Playing Rules

Dart Board

1. All dartboards shall be approved by BNSDC and of a standard bristle type, in good condition, and dividers clearly defined.
2. The dartboard shall be fixed in such a manner that the perpendicular height from the floor to the centre of the ‘bull’, at the same level as the oche, shall measure 1.73 metres (5ft Sin, 173 cm).
3. The dartboard shall be fixed so that the ’20’ segment is a darker colour and shall be set at the top of the dartboard.
4. In team competition, both team captains shall agree that the dartboard and condition of play are satisfactory and in accordance with the rules of the game.
5. Any protest as to the condition of the dartboard or conditions of play shall be lodged with the opposing team captain in writing before the match commences. In the event of conditions not being altered to comply with the rules, the match shall be played under protest and particulars of the protest will be forwarded to the club secretary in writing. No protest may be made once the match has commenced unless conditions of play have altered or deteriorated.

The Oche

1. The minimum distance shall measure from the rear of the ochre 2.37 metres (237 cm) along the floor to a plumb line at the face of the dartboard.
2. The diagonal distance from the ‘bull’ to the rear of the oche shall measure 2.93 metres (293 cm).
3. The oche, or toe line, shall be fixed or removable and placed in a position where half its length on each side of the centre of the dartboard.
4. During play no player shall tread on any part of the oche. Infringement can lead to penalties i.e. foul dart called and whatever was thrown not counted.

Order of play

1. The home team as per the draw, shall throw first in the first and third doubles games in a 6-a-side team and first in the first singles game and then alternate to each team until the end of the match.
2. The home team as per the draw shall throw first in the first double game in a 4-a-side team and first in the first singles game and then alternate to each team until the end of the match.
3. Any games that goes to three legs the team or player who threw first in the first leg shall throw for the bull, with the player closest to the centre of the ‘bull’ to shoot first in the third leg.
4. If the first player throws within the green or red bull must remove their dart from the dartboard.
5. Should both players bull shot land in the centre or be equally distant from the bull they shall throw again.

The throw

1. A player may not retrieve and re-throw any darts that has past the oche.
2. A dropped dart is not a thrown dart unless a deliberate attempt has been made to throw the dart over the oche.

Scoring

1. A dart shall only score if the point remains in the dartboard at the completion of a throw. The score is determined by its point of entry into the dartboard.
2. In the event of a dart falling out of the dartboard after it has been ‘called’ by the chalker it shall count as a score.
3. Darts should only be retrieved by the thrower promptly after the score has been ‘called’ and satisfied that the total score ‘called’ is correct. No protest against the score called may be made once the darts have been removed.
4. Scores shall be checked after each throw by the thrower and may be challenged before the next throw if they spot a mistake in the subtraction by the chalker, they must not try to have this corrected whilst their opposition is throwing their darts. Failure to spot a mistake prior to throwing again the mistake must stand.
5. Scores shall be indicated on the scoreboard visible to both players/team with the simple method of scoring, for example:

Example one:                                                       Example 2:

501                                                                        000     501
-100                                                                      100      401
401

Chalkers and callers

1. All games are to be controlled by the chalker. A caller may be used if required.
2. Each team shall appoint alternately a chalker for each game.
3. A player will not commence a leg, match or game until the chalker has called ‘game on’.
4. The chalker will determine the score at the completion of each throw and call the score out. 
5. The chalker will ascertain that the correct score has been recorded on the scoreboard and the remaining balance is correct. 
6. The chalker will call ‘game shot’ when the correct double has been hit to end the game.
7. The chalker will advise the thrower, if requested, of the balance remaining i.e. 40 not double 20 etc. 
8. Any mistake made by the chalker or caller in advising the thrower of the balance remaining to complete the game shall stand until the end of the game (except under the condition of section “Scoring” – point 4). If there is a mistake and there is a dispute to resolve the matter the ‘leg’ is to be played again.
9. The chalker or any other player shall not advise the thrower of the double required to finish the game. The player must not stand at the oche to ask his team members but step back from the oche.
10. Certain behaviours are expected from the chalker. The chalker will refrain from any unnecessary movement or talk while the matches are in progress and must not face the thrower unless the thrower asks questions about the game.
11. The chalker may stop play, in consideration of the players, should it be considered that noise or comment in the vicinity of the players is excessive; unnecessary; or to settle any disputes. Players will not resume until the chalker request is attended to.
12. The chalker must be a registered player unless agreed upon by the Club Captains.

Nights of play

1. The club nights of play are dictated by the draw.
2. In circumstances, matches may be postponed at the agreement of both team captains involved and Club Captains, and should be played as soon as practical. Postponed games or matches are to be completed before the commencement of the finals.
3. No matches will be scheduled during a public holiday.

Eligibility

1. For a player to be eligible for any BNSDC event, they must be a financial member.
2. Players may register at any time during the year using the online registration form.
3. New players are allowed one free game a year but must be registered as a financial member before they play another game.  
4. Past players who re-register are entitled to one free game.
5. A new player who does not register as a financial member after playing a free game and plays again, that team may lose all points. This is at the discretion of the committee.
6. Past players who have not become a registered financial member and continues to play could mean that the team may lose all points. This is at the discretion of the committee.
7. No player may register with more than one team in any competition.
8. All registered players are financial until 1 February in the year of payment.
9. Where a player of known ability does not register for a team at the start of a game, acceptance of their registration will be at the discretion of the committee.

Finals

1. Finals will be played on a date and venue decided by the Club Captains.
2. No player will be eligible to play in the semi-final, final or grand final unless they have played a minimum of four (4) matches in the season that the semi-final, final or grand final is applicable and with the same team.

Transfers

1. Players may transfer from one team to another during a competition season subject to the following conditions:
   1. Applications must be in writing and the team captains of both teams must acknowledge the transfer on the application.
   2. Applications must be in the hands of the Club Captains seven (7) days prior to the applicant playing in a new team.
   3. No player may play for more than one (1) team in any week.
   4. Transfer during competition may be approved by the Club Captains if the above conditions are met and provided that the player is not requesting a transfer to a lower grade.
2. In all other circumstances, and in cases where the Club Captains cannot justify an immediate decision, the request for transfer will be considered by the committee.
3. Under no circumstances will a transfer be granted after 75% of the competition has been played.

Forfeits

1. Match fees must be paid for by all forfeited matches by both teams.
2. Any team with less than 4 players in a 6 player format must forfeit their match on the night to the opposing team, subject to rule 11.5.
3. Any team with less than 3 players in a 4 player format must forfeit their match on the night to the opposing team, subject to rule 11.5.
4. Any team that play with 5 players must forfeit all 6 player matches in a 6 player format.
5. Any team that forfeits 3 consecutive matches in a competition will be notified by the Club Captains as to whether they may continue playing for that competition.
6. Should a team captain consider that there were reasonable grounds for forfeiting a match, they may request the committee consider the circumstances before awarding the forfeit claimed by the opposing team. Any requests must be in writing and in the hands of the Club Captains by Friday of the week in which the game was scheduled.
7. The team which claim and is granted a forfeit will receive 2 match points and an 11 nil result in their favour for matches consisting of 20 or 21 games. 

Scoresheets

1. Only official club score sheets will be accepted for competition matches.
2. The team captains are responsible for ensuring that a correct and complete record of the games is written on the official sheet, entered into the ‘Enter the Score app’ signed by both captains and coded at the conclusion of each night’s play. 
3. . All results are to be entered in the ‘Enter the Score app’ before 11.59pm on the night of play.
4. If the results of games are not received by the appointed time, a fine of 2 match points may be imposed upon the home team and deducted from their accumulated match points score. Recording of 180’s, tons, good game scores etc may also be withheld at the discretion of the Club Captains.
5. Intentionally using another player name on a scoresheet to deceive the committee or membership will automatically be deducted of all points, and at the discretion of the committee face disciplinary action.

 Fees

1. All Team captains are responsible for the collection of registration fees and game fees. Fees are to be deposited into BNSDC nominated bank account. Fees are payable annually, 6 monthly and or weekly. Game points penalties may apply for late payment at the discretion of the committee.
2. Registration and team fees are to be paid annually and determined at the AGM each year.

 General Rules

1. It is the team captain responsibility to attend every Captains meeting that take place throughout the year. If a team is not represented at a meeting by the team captain or proxy, could subsequently see 2 points deducted.
2. Any group of players may nominate for the 6-a-side competition by submitting the team name and register 9 (maximum) players. Note: No team may play more than 7 players on any given night.
3. Any group of players may nominate for the 4-a-side competition by submitting the team name and register 6 (maximum) players. Note: No team may play more than 5 players on any given night.
4. In all scheduled matches of the team competition, 2 points will be awarded to the winning team.
5. The Club Captains will maintain a record of all teams’ accumulated match and game points during a competition. In the event of 2 teams having the same match points, for and against, the game points will determine their positions on the points table. If any of the teams are on equal match and game points at the end of the competition, then a playoff will take place at a time and place of the Club Captain’s choice.
6. The Club Captains committee will grade teams into divisions if they deem it necessary for balanced grades.
   1. At the end of the regular season the bottom A Grade team and the top B Grade team will be permitted to nominate their preference to remain in B Grade or move up to the next grade at the end of the season. The club captains will provide the final decision to grant this nomination.
   2. Any new team introduced to the competition at the start of the season (after the integrated competition), they are to be introduced in the lower grade unless the Club Captains determines the strength of the team will be to the detriment to the lower grade, in which case the Club Captains may allocate the new team into a higher grade.
7. No player shall play more than once in any game of a match.
8. In all matches the names are to be written up on the board by both team captains.
9. No name of a late player may be added to the sheet after the commencement of the match.
10. If a player is not present at the start of their nominated game and arrive during that game they may join the game from where the game is at, unless a forfeit has been claimed under rule 14 of this section.
11. Should a team withdraw or be suspended during the course of the night or during the season competition or during the first round, all remaining games shall be awarded to the opposing teams as a win. No Prizes or Trophies will be awarded to any team/member of a suspended team except at the discretion of the committee.
12. Player darts shall weigh no more than 50 grams and be no shorter than 10cm and no longer that 20cm from the point to the tip of the flight.
13. Starting time for all matches is 7pm or when both teams are ready to play, whichever is the earliest.
14. Any team not ready to play by 7.15pm shall forfeit the match to the opposing team, if the opposing team is ready to play. However, team captains should take into account any extenuating circumstances which may have delayed the start of play, and may at their discretion allow games to start a little later. In this event, any games not completed by the closing time of the venue they are playing in, will be forfeited to the team eligible to claim the forfeit.
15. Team Captains are responsible for ensuring that players are prompt to commence games. A game forfeit may be claimed by a player ready to play if the opposing player is not ready to commence play 3 minutes after being called to the board.
16. A Premier League player must not play in A or B Grade. This applies to current BNSDC members or those new to the club (past or present), match points may be deducted from the game. 
17. Floating principles 

1. 1. Player to nominate one team as their home team
   2. Player can only play twice with other teams
   3. Player can-not play finals unless all involved Team Captains approve.

Conduct and Dress

1. Players should at all times conduct themselves in a proper manner, and instances of misconduct brought to the committee’s attention will be dealt with in accordance with clause 1S of the club constitution.
2. Players are required to wear standard dress or as required by the venue with covered shoes. Failure to comply could result in the player not being allowed to play.
3. Gambling is not permitted on the scores or results of any game or match conducted by the Club.

B Grade Format

1. All games will comprise of the following formats:
   1. Pairs 501 x best of 3 legs
   2. Singles, 501 x best of 3 legs
2. Matches where both players are left on double 1. Counting from the throw after the second player has left themselves double 1, each player has three throws (walks to the oche) trying to hit double one as they normally would. On their fourth attempt both players will initiate the “No bust” rule, meaning they cannot bust and are able to hit any number without busting in their attempt to hit double 1, until of course someone does hit double 1.
3. After 5 more walks, the players then throw for the bull, with the winner determined by the closet dart to the bull. 
4. Rules 2 and 3 of this section is not applicable during the final series.

 A Grade Format

1. A grade games will comprise of the following games formats:
   1. Pairs 501 x best of 3 legs
   2. Singles, 501 x best of 3 legs

Premiere League format

1. Premier grade games will comprise of the following games formats:
   1. Pairs, 601 x best of 3 legs
   2. Singles, 501 x best of 3 legs

Protests

1. The committee will investigate any protests which have been made in and may order a forfeit against the team which received the protest or a match replay, according to the circumstances.

1. Any team which makes a protest, or against which a protest is made, must play the scheduled match or forfeit.

Complaints

1. Should a team member wish to complain about a matter connected with the clubs activities, the complaint should be referred to the team captain who will consider the complaint and advise the Club Captains if necessary in writing. The Club Captains will bring the matter to the committee.

Rep Players

1. Any member may nominate to play for the club in inter club matches.
2. Selection of the rep teams is the responsibility of the Club Captains and their nominees. All players will be considered for selection for each match, unless the Club Captains has received advice from any member as to their unavailability, this must be received in writing.
3. Any player who nominates for rep matches will undertake to:
   1. Meet any expenses incurred for travel, accommodation, uniform or other expense, subject to any contribution made by the club.
   2. Be responsible to the team captain for conduct at rep matches.
   3. Act as an ambassador for the club at rep games.
   4. Be willing to assist with fund raising activities.
4. Every effort will be made to inform all members of all upcoming rep games. 
5. In all rep games all members during all games will show a sense of fair play.
6. To be eligible to participate in representative games you must be playing on a regular basis in fixtures.
7. All the above rules are subject to additions and alterations from time to time as may be considered by the committee. They shall stay in force until written notice is given to all team captains.