Section 1 - Constitution

1     The name of the Association shall be "The Ards & District Pool Association".

2     The Objects of the Association shall be: -

         (a) To promote and encourage mutual understanding, co-operative effort and friendly social intercourse among Pool players and supporters in general and the players and supporters of " The Ards & District Pool Association" in particular.

         (b) To ensure there are no discriminatory practices on the grounds of race, creed, disability or colour in the control, management or participation of the sport in general and of the The Ards & District Pool Association in particular.

         (c) To raise money by legitimate means to meet and defray the expenses in the running of "The Association"

3     Application for membership shall be made on the form provided and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee.

4     Application for membership can be refused by the league committee where clubs do not meet the appropriate minimum standards.

5       (a) All members of the "Association" must be signed by clubs and lodged with the Association's League Secretary before the set dead-line,

        (b) Player registration is transferable, provided that all the procedures laid down in the Bye- Laws are completed.

6     Any member desirous of resigning their membership of the Association shall signify, in writing through the club secretary, to the General Secretary, giving two (2) weeks notice.

7     Each member club of "The Association" shall nominate two (2) league representatives. Only League representatives shall be eligible for Executive Committee office.

8     "The Association" Executive Committee shall consist of eight (8) persons who shall be elected by the general body of members and shall serve a term of one (1) year save hereinafter the Association League Committee, acting in meeting, shall decide otherwise by a 75% majority. The retiring members shall be eligible for re-election.

9   "The Association" Executive Committee shall have exclusive control and management of "The Association" save hereinafter the Association League Committee, acting in meeting, shall decide otherwise.

10   "The Association" League Committee shall have power to make from time to time such bye-laws and regulations as they may think necessary for the well being of "The Association" and shall have the power to set up sub-committees for specified functions.

11   "The Association" Executive Committee shall meet once per month or more frequently if required. "The Association" League Committee shall meet once per two (2) months or at the request of the Executive Committee more frequently if required.

12   Member clubs may request the Executive Committee to engage the League Committee in meeting, notice to be given in writing to the General Secretary 14 days prior to any date requested by that member club.

13   The Annual General Meeting of "The Association" shall be in June or July of each year for the following purposes:-

        (a) To receive a report from the Executive Committee.

        (b) To receive a statement of accounts and a report from the Treasurer.

        (c) To elect members to the Executive Committee.

        (d) To decide any resolution submitted to such meeting as hereinafter provided.

14   Any member club desirous of moving a resolution at the AGM must do so in writing 21 days prior to such meeting to the General Secretary. Member clubs shall be restricted to two (2) resolutions at this meeting. The General Secretary shall circulate the proposal to all member clubs 14 days prior to the AGM.

15   A notice convening any meeting shall be given in writing to the member clubs 7 days prior to any meeting excepting the AGM in which case notice in writing shall be 28 days.

16   Regulations governing meetings:

        (a) Association meetings shall be held

           (i) on the 1st. Thursday of each month (except during the 'Summer') unless clubs are notified otherwise in writing.

           (ii) only if a quorum is present - A quorum is defined as a majority of registered clubs or at least 20 delegates. A delegate must be one of two representatives of a registered club.

           (iii) in August as an Extra-ordinary General Meeting to formally begin the new season. The 'EGM' shall take up any unresolved business from the 'AGM'

        (b) Roll Call shall be made to determine clubs represented and the number of voting delegates present. Each club must be represented by at least one and at most two delegates and must be present at the beginning and conclusion of the meeting.

        (c) Minutes of any previous meeting(s) to be read and adopted.

        (d) Members arriving late or desirous of leaving the meeting early must notify the committee.

        (e) Order of business is normally determined by the Agenda, but may be changed by the Chairman to facilitate a reasonable request from a delegate.

        (f) Motions - A motion is a proposition or proposal put forward for discussion and decision at a meeting.' After a motion has been put to the vote and agreed it becomes a resolution and is included into the Constitution or Bye-Laws.

        An amendment may be defined as 'a proposal to alter a motion' submitted to a meeting by:

          (i) adding, inserting or deleting words of the original motion;

          (ii) substituting words, phrases or complete sentences for others in the original motion;

          (iii) or by any combination of the above forms of alteration.

If the chairman decides that a motion, at any stage, is too complex then the chairman can request that the matter be deferred to the next meeting. The secretary then shall co-ordinate with concerned personnel to submit the motion and any amendments in writing to the next meeting.

        (g) Order of voting if there are any amendments to a motion:

          (i) Any amendments that conflict (in the chairman's opinion) shall be taken first to resolve which is to remain 'standing'.

          (ii) Any 'standing' amendments are voted on and are only included with the motion if they receive a majority of possible votes.

          (iii) Once any/all amendments are dealt with, then the final motion is put to the vote for adoption or rejection

        (h) Voting shall be normally by the 'show of hands' of club delegates unless there is a request to hold a ballot from any one delegate             (i) Each club have a maximum of 2 delegates

          (ii) Only delegates are permitted to vote

          (iii) The chairman only votes when there is a tied vote

          (iv) There are no proxy votes

        (i) Debate:

          (i) The order of debate to be decided by the chairman

          (ii) All motions and amendments require a seconder before consideration

          (iii) When a motion is before the meeting, it cannot be withdrawn except with the consent of the meeting. A motion for withdrawal cannot be put while an amendment is under discussion

          (iv) There will a time limit for debate of 10 minutes with an additional 15 minutes at the discretion of the chairman

          (v) All members present must conduct themselves with due respect and decorum. All debate shell be 'through the chair'. Any breaches by members will leave them liable for sanction(s).

        (j) Meetings shall be of 21/2 hours maximum duration.

        (k) Delegates must attend from specified "start time" until specified "finish time". Failure to comply with "k" shall result in loss of general guarantee.

17   Proper books and accounts shall be kept showing the financial affairs, receipts and disbursements of "The Association"No member shall give the name of "The Association"

18   without the permission of the Executive Committee.

19   All complaints shall be made in writing to the General Secretary.All members shall make themselves acquainted with the rules and bye-laws of "The Association" and all alterations, additions and amendments thereto and shall comply therewith at all times while acting under the auspices of "The Association"

 

Section 2 - Bye-Laws

1      (a) Fixtures must be played on the date specified by "The Association".

        (b) Fixtures may be re-arranged in exceptional circumstances and the reasons and conditions to be forwarded in writing to the General Secretary.

        (c)Failure on the part of both clubs to reach agreement on any matter pertaining to a "postponed" fixture will automatically refer matter to Executive Committee for direction.

2      (a) Failure to play fixture through non-attendance will result in loss of General Guarantee and a resultant fine (to be agreed at AGM or Extra-Ordinary AGM)

        (b) Failure to be represented at - A league meeting will result in loss of Standing Guarantee. - Two consecutive league meetings will result in suspension

        (c) Guarantees must be replaced in "The Association" accounts within 7 days following the next League Meeting.

        (d) Failure to comply with "c" will result in suspension until the League Committee meet with that team's and venue's representatives.

3     The Association's league structure shall consist of two (2) divisions with the second division possibly being split into sub-divisions if the committee sees fit. There shall be promotion and relegation within the league structure.  

        (a) At the end of the current season, three (3) or two (2) teams will be relegated from the first division - i.e. the three/two sides placed in the bottom three/two places and three/two teams promoted from the second division - i.e. the teams placed in the top three/two places.

        (b) If any promoted team fails to take up its proper place in the first division, then any players who have played at least 10 fixtures for the team must register, if they intend to play pool, for a first division team.

4     Roll call shall be 8.00 PM with 15 minutes grace. In this time both Club Secretaries should fill in the match card and visiting team should be given access to the match table.

5      (a) Teams for League Cup fixtures shall comprise of 8 plus 2 balloted reserves. 

        (b) Teams for League fixtures will be reviewed at the completion of the League Cup.

        (c) Teams for cup fixtures shall comprise of 11 plus 2 named reserves.No team may list more than three (3) current Full (A team) or Senior International Panellists on any team listed to play any fixture within the Association

6     Teams shall be named in playing order prior to commencement of match by both Club Secretaries. Any player not available may be replaced by the first available named reserve.

7      (a) The referee shall summon players to the table.

        (b)The referee shall request players to sign the match card.

        (c) The referee shall enter on the match card the details of the match including result, date and start time. At the end of the evening the referee shall sign the match card and both Club Secretaries should countersign the card.

        (d) If a match is not completed on the designated date then all remaining players and reserves must sign the match card. Any outstanding frames must be played within fourteen days. Particulars should be included with the match card and forwarded to the League Secretary.

        (e) League wins shall be awarded three (3) points and draws one (1) point.

8     Match cards properly completed shall be forwarded by the winning club secretary or, in the event of a draw, by the home club secretary to arrive with the league secretary on the Saturday following match to facilitate the compilation of press releases. Failure to comply within 7 days will result in the club losing their General Guarantee and suspension until replacement of guarantee.

9     Grievances and appeals regarding match play must be forwarded, accompanied by appropriate fee (see 13 e), to the General Secretary, copied to the opponents club secretary within one week or the matter will be deemed closed.10.

10   There can be no appeal to the referee on the match night.

11    (a) Players may be signed after the commencement of the fixtures up to the 31st. December of that calendar year. Details must be forwarded to League Secretary accompanied with any necessary fee.

        (b) Transfer of players is allowed provided that both club secretaries agree in writing and the appropriate fee is paid. There shall be no transfers after the 31st. December of that calendar year.

12   Contravention of any rule bye-law or regulation shall be subject to strenuous action i.e. expulsion, suspension or fine on the part of "The Association's" Executive Committee.

13   Fees due to the "Association"

        (a) Team Registration £50 - no separate venue registration & unlimited players

        (b) General Guarantee £20 - guarantee fixture conduct

        (c) Standing Guarantee £30 - £20 guarantee attendance at meetings plus £10 Meeting Fee.

        (d) Meeting Fee £10 - 3 x £30 Draws at each meeting - to ensure that each team will be free on at least one meeting

        (e) Transfer of players £ 5 - Transfer deadline is 31st December of the current season

        (f) Appeals fee £10 - Fee returned if successful

14   The playing rules shall be the official rules adopted by the UK Pool Federation. Any amendments will take affect at the beginning of each season.

15   The referees committee shall arbitrate on any dispute regarding match play. The referees committee shall comprise of 5 members. They will supervise the qualification of league referees and the allocation of referees for particular events.

16   Each club must have a minimum of 2 "qualified" referees (currently regarded as NIPA. grade 4 referees or having obtained a pass at an accredited refereeing course). Each match must be supervised by a qualified referee. Clubs without 2 qualified referees may be give time to obtain qualified personnel.

17   "The Association" will supply qualified referees at the appropriate fee.

18    (a) Both team captains/secretaries are responsible for proper order on match nights.

        (b) Any grievances regarding an unreasonable or unsuitable atmosphere to play a match in or incidents interrupting order during a match, must be made in writing to the general secretary, forwarded with a £10 fee (returned if appeal is upheld) within seven days of the incident(s) occurring, or the matter is deemed closed. This appeal must contain full details of the incident(s) and a copy forwarded to the secretary of the opposing team.

        (c) It will be at the committees discretion to impose fines, suspensions, expulsions, point deductions and home fixture suspensions depending on the seriousness of the incident.

19    (a) Any team found deliberately misleading or giving false information to any member of the committee may be subject to a fine, suspension or expulsion at the committees discretion.

        (b) Any individual giving false information or misleading the committee shall receive an automatic six month suspension.

        (c) At any appeals/hearings concerning the above, the only persons eligible to attend such a meeting are members of the committee, a representative from the team and a representative from the venue. The committee may call individuals if required.