Chester & District Bagatelle League Playing
& Competition Rules
1. The referee shall have full control of the game.
2. A League Match is between two teams of eight (8) players (but see Rule 36), each player having
two sticks. Home teams are to lead off in all League Matches.
3. League Matches to start at 8.30pm. Any variation or time allowed must be by agreement and
consent of both team captains on the night. If any team fails to
fulfil this rule and is reported to the Secretary they may be fined or have points deducted, following
consultation with the Committee and teams in question.
4. The visiting team must be allowed free use of the table for a minimum of
fifteen (15) minutes from 8.15pm to 8.30pm before the start of any league match.
As from October 2025 the home team must be allowed free use of the table for a
minimum of fifteen (15) minutes from 8.00pm to 8.15pm. The table is
open to practice to anyone before 8.00pm.
5. No practice sticks can be allowed to either side after the start of the game.
6. Only the Referee shall place spot balls. The Referee shall call the score
at the end of each stick before removing any balls from the cups.
7. The baulk line must be in front of the leather baulk and be 18" long as
defined by the two end and centre spots. A ball may be placed anywhere along the
baulk line, but not outside the end spots. A ball played from outside
the end spots is a "ball off". Discretion by the Referee should be given in deference to 'home custom' as to
the placing of a ball in front of, or behind the baulk line.
8. Once a ball is struck from the area of the baulk line, it is in play.
9. An accidentally 'feathered' ball may be played again at the Referee's
discretion, or opposing Captain's discretion if the Referee is on the same side
as the player.
10. The black ball must be struck before any other ball and shall remain the
object ball until cupped.
11. Cue balls failing to hit the black are to be taken off. Any balls
potted without hitting the black first will be placed on the spot by the referee.
12. After the black ball has been cupped, players continue by striking any “Free Ball” (a
ball that is still un-cupped) to score further points.
13. A cue ball striking a “Dead Ball” (an already cupped ball) before striking a
“Free Ball” (a ball in play) shall be taken off, and any ball
potted shall be put on the spot.
14. All balls are in play until they jump off the table, or hit the wood above
the cushion.
15. All balls crossing or touching the leather baulk are to be "off". Where the
whole of the ball is behind the baulk line, it is "off". Note:
any ball potted in the same shot as a ball crosses the baulk line is to be
spotted as the shot becomes a foul.
16. Should the black ball jump off the table, touch, or go over the leather baulk area, or
fall wholly behind the baulk line, the player forfeits the remaining balls, the
score at that point to count.
17. When all balls on the table are cupped, a ball shall be spotted by the
referee before play
resumes.
18. If a player only has one ball left to play, and there are no free balls in
play, the remaining ball must strike a cushion before entering a cup.
19. Players must wait until all the balls are stationary before delivering
another ball. A player shall forfeit the remaining balls left in that
stick if this rule is disregarded. The score at that point to count.
20. A ball other than the black being knocked out of a cup remains where it
stands, having been knocked out. If the black ball is knocked out of a cup it is
to be replaced in that same cup.
21. Balls which have been played must not be touched. No balls can be “tried” by
a player placing another ball over the table. Players "trying" a ball over the
table shall be penalised by having that ball taken off. Note: The definition of
this rule is that a player can walk up the table with a ball in their hand, but
they shall not be penalised unless they attempt to put the ball over the table.
22. Any ball falling into a cup before the next ball is played is to count. Any
ball falling into a cup after a cue ball has been played (ie. a ball is in
motion) is to be removed and
put on the spot, and the played cue ball returned to the player to be play
again. Any balls potted by the cue ball are also spotted.
23. If the black ball needs to be spotted, it is always placed on the principal
spot. If the spot is covered by either a previously spotted ball,
or even a ball in play, this must be removed to allow the black ball to be
placed on the spot. Any ball removed in such a manner to be placed on the table
in the alternative positions. The second ball to be placed centrally between the one and
nine cups, the third ball to be placed centrally between the nine and five cups.
In the rare instance a fourth ball is to be spotted, it is placed behind (but
not touching) the ball on the third spot.
24. Split balls are to count, to be decided by the Referee.
25. If a player lays down the cue without playing all of their balls, they shall
be asked to carry on by the Referee. If they decline to do so, the remaining balls
shall be forfeit for that stick, the score at that point to count. The player
is responsible for playing all eight balls and making sure they have all eight
balls at the start of a stick.
26. All matches must be registered on an official Score Sheet.
Captains of teams must put down the names of all four players which they intend
to play, both for the first and second half. Names cannot be altered on
any sheet without the agreement of the opposing Captain. Note: The
definition of this rule is that a Captain cannot leave a blank space on the
Score Sheet and fill in a players name after the game has commenced, without
obtaining the opposing Captain's permission, this applies to both halves.
27. All score sheets must be written in clear and legible writing, and at the
end of a game they should be checked that they are correct and then signed by
both captains.
28. All score sheets must be returned to the Secretary, c/o St Werburgh’s Club, Brook Street,
Chester by the following Saturday after that game is played. Sheets can also be
submitted on WhatsApp. Note: failure to send in score sheets affects
the calculation of away averages and prevents the League Table being kept up to
date.
29. A scoreboard shall be displayed in the room and the scores from each player shall
be registered immediately after a player has played. Note: the
scoreboard is only for the benefit of those present, the score sheet completed by the
referee is the official record of the match.
30. In named Singles and Doubles (where the opponent/s is known), players more
than 15 minutes late after the matches were due to start will forfeit the game. Players playing in preliminary knockout rounds,
where the top four players go through, are expected to be in attendance
by the time they are due to play, if not, they will forfeit their game.
31. The winning team in league matches shall receive 2 points for a home win, 3
points for an away win, and in the event of a draw, the home team will receive 1
point and the away team 2 points.
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Chester
& District Bagatelle League Constitution Rules
32. The League shall be called the Chester & District Bagatelle League.
33. The management of the League shall be vested in a Committee comprising of:
Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Vice Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Members, who
shall be elected at the AGM. The Committee have the power to add to their number
(co-opt)
if the need arises, subject to confirmation at the next AGM. From 2021 we have
appointed a Lifetime President: - John Pritchard.
From October 2025 it has been agreed that each team should have two
representatives on the Committee, these may be co-opted by the Committee.
34. All League Fees must be paid either before or at the AGM. Currently
(2025/26) the fee for each team is £60 which includes entry to the League and
all Cup Competitions. Entrance fees for the League, Cups, Singles, Doubles and other competitions
to be reviewed yearly by the Committee. Entry to Cup Competitions is on a voluntary basis. A
separate entry fee
applies for Singles and Doubles Competitions, the entry fee being £2.00 per
person, ie. £2 for Singles, £4 for Doubles.
35. A League Match is normally between two teams of eight (8) players (but see
Rule 36), each player having
two sticks. The home team leads off in all league matches.
36. From 2021 teams must have at least 5 players home and away, and up to 3
players can play again to make the team up to 8 (commonly known as 5+3). Re-playing players
to be chosen by
random lot or random number generator. Players chosen to play again do so in the order
chosen by the random lot or random number generator. The random lot
process must be witnessed by both Captains.
This rule amendment applies to all League, Northgate Cup and West Cheshire
Shield Matches. For 5-a-side games, if a team only has 4 players, then a 5th
player can be chosen by random lot to play again). 351 Competition teams MUST have four players.
A Doubles Pair may change one named player if they have not yet played a match.
Once a pair has played no change is allowed.
37. No player shall play for more than one team in any Cup Competition.
In the event of a player taking part in a Cup Competition without being properly
transferred, or if they are found to have played for another team in the
same competition, they shall forfeit the match to their opponents.
38. A player who plays
league games for more than one team in a season without being
transferred is liable to suspension and the team for whom they wrongly played
shall forfeit the points gained by that player, such points to be awarded to the
other team. In the event of an away team forfeiting points under this rule the
away side shall forfeit 3 points but the home side shall only be awarded 2
points.
39. League Matches are to start at 8.30pm. Any time allowed must be by the agreement
and consent of both teams on the night. If any team fails to fulfil this rule
then they should be reported to the League Secretary.
40. If a team wishes to postpone a match then the request must be made to the
opposing team at least 24 hours before the game. With the exception of
Singles and Doubles, no fixture should be re-arranged without sanction from the
committee.
41. Any postponed league games must be played before the
last game of the season.
42. All score sheets must be written in clear and legible writing, and should be
checked for accuracy and then signed by both team captains.
43. The winning team in League Matches shall receive 2 points for a home win, 3
points for an away win, and in the event of a draw, the home team will receive 1
point and the away team 2 points.
44. No complaint, protest or enquiries of any sort will be entertained after 7
days.
45. No player to be transferred except through the Committee and the transfer
must be registered 3 days before the player is eligible to play for his new
team ie. a player must transfer on Sunday to play the following Wednesday. No transfer is allowed after 31st December in each season. The Committee
reserves to itself, the right to suspend any team or player.
46. Players under the age of 18 shall only play at the discretion of the home
Landlord or Steward.
47. In the event of a team dropping out of the League, all points and scores
already accrued shall be deducted.
48. The Committee is empowered
to decide on the number of divisions in the league and the number of teams in
each division. For 2025/26 relegation and promotion shall be two up and two down.
49. The League Championship shall be decided on points. In the event of a tie, a
play-off will be arranged on a neutral table.
50. Where a venue, club, or pub, has two teams in the same
League, then their league fixtures shall be the first two matches of the season.
51. Any team wishing to call an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting must get a quorum
of 30% and inform the Committee who will arrange this within 14 days.
52. Practice on Finals Nights is now allowed, but all practice must end 15
minutes before the start of play.
53. Any team which is in arrears, or any team which in the opinion
of the Committee have not fulfilled their obligations according to the rules may
be excluded from the league at the Committee's discretion.
54. The Secretary shall notify all teams six weeks before the Annual General
Meeting of the date, time and place at which such a meeting will be held. All
teams or members wishing alterations or additions to the rules and regulations
must give notice of the proposed alterations or additions IN WRITING to the
Secretary of the League at least 21 days previous to the holding of the AGM. The
Secretary must then notify each team of such proposed alterations or additions
at least 7 days before the AGM.
55. The Committee reserves to itself, the right to suspend any club or
player.
56. Matters arising which are not covered by these rules will be decided by the
Committee.
END OF RULES. Copyright © Chester & District Bagatelle League.
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