ELIZABETH CITY DART LEAGUE

 

RULES FOR THE

2006 – 2007 SEASON

 

1.      The Elizabeth City Dart League (ECDL) will consist of five (5) officers; President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms.  All officers must have played in this league the previous year and played at least one third (1/3) of the season.  Elections for the five officers will be held at the first meeting of each season by a majority vote of the ECDL Captains.  The Secretary will be paid $25.00 per team and the Treasurer $10.00 per team for the year.  This will be paid at the season’s end, out of league funds, after records are complete. 

 

2.      Each team must pay a $100.00 sponsor fee, which is to be paid by the following Tuesday after the first meeting.  Dart boards and supplies will then be issued by the ECDL.  This fee is non-refundable and is used for supplies, dartboards, secretary fee, treasurer fee, awards party/picnic committee and awards party/picnic.  Each team must submit a preliminary roster with the sponsor fee.

 

3.      Any team which drops out of the ECDL prior to the end of the season will have to pay a penalty to rejoin the ECDL, equal to the cost of the sponsor fee for the year said team wishes to rejoin.  No new materials will be received for this penalty.  Penalty subject for two (2) years after the conclusion of the season which said team dropped out. 

 

4.      All teams must play in Elizabeth or a community that borders Elizabeth.  New teams must be voted into the league by the existing teams and ECDL officers.  A 75% or more “yes” vote is required.

 

5.      Each team will have a roster, up to 12 persons, submitted to the ECDL Secretary no later than the 5th week of competition.  If a team’s roster is not turned in by the 5th week, the person’s who have played thus far will be considered as their roster and will be considered frozen after the 5th week. For a player to change teams during the first five weeks, said player needs a release from their initial team captain prior to switching to another team.  For a team to add a brand new player during any point of the season, a vote of the majority of the ECDL Officers must be attained. 

 

6.      The ECDL will start at 7:45 PM and you must have at least one (1) player present to start, with a 15-minute grace period for the first match only.  Thereafter, players have five (5) minutes between matches to toe the line.  If you do not have one (1) player present at 8:00 PM, the other team has the right to call a forfeit, if they do not want to wait.  If a 4th player does not “toe the line” within five (5) minutes after completion of the 3rd match, the team will forfeit all points (33) for the Match Night.

 

7.      If a player is not allowed in a tavern and the owner is not willing to let said player into the tavern for the match, then the said player may not shoot for that night.  This rule is not to be used for a team to gain advantage of the other team.  If the owner allows said player in the tavern for the night, it is the responsibility of the teammates to keep said player under control or the team will forfeit the Match Night.

 

8.      All players must be at least 21 years of age to shoot.  Violation of this rule will result in forfeiture of all points said person(s) were involved in.

 

9.      Bumper Weeks will be determined at the 1st meeting.

 

10.  General Tournament Rules of the American Darts Organization apply unless superceded by the ECDL Rules for said season.  Changing Rules for a season is accomplished at the 1st meeting of a season by a majority vote of the ECDL Captains and Officers.  Final decisions of disputes, during a season, are by a majority vote of the ECDL Officers unless otherwise stated within the ECDL Rules.    

 

11.  A Match Night will consist of the following singles, doubles and triples matches:

 

·        Six (6) Singles 301 matches [Double-in / Double-out] – Play best 2 of 3 – 1 point per game, a sweep gets all 3 points.

 

·        One (1) Doubles 501 match - Open-in / Double-out - Play best 2 of 3 – 1 point per game, a sweep gets all 3 points.

·        One (1) Doubles cricket match - Play best 2 of 3 – 1 point per game, a sweep gets all 3 points.

·        One (1) Doubles 501match - Open-in / Double-out - Play best 2 of 3 – 1 point per game, a sweep gets all 3 points.

 

·        One (1) Triples Cricket match – Play one game – 3 points per game.

·        One (1) Triples 601 match – Open-in / Double-out – Play one game – 3 points per game.

 

During regular season play the format will be: 

The Home team of a Match Night will shoot first for the first game of each singles, doubles and triples matches.  The second, and if necessary, a third game will be started by the loser of the previous game, also known as “Mugs Away”. 

 

During the play-offs the format will be: 

The Home team of the play-off Match Night will have choice to shoot for the bull first on odd numbered matches and the Away team will have choice to shoot for the bull first on the even numbered matches.  The second game of a match is Mugs Away.  If a third game is needed, the loser of the bull from the first match has the choice of shooting for the bull first.  Winner of the bull has choice to shoot first or second. 

 

12.  Qualification for playoffs will require that a player must participate in at least 33% of the total number of type of single, doubles, and triples matches for the season, including bumper week matches.  For example if a player plays only one type of match each week, then he/she will qualify since there are only three types of matches each night.  Any time you need to know how many games a player has, contact the league secretary and the information will be given to you within a week.

 

13.  Lights must be affixed in such a way as to brightly illuminate the board, reduce to a minimum the shadows cast by the darts, and not physically impede the flight of dart.  (ADO #47)

 

14.  Players have five minuets between matches to toe the line.

 

15.  The Hockey, a.k.a. the Toe Line: 

 

Whenever possible, a raised hockey, at least 1 1/2” high and 2’ long, shall be placed in (a fixed) position at the minimum throwing distance, and shall measure from the back of the raised hockey 7’ 9 ¼” along the floor to a plumb line at the face of the dartboard.  (ADO #48) 

 

Should a player have any portion of his feet or shoes over the hockey line during a throw, all darts so thrown shall be counted as part of his throw, but any score made by said darts shall be invalid and not counted.  One warning . . . shall be considered sufficient before invoking this rule.  (ADO #50)

 

A player wishing to throw a dart, or darts from a point either side of the hockey line, must keep his/her feet behind an imaginary straight line extending from either side of the hockey line. 

Center Bull Height = 5’ 8”  (ADO #51) 

 

16.  It is the responsibility of the player to verify his score, with the scorer, before removing his/her darts from the board.  The score remains as written if one or more darts has been removed from the board.  Errors in arithmetic must stand as written, unless corrected prior to the beginning of that player’s next throw.  In case of Doubles/Triples matches, such errors must be rectified prior to the next turn of any partner/player on that team.  (ADO #35)

 

17.  For a dart to score, it must remain in the board 5 seconds after the 3rd or final dart has been thrown by the player.  The tip of the dart point must be touching the bristle portion of the board, in order for that dart to be counted as score.  (ADO #32)

 

18.  No dart may be touched by the thrower, another player, scorer, or spectator, prior to the decision of the Scorer.  Should this occur, that throw shall be deemed to have been completed, . . .  (ADO #33)

 

19.  The Scorer may inform the thrower what he/she has scored and/or what he/she has left.  The Scorer MAY NOT inform the thrower what he/she has left in terms of number combinations.  It IS permissible for a partner, teammate, or a spectator to advise the thrower during the course of a Match.  (ADO #39) 

 

20.  Sharp Shooter Points to be noted on score sheets:

 

·        95 points or greater per turn in _01-games.

·        High Open or Close of 75 points or more in _01-games.

·        180’s in _01-games.

·        In Cricket matches, three scoring triples, three double-bulls, or a variation of the two, will be known as “Three in a Bed”.

 

 

 

21.  Fifteen Dart Rule:

 

If a match is forfeited, at the time of forfeit, each player on the opposing team gets 15 darts per match for sharp shooter points.  If a complete Match Night is forfeited,  six people shoot 15 darts each for singles, four people shoot 15 darts for doubles 501, two people shoot 15 darts for doubles cricket sharp shooter points, three people shoot 15 darts for triples 601, and three people shoot 15 darts for triples cricket sharp shooter points.

 

22.  Double One (X1) Rule:

 

If both players of a singles match are down to X1, both players have had 5 rounds at X1, and can not go out, and if both Captains agree, the player who comes the closest to the Bulls Eye will be declared the winner of that game.  Only one (1) dart is to be thrown.  This rule is mandatory after both players have had seven rounds at the X1.

 

23.  Weekly Dues are $24.00 per Match Night, per team, $4.00 of which will go towards the year-end awards party or picnic. 

 

24.  It is the responsibility of the away team to get the results, which includes scores sheets and weekly dues, to the ECDL Secretary no later than Wednesday, at 8:00 PM, following the match.  If a team fails to comply, a warning will be issued on the next week’s standings sheet.  The team will be fined $10.00 per week for every infraction after the first warning is issued.  A team will only be permitted to owe the ECDL for four (4) weeks.  If arrears are not paid by the Saturday following the 4th week, said team(s) will be dropped from the league and all moneys forfeited.  If sheets are not in on Wednesday at 8:00 PM, the results for that(those) match(es) will be put on next weeks standings sheet.  There will be no excuse acceptable for not turning in other team’s money!  Forfeiture of $20.00 per infraction will be deducted from prize money of said team.  The league is not a lending institution!  Standings will be available the following Saturday at Bottom’s Up, after 8:00 PM.  The away team is responsible for both the score sheets and weekly dues for both teams.  Failure to hand them in will result in having said team noted on the standings sheet, along with amounts owed.  This will remain on the standings sheet until the debts, including weekly dues and associated fines, are paid in full. 

 

25.  The ECDL Officers may vote any team that forfeits two (2) matches during the regular season out of the League.  Each team is responsible for their own money when a forfeit occurs. 

 

26.  If the ECDL has an odd number of teams, the team receiving the bye will be awarded all points for the match night and no dues are required for that week.

 

27.  Snow Rules:

 

The ECDL Officers will decide if a match is to be called off due to inclement weather.  If this occurs, each tavern will be notified by 6:45 PM and all members should contact their own team.  The missed week(s) from inclement weather will be made up at the end of the season.

 

 

28.  Postponement:

 

For a team to postpone a match, both the opposing team and the ECDL Officers must be notified 24 hours in advance and informed of a valid reason for the postponement.  Further more, you must have a date set between both teams as to when the Match Night is to be made up, at the time of the postponement.

 

29.  All teams will receive prize money.  Break down will be given out at the end of the season.

 

30.  Trophies and Awards:

 

All trophies and award will be given out at the awards party or picnic, to be determined by ECDL Officers.  A floating plaque will be awarded to the play-off champion team and will be kept at the play-off champion’s tavern until such time that it may be claimed by the succeeding year play-off champion.    There will be floating sportsmanship awards to be given out each year, one for the men and one for the women and will be kept at each recipient’s tavern until such time that it may be claimed by the succeeding year sportspersons.  All floating awards are ultimately the property of the ECDL.  

 

To qualify for the Top Winning Percentage Singles Award, a player must play in at least 75% of the singles matches for the regular season including bumper weeks.