Norfolk County Pétanque Association

Norfolk County Pétanque Association League Rules

Organisation

The League is organised and administered by the committee of the Norfolk County Pétanque Association whose decision on any matter is final.
The League Secretary is responsible for taking decisions relating to the administration of the League and application of the League rules. The League Secretary may refer any matter to the NCPA Committee for advice and consideration.
Team Captains only, may appeal on behalf of their team, to the Committee of the NCPA against a decision of the League Secretary. Appeals must be in writing and addressed to the Secretary of the NCPA as set out in these rules.
The League rules, where appropriate, shall also apply to matches played in the KO Shield and the KO Plate competitions.

League Structure

1.The NCPA committee will decide the structure of the league when all team registrations have been received by the due date for registration.

2. On the completion of each season the winner of Division One will be styled ‘League Champions’. The top two teams in Division Two and Three will be promoted to the next highest division and the bottom two teams in Divisions One and Two will be relegated to the division immediately below.
Where teams in a division are on equal match points then games difference, games won, boules difference and then boules points for in that order of priority will determine placing.

Elegibility

3. Properly constituted Pétanque clubs situated in Norfolk may apply in writing to the NCPA to register one or more teams for entry in the League. Each team shall comprise a minimum of 6 players and each team shall pay a registration fee to be determined by the NCPA Committee each year.

4. Each team shall appoint a Team Captain who will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the league rules and for the administrative arrangements and conduct of the team. The Team Captain is responsible for all communications with the League Secretary on behalf of the team players including the registration of the team players.

5. Each registered team player shall be a member of the Norfolk County Pétanque Association

6. A team may register additional players providing that such players have not already registered with another team..

7. A player registered with a team may be de-registered with the consent of the League Secretary provided that the player has not played for the former team during the current season. Once de-registered the player is then eligible for registration with another team.

8. A team that uses a player who is unregistered with the League Secretary or is registered with another team or is in breach of rule 5, will be penalised by the deduction of one match point. If the offending team loses the match the result stands. If the offending team wins the match the result will be declared void. The match must be replayed on a date determined by the League Secretary

Match Play

9. A league match shall consist of five games – two triples and three pairs – each played to thirteen points and in accordance with the “Official Rules of the Game of Pétanque” as adopted by The English Pétanque Association.
Both triples must be played simultaneously before commencing the pairs. No player may play in more than two games – one triple and one pairs.

10. For all matches two points will be awarded for a win and none for a defeat. If a match, which has commenced, has to be abandoned before completion, then if one team has won at least three games they shall be deemed the winner and the score at that stage, based on completed games only, shall be the result. If neither team has won at least three games the match is void and the Team Captains shall make arrangements for the match to be replayed within 28 days of the original date. The League Secretary must be notified of the abandonment by telephone (within 24 hours) and the date of the re-arranged match must be notified to the League Secretary in writing within 7 days (email will be deemed to be in writing).

11. All matches to be played on the scheduled Thursday commencing at 7.30pm.
Teams wishing to re-arrange the date of play shall first contact their opponents to agree to a re-arrangement which may be on any night of the week but which must be played within 28 DAYS of the original scheduled date. At least 48 hours notice shall be given for any request for a re-arrangement. Team Captains should try and avoid matches being cancelled and as a long as a team has at least 6 players available the game should go ahead even if the best players are missing.
It is the responsibility of the Team Captain requesting the re-arrangement to advise the League Secretary by telephone within 24 hours of the original scheduled date and to confirm in writing (email will be accepted) within 7 days, the date on which the match will be played (which must be no later than 28 DAYS after the original date).
If agreement cannot be reached by the date of the original scheduled match then the Team Captain requesting the change must inform the League Secretary. The League Secretary will consult with both Team Captains and decide upon a date on which the match must be played.
Where less than 48 hours notice has been provided the opponents are entitled to claim the match unless the League Secretary determines that there are exceptional circumstances.
Rule 22 will be applied should a match be claimed.

12. A match may be played prior to the date set out in the fixtures if both teams agree. The League Secretary must be informed by telephone and the date confirmed in writing within 7 days of the agreement to change the date.

13. The last date a league match may be played will be 14 days after the scheduled end of the league season (NB The end of the season could mean a different date for the bottom division if it comprises of a different number of teams than the other divisions).

14. If a match is not completed in the required time limits the match points will be awarded 5 – 0 game result (points 65 – 35) to the team that did NOT cause the cancellation in the first place.

15. A team may not compete without a minimum of 4 players.

16. A qualified umpire shall be provided if the League Secretary deems it necessary. In the absence of an umpire the two Team Captains shall settle any dispute. Any dispute not thus settled shall be referred to the League Secretary for determination.

17. At times when there is insufficient daylight matches must be played with the aid of adequate floodlighting. If suitable lighting is not available at the home terrain, the Home Team Captain must make alternative arrangements and inform the Visiting Team Captain and the League Secretary at least seven days prior to the match.
In the event of a dispute or at the request of the NCPA Committee the League Secretary will determine whether the lighting is adequate. 

Administration

18. Both team captains will complete a score card prior to the commencement of the match. Team Captains will enter the team selection and order of play on their own card. Team Captains will then exchange cards and enter the team selection and order of play on their opponent’s card.
Both Team Captains will enter the score on their own card and at the end of the match both confirm and sign the two cards. The home Team Captain will forward his/he card to the League Secretary using a 1st Class stamp so that the card arrives by the Monday after the match at the latest. The visiting Team Captain will retain his/her card as a back-up copy.

19. One reserve player is permitted to play in the pairs only. This player must be identified by ( R ) on the score card before the match commences and must be a registered player of the team. The reserve player may only play in the position that is vacated by the non-arrival/injury/illness of a nominated player.

Non Compliance

20. No team shall deliberately forfeit a match.

21. If a team fails to complete it’s fixtures it will be deemed to have withdrawn from the League..
If more than two matches remain outstanding then the results will be declared void. If only one or two matches remain outstanding then the results of matches played will stand but the intended opponents of the unplayed matches will be awarded a 5 – 0 game result with points scored being awarded as 65 – 35.
It may re-apply for membership prior to the start of the next season or subsequent seasons and if the application is accepted will be placed in the lowest division of the League

22. A match which is forfeited will be awarded to the intended opponents with a 5 – 0 game result and points scored 65 – 35. Where however a match is considered to have been deliberately forfeited in contravention of Rule 20 then the League Secretary shall determine the result.

23. Any team that fails to inform the League Secretary that a match has been cancelled/re-arranged and contravenes Rule 11 will be deducted one point.

24. The League Secretary will inform in writing (email if appropriate) the Captain of any team that has incurred a penalty, including forfeiture of a match, that the penalty has been applied.
If the offending team wish to appeal against the penalty the Team Captain must do so in writing within seven days of being informed, addressed to the Secretary of the NCPA Committee.
The NCPA Committee will consider the appeal at their next available meeting and may at the Chairman’s discretion invite the Team Captain to put his/her case to the committee.

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