AGM 2025 Minutes

Date: 9th June 2025

Venue: New Parks Social Club (8pm)

Attendees: Steve V, AJ, James M, Steve G, Matt, Rikesh, Kam, Naz, Sunny, James P.

Absent: Arron, Dene.

Teams Represented: Romarios Stars, 147 Elite, Lutterworth Old Boys, Fox and Tiger, A Standard Bunch.  Lutterworth Club (Club and Old Boys both attended – separate teams)

All information below to be implemented with immediate effect

Re-election of committee

All committee members present retained. We also welcome the return of Gaz Walker and also Mike Gregson (Lutterworth League chairman) to the team. I know with their experience they will be invaluable to helping the league continue to progress and grow.

App

Lots of improvements made to ensure stability along with other improvements requested to reduce teams having to wait for the away team to complete their app (Home team can enter the “wins” and “complete match” rather than having to wait for the away team to approve the games and then complete the match. This should save the results secretary time when chasing teams for incomplete results.

Teams need to provide more detail when reporting app issues so they can be investigated and fixed.

App is working a lot better after early season glitches. Changes were made to the main architecture of the app along with increased server capacity to deal with the load.

Individual Comps

Toby provided feedback on this.

Singles (international and LDPL) had an almost even split for entries.

The introduction of a time limit for match nights received positive feedback. Carried forward

Competitions only - If a team or player withdraws due to unforeseen circumstances within 48 hours after the match has concluded, the winners will have the option to concede, allowing the losing team or player to step forward and fill the vacant spot.

Competitions are to be reviewed for next season.

Individual Specifics

Doubles - County Player restriction to be removed.

Ladies, mixed and under 25s - not very high entries. Ensure dates are published on entry. Venues to ensure no clash on dates.

Under 25s to be reviewed– potential to drop tournament or consider change to age bracket.

3 man - A proper structure will be discussed and implemented. Possibly introduce more venues or smaller groups. –

Elite singles - very little interest, possibly be scrapped.

Table Rules

Original wording for the “break off” section - “If any ball leaves the playing surface from the break (other than being potted)”.

Decision - Rule will remain, however wording to be amended to make clearer. – New wording – “Any ball leaving the table and coming to rest anywhere other than the bed of the table.”

·         Original wording for the “Foul Shots” section - “only the cue tip may be used to touch, or strike a cue ball”.

Decision - This will not be a foul and rule will never reworded to make clearer. – New wording – “Positioning the cue ball with the cue is allowed as long as the tip of the cue is not used.”

·         No rule currently in place for this point. Breaking player to rack their own balls? – New wording to be added –  “Only the referee shall rack the balls”

·         Can we enforce a shot clock for every match as the “norm”?

Decision was against enforcing shot clock, however a shot clock can still be implemented if either player, captain or referee request it during a frame. This cannot be refused. Also shot time will be reduced to 45 seconds from 1 minute currently. You don’t have to continue using the shot clock unless requested again.

·         Can we lag for every frame? – unanimously voted against

Match Rules

No Shows and impact in league.

A no show is classed as a team not turning up on the day or informing the other team. A reminder to all teams that a match can be played with 2 players (i.e can still technically get a draw with 2 players) and that matches can be brought forward (if mutually agreed).

·         No shows will still result in 7-0 win for the opponent however an additional punishment for repeat offenders to be introduced.

o   1 no show – warning

o   2 no shows - 2 point penalty deduction per no show onwards

o   4 no shows (one season) - elimination from the league and a returnable bond will be required for the following season if the team wants to re-enter the next season. This also applies to venues as well as the teams – if we have to remove a venue and they recruit a “new” team, the bond will still apply. Likewise, if a team were removed enter from another venue

·         Use of rest and other equipment.

There is nothing currently written in the rules specifically regarding rests/spiders etc. To copy International/epa website – “All equipment that is generally accepted throughout the industry is permitted. Including Spider, rest, gooseneck rest, cross rest”

Entering scores on the app deadline

A 48 hour deadline will be implemented going forward now the app issues are sorted. If a team fails to fill out the app in that time then they will have a 2 point penalty deduction for that match and any results entered will stand as entered. (Exceptions will be considered for technical issues but these must be reported to the regional rep as soon as possible once the issue is identified). Reps will chase up missing results once (on a Friday) where needed and the deadline for teams is 23:59 on Saturday.

To assist this, a reminder of how the scorecard function works will be shown if home team doesn’t fill out their side – making it impossible in the app for the away team to enter scores. Also note that away team can enter scores written in the comments section where an admin will be able to see.

International vs LDPL rules

No change. However voting box will be added to the entry form to assess teams/divisions desire to change as there has been more feedback that this is desired. If a change is voted for, we would look at the results of Division 1 across all 3 regions then move down further divisions if desired by those teams. If Division 1 regions didn’t vote for international by majority then those divisions and all leagues below that will stay LDPL.

As a league, we want to emphasize that we are not implementing a league-wide rule change. However, we are actively seeking feedback from teams to ensure that our decisions align with the best interests of the league, creating the most enjoyable experience for as many teams as possible.