Proposed rule change for agm

[Mike Langdon]

Can i put forward a suggestion regarding B.General Playing Rules (9):

9. A player may play 2 matches in a higher grade without loss of status. A player in a higher grade may not play in a lower grade in any one season.

I would personally like to see this rule changed to allow any player from a B team in division 2 to be able to play as many times as they're required for the A team (providing they're not in the same division of course).

My reason for this is that i feel it may allow teams to enter an extra team with more confidence about numbers.  As the rule stands you ideally need a squad of about 8 players in each team.  With this change clubs will be able to enter a skeleton 1st team squad of 6 and then register the rest of the players with the b team with the 1st team able to call on any player from the b team as much as they require.  In this way you would be able to enter 2 sides with a probable minimum of 14 players in total (as it stands you ideally need 16 players to run 2 sides).

It will also benefit both teams should they lose any players during the season ie if the 1st team lose a player they can simply replace with a player from the b team squad. Another aspect as it stands at the moment is for instance that an A team with a squad of 7-9 players are unable to help the b-side as they're not allowed to play in a lower grade so by adding these extra 1st teamers to the b-team it will solve this. 

Mike (Tourament Secretary)

[Steve Butler]

I agree Mike.  I don't think the league has done enough in the past to encourage clubs to enter more than one team.  I also don't think it does enough to support the clubs that do.

I know that last season Arnold struggled to maintain two sides and this resulted in a lot of postponements, something which I as Secretary do not like to see.

This season we will see both BCI teams in division 1 and I would like to see your proposals go even further to allow teams in the same division to borrow players in this way when needed.  I think it could work as long as restrictions are set:

Clubs entering more than one team

1. A player with a handicap of 21* or greater can play for more than one team from the same club as many times as they wish, including on the same date.  However, no player can play for two teams that are playing each other.

* Could this be 14 do you think?

This is similar to your proposal except it also extends it to any player in the A team as long as they are not "too good".  This avoids the need to register players with specific teams and effectively creates "floating players" which are used in some other leagues around the country.

2. Clubs entering two teams will receive a 10% discount on match fees and clubs entering three teams will receive 20% discount.

An incentive for the clubs who pay their team's fees for them to free up another table.


As a knock on from this I think I will need to be able to monitor the teams players are using, just like I have to do in the 6 Red league in order to be able to impose penalties for playing an ineligible player.  I would therefore like to propose:

Submitting Results

The winning team* will be responsible for submitting the match result to the league secretary within 48 hours of completion of the match.  A result must consist of the following information:

Result: Team A 6-2 Team B

HOME
Player A 1-0 Player A
Player B 0-1 Player B
Player C 0-1 Player C
Players X/Y 1-0 Players X/Y

AWAY
Player A 1-0 Player A
Player B 0-1 Player B
Player C 0-1 Player C
Players X/Y 1-0 Players X/Y

*In the event of a draw both teams will be responsible for ensuring the match result is relayed to the secretary.

A one point penalty will be imposed on any team failing to submit a result including all of the above information within 48 hours of match completion.

A one point penalty will be imposed on any team found to have played an ineligible player.

This would also allow me to provide a more comprehensive player averages data sheet from which I can select the players of the season.

Thoughts?

:question:

[Alan Cunningham]

I think this rule was from the 'olden days' where players were banned from playing for 2 clubs in one night. I know last year a Bulwell player was allowed to transfer to Oakleigh after the start of the season. The rule needs to be clarified and I would suggest:-
1. cant play for same club if both teams are in same division.
2. if in separate divisions, then a 'lower' player can play for his team and then make a substitute appearance for the 'upper' team on the same date, and, if Mike has suggested the player from the lower team does not get penalized.

[Steve Butler]

Any limit on the number of players who can play as substitute on one night?

Any limit on the number of times a player can play for the other team?

What happens if the 'B' team gets promoted?  The 'A' team could then struggle for players because they can't borrow the 'B' team's players like they did the season before.

Couldn't we let the 'A' team borrow the 'B' team's players as long as they're not playing each other?  I don't see that it will put anyone at a disadvantage if we allow that in the same division.

[Alan Cunningham]

I think under the current system ALL SQUADS will work with a skeleton SIX (3 at home, 3 away) so that THEY play the basic 4 singles and 2 doubles PLUS 2 'others' (1 at home 1 away) which they need to make up the team so that the doubles can be played. This can obviously be manipulated taking into consideration of the opposition.
I think if both teams are in same division then they BOTH have to name a Squad of at least 8 (EIGHT). 'A' squad players cannot play for 'B' but ONE of 'B' Squad can play for 'A' and can only play for 1 team in a night.
If in separate Divisions, still the higher team with a squad of 8 and the lower team SIX plus any 2 - the higher team can use 1 substitute  but he can play for BOTH teams on the same night but not be penalised for the amount ot substitute appearances.
A player cannot play for 2 Squads during a cup campaign - ie he becomes cuptied.

[Steve Butler]

What you're proposing Alan is similar to what Mike was proposing but where Mike suggested a 6 player A team squad and an 8 player B team squad, you are suggesting an 8 player A team squad and a 6 player B team squad.

But what happens if a B team player is ill or on holiday?  No alternative than to postpone their match because they can't borrow one of the A team's weaker players!

I personally think that it's the B team that needs support from the A team.  In reality an A team is very reluctant to borrow players from the B team because it weakens their team.

Without any support being provided to a B team, many clubs will be unable to get one off the ground which is a shame because they end up with 3 or 4 players who aren't getting a match every week and they lose interest.

All we need to do is provide a little support to those clubs that are 2 or 3 players short of having 2 teams so that they can get a 2nd team up and running.  Once it's up and running they can gradually recruit more players until they reach the stage of not having to borrow players from the other team.

That's my thoughts but as always, I'll let the meeting decide!

:drink: