Rules for the Beds & Herts Association
Croquet League
- All clubs within Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire shall be
eligible to participate in the league provided that they
are registered with the East Anglian Croquet Federation,
plus any other nearby clubs as may be determined by the
EACF. (New for 2014:) There is an entry fee of £10 per season per team.
- The League shall operate on an all-play-all basis, with
each pairing of clubs playing Home and Away in alternate
years. However, clubs with only one serviceable court
may elect to play their "Home" games Away.
- The responsibility for arranging a fixture rests with
the Home club. However, a degree of mutual co-operation
is expected between both participating clubs.
- Courts should be full-size and in adequate condition
such that there is a possibility of accurate
positioning, and of hitting a ball from one corner of
the court to the opposite corner.
- The maximum allowed individual handicap is 20. There is
no minimum allowed handicap. The team captain should
ensure that handicaps are correct and that any new
players have been assessed by the club handicapper in
accordance with the CA Club Handbook. No player may play
for more than one club in the course of any one season.
- Where two or more courts are available teams should
normally consist of 4 players, with each player playing
in one doubles and one singles game, giving a total of 6
games in the match. By exception if a 4-a-side match can
not be arranged at this venue, teams may consist of 3
players, in which case the match comprises one doubles and
four singles games. In either case the opponents should be paired in handicap order
when all are playing singles, and no games may be duplicated.
- Where only one court is available teams should consist
of 3 players, with only one player playing in two
doubles games, giving a total of 4 games in the match,
and no games may be duplicated.
- All games shall be standard 26pt games of 3 hours duration if single-banked,
or 3¼ hours if double-banked, played under the current Laws of Association Croquet and CA-approved
variations, and to full bisque handicap Base 10
(for doubles, this base applies to the calculated handicap of the pair.)
Time-limited games shall be played to a result in accordance with
CA Tournament regulation T2.
- The home team shall be responsible for providing a match
referee, preferably qualified. All his/her decisions on
the day shall be final.
- 2 points shall be awarded for each match, with teams
receiving 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. The
result of each match must be notified promptly to the
League Manager by the winning team.
- If one side cancels a match at less than 48 hours notice
and no alternative venue is agreed then the other side
shall receive 2 points but zero game difference. If the match is
not played for any other reason then no points shall be
awarded for it, except if the League Manager at his
discretion decides to award 2 points. Rule 15 below
applies.
- At the end of the competition the overall winner shall
be the club which has accrued the most points. However,
- If points are tied between two or
more clubs, then the club with the highest
difference between the number of games won and
lost shall be the winner.
- If a winner is still not determined,
then the 'who-beat-whom' rule (i.e. number of wins against those tied) shall
apply.
- If a winner is still not determined, then
the winner shall be the club amongst those tied that won the
largest number of matches.
- If a winner is still not determined, then a final play-off match will
be arranged at a neutral venue agreed with
the League Manager, or by other means at the
League Manager's discretion.
- 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 that takes place in the following
season.
- It is expected that the Home club will provide
refreshments including a light tea at the end of the
match at no cost to the visitors.
- In the event of a dispute all clubs concerned should make
representations to the League Manager, whose decision
shall be final.
Simon Hathrell
League Manager |