CONSTITUTION


1.   TITLE

The organisation shall be known as Kent Pétanque League (the League).

2.   OBJECTS

The Objects of the League, which in no case shall conflict with the Objects of the English Pétanque Association (EPA), shall be to promote the game of pétanque in the County of Kent by all means at its disposal and particularly by: -
  1. Organising and running leagues for the playing of pétanque.
  2. Organising and running competitions.
  3. Encouraging good sportsmanship.

3.   MEMBERSHIP
  1. Membership of the League is at the discretion of the League’s Officers.
  2. Generally membership shall be open to any club in Kent which has current affiliation to the EPA and which, in the opinion of the Officers, meets the physical playing criteria and whose inclusion will enhance the enjoyment of the sport for current members.
  3. Players must have, or have applied for, a current Kent Pétanque Association membership card before being permitted to play.
  4. The final date for entries will be 1 March each year.

4.   REGISTRATION
Clubs must register each team annually on the form for the time being prescribed by the League Secretary.

5.   SUBSCRIPTIONS
  1. The annual subscription, which shall be payable upon registration for the upcoming season, shall be determined by the previous Annual General Meeting.
  2. Any additional levy which may be recommended by the Officers shall become payable by the Members concerned only if accepted by at least two-thirds of those Members voting in a ballot in a form prescribed by the Officers.

6.   TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
  1. Any Club may terminate its membership at any time by giving not less than one calendar month’s previous notice in writing to the Secretary.
  2. Any Club not affiliated to the EPA shall cease to be a member.
  3. Any Club not fulfilling the administrative requirements shall cease to be a member.
  4. Membership of any Club, or the participation of any Team or Player, may be terminated in accordance with Clauses 9 or 10.

7. OFFICERS

The Officers shall comprise a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and such others as the Members in General Meeting may from time to time determine.

8. ELECTIONS
  1. All Officers shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting for a period not greater than 5 years and shall be eligible for re-election.
  2. Casual vacancies shall be filled by the remaining officers and the nominated individual will serve until the next Annual General Meeting.

9. DISPUTES
  1. All disputes between teams or clubs should be resolved wherever possible by the parties to it.
  2. If there is no resolution the dispute shall be referred to the Officers who will determine it according to a procedure selected to meet the particular need.
  3. Subject to the right of appeal to the Kent Pétanque Association, the decision of the Officers is final and will be implemented by all parties concerned.

10. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
  1. Any Club, Team or Player whose conduct is considered to be detrimental to the objects of the League may be reported to the Officers.
  2. The Officers may suspend or terminate League membership of any such Club, or of participation in the League of any such Team or Player.
  3. Before such power is exercised on any occasion not less than fourteen days' notice in writing shall be given to the Club, Team or Player concerned and an opportunity shall be accorded to them of showing cause before the Officers why such action is inappropriate.
  4. Furthermore any such Club, Team or Player shall have the right of appeal to the Kent Pétanque Association against such decision.

11.   MEETINGS
  1. General meetings
    A General Meeting shall be held at least once a year.
  2. Extraordinary meetings
    1. An Extraordinary General Meeting of the League may be called at any time within twenty-one days upon receipt of a requisition signed on behalf of not less than 30% of the Member Clubs or on instruction from the Secretary stating the reason for such meeting.
    2. The number of Participants present at any meeting described in this Clause shall not affect the validity of the meeting.
12.   PROCEDURE AT MEETINGS
  1. The President shall preside at all meetings called under Clause 11.
  2. At all meetings called under Clause 11 voting shall be by show of hands. The result shall be declared by the chairman and shall be binding on the League unless the procedure set out in Clauses 3. hereof is applied.
  3. A resolution calling for a ballot of all the Members concerned may be immediately put and if seconded and carried by a simple majority the result shall be binding on the League.

13.   VOTING
  1. General Meetings
    1. The Officers of the League shall have voting rights by virtue of their Office and additionally the President may exercise a casting vote.
    2. Each participating team present shall be entitled to one vote.
  2. Other Meetings
    Each participant shall be entitled to one vote and additionally the chairman may exercise a casting vote.

14   REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

Any Officer may be removed from office by resolution carried at an Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with Clause 11.2.

15.   ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION

Any proposal for the alteration of any Clause of the Constitution & Rules may be made by means of a resolution or resolutions included on the agenda of any General Meeting.

16.   DISCRETION

The Officers of the League shall have the absolute discretion to determine any issue not covered by this Constitution.

17.   DISSOLUTION
  1. The League may be dissolved at any time by a resolution at a General Meeting called for that purpose confirmed by at least two-thirds of those Members of the Association voting in a ballot held by the Secretary. In that event the Officers shall remain in office until all the affairs of the League shall have been wound up.
  2. When dissolution of the League shall have been decided on its surplus funds after providing for all liabilities shall be dealt with in such manner as the Officers in their own absolute discretion shall determine.
  3. In the event of a deficit being revealed this shall be met by means of a levy on all the Members of the Association and such levy shall not be subject to the provisions under Clause 5.2).


PLAYING RULES


1.   PLAYERS’ LICENCES
  1. All players must have, or have applied for, a current Kent Pétanque Association membership card before being permitted to play.
  2. Any team playing an unlicensed player will be penalised by having a 4-0 (52-24) result awarded to their opposition but a 0-4 (0-52) to them.
  3. Teams persistently contravening this rule will be dealt with by the League Officers and may risk disqualification from the league. A player may hold a licence for any club in the Kent Pétanque Association but once he has played for a club he will be club-tied for that season.
  4. New players may play in the league provided that their application form and fee are handed to a club official prior to playing. This form must be sent into the Regional membership secretary immediately.
2.   LATE ARRIVALS
  1. Games will normally be played Wednesday evenings commencing at 8 pm. At 8:15pm any triple which is absent from the pitch will be penalised one point which is awarded to their opponents. After this quarter of an hour they will forfeit one point for every five minutes continued absence. Any triple not present after one hour (by 9 pm) will forfeit their game. If neither triple from a team has arrived by 9 pm they will be penalised by having a 4-0 (52-24) result awarded to their opposition but a 0-4 (0-52) to them.
  2. Any incomplete team may start without waiting for their partner but may not use his/her boules. If after an end has started, the missing player arrives, he/she may not take part in that end, but is only allowed to participate as from the following end. If the missing player arrives more than one hour after the game has started he/she losses all right to participate in that game. He/she may take part in the following game.
3.   REARRANGEMENT
  1. Except in respect of exceptional circumstances accepted by the League Secretary as such, rearrangement will not be allowed if less than 48 hours notice is given to the club contact and League Officers ie 8pm on the preceding Monday evening. The non-arrival of a team will be treated as in Rules 2.1 above.
  2. Any team failing to arrive for an arranged fixture without giving adequate notice (as per rule 3.1) to their opponents will be fined £5.00. Failure to pay the fine will result in it being added onto the offending clubs registration fee for the following season. Should the team still fail to pay they will be expelled from the league. The money will be returned to the non-offenders as a contribution to their food or travel costs. Teams should make a note on the scorecard if they are not given sufficient notice.
  3. Rearrangement of a fixture will be allowed by mutual agreement. All matches must be played on or before the last day of the season as advised in the fixture list. Notification must be given to the organisers as per rule 3.1). If rearrangement cannot take place the team who could not fulfil the original fixture will be penalised by having a 4-0 (52-24) awrded to their opposition, but 0-4 (0-52) to them. Should both teams decide to cancel the games shall be void with no penalties. Knockout Cup - Rearranged cup games must be played within 48 hours of the original fixture. There will be no rearrangement of semi-finals and finals.
4.   BOULES

Boule used must be competition boules. 'Dog' or leisure boules are strictly forbidden.

5.   SCORECARDS
  1. The official scorecard will be in such format as the League Secretary may from time to time determine.
  2. The home team will submit the official score card to the League Secretary.
  3. Each team is responsible for ensuring the correct details are on the card before signing.
  4. Score cards must be with the League Secretary within seven days of the fixture played and non-receipt of scorecards within the required timescale will result in the home team not receiving any score. The away team will receive their score where this can be established.
  5. The League Secretary accepts no responsibility for cards lost or delayed in the post.
6.   SUBSTITUTIONS
  1. Teams in a higher division may draw players from their lower divisions for two games only. A third game will result in that player or players remaining in that division.
  2. There may be no sideways movement ie team 1 to team 2 in the same division.
  3. There may be no downwards movement of players ie from a team in division 1 to a team in division 2 after an individual has played in two matches in a higher team.
  4. Knockout Cup - A player may play for only one team in the knockout cup and plate of any season.
  5. Up to two players may be substituted at the start of the second games.
7.   PLAYOFFS

In the event of a play off situation, a triples team from each side will play a deciding game. A play off situation will arise in the knockout cup and plate competitions if, after four games, the score is two games all and the teams have identical points.

8.   EPA RULES

The rules of play are as published in the Official International Rules of the Game of Pétanque as adopted by the EPA on 1st November 2003 and as amended from time to time.

9.   MEMBERSHIP CARDS

Players should carry their membership cards with them at all games and be willing to show them on request. If there is any doubt as to the eligibility of a player this should be noted on the scorecard and queried with the League Secretary.

10.   LANDLORDS

Public House landlords can play home matches for any of their teams. These landlords must hold a current Kent Pétanque Associationl licence and the League Secretary be informed prior to the start of the season.

11.   UMPIRES

Umpires will be appointed by the Officers for both the Cup and Plate semi finals and finals and any other league event as deemed necessary.

12   PLATE

Teams must compete in preliminary or first round of league cup to qualify for plate competition in the event of losing.

ADMINISTRATION & FORMAT

  1. Entry to the Kent League will only be accepted if the clubs fully conform to the Constitution & Rules.
    Any team which does not fully conform to this rule will not be accepted and may forfeit their entry fee.
  2. The league shall be formed into divisions of 10 teams whenever possible. Each team must consist of a minimum of six licensed players.
  3. The league will run from April until September approximately (dependent on the number of teams taking part).
  4. The league is run on a home and away basis interspersed by the cup and plate competitions.
  5. Each match consists of four games with each triple playing twice as follows:
    Home Team   Away Team
    AvB
    BvA
    AvA
    BvB
    After the first two games the home teams change pistes.
  6. At the end of each season two teams will automatically be promoted and relegated from each division (subject to any variation in team numbers). The placings will be decided by:
    1. Games won
    2. Points difference
    3. Points for
    If, at the end of the season, teams in contention for promotion or relegation are still equal after the above then the administrators will arrange a play off between the two teams.
  7. Eight individual trophies will be presented to the winners and runners up in each division, in the knockout cup and in the plate competitions. In addition the winners shall also receive a trophy that will be held for a year. These "main" trophies must be returned to the Secretary before the presentation each year.
  8. Any query with the Secretary should be put in writing, preferably by e-mail. In the event of any phone calls being necessary these should be made between the hours of 9.00am and 8.00pm.