All of the rules for the D&DSL can be found at the top of the website, below is some rules that may help teams on match days.
All matches shall be played in the week specified and on the declared night of play for the home team, as detailed in the fixture list, unless brought forward or rearranged within the specified week by mutual consent. Any team who is unable to fulfil a fixture on the specified date shall notify their opponents, and the Secretary, at least 24 hours before the due date and shall automatically forfeit the match, their opponents being awarded the points. (See Rules 7 and 13). However, should the cancellation result from what the Committee deem to be an exceptional circumstance then the Secretary, whose decision shall be final and conclusive, can order the game to be played within 14 days of the original date provided that the new date does not extend beyond the completion of the final week of fixtures. If the teams are unable to agree a date within 48 hours of the original date then the Secretary will set the date for the fixture. For the avoidance of doubt the inability to raise a team other than the death of a registered player or a member of their immediate family, a national emergency or an extreme weather event, will not be deemed exceptional. As a matter of courtesy, the home team shall immediately notify the landlord/club steward of that the match will not be played. From the start of the 2024/25 season no team in the Open league will be permitted to have a home night on a Monday.
The secretary of the home team is to supply and complete the result card which must be signed by both teams to signify their agreement. The winning team (or in the event of a draw the home team) shall send the result card to the Fixture Secretary to reach him by 6pm on the Friday of the week of fixture for the Ladies League and by 6pm on the Sunday following the fixture for the Open League. Cards can be submitted electronically, both sides if a player or players have been signed on, via e mail, text, WhatsApp or messenger. Teams must keep any electronically submitted cards until the end of the season in case there is any dispute. Should a result card be received without both teams signatures and the result is in dispute, the fixture secretary is to be notified within 24 hours of the game. If no such notification is received, the result card will be deemed correct.
Matches shall be played over seven hands per team and the number of pins scored, totalled. Each team shall consist of eight players (see rule 7, paragraph 2). No player shall be allowed to play more than seven hands.
Games shall commence between 8.30 p.m. and 8.45 p.m. Any team short of players must commence the game with the players available. If there are no representatives of a team present on the alley by 8.45 p.m. that team will be deemed to have cancelled and the match awarded to the opposing team. If a player is injured or taken ill at any stage during the match, a reserve may continue in the injured/ill players place (even in the middle of a hand) and complete the match, provided such reserve is not registered with another team. The hands thrown by the injured/ill player will stand.
Each team shall provide their own “sticker up”. Where a sticker up is under 18 the captain shall ensure that the Licensing Act 2003 is complied with. (See statement relating to sticking up at the end of the rules).
No team will be allowed to change its home alley, as notified to the league on their entry form, except in exceptional circumstances i.e. closure of alley. If for any reason the match is unable to be played on the home teams alley, the home team must provide an alternative venue unless the match has been cancelled by the opposition.
If more than the required number of pins and balls are in the alley, then prior to the game starting the home team MUST select which three balls and nine pins ONLY are to be used. The Captain of the home team shall ensure before the commencement of the game that three of the pins are CLEARLY MARKED as front pins. Under no circumstances shall any ball with a diameter of more than 6 inches be used in any game.
Players must release the ball from behind the first line, and the ball must pitch before the second line. The first line shall be 6ft. from the backboard and the second line 16ft. from the backboard. If a player knocks down all nine pins with either his first and/or second ball(s) then all nine pins shall be replaced.
Any ball hitting the side of the alley or being pitched over the second line before hitting any pins will be called a no ball, and count as a bolter. Any pins knocked down by that ball or any pins knocked down by a ball or pins which have previously left the alley shall be replaced. However once a clean (or legal) ball has hit the pins any other pins knocked down by that ball or by other pins which have remained on the alley or rebounded off the side of the alley will count. A pin knocked off the plate to be counted as down if standing or not.
Two points will be awarded for a win and one each for a draw.
The team with the highest number of points in their section shall be the winner of the trophy. Trophies shall not become the property of any team. In the event of more than one team totalling the same number of points they shall play off for that position. Where teams finish level on points as Winners, as Runners up or in the relegation positions then their finishing order will be determined by the following criteria to break the tie. Firstly their head to head record, secondly pin difference in those matches, thirdly the aggregate of the top and bottom players scores in those matches. If both head-to-head fixtures have not been played then the team who cancelled shall, as appropriate, either forfeit promotion or be relegated. In all other instances pin difference shall determine the position of teams finishing with equal points. The top two teams in each division shall be promoted. The bottom two teams are liable to relegation.
The Committee shall be empowered to promote or relegate additional teams in their previous seasons finishing order to achieve the optimum balance across all leagues for the forthcoming season.
