English Blackball

Pool Federation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CONSTITUTION

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This Document

 

1. This is the Constitution of the English Blackball Pool Federation and all references herein to the EPCF shall be read as references to the EBPF. (amended as at 2005 AGM) English Pool Counties Federation (herein “EPCF”). This Constitution shall govern the organisation and members of the EPCF. Any points of interpretation arising out of this Constitution shall be decided by a majority vote of the EPCF Committee at a Committee Meeting (as to which, see below). Alterations to this Constitution may only take place by majority vote at an AGM but any matter not dealt with herein may be decided by the Committee of the EPCF.

 

Purposes of the EPCF

 

2. The purposes of the EPCF are to:

 

·         Manage, promote, and support the game of 8-Ball Pool (herein “The Sport”) throughout England

 

·         Act as the representative body for the members of the EPCF in relation to International and other events.

 

·         Host events in England on behalf of the E&UKPF, EBA,WPA or any of their associated Organisations.

 

·         Co-ordinate the advancement of the Sport, including but not limited to:

 

o   Management of International Teams

o   Management of a County Structure

o   Organisation of local, regional, and national team and individual events

o   Co-ordination of sponsorship and promotion of the Sport

 

·         Be responsible for the constant development of the Sport

 

It will be the policy of the EPCF and all parts of its substructure to make all reasonable efforts to ensure that its policy decisions achieve the above purposes.

 

The Structure within which the EPCF exists

 

3. As of the date on which the E&UKPF become the European Black Ball Association (EBA) and adopt Black Ball rules, if and when that event occurs, the EPCF will become the English Black Ball Pool Federation (EBPF) and will also adopt Black Ball rules from the beginning of the following season.

 

4. The EPCF recognises and is recognised by the Professional Pool Players Organisation (PPPO) and the English Professional Players Organisation (EPPO).

 

 

The Structure within the EPCF

 

EPCF COMMITTEE

 

5. The highest decision making body of the EPCF will be the EPCF Committee (herein “The Committee”). The Committee will also be the highest level of appeal against any decision made within the EPCF organisation.

 

6. The Committee has the authority to make any decision that it deems necessary to achieve the purposes of the EPCF. All decision made by the Committee shall be made by a simple majority of Committee members.

 

7. EPCF Committee Members will be elected for a three year term of office.

 

1. Each member shall continue to carry out their duties until the AGM at the end of their third year in office at which point the election for that position can take place.
2. Elections will take place at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the EPCF.
3. Should any position be vacated for any reason during the normal 3 year term of office that position will be filled either by appointment by the Committee or by Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). The person who takes the position will hold office until the following AGM where a full election will be conducted.

 

8. The Committee will put forward candidates for the position of President of the EPCF at AGMs as it deems necessary. The position of President is an honorary lifetime post that can only be revoked by resignation or by alternative appointment. The President is not an office holder within the EPCF or a member of the Committee.

 

9. The Committee may create and disband (by majority vote) Sub-Committees to undertake the management of various elements of the EPCF (see below).

 

10. The Committee will consist of the following members:

 

Chairman

Vice-Chairman

Secretary

Treasurer

Players’ Representative (x2)

Professional Players’ Representative (April 2008)

Referee Secretary (suspended)(April 2009)

International Players’ Representative (April 2008)

National Tournaments Organiser* (April 2008)(April 2009)

Sponsorship and Promotions Secretary*

County Coordinator*

Special Needs Representative*

 

*In relation to these posts only, an elected official may hold one of these posts in addition to another Committee position. Anyone so elected may, however, only cast one vote in any matter.

 

11. The Committee shall have the power to co-opt members as it deems necessary.

 

12. Any member of the EPCF Committee failing to attend 2 consecutive meetings without good reason for their absence will automatically cease to hold office.

 

13. The duties and responsibilities of the members of the EPCF Committee are as follows:

 

1. Chairman

·         Chair meetings, or appoint a chair for meetings

·         Oversee the general running of the EPCF

·         Provide a chairman’s report at all general meetings

 

2. Vice-Chairman

·         Assist the Chairman in all his duties and responsibilities

 

3. Secretary

·         Minute all EPCF Committee meetings and distribute those minutes to the EPCF Committee members.

·         Minute all general meetings and distribute those minutes to EPCF Committee members, England players and County Managers (whose responsibility it is to pass on the information to their members)

·         Provide a secretary’s report at all general meetings

 

4. Treasurer

·         Keep clear, proper and accurate accounts of the EPCF

·         Make those accounts available

·         Provide a treasurer’s report at all general meetings

 

5. Players’ Representative

·         Be available to address players’ grievances

·         Address those grievances in accordance with this Constitution

·         Represent the players’ views at meetings

·         Act fairly in respect of all his/her responsibilities

 

6. Professional Players’ Representative

·         Be available to address professional players’ grievances

·         Address those grievances in accordance with this Constitution

·         Represent the professional players’ views at meetings

·         Act in an unbiased manner in respect of all his/her responsibilities

 

7. Referee Secretary

·         Represent the referees at meetings

 

8. Sponsorship and Promotions Secretary

·         Take all reasonable steps to acquire as much sponsorship as possible for the EPCF

·         Organise all relevant EPCF promotions

·         All sponsorship deals must be approved by majority vote of the EPCF Committee which shall, if it thinks fit, canvass the views of the members of the EPCF.

 

9. County Coordinator

·         Organise the County leagues and fixtures

·         Distribute results and league tables to the County Managers and Captains

·         Organise County Finals

·         Establish, with the County Managers, League membership terms and conditions and organise Interleague competitions

 

10. Special Needs Representative

·         Co-ordinate all special needs events

·         Encourage and promote special needs pool

 

 

14. This is not an exhaustive list of the members’ duties and responsibilities.

 

 

SUB-COMMITTEE(S)

 

15. The Chair of each Sub-Committee is to attend EPCF Committee meetings but will not hold voting rights at those meetings.

 

16. The EPCF Sub-Committees created by the Committee must hold their own meetings and a copy of the Minutes of each such meeting must be forwarded to the EPCF Secretary within 7 days of the meeting.

 

17. Sub-Committees must also present a report at each AGM Such Sub Committee members are not office holders within the EPCF.

 

18. All Sub-Committees will have duties to perform, which will be set out by the Committee. Those duties must be carried out in a professional manner.

 

 

DISCIPLINE

 

19. There are four stages to the disciplinary procedure

 

• County Level
• Regional Level
• Committee Level 1- 3 member panel
• Committee Level 1- Full committee appeal

 

The procedures at County and Regional Level are to be organised by the County and the Region respectively. The procedures must be reasonable and must be consistent with the procedure outlined below. Any person who is the subject of a disciplinary hearing will have the right of appeal through each stage up to Committee level. Disciplinary proceedings may be instituted at either County of Regional level. There will always be a right of appeal to the Committee whose decision shall be final.

 

20. Any complaints concerning the behaviour of any member (or group of members) of the EPCF shall be made, in writing, to the Committee. Complaints can be made against members under the following headings (this list is not exhaustive):

 

1. Unsportsmanlike behaviour
2. Behaving outside the spirit of the Game
3. Behaving in an inappropriate manner whilst in Uniform or whilst at an EPCF organised / affiliated event
4. Behaving in a way detrimental to the Game / Organisation
5. Behaving in a way likely to bring the Game / Organisation into disrepute

 

21. The Committee shall decide, by majority vote, whether the complaint discloses an allegation serious enough to require a Disciplinary Hearing.

 

22. The Committee’s decision as to the necessity of a hearing shall be subject to appeal only on the basis of new evidence relating to the alleged incident which was not before the Committee at the time it first considered the complaint.

 

23. For a Level 1 Committee hearing, the Committee shall select 5 Committee members from whom 3 shall sit as the Disciplinary Committee for the Disciplinary Hearing. The member against whom an allegation is made shall receive a written invitation to the Disciplinary Hearing once the Committee has decided that such a Disciplinary Hearing is necessary.

 

24. The member against whom the allegation has been made shall be given every opportunity to defend themselves against the allegations made. Should that member so choose, he or she shall be entitled to have another person or a member of the Committee to represent them at the Disciplinary Hearing.

 

25. At the Disciplinary Hearing the Disciplinary Committee must consider the complaint made and the representations made by the member against whom the complaint is made. If all 3 members of the Disciplinary Committee cannot agree then a majority decision will suffice.

 

26. The Disciplinary Committee has the right to impose any reasonable penalty upon any member against whom a complaint is made. Such penalties may include, but are not limited to:

 

1. acquittal
2. warning
3. reprimand
4. fine
5. suspension
6. expulsion

 

27. The EPCF National Secretary will be notified of any action taken.

 

28. On notification of the result of the Disciplinary Hearing the member against whom the allegation has been made will have 7 days to notify the Secretary of the EPCF that they wish to appeal to the EPCF Committee. The Committee’s decision will be final.

 

29. The Committee will notify those involved in the Disciplinary Hearing, and any other party it deems necessary, of the result of the Hearing. Any member whose membership is suspended, or who is expelled, from the EPCF Organisation shall forfeit any fees paid and all other rights and entitlements accorded to them by the EPCF.

 

FINANCE

 

30. The Treasurer will be responsible to the Committee for the finances of the EPCF.

 

31. The Treasurer will check all income and expenditure of the account for payments, and observe proper banking procedures. The Treasurer shall also keep accurate accounts. The expenses are to be vetted by the Committee, and the annual statement of the accounts and balance sheet shall be drawn up at the end of each year and presented to the AGM by the Treasurer.

 

32. In the event of disbandment of the EPCF all available assets shall, after the discharge of all liabilities, be distributed equally among the members. The income of the EPCF may be obtained by means of an annual membership fee, sponsorship, entrance fees, ticket receipts, profits of EPCF tournaments, and a percentage cut from any International Team sponsorship (as the Committee deem necessary).

 

33. The responsibility for the various costs involved, as far as the EPCF Committee is concerned, is the responsibility of each player’s county. Until such time as each County can generate revenue to facilitate the funding of such players then the fees are to be passed on to the player’s themselves.

 

GENERAL

 

34. All Counties will be responsible for keeping a register of all their registered players. Copies to must be sent to the EPCF National Secretary at the start of each Season.

 

35. All members of the EPCF must endeavour at all times to promote the E&UKPF Playing Rules and the EPCF Organisation.

 

 

 

 

GENERAL MEETINGS

 

36. One Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) will be held each year. Not more than 15 months should elapse before each AGM.

 

37. Extraordinary General Meetings (“EGM”) can be called by the Committee when necessary. 25% of the current membership of the EPCF may requisition an EGM by sending a petition of their signatures and the matters they wish the meeting to deal with to the Secretary of the EPCF. On receipt of such a requisition the Secretary should, where practicable, call an EGM within 2 months, stating which matters are to be dealt with at the meeting. If the Secretary does not call the requisitioned meeting within 3 months then those members requisitioning the meeting can call the meeting themselves provided they comply with all the notice requirements below.

 

38. 21 days notice of any AGM / EGM is to be given to all County Managers. The Secretary of the Committee will serve notice on all EPCF Committee members, England players and on each of the County Managers. It is the County Managers’ responsibility to inform each of their members of the meeting. Any member wishing to add any item to the agenda or to make a nomination for an official position must notify the Secretary in writing at least 7 days prior to the AGM.

 

39. At each AGM the election of officials will take place where required. Each member of the Committee shall give a full account of their role during the previous year.

 

40. Any alteration to this Constitution can only be done by a majority vote in favour at an AGM.

 

41. As can be seen above, it is the Secretary’s responsibility to distribute minutes of general meetings to County Managers, England Players and all members of the EPCF Committee.

 

42. For the avoidance of doubt, the proceedings at any general meeting (or, EPCF Committee meeting) will not be invalidated as a result of any failure to give notice of that meeting or any failure to distribute minutes of that meeting.

 

43. Voting rights shall be apportioned as follows:

 

1. All international players shall have one vote
2. All members of the EPCF Committee shall have one vote
3. All other Committee members shall have one vote
4. At General meetings each County shall have two votes which shall be exercised as a block vote by that County’s Manager
5. In the event of a tied vote the Chairman shall cast the deciding vote

 

 

 

 

INTER-COUNTY STRUCTURE AND RULES

 

Men’s Matches

 

44. Matches will be played over 3 sets of 9 frames, a total of 27 frames.  The winning team will be awarded 2 points.  For the purpose of the Season’s Individual player rankings, in Men’s A Team Matches 3 points will be awarded per frame won.  In Men’s B Team Matches 2 points will be awarded per frame won.  In each case if any player wins 3/3 then 1 bonus point will be awarded to that player.  These ranking points will go towards the players’ end of season rankings.

 

Ladies’ Matches

 

45. Matches will be played over 3 sets of 7 frames, a total of 21 frames. The winning team will be awarded 2 points. For the purpose of the Season’s individual player rankings, Ladies will be awarded 3 points per frame won plus 1 bonus point for each player achieving 3/3.

 

Youth Matches

 

46. Matches will be played over 3 sets of 7 frames, a total of 21 frames. The winning team will be awarded 2 points. For the purpose of the Season’s individual player rankings, Youths will be awarded 3 points per frame won plus 1 bonus point for each player achieving 3/3.

 

General

 

47. Teams are to pay their County Team fee (currently £125, but which can be amended by the Committee at its sole discretion) in the first three months of the county season. If they have not paid within that time then it will be the responsibility of the Regional Managers to chase them. The regional managers will have discretion to suspend county teams on late payment – NCC and RCD level.

 

48. County matches can be rearranged by the Counties involved if

 

1. Both Counties Managers consent to the postponement and the date of the rearranged match; OR

The teams both agree in writing. Without such an agreement the date of the organised fixture stands. If a team wishes to rearrange a match they must get written confirmation of the rearrangement and the date of the rearranged fixture from the opposing manager. That written agreement must then be forwarded to Nicky Smith and to the relevant Regional Manager at least 14 days’ before the match is due to be played. If this is not done, then the date of the organised fixture stands. (Amended March 2007)

2. The Committee of the EPCF rules that one County is being unreasonable in refusing the reorganise the match and allows that requesting party to rearrange the match.

 

49. Where any County Match is rearranged, the fixture is to be played before the end of the playing season. Failure to fulfil a fixture will result in the County at fault being deemed to lose that match and the opposing County being awarded 18-9 14-0 result in Men’s and 14 – 7 11-0 in Youths and Ladies matches. All such results are void as regards England trials, to ensure that players’ qualification for trials is not affected by these results. In these circumstances the claiming team will be awarded 3 points and the team from which the match is being claimed will have 3 points deducted (Amended March 2007) in the current year and 3 points for the following year for each and every fixture not fulfilled (save in cases of force majeure)(Amended April 2009).

 

50. All County Matches will start at 1pm, (unless the two captains set a different time). If a team has not arrived by 1.30pm then the first frame will be awarded to their opponent and a further frame will be awarded each 10 minutes from that time onwards.

 

51. All players at all County Matches must wear full County Uniform:

 

1. Black trousers (or skirt) (strictly no jeans)
2. Black shoes (strictly no trainers)
3. Collared County Shirt (if unavailable players must wear a collared shirt)

 

52. All frames played by any players who are not wearing full County Uniform at a County Match will be forfeit.

 

53. At any single match no player can play for more than one of his or her County’s teams save that:

 

1. A youth can play for the Youth Team and either the Ladies team if female or the Men’s A or B Team
2. A lady can play for the Ladies’ Team and the Men’s A or B Team
3. For the avoidance of doubt a player’s ranking points will be the total points they have accrued from playing in a single category (Men, Ladies and Youth) such that if a lady earns points playing for a Men’s team, those points shall not be added to her points in the Ladies’ Ranking Table.

 

54. Miscellaneous rules about eligibility for playing in County teams:

 

1. Any A team international players may only play for their County’s A Teams
2. There are to be a maximum of 3 B1 international players playing in any County B team in any time.
3. Save in genuine cases of relocation, if a player seeks to move county teams he/she must cease to play for any county for 2 years after leaving one county before starting to play for another. (April 2009)

 

55. At the end of the Season the teams will be ranked in a League Table based on

 

1. Points awarded for Matches won
2. Frames won (including claimed frames)

 

56. If there is a tie at the end of the season there will be a play off. The Committee will decide a date and a neutral venue

 

57. A player may only play for a County if they have been registered with the Secretary of the EPCF in that Counties’ list of registered players. Once a player has played, during that season he/she cannot play for any other County team in that season. In the event of an unregistered or ineligible player being entered on the match sheet, the player/team will forfeit all frames played by him / her. New players cane be registered on the day of a Match if necessary, this can be done by providing the player’s details on the back of the result sheet.

 

58. Captains or Vice Captains must contactable by telephone on Match days, and result sheets, signed by both Captains, must be sent to regional County Secretary by the County Managers of both teams.

 

59. Away teams must be allowed at least 30 minutes practice on at least half of the match tables before commencement of the match, provided they arrive in good time.

 

60. If a table is of a completely unreasonable standard them every attempt must be made by the home team to fix it. Even if the table cannot be fixed the match must be played (whether using that table or not, as necessary). The away Captain must report the unreasonable standard table to the Regional Director whose responsibility it will be to take appropriate action.

 

INTER-COUNTY NATIONAL

 

61. The top teams from each region (the number of which will be announced by the Counties Co-ordinator each year subject to the number of places available) will be entered into the National Finals.

 

62. Only players who have played a minimum of 6 frames for their County that year and who have played in attended (April 2009)51% or more of that County’s fixtures for that year (from the date they were signed to that County Team) will be eligible to play in the National Finals.

 

63. Each team must inform the County Secretary Counties Co-ordinator (April 2008) of all the players it intends to play at least 7 days in advance of the Finals. If any County is found playing unregistered or ineligible players all frames played by that person will be forfeit.

 

64. The format of Matches at the National Finals will be precisely the same as in Inter-County Matches. The first round will be played on a round robin basis and thereafter each round will be played on a knock out basis.

 

65. Full County Uniform is to be worn by all players when playing in the National Finals. Any frames played by a person not wearing full County Uniform will be forfeit.

 

MEMBERSHIP FEE

 

66. Upon Affiliation to the EBA a new structured membership fee will be introduced based on the following categories

·         International Players

·         County and Interleague players

·         League Players

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURE

 

Trial Eligibility

 

67. The top 10 ranked players from each region using the points system outlined above, (excluding current internationals and players ineligible to play for England), plus one wild card from each county category (those being men, women and youths) (to be chosen at that county’s discretion) and one wild card (in total) per region (to be chosen at the discretion of the Regional Manager) are entitled to trial for the England squad.

 

International Team Eligibility

 

68. Only players who have played a minimum of 6 frames for their County that year and who have played in 51% or more of that County’s fixtures for that year (from the date they were signed to that County Team) will be eligible to play for their International Team. If you are not in a county that has a team, or if there is another reason you believe that you should be exempt, then you may request special consideration by the EPCF Committee.

 

69. Wild cards must be nominated by the International Team Manager and agreed by the majority of the EPCF Committee in a vote. Wild carded players must join a county team during the season following their wild card selection or obtain special dispensation from the EPCF under rules within this Constitution. A wild carded player who fails to comply with this rule may never receive another wild card.

 

Selection

 

70. Selection letters should be sent to all selected players as far in advance of a tournament as possible. The letters should include provisional teams, dates and a deadline for reply. Letters will also be sent to County Managers before the deadline to ensure that players are told they have been selected. Any player who fails to reply at all or who replies saying that they will attend and then fails to do so without good reason shall be dropped from all of the England Squad from that season and will have to qualify for retrial the following year.

 

Team Managers

71. Team managers will be appointed by the International Committee. Team Mangers will be appointed for terms of 1 year by the members of the relevant international squad. (The current international managers shall remain in their roles for one year from now, subject to the following paragraphs.) (April 2008)(Amended April 2009 to extend the period for which the current managers will stay in their roles to 3 years – the elections will therefore take place first at the end of the 2010-2011 season.)

 

72. The manager will choose the captains. The choice must be reasonable and must be based on the recommendations made by the team members.

 

73. The manager’s choice of captain may be vetoed by a majority vote of the international committee. The manager’s choice of captain and the players’ choice of manager may be vetoed by a majority vote of the Committee. (April 2008)

 

74. Each Manager will deal with the administrative parts of the job, including being responsible for sending out selection letters as outlined above.

 

75. It is the responsibility of the team managers and captains to ensure that everything is run in accordance with the rules of the EPCF and to act in an unbiased manner in respect of his/her responsibilities and in their attitude and relationship with all players.

 

The England Men’s Teams

 

76. An ABC team structure will be used.

 

77. Players getting less than the retention percentage in the A Team will play off against the top of the B team for places in the A team and similarly with the bottom players of the B team and the top players of the C team. Those in the C team getting less than the retention percentage will be sent to retrial.

 

78. In order to be eligible for a play off into the A team the B player in question must have played a minimum of 2 international tournaments in the previous pool year (presuming 2 such tournaments have been held).

 

79. Failure to attend an international tournament without an acceptable reason (within the manager’s discretion) will lead to automatic loss of place in the squad and the relevant player will have to requalify through trials in the ordinary way (ie without an automatic trial) in order to regain their place in the squad.

 

Averages

 

80. The retention percentage is 55% for all members of all teams.

 

81. The mathematical equation currently being used to calculate the averages based on a requirement to win 60% of frames in which a player breaks and 50% of those in which he does not will continue to be used to calculate the averages, this is a combination percentage based on the overall performance of the player.

 

82. Where a player’s opponent clears from the break without the first player ever having a shot then that frame should not count against the first player for the purposes of calculating his averages. Such frames should be confirmed with the team captain and so marked on the score sheet.

 

83. Players must be given a fair and reasonable opportunity to play in each and every tournament or they will be ruled by the Captain and Manager not to have been given a fair opportunity and will not lost their place in the team in which they played even if they did not achieve the retention percentage. This rule is to be applied in the Captains’ and Managers’ discretion but any decisions taken by them can be appealed to the EPCF Committee after the event in question.

 

 

 

The England Ladies’ Teams

 

84. An ABB structure will be used.

 

85. Newly qualified ladies must play one season in a B team unless they are wild carded into the A team.

 

86. The ladies retention percentage will be 50%.

 

87. The breaker / non-breaker rule will not apply to the ladies.

 

88. The fair opportunity rule will apply just as it does for the men’s teams.

 

89. The rule that failure to attend an international tournament without an acceptable reason (within the manager’s discretion) will lead to automatic loss of place in the squad and the relevant player will have to requalify through trials in the ordinary way (ie without an automatic trial) in order to regain their place in the squad, will apply just as it does for the men’s.

 

90. Every ladies B team player who does not achieve the retention percentage must retrial in order to retain their place in the squad.

 

91. Every ladies A team player who does not achieve the retention percentage should play off with the top B players for a place in the A team. This rule will apply at the manager’s discretion.

 

92. All other team selection decisions are to be made within the Ladies’ Manager’s discretion which must be fairly and justly exercised.

 

93. Any disputes concerning team selection should be taken to the EPCF committee after the event in question. The EPCF committee shall decide whether any action is necessary and its decision shall be final.

 

 

 

Dated: 22^nd October 2005