Rules for the Northern Area League
Competition
- The competition shall be known as the EACF Northern Area
League.
- All clubs within the Northern Area (Norfolk and
Cambridgeshire) of the Eastern Area Croquet Federation
shall be eligible to participate in the league provided
that they are registered with the Federation and have
paid the appropriate registration fee.
- The league shall operate on an all-play-all basis. The
fixtures shall alternate home and away on an annual basis.
- Courts should not be less than ¾ size (approx. 30 x 25
yards) or in such poor condition that there is virtually
no possibility of accurate positioning, nor of hitting a
ball from one end of the court to the other.
- Teams shall consist of 3 players with one substitution
permitted per match. It is expected that all club
handicappers will ensure that their players? handicaps
are accurately set and that all players are bona fide
Club members.
- Each match shall consist of 2 doubles and 2 singles
games. No player shall be permitted to play more than 1
game of singles per match. Double banking is permitted
in order to allow single court Clubs to take part.
- All games, Singles and Doubles, shall be standard 26pt
Handicap games of 3¼ hours, duration. No extended time
will be played and games tied at the expiration of
normal time shall be deemed a draw.
- 4 points shall be awarded for each match. Teams shall
receive 1 point for each win and ½ point for each tied
game. No points shall be awarded for a loss. Results of
matches must be notified to the League Organiser by the
winning team within 48 hours.
- If a team fails to fulfil a fixture for any reason, then
no points shall be awarded. However, it is within the
League Organiser's discretion to award points to the
non-offending team.
- The responsibility for arranging a fixture rests with
the Home Team. However, a degree of mutual co-operation
shall be expected between both participating teams.
- The home team shall be responsible for providing a match
referee, preferably qualified. All his/her decisions on
the day shall be final.
- At the end of the Competition, date to be set by the
League Organiser the overall winner shall be the team
which has accrued the most points. However,
- If there is a tie on points between two or
more teams, then the 'who-beat-who'
rule shall apply.
- If a winner can still not be determined,
then the team with the highest numbers of
winner points shall be declared the winner.
- If an overall winner can still not be
determined, then a final play-off match will
be arranged at a neutral venue agreed with
the League organiser.
- The overall winner of the Competition will hold the EACF
(Northern Area) league trophy for the ensuing 12 months.
In addition up to 5 individual trophies shall be awarded
to the members of the winning team.
- The highest placed CA Registered Club shall be eligible
to enter the play-off? against the other area winners
to determine the overall EACF League Champions, who will
then go forward to represent the EACF in the Secretary's
Shield Competition to take place the following season.
- It is expected that the Home Club will provide
refreshments comprising tea, coffee, biscuits as well as
a light buffet tea at the end of the match at no cost to
the visitors.
- In the event that complaints, points for discussion,
misunderstandings, disputes etc. not covered by these
Rules arise during the competition, they will be
determined by the League Organiser provided
representations are made to him by the aggrieved Club
within 10 days of the occurrence of the relevant event.
The decision of the League Organiser shall be
final.
Terrey Sparks
League Organiser |