CONSTITUTION AND GENERAL RULES

1.0 Name

The league shall be known as THE MID SUSSEX DARTS LEAGUE

2.0 Membership

Membership shall be open to a limited number of teams (36 in all) situated within a 12-mile radius of Sussex Square, Haywards Heath.

3.0 Subscriptions/Entrance Fee

When Joining the League for the first time or rejoining after a one-season absence, Teams shall pay an entrance fee (non returnable) and all teams shall pay an annual subscription. Entrance fee and subscriptions shall be such sums as may from time to time be determined by an Annual General Meeting.

4.0 Subscription Due Date

Subscriptions and entrance fees where applicable are due immediately prior to the A.G.M together with a written application. Teams should be represented at the A.G.M.

5.0 Committee

The management of the league (except where otherwise provided by these rules) shall be deputed to a committee of not more than eight members. In addition thereto shall be a President and Vice President(s) who shall be ex-officio members of the committee.

6.0 Election of Committee

Chairman, Vice Chairman, Honorary Secretary/Treasurer, Honorary Competition /Results Secretary and Committee members shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting, and serve for a period of one year. Nominations for these positions will be accepted on the night with proposer and seconder

7.0 Committee Vacancies

If any member of the Committee were absent from three consecutive Committee meetings and not give satisfactory explanation of absence, or resign prior to the end of their term, their seat on the committee shall be declared vacant. The committee shall have to co-opt a team member to fill any vacancies on the committee until the next Annual General Meeting.

8.0 Ex- Officio Officers

The Committee on the basis of services rendered to the League and provided such nominations are accepted at an Annual General Meeting, shall nominate candidates for the office of President and Vice-President(s) office is for life and the number of Vice-Presidents shall be reviewed annually.

9.0 Meeting of the Committee

The Committee shall meet on a regular basis to examine the accounts and arrange the affairs of the League. Five members of the committee shall forma quorum. Minutes shall be taken of the meeting and copied to all Committee members.

10.0 Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the League shall be held in the month of July each year upon a date and time to be fixed by the Committee for the following purposes:

(a) To receive from the Committee a report, Balance sheet and statement of accounts for the preceding year.

(b) Reformation of the League.

(d) To decide on any resolution which may be duly submitted to the meeting as hereinafter provided.

11.0 Final Delegates Meeting

The final Delegates meeting of the League shall be held in the month of July each year, prior to the A.G.M and include the following as agenda items:

(a) To receive from the Committee a report for the preceding year.

(b) New team applications

12.0 Notice Of Business

Any Team representative desirous of moving any resolution at the Annual General Meeting shall give notice in writing to the Hon League Secretary no later than the last day of the current season, (Finals Night).

13.0 Special General Meeting

The Committee may at any time for any special purpose call a Special General Meeting and shall do so upon the request of 75% of Team representatives stating the purpose for which the meeting is required.

14.0 Convening General Meetings.

Fourteen days at least before the Annual General Meeting or any Special General Meeting notice of such and of the business to be transacted thereat shall be posted to all team representatives. The balance sheet and statement of accounts shall also be forwarded to the A.G.M.

15.0 Proceedings At Annual General Meetings

At all general meetings of the League the current Chairman or in his absence Vice-Chairman shall take the chair. Each team representative shall be entitled to one vote upon every motion and in the case of equality of votes the Chairman shall have the casting vote. All voting shall be done by ballot sheet. Voting upon changes affecting lady players will be limited to those teams entering Ladies teams and shall be one vote per team. The quorum at all general meetings shall be fifteen.

16.0 Amendments

No amendment (other than a notion for adjournment) shall be moved to any resolution proposed at any Annual or General Meeting unless written notice has been received in accordance with rule 12.0, and no business other than that which would have been given shall be brought forward at such meetings.

16.1 These rules maybe added to, repealed or amended by resolution at any Annual or General Meeting provided that no such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed unless it was carried by a majority of those representatives voting thereon

17.0 Dissolution Of the League

If a resolution for the dissolution of the League be motioned by the majority of Team representatives, a special general meeting hall be held not less than six weeks thereafter, (of which four weeks written notice shall have been given to all Team representatives), at which not less than half the League teams are represented and the resolution be confirmed and passed by a majority of two thirds of those voting thereon, The committee shall thereupon or at some future date as shall be specified proceed to realise the property of the League and after discharge of all liabilities shall donate such funds remaining to a charity of charities as agreed at the special general meeting. Upon completion of such the league shall be dissolved.

18.0 Finance

The treasurer shall hold a Bank/Building society account in the name of the League. Two signatories shall be required, one to be the Treasurer and as second as nominated by the committee. A proper account of income and expenditure shall be kept at all times. The committee shall authorise any major expenditure at meetings.

19.0 Conduct

All team members shall conduct themselves in a reasonable manner at all times, and shall be excluded from the League if they contravene the rules use abusive language and/or violent behaviour.

20.0 Complaints

Any complaints shall be reported to the Hon. Secretary in writing and in detail. The Committee will be convened for and emergency meeting to discuss the complaint and will request the attendance of the complaint(s), which shall be short notice. The decision of the committee and any action taken shall be final in all matters. Telephone or verbal complaints will not be actioned.

21.0 Interpretation of Rules

The committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of these rules and the decision of the committee upon any questions of interpretation, or upon any matter affecting the League and not provided for by these rules shall be final and binding on all team members.

22.0 Match Play

22.1 All players (male and female) must be registered, in writing, with the Hon League Secretary seven day before playing.

22.2 Any proposed transfer of a player between teams, of which seven days clear notice in writing must be given to the Hon. League Secretary, will be subject to the approval of the Committee and if granted will be from the approval date. No transfers will be allowed after the first half of the fixtures.

22.3 Each team will play two matches (home and away) in their respective sections.

22.4 A standard board of good quality and condition must be used.

22.5 Dartboards must be 5ft. 8Ins. (1.73m) from the floor to the centre of the bull, and the throw shall be a minimum of 7ft. 9 1/4ins. plumb from the face of the board to the front of the toe-line fixed. All darts to be thrown from behind the toe line.

22.6 A scoreboard must be placed on a wall so as to be easily visible to both players and the score to be kept in two columns; the throw score must be deducted from the total. Players must ensure the correct score has been recorded before removing their darts from the board.

22.7 There shall be two scorers for each game, one being responsible for the scoreboard and the other calling in an audible voice the score thrown and wanted by each player in each throw.

22.8 The game shall be the better of two out of three legs, 401 straight in finish on a double. Bull to count as double to finish the game. Ladies to play the better of two out of three legs, 301 straight in finish on a double or bull. All games to count as one point.

22.9 Matches to be played on Mondays. Alteration of a date can be made only by mutual consent of both teams and even then the game must be played in the current week. Both teams must notify the League secretary that this is the case.

22.10 Eight players shall comprise a team (men and or ladies), and three ladies shall also comprise a team on their own right.

22.11 On the evening of the match before 20:25hrs the two captains will make the draw to pair the players and play must commence by 20:23hrs. The Captains shall toss for order of play, those winning the toss shall select the first game and the losing Captain the second. This order shall continue until all games have been played.

22.12 Match results shall be sent by first class post by the winning team to the Competitions/Results Secretary, using the cards provided, within 48hrs of the match. Scorecards must be fully completed including ladies match results, if any, and signed by both captains.

23.0 Competition Rules

Mid Sussex Darts League Competition Rules as an appendix shall form part of the Leagues General Rules/Constitution.