutes has been reached on the shot clock, the shooter must have shot otherwise it shall result in a foul to the opponent.
12 – If a home venue is unavailable for a fixture for some reason, an attempt will be made to swap the fixture with the second game of the season (if applicable)…If that is not possible, the home team will forfeit the home venue and play the other team away twice. If both venues are not available on the night the fixture is supposed to be played, a neutral venue may be used.
13 – Cup and Shield games will be played over 1 leg (NOT home and away). The team drew out first in the draw will have home advantage. If the match finishes 5-5 after the 10 frames, a 3 man play-off will settle the match. This will also apply to any league play-off games. Any league play-off games must be played in the venue of the league sponsor.
14 – There are numbered positions on the score card for subs. A sub can be played if a player initially selected has failed to turn up. The sub must be played in the order listed. If the sub has already played in that half of the match, the next sub on the list can be used. Subs can only be used if a player has NOT turned up.
15 – The Top Potter and Individuals champion will have first options for 2 places on the interleague for the following year. (Starting from 2017/2018)
16 – Teams should make every effort to play each fixture. If it becomes obvious that a team cannot field for a fixture (i.e. they have less than 3 players for the fixture), the team captain should contact a committee member or inform the other team as soon as possible. This should be before 6:30pm on the date of the fixture.
If a team fails to turn up to a game and does not inform the other team, this team will be deducted 3 points. The other team will then be asked to provide 2 dates (within 2 weeks) so that the game can be rearranged. If the game is not played on one of the proposed dates provided the team who initially failed to field will no longer be playing in the league – the other team will be awarded 10 points.
17 – If a team leaves the league in the first half of the season, all teams will be awarded a 10-0 win against that team for ALL fixtures in the season. If a team leaves after the half-way stage and has completed all the fixtures in the first half, the result of these games will stand. All teams will be awarded a 10-0 win against that team for the second half of the season.
18 – If a team fails to complete their league fixtures during a season, the Hilltown Pool League committee will decide whether that team is allowed to play the following season.