| 1 Title |
| The League shall be known as the Bracknell Bridge League. |
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| 2 Object |
| 2.1 |
To organise and promote inter-club duplicate bridge for clubs located in or near
Bracknell. |
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| 2.2 |
To support and nurture new clubs formed within the area, and encourage them to
join the League. |
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| 3 Executive Committee |
| 3.1 |
The Executive Committee, which shall be responsible for the day-to-day management
of the League, shall consist of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and either a
Match Secretary or a Fixtures Secretary plus a Results Secretary, and either one or
two club Members. The Officers and member(s) shall be appointed at the Annual
General Meeting. |
| 3.2 |
The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt other members to the
Executive Committee as they deem desirable. |
| 3.3 |
The Executive Committee shall have the power to deal with matters not covered by
this constitution and other exceptional circumstances. |
| 3.4 |
Reference to the 'Match Secretary' in Rules 10,11 17 & 19 shall apply equally
to the appointment of a 'Fixtures Secretary' (Rule 10) and a 'Results Secretary'
(Rules 11, 17 & 19) where these appointments are made under rule 3.1 in place
of a Match Secretary. |
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| 4 Meetings |
| 4.1 |
Executive Committee Meetings |
| A properly constituted meeting of the Executive Committee shall consist
of at least four members of the appointed Committee. The Executive
Committee shall meet at least three times each year. |
| 4.2 |
Annual General Meeting
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| 4.2.1 |
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held as soon as possible after the
completion of the League match programme. Notice of the AGM shall be sent to
the Club Secretary of each Club in the League to arrive at least seven days before
the date of the meeting, see also rule 24.1 |
| 4.2.2 |
Each Club shall be entitled to send one voting representative to the AGM. Members
of the Committee are only entitled to vote if they are representing a Club. The
Chairman has only a casting vote. |
| 4.2.3 |
A Club representative attending an AGM may also be empowered, subject to giving
prior notification in writing to the League Secretary, to represent one other
league club, in which case the said representative shall have a minimum of two (2)
votes (for details of possible additional voting entitlement see paragraph 4.2.4). |
| 4.2.4 |
A club which entered four (4) or more teams in the league during a season shall be
entitled to two (2) votes at the AGM at the end of that season, provided that such teams
(or a minimum of four (4) teams from a club entering more than four teams) shall have
completed their league fixtures during that season to the satisfaction of the Executive
Committee. |
| 4.2.5 |
A quorum for a General Meeting shall consist of a minimum of two (2) Officers and
four (4) club representatives. In the absence of the Chairman, the chair shall be taken
by an Officer. |
| 4.3 |
Special General Meetings
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| 4.3.1 |
If considered desirable, a Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called by
the Executive Committee. |
| 4.3.2 |
The Executive Committee shall call a SGM at the request of a member Club provided the
request has the written support of at least three other member Clubs. Unless otherwise
agreed with the Member Club requesting the meeting, the SGM shall be held within
28 days of the written request being received by the League Secretary. |
| 4.3.3 |
The same conditions for notice and attendance shall apply as are required for an AGM. |
| 4.3.4 |
The voting entitlement held under Rule 4.2.4 above shall apply to any Special
General Meeting held between the AGM at the end of a season and the AGM held before the
end of the following season. |
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| 5 Finance |
| 5.1 |
The Treasurer shall keep a Receipts and Payments Account for the League. |
| 5.2 |
Each year the Executive Committee shall recommend to the AGM:
| (i) | the Annual Subscription payable per team, |
| (ii) | the Entry Fee for new teams and |
| (iii) | the Entry Fee for the Knock-Out Cup payable per team. |
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| 6 Organisation of the League |
| 6.1 |
The League shall be affiliated to the
Berks and Bucks Contract Bridge
Association.
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| 6.2 |
English Bridge Union Master Points
shall be issued at the end of each season to all players who have been members of
a winning team. |
| 6.3 |
The League shall be organised into divisions known as Division 1, Division 2, etc. |
| 6.4 |
The divisions, except for the lowest, shall each consist of not more than eight teams. |
| 6.4.1 |
The size of the lowest division shall be decided by the Executive Committee at the
start of each season by consideration of the number of teams wishing to play. Should
the number of teams exceed nine, the Committee shall consider dividing them, temporarily,
into two sub-divisions (eg Divisions 6A and 6B) with at least five teams in each. |
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| 7 The Season |
| 7.1 |
The League season shall run from about mid-September to mid-April. |
| 7.2 |
Entries for the season, accompanied by the appropriate fee, must be made in writing
to the League Secretary by June 15. The home night for each team must be specified. |
| 7.3 |
As soon as possible after the End of Season Pairs competition, the League Secretary shall notify
all League Clubs of the results of the previous season and the consequent provisional promotions
and relegations for the following season. |
| 7.4 |
New Teams applying to join the League. |
| 7.4.1 |
A new team applying to join the League will normally be entered into
the lowest Division for the following season. |
| 7.4.2 |
At the discretion of the League Committee, who shall particularly take into account
the proven playing ability of the new team members, the new team may be entered into
a higher Division subject only to the caveat that any teams directly affected agree
to the positioning of the new team. An example of a 'directly affected' team could be
where a team was not promoted in order to accommodate the new team. |
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| 8 Players |
| 8.1 |
A player shall be eligible to play for any Club provided he/she has not played for
any other Club in the League in the current season. |
| 8.2 |
In exceptional circumstances the Executive Committee may permit a player to cease
playing for one Club and become eligible to play for another Club in the same season.
Applications to the Committee under this rule shall be made in writing and state the
circumstances in detail. The Committee shall give a ruling within 28 days of receiving
the application. |
| 8.3 |
No player may play in more than 14 matches but may play in more than one team. This
does not apply to the lowest division when the number of teams in that division in a
particular season exceeds 8. In these circumstances, a player from a team in the lowest
division may play in a total number of matches equal to the number of matches played by
that team in that season, with the caveat that not more than 7 of the matches may be played
for teams in the higher divisions. |
| 8.4 |
Any team that plays a player that is not eligible shall be deemed to have forfeited
the match. |
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| 9 Teams |
| For any match a team shall consist of four players. |
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| 10 Match Programme |
| 10.1 |
The match programme shall be arranged so that:
| (i) | in all divisions except the lowest, each team plays
every other team in their division twice per season. |
| (ii) | the Committee decision under rule 6.4.1 will
determine the number of matches to be played in the lowest
division during each season. |
| (iii) | matches between teams from the same club in the same Division
should be played in the first half of each half of the
season. |
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| 10.2 |
The
Match Secretary
shall compile the draft match programme by August 1. Matches
shall not be scheduled on dates known to be allocated to EBU, BBL and BBCBA events.
The team captains may negotiate with the opposing captain to change any dates which
are not suitable. [The Committee recommend that, at this stage, no reasonable request
for a change be refused]. |
| 10.2.1 |
By September 1st each Club shall notify the
Match Secretary of any agreed match
programme changes and confirm the remaining dates. The Match Secretary
shall assume that no response to the draft signifies confirmation of all the fixture
dates. The Match Secretary
shall then issue a final match programme by September 15. |
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| 11 Re-arrangement of matches |
| 11.1 |
If both the team captains are in complete agreement, a match may be re-arranged and
played within the same week in which the match was originally scheduled without penalty. |
| 11.2 |
Subject only to prior notification to the
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Match Secretary, each team may re-arrange
one match per half season in to a week set aside for re-arranged fixtures at the end
of each half of the season. |
| 11.3 |
In principle, no other variations of the match programme will be permitted. If both
team captains agree to change the week of the match, other than to the special week
(see above), prior notification must be made to the Match Secretary. |
| 11.3.1 |
It is the responsibility of the Home team captain to ensure that the Match Secretary
is notified of each and every fixture change after the final match programme is issued
(see 10.2.1 above). A change of venue is a fixture change for the purpose of this rule. |
| 11.4 |
The Committee shall take appropriate action to prevent teams from the same club
playing in the same Division, re-arranging a fixture which could affect promotion or
relegation to near the end of the season. |
| 11.5 |
The absence (for any reason) of one player will not be deemed sufficient reason to
necessitate a re-arrangement under rule 11.3. |
| 11.6 |
Unfulfilled scheduled matches
| (i) | Any team failing to fulfil a scheduled match will
forfeit that match and score no VPs. If the match
was scheduled for the first half of the season,
their opponents will be awarded their average VP
match score (rounded up) gained during the first
half of the season or the average VP score (rounded up)
conceded by the offending team during the first half
of the season, whichever is the greater. For divisions
where teams play each of the other teams twice, the
first half of the season means playing half the total
number of league fixtures for that division (defined
as playing every other team once). For a division
where teams play each of the other teams once only,
rule 11.6.2 (below) applies. |
| (ii) | If the match was scheduled for the second half of the
season, their opponents will be awarded their average
VP match score (rounded up) gained during the whole
season or the average VP score (rounded up) conceded
by the offending team during the whole season, whichever
is the greater. |
| (iii) | The non-offending team will be awarded the lowest IMP
score for the VP score they receive and the offending
team will be given a zero IMP score. No EBU master
points shall be issued for such matches. |
| (iv) | In exceptional circumstances the Executive Committee
shall be empowered to award an adjusted match result. |
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| 11.7 |
If both captains agree not to play a match, neither team will score any VPs and they
will score -50 IMPS. |
| 11.8 |
In the event that a forfeited match in the second half of the season affecting the end
of season placings, the Executive Committee shall have the right to insist that the
match be played. |
| 11.9 |
If a match is started but not completed, the offending team forfeits the match and both
teams receive a score as in forfeited matches above. |
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| 12 Match confirmation |
| 12.1 |
The team contact of the home Club shall get in touch with the team contact of the
away Club at least three days before the date in the match programme to:
| (i) | confirm the match venue and the starting time and |
| (ii) | advise the away team of any delays in reaching the match
location, e.g. security requirements. |
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| 12.2 |
Failure to arrange contact between the teams prior to a match may lead to the
forfeiture of a match at the discretion of the Executive Committee. The away team
contact has a responsibility to the home team contact under rule 12.1. |
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| 13 Match starting time |
| 13.1 |
The four players of a team shall be in position at the tables by 1930 hours unless, in
exceptional circumstances, a different starting time has been agreed. |
| 13.2 |
Should a team not be in position at the agreed starting time, the delay, in minutes,
shall be recorded on the Result Card (see 17) with an indication
of the offending team. |
| 13.3 |
A team regularly reported for late starting may be penalised by the Executive
Committee (see rule 14). |
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| 14 Penalties for late arrival |
| 14.1 |
The penalties for teams regularly arriving late are to be determined by the
Executive Committee. |
| 14.2 |
If a team is not ready to start a match by thirty minutes after the starting time
previously agreed by the two captains, the non-offending captain may opt to claim
the match by forfeit. The score will be calculated as in Rule 11.6. |
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| 15 Matches |
| 15.1 |
Except at the mutual agreement of the two captains concerned, matches shall be played
on weekday evenings, that is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings. |
| 15.2 |
Each match shall normally consist of twenty four boards. In the event of a late start
or slow play the captains may agree to play fewer boards (minimum twenty). Both
captains shall be responsible for ensuring that the players are seated at the correct
polarity at both tables. |
| 15.3 |
Except at the mutual agreement of the two captains concerned, the match
location shall be within a six mile radius of the site of Bracknell
Railway Station. This area includes the following places: |
| Ascot, Bagshot, Blackwater, Bracknell, Camberley, Crowthorne,
Finchampstead, Holyport, Jealotts Hill, Sandhurst, Sunningdale,
Sunninghill, Winnersh, Wokingham and Yateley. |
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| 15.4 |
In the event of a disagreement over the legality of a proposed match venue, the
dispute shall be settled by the Executive Committee. |
| 15.5 |
In matches played in a private house, the standard arrangement is that smoking is
prohibited at the playing tables throughout the match. However, the match host shall
provide an area away from the playing tables where smoking is permitted during
scoring breaks. Team captains may wish to discuss smoking arrangements when arranging
a match and the standard arrangement may be varied by mutual agreement. (Vide the EBU
Competitions Handbook) |
| 15.6 |
From 1998, the English Bridge
Union (EBU) has defined five categories of permitted
conventions. Only those systems and conventions listed as falling within the category
defined as level 3 may be used in league matches and competitions. |
| 15.7 |
In all matches the away team has seating rights - viz the home team pairs take their places and
the away team chooses where they will sit. |
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| 16 Conversion to Victory Points |
| The overall points score for each board shall be converted to International
Match Points (IMP) in the usual way, and the overall (24 board) IMP margin converted
to Victory Points (VP) according to the EBU scale currently in force. Please refer to the
EBU White Book - note that VP scales vary according to the number of boards played. |
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| 17 Result Cards |
| 17.1 |
Before the season commences the League shall provide Result Cards to the clubs. |
| 17.2 |
After each match a Result Card shall be completed with:
| (i) | the names of the two teams, |
| (ii) | the number of the division, |
| (iii) | the full names of the players (in capital letters),
ie forename & surname, |
| (iv) | the International Match Point scores, |
| (v) | the signatures of the two captains and |
| (vi) | any delay in the agreed starting time. |
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| 17.3 |
Unless the
Match Secretary has announced alternative arrangements under rule 17.4,
the Result Card shall be sent to the Match Secretary
by the home Club. |
| 17.4 |
Alternative methods for reporting match results - for example electronic mail or
Internet (web) pages – will be promulgated where possible before the season commences,
but may be announced by the Match Secretary during
the season. Any such alternatives are provided for the convenience of those clubs who wish
to use them. The home club always has the option of sending the Result Card by conventional
mail. Alternative reporting methods may not be used if there is any dispute over the match.
In the event of a dispute, the Result Card must be sent to the Match Secretary and
rule 18 applies. |
| 17.5 |
If the home club uses an alternative reporting method and elects not to send a
Result Card to the Match Secretary then
the home club must retain the Result Card until the end of April. Until this date, the
Match
Secretary may request the Result Card from the home club and will do so if there is
any query over the match result. If the home club fails to produce a retained Result
Card within one week of receiving a written request from the Match Secretary,
then the home team may be penalised. The penalty is at the discretion of the Executive
Committee. In extreme cases where the match result can no longer be determined, the
home team may be deemed to have forfeited the match as under
rule 11.6. |
| 17.6 |
If notification of a match result does not reach the Match Secretary
by the end of the week following the match date in the match programme, or by the end
of the week following an agreed re-arranged date notified to the Match Secretary,
then the home team may, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, have two Victory
Points deducted from their League Victory Point total. |
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| 18 Disputes |
| In the event of a dispute, the agreed statement of facts signed by both
captains (or two statements if necessary) must be submitted with the result
card in accordance with Rule 17. The Committee shall
contact an EBU director, or County equivalent, for a ruling and send a copy
of such ruling to the Club Secretaries within seven days of receiving it.
Any appeal against this ruling must be received within fourteen days of the
dispatch of the ruling by the League Secretary to the team captains (even
if this has to be done via their Club Secretary). The appeal must be
accompanied by the fee required at that time by the
Berks and Bucks
Contract Bridge Association Appeals Committee.
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| 19 League Tables |
| 19.1 |
The
Match Secretary shall maintain a League Table for each division. |
| 19.2 |
The League Tables shall be passed to the local press at the end of each half season.
The Tables shall also be available on request by Club Secretaries provided a sae is
supplied with the request. |
| 19.3 |
Results and League tables will be published and updated weekly on the Internet
where possible. |
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| 20 Withdrawals |
| 20.1 |
If a team withdraws from the League after completing more than half of its matches
for the season, the results for the first half of the season shall stand. |
| 20.2 |
If a team withdraws at any other time, the Executive Committee shall decide which
results, if any, shall stand. |
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| 21 Final League positions |
| 21.1 |
The final League positions shall be determined by the Victory Points totals
of the teams. However, should there be a tie in Victory Points, the League
positions shall be decided by consideration of the match results between
the teams concerned, taking account firstly of the Victory Points gained
and then, if these are equal, by consideration of the International
Match Points gained. |
| 21.2 |
Promotion from the Conference Sections (NB - this rule only applies when the lowest Division is
divided into two Sections) |
| 21.2.1 |
The final league positions in each Section shall be determined by the Victory Points (VP's) totals
of the teams, and both Section winners will normally be promoted. |
| 21.2.2 |
The Division winners will be the Section winners with the higher VP total. In the event of a tie on
VP's, the Division winners will be decided by consideration of the match result between the two teams
concerned, taking into account firstly the VP score and then if this is tied the IMP's score. |
| 21.2.3 |
In the event that it is necessary to promote a third team from this Division, the procedure
detailed in 21.2.2 above will be applied to the runners-up in each Section to determine the
third placed team. |
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| 22 Trophies |
| 22.1 |
Trophies shall be provided for the winners of each division. These shall be presented
at the end of the season and held for one year. |
| 22.2 |
Trophies shall be returned to the Secretary before the presentation ceremony for
the following season. |
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| 23 Promotion and relegation |
| 23.1 |
Save in exceptional circumstances (to be determined by the Committee) at the end of each season
the bottom two teams in each division (except the lowest) shall be relegated to the next lowest
division and the top two teams in each division (except Division 1) shall be promoted to the next
highest division. |
| 23.2 |
In order to maintain the structure of the league the Executive Committee may, in the
event of a team withdrawing from the league, promote more than two teams although two
teams will always be relegated, one of whom shall be the team that withdrew. |
| 23.3 |
In the event of the lowest division being temporarily divided into two divisions,
the Executive Committee shall decide, at the start of the season, the rules for that
season governing promotion and relegation between these divisions and the next
higher division. |
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| 24 Amendment(s) to the Rules and Constitution |
| 24.1 |
Amendments to the Rules and Constitution shall be made only at a General Meeting of the League.
All proposals, duly seconded, for a change or changes in the Rules and Constitution must be:
received by the Secretary in writing not less than 21 days prior to the date of a General Meeting
circulated to clubs with the Notice convening the General Meeting
included on the meeting agenda. |
| 24.2 |
In order to be carried, a proposal for a change in the Rules and/or Constitution
requires (i) a Seconder and (ii) a minimum of two thirds of the total available
votes (including proxy representation where notified to the Committee under
Rule 4.2.3) to be cast in favour of the motion. |
| 24.3 |
The Chairman shall clarify voting eligibility, and the numerical requirements
for a proposed change in the Rules and/or Constitution to be carried under
Rule 4.2, at the start of each General Meeting. |
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