In this month’s news we intend to reaffirm team and player obligations. The first one being additional or player transfers, and it firmly being the responsibility of the team to provide the correct form to support the application. When you submit the players via an email to bristolpoolleague@btinternet.com, you will receive a reply confirming this APPLICATION only. If you DON’T receive another email by 6pm on the evening of the match, this means that your application has been granted and your player is free to play. This must be within the 24 hour notice period prior to your game, and this must also be supported at the next league meeting with the form and money due, failure to provide these will certainly mean loss of frames and could affect the result.

Under no circumstances are players or team supporters allowed to touch the table while a game is in progress, other than the players currently playing that game and the referees.

All members shall respect their opponents, whether playing home or away and act with integrity, honesty and fairness in a sporting manner. Members should refrain from any activity that could be construed as “unsporting conduct” and the badgering of opponents, personal insults, derogatory remarks or intimidating behaviour will not be tolerated.

A player is required to play without receiving any advice from other persons relating to the playing of the frame. Should a team member or bona-fide supporter of a player offer advice, the referee will issue a "First and Final Warning" to that person that a repetition will result in the player being penalised via a Standard Foul. Because it may not always be possible for the Referee to hear if a statement made to a player is advice, the referee may issue the First and Final Warning on the grounds that any statement made to a player, other than general barracking, is deemed to be coaching.

Our League respects the rights, dignity and value of all players and treats everyone equally regardless of their ability, age, gender, ethnicity, race, religious belief, sexuality or socio-economic status. We will not tolerate any bullying, harassment (physical or verbal) or sexual or physical abuse against any player on the basis of these or any other characteristic. Any player who wishes to report an incident of bullying, harassment or inappropriate behaviour can do so, in confidence, to the Chair of the Bristol Pool League, Chris Whitehead: christopherwhitehead1959@yahoo.co.uk

In blackball pool, a stalemate occurs when a player finds it impossible to make a legal shot, either by accident or design. The frame is restarted, and the original player who broke the rack breaks again.

The draws for the Singles and Doubles are now available online. Once again we have smashed previous entries, to the extent that the Doubles now need an extra round, with the Singles narrowly just short of an extra round!
Of course this is good news, but it does mean that a handful of Doubles prelim matches must be played during December and the start of January. The deadline for those prelim matches will be January 9, while first round matches will have a deadline of February 6.
We would recommend that these prelim pairs contact each other immediately to arrange their matches regardless of who is the home pair, while also reminding all other players/pairs of the new rules that came into force last season where the home pair/player is responsible for arranging the match within 7 days of the draw being made. This rule is still applicable to matches that have a 6-7 week results deadline etc.

The new A1 Tuning Bristol Inter-Divisional Singles competition is launched this month, entry forms available online.
A maximum of up to 4 players per team (5 players in Div 1) can enter. It is your choice as to who gets to enter, maybe a lucky dip, or a pub knockout to determine the players. Form and fees to be returned at January’s meeting.

Entry forms and fees for the Over 40s and Seniors comps should also be returned at the January meeting, entry forms online.


In an attempt to reduce our overheads, we have introduced an Email Information Service to provide members with monthly updates.
To help reduce costs, we would like members to subscribe to this Service. The email attachment will be identical to the book that team Captains/Secretaries have previously received by post, and will be available to all league members, not just Captains/Secretaries.
We fully understand that not everyone has access to the internet and email, so for those few teams the book will still be available by post.
Apart from the cost reduction, other advantages will be that the book will be available just a few days after the monthly league meeting, rather than the 11 days it now takes. Any mistakes that arise can be instantly corrected by sending a revised book. Any other information can be easily sent, eg, reminders of important dates such as league meetings and AGM's.
To add your name to the Service, simply send an email to bristolpoolleague(at)btinternet.com
Please include the word Pool in the subject line, and in the message box leave your name, team name(s), and whether you are Captain or Secretary of your team, or that you are just a playing member of your team(s). You will receive an email shortly after to confirm your inclusion in the Service.

The BPL COMMITTEE wishes everyone a happy and safe festive holiday, and we will see you at the next League meeting on January 2.