New Divisional Knockout Cups
Meeting last week, the League's Management Committee
decided the rules for the new cup competitions for each of the Divisions which
starts on Sunday 31st January.
Each Division will have their own KO Cup with the
finalists competing on Finals Day.
* Teams to consist of at least five
players or up to 15 players
* Players may play a maximum of three
times each
* When potting the black, a pocket must be
nominated by the player (Referee to remind the player to nominate).
* Divisions to be split into two
based on league position at half way point of season. Teams in bottom half will
have handicap advantage of removing either TWO or THREE of their balls depending
on league position.
* The First Round draw will be seeded
which will see a team drawn from the top half pitted against a team drawn from
the bottom half of the division. Thereafter, the draw will follow as normal with
no seeding but the handicaps will still apply where lower teams meet upper
teams.
* Players lag as normal. Winner has option
of breaking as normal. Players must LEGALLY pot a ball to select his/her
group for the match. Once they have selected their group the player with the
handicap advantage MAY (they don't have to) remove the allotted number of balls
to assist an immediate clearance. If the handicapped player selects his/her
group of balls first, then play continues as normal and the rules regarding
removal of balls only applies when the lower player comes to the table and
legally pots a ball for the first time. THE OPTION TO REMOVE BALLS is at
the first visit to the table AFTER a ball has been legally potted, so this could
be a bit later in the match.
* In Divisions Two and Three, teams placed
9th, 10th, 11th and 12th will get the option to remove TWO balls, whilst those
at 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th will be able to remove THREE balls.
* In the Premiership, teams at 8th, 9th and 10th will remove TWO balls and it
will be THREE balls for 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th.