NEWRY LEAGUE RULES
The entrance fee for teams is £125 and £5 per player. Captains will be responsible for the behaviour of all players they sign. If you think someone you are signing will not fully abide by the rules or their behaviour will bring your team into disrepute- do not sign them! This includes behaviour on match nights and in general. Detrimental comments against the Committee or the Pool League in general or derogatory comments or rude behaviour directed at committee members directly or on social media or WhatsApp groups are included. Any disrespecting of trophies or prizes awarded or damaging of trophies etc.
The Committee reserve the right to raise money in one Competition to help finances prizes/costs for another.
All team members, starting with the Captains will face bans. If you find yourself in such groups, leave! THERE WILL BE ZERO TOLERANCE.
Committee are elected (volunteers)to run the League, set the rules and change the rules.
Players only role is to participate and follow the rules. If a player wishes to make the rules they need to join the Committee. Do not attack others for a job you did not volunteer to do! To have a successful league this is paramount or the league would turn in to a free for all. The Committee will always try to protect the League. Questions around events (basic questions) or competition eg entry fee cost, prize and fixture information, venue etc can be asked professionally to the Secretary for clarification purposes (please check as competition information normally is posted on social media or players group etc) but must be done in a courteous way. Any questions around finance , rules or membership can be asked of the Treasurer at the AGM. The Comittee will endeavour to display entrance fee and prizes beforehand. If a player does not want the prize they should not enter. Certain Competitions are compulsary, like League and Cups. Penalties will be awarded for failure to field or participate.
Some players may be refused entry to the Newry Pool League - this will be decided by the Committee when all entry forms are returned. As per A.G.M's decision, a new discipline sub-committee will look at each name.
1. Teams are allowed to sign ten players before the league starts. Exceptions can be asked and be permitted by Committee. Committee reserved the right without explanation in refusing a player to join the Newry Pool League.
2. New signings are allowed up to the halfway point as long as the name of the signing is passed to a committee member (along with £10) by text or in a means that records the date and time. No transfers after the halfway point (or point set by committee), except in unique circumstances and agreed by the committee. If they are agreed a fee of £10 is to be paid. Once a player is registered they are that team's 'player' and cannot play for any other team. If a player wishes to transfer, they may do so with agreement from their captain. If a captain refuses an appeal can be made directly to the committee but a viable reason must be given.
if a player signs on more than one sheet, the Secretary may remove them from both sheets. In most cases, the team they first play for is 'their team'. Normal rules apply afterward.
3. Fines - All fines will be a minimum of twenty pounds. This must be paid within seven days of the fine being imposed. Any team who fails to pay their fine will be expelled from the league.
4. Starting time. All games must commence at 9:00 pm. Traveling teams who have a substantial distance - 9:15 pm Unless the Secretary posts a different start time. If a representative of the team is not present to declare at the time, then their opponents can claim a game for every 15 minutes they are late. To do this a card must be filled in and the table ready to go. A photo should be taken at 9:15 with the table and balls set and a photo of the card with the home side filled in. The same for every 15 minutes after. The other team Captain must be informed of any claimed games.
No photos, and no claimed games. Any team not turning up a minimum fine of £20 plus two missed matches may be removed at the committee's discretion.
5. All teams must have a clock and it must be used at all times. No clock, no match. As of 2023 20-minute rule no longer applies – the 1-minute rule must be applied. If the Committee finds out the minute rule was not implemented - loss of match.
6. Any team that allows a falsified result card to be returned will be fined and may be expelled from the league.
7. Friday at 6 pm is the deadline for all result cards to be sent by WhatsApp to the secretary... Teams who ignore this timetable will incur a fine of twenty pounds and a loss of points (no excuses). It is the responsibility of the winning team or, the home teams that draw, to upload the result card.
8. Any team or player wishing to protest must do so within 3 days following any match. Such protests must be accompanied by a fee of £20.00 {returned if successful}. A team that is found at fault by protest will lose and points gained will be awarded to opponents. The same rule will apply in cup matches and individuals.
9. In all games the referee’s decision is final, but a team can play under protest at an unfair refereeing decision. A protest text should be sent to the Secretary on the night and the other team informed that this has been done. Teams are asked to try everything to resolve differences on the night. Any refereeing decision questioned afterward but not protested correctly on the night will not be heard.
10. A sub can be used from any member of a team panel even if another named player is on the sheet (he/she can be substituted).
10a Premier League and First Division 23/24 season 12 games in the league: No player can play more than two games in the first six games. AAA PLAYERS can only play a maximum of 2 games individually and up to a maximum of six games collectively.
10b Second Division and Third Division League 23/24 season 10 games per league match. No player can play more than two games in the first five.
10c Blackball Rules apply with Newry League addons. Following a foul by their opponent, a player should ask the ref to lift or the other player, (this avoids any mistakes) however, if the player does not and lifts it themselves, it is not a foul.If a player stops the white or catches the white going down a pocket, this is different, and it interferes with play and is a foul.
11. Any player found guilty of misconduct at any match under league rules will be suspended from the league and his team will be fined. The same will apply to comments on social media. Captains will also be held responsible.
12. A team can refuse to play on a table that is not up to standards. Inform the committee immediately on noticing the table – if you don’t inform us before the start time of the match – you lose the points.
13. A game can only be canceled due to a death of someone related to a player or severe weather conditions. Any canceled game must be played within two weeks. Rearranged by team that canceled. Home advantage is lost.
14. Rearranged individual, pairs or cup matches must be played at the venue where it is drawn or face disqualification unless the Secretary specifically allows a different venue.
15. Any team who plays an unregistered player may be expelled from the league or points deducted.
16. If the Committee becomes aware of a situation whereby a player transferred, without paying a transfer fee, they may deduct points and fine the team. If an opposing team makes a complaint (within the correct time limit) the team will lose any points or be removed from the relevant cup. The team captain should know their signed players.
17. When requested, all cups and trophies must be returned to the committee (cleaned and polished). Any damage done to these must be replaced by the winning team or player.
18. Any player who puts derogatory remarks on social media (or deemed similar) about any committee/league member or gives verbal abuse, or openly attacks a member of the Committee verbally or physically, publicly or privately, or is found to write derogatory comments on social media or team groups, not only will be expelled from the pool league, but potentially this could result in the team that they play for being expelled also. Captains will also be held responsible. Your team, you signed them.
If a player has a grievance they have their Captain contact the secretary and in a professional manner air that grievance and ask that Cimmittee is made aware. Committee are committed to allowing a professionally worded grievance to be heard.
A player can then attend a meeting. (Some applications may need a returnable fee on success paid) suitable to both parties.
19. If a player or someone involved with Newry Pool is asked to attend a meeting and does not an automatic fine of £20 is levied.