League Rules

LAUNCESTON AND DISTRICT SNOOKER LEAGUE 

(RULES AND REGULATIONS REVISED AUGUST 2025) 

1. All players must be bonafide members of the clubs they represent and must be registered with the league.  The Registration Secretary must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of any new player for registration and confirmation must be received by the club involved. 

2. Each team must consist of five players. 

3. Each team must pay an entry fee of £30, to be handed in to the Treasurer at the AGM.  Failure to comply will result in that team not being entered in the forthcoming league. 

4. A player is eligible to play for one team only during a season.  Failure to comply will lead to the defaulter forfeiting his frame, the point being awarded to the opposing team. 

5. Matches to be started no later than 7.30 pm. 

6. At a match opponents are to be decided by means of a draw.  All matches to be played as drawn, except by mutual agreement of both captains.  All players to be in the club by 9.00 pm.  No substitutes may be allowed after 9pm. 

7. Home Matches are to be played on Thursday (ex Division 1 teams) or Tuesday (exDivision 2 teams). 

8. No more cancellations unless under extreme circumstances e.g. weather.  A team short of players may be allowed to have one player (or 2) play twice via a new draw and this game(s) must be the last ones of the night. This means that a team with only 3 or 4 players can double up, but Only Half a point will be awarded for a winning frame. 

9. Each game must consist of one frame between the two drawn opponents played according to the rules of the Amateur Billiards and Snooker Association. 

10. The referee and marker for each game will be supplied by the home club or team, not necessarily a playing member. 

Home team to be marked as Spot and away team plain. 

11. The result card must be scanned or photographed and send via a mobile phone link by text or e-mailed to the Fixtures Secretary on completion of match or by 12noon the following day at the latest. 

12. Only breaks made in normal league matches shall qualify for the top break competitions.  Breaks made in play-offs / Team Knock Out Cup will not be taken into consideration. Minimum breaks of 25 and above will only be counted. 

13. The same conditions as in the league shall generally apply to the team knock-out competitions. 

14.  Only teams that have played in the league are entitled to play in the knock-out competitions. Players must have played at least three League matches before semi-finals. 

15. In the team knock-out, each round will be drawn, with the first team drawn out being the home team. Rounds up to and including the final to be played on a straight knock-out basis. The semi-final and final are to be played on neutral tables. Matches are now arranged as per fixture list and must be played as drawn, unless by mutual agreement. 

Teams with one or two players short can still double up and count as a whole point if winning, but will receive an additional minus 10 handicap at the start of the frame. 

16. Individual and pairs knock-out competitions shall be decided by means of a draw, the first name drawn being home. Both players are responsible for arranging the fixture within the date limits stated. Results must be text / e-mailed to the Competition Secretary by the date stated or else both players will be disqualified.  Please note:  Both Handicap and Straight Singles matches to be played best of 5 frames including the Final. Doubles Competition will be best of 3 frames up to final which will be best of 5 frames. Both competitions will be on a handicap basis which will be worked out on previous seasons performance and adjusted where appropriate to each individual players ability. 

17. Rules on nominating balls : 

Players are not required to verbally declare the colour they intend playing unless specifically asked to do so by the referee. 

The Referee can not call a foul for for hitting the wrong ball unless ;  

1. The Referee has first asked the player to verbally nominate and the ball declared is not the first ball hit, or 

2. when asked to nominate the player plays without replying. 

This rule applies whether playing a colour as a red in a free ball situation, playing to escape a snooker or simply playing a colour after a red. If the Referee is unsure which ball the player is aiming for he / she must ask the player to verbally nominate. 

The penalty awarded in the event of a foul will be whichever is the highest out of the values of the ball hit or ball nominated. If a player plays without nominating, as in 2 above, the Referee should award a 7 point penalty. 

Nominated ball ; 

a)  A nominated ball is the object ball which the striker declares, or indicates to the statisfaction of the Referee, he undertakes to hit with the first impact of the cue-ball. 

b) If requested by the Referee, the striker must declare which ball is on. 

18. All trophies awarded that are not collected on the Presentation Night will be forfeited. 

19.. Playing dates laid down by the Launceston and District Snooker League will take priority over any other league. 

20. Each team will send a representative to the Annual General Meeting to register its team in the forthcoming league. Unless by prior arrangements. Failure to send a representative will prevent that team being included in the forthcoming league. 

21. Any decision made by the Management Committee is to be final.