BARNARD CASTLE & DISTRICT 5s & 3s SUMMER LEAGUE RULES

1.   The Summer League will be administered by the Committee of the Barnard Castle & District Fives & Threes League. Each team will appoint a captain for each match, but different arrangements to those of the main winter league will apply as follows.

2.   The Summer League will be run as an informal social league. Rules 2 and 3 of the main League Rules will apply in full. Rule 4 will be included, but relaxed to allow participants aged sixteen years and older (with the prior consent of the home landlord), and no formal registration of players will be required. A perpetual trophy will be retained or shared by the winning team(s) for a year.

3    Rules 5 and 8 of the main League Rules will not apply. Teams will consist of a minimum of four players, although captains will agree the number of participants each night. The first two pairs will be nominated for each team to play for the team points (2 points win and 1 point draw). All other games are merely social. Individual scores need not be recorded. Results should be texted by the winning team (or in the event of a tie by the home team) to 07967771758 by 11pm that evening.

4.    Regulations regarding illegal play are listed after these rules. Rules and Regulations must be displayed or otherwise readily available at every match played. Captains should understand and apply the Rules, but note that the spirit required is of a fun, social league with minimum formality.

5.   Each player will commence play with six dominoes, with the remaining four “back”, and the hand will end when both partners of either team have played all their dominoes, or when stalemate is reached. Each player must clearly indicate to the opposition once they have played out. At the end of each hand players are required to show all un-played dominoes. The first down of each game will be drawn for, and subsequent downs will be in clockwise order round the table (but see over – Illegal Play Regulations 1 to 4).

6.         Captains will be responsible for match procedure during all summer league matches. Any disputes arising which cannot be settled by compromise within the framework of the rules must be brought to the attention of the Committee who shall make a binding decision based on the individual circumstances.

7.   The prompt notification of match results is the responsibility of the winning captain, or in case of a draw, of the home captain. The required standards and methods will be set by the AGM. Failure to comply with these standards will result in a fine or penalty being imposed as determined by the AGM.

8.    The summer league winner will be the team with the most team points (see 3 above). In the event of a tie, a count of actual game points will be made, after which the result of the match(es) between those teams remaining will determine a winner, failing which the trophy will be shared.

9.    Any complaints etc. must be forwarded to the Committee in writing within 7 days. Each case will be dealt with according to its merits, and in all cases the decision of the Committee will be final. However the over-riding factor to be taken into account is that this is a recreational league in which the emphasis is on fun and social mingling. All but the most serious complaints are likely to be struck out.

Illegal Play Regulations.      The Preamble.

Rule 6 allows that the captains are responsible for match procedure, which includes proper application of

the following regulations. Captains and players are reminded that the game is simply that – a game,

and that over-zealous application of rules is neither recommended nor sought after. At all times,

players are requested to attempt to settle issues as informally as possible. The vast majority of issues are caused accidentally, and the following regulations are offered as guidelines only. Captains and players are urged to apply them only when a more amicable solution is not deemed appropriate, or after

persistent infringements.

1.   Irreversible Playing Error.

      A domino is deemed played once it has been intentionally released at either end. In the event of a player playing a false domino or knocking falsely, and the following player having either played or knocked, the game will be deemed to have ceased immediately. Any scores made by the error or after it will be cancelled, and the offending pair shall there-after go back eight pegs, even if this results in a minus score. The game will re­commence with the down of the next available member of the non-defaulting pair.

2.   Manageable Playing Error.

      In the event of a player playing a false domino or downing out of turn, and the error is spotted before the following player has either played or knocked, the non defaulting pair will have the option to either:-

      a)   throw in the hands and restart with the down of the next available member of the non-defaulting pair, or

      b)   elect to continue the hand with the offending domino being removed, but remaining on display. However, the decision as to whether or when to play the domino remains with the errant player. No points are deducted.

3.   Wrongful display during game.

      The game commences with a legal down. A domino is deemed displayed when one or more of the other three players has seen and recognized it. In the event of any domino being inadvertently displayed after the game has commenced, the non-defaulting pair will have the option to either:-

      a)   throw in the hands and restart with the down of the next available member of the non-defaulting pair, or

      b)   elect to continue the hand with the offending domino remaining on display.

                  However, the decision as to whether or when to play the domino remains with the errant player. No points are deducted.

4.         Wrongful display of the dominos that are “back” during game.

      Any player displaying or viewing any of the four dominos that is “back” before the conclusion of the game will result in the game ceasing immediately. Any scores made after the error will be cancelled, and the offending pair will thereafter go back eight pegs, even if this results in a minus score. The game will re­commence with the down of the next available member of the non-defaulting pair.

5.   Wrongful display of any dominos before the game.

      The game commences with a legal down. A domino is deemed displayed when one or more of the other three players has seen and recognized it. In the event of any domino being inadvertently displayed before the game has commenced, there will be a reshuffle for the same down. No points are deducted.