1.00 STATEMENT
The Organisation shall be known as the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation.
2.00 OBJECTS
The objects for which the Organisation is established are:-
2.01
To popularise the sport of darts in every aspect of the game within the recognised boundaries of Cambridgeshire.
2.02
To provide the members and associate members of Cambridgeshire the opportunity to compete with and against each other and with members of those listed below in 7.03.
2.03
To promote the popularity of, interest and participation, and foster the skills and growth of the game in all its variations and in every aspect, social, competitive or professional within the County of Cambridgeshire.
2.04
To initiate, establish and administer dart clubs, dart leagues and associations and organise, publicise, control and adjudicate competitions.
2.05
To negotiate commercial contracts between any interested parties, exponents of the game of darts, the press and television.
2.06
To operate at all times under the auspices of the United Kingdom Darts association and the England Darts Organisation of which the Organisation shall at all times be a paid up Full Member.
2.07
To play under the rules and regulations as laid down in the United Kingdom Darts Association.
2.08
To assist any club or association, interested or concerned with any of the objects of which the Organisation is founded.
3.00 FINANCIAL STATEMENT
The income and property of the Organisation whencesoever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Organisation as set forth in this County Constitution. No portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of profit to the members of the Organisation. Providing that nothing herein shall prevent the payment, in good faith, of reasonable and proper remuneration to any officer or servant of the Organisation or to any member of the Organisation, nor prevent the payment of interest at a reasonable rate on any money lent or reasonable and proper rent for premises demised or let by any member of the said Organisation.
4.00 ACCOUNTS
True accounts shall be kept of the sums of money received and expended by the Organisation, and the matters in respect of which such receipts and expenditure take place, of all sales and purchases of goods by the Organisation, and subject to any reasonable restrictions as to the time and manner of inspecting the same that be imposed in accordance with the regulations of the Organisation for the time being, such accounts shall be open to the inspection of the members.
5.00 MEMBERSHIP
Full Individual Membership will be awarded to all of the appropriate year’s Inter-County squads and to all Officials who are elected into office at the appropriate year’s Annual General Meeting. The players of all the Men’s Super League teams and all of the Ladies League teams will become Associate Members, when their team has paid the compulsory membership fee, currently set at £50 per team, payable by the 1st of January in the relevant season. All memberships, Full and Associate will be applicable for the period between each year’s Annual General Meetings.
5.02
The Executive Committee has the option to refuse an individual or a team membership Full or Associated Membership without giving a reason.
5.02
Whilst operating under the auspices of the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation, the Cambridgeshire Mens Super League, the Cambridgeshire Ladies League and the Cambridgeshire Youths will all operate with their own elected Committee’s, whilst in general operating along the rules of 5.00.
6.00 OFFICIALS
6.01
All Officials shall be voted into office at the Annual General Meeting, all retiring officials shall be eligible for re-election without being nominated through the normal procedure.
6.02
The Organisation shall be run by an Executive Committee (Chairman, Vice Chairman, County Organiser and Treasurer, who may decide to consult with members of the General Committee (Youth Organiser, Marketing Officer, IT Officer, Accommodation Officer, Mens Super League Secretary and Ladies League Secretary).
6.03
The Executive Committee or the General Committee have the right to invite other members to any of their meetings if they feel that the member can add a specific and/or required skill for the meeting.
6.04
Any matters not covered by the rules of the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation shall be decided by the General Committee whose decision shall be final.
6.05
The Organisation shall have the power to give life vice-presidency or honorary life membership to any person whose services to the game of darts within the County of Cambridgeshire is deemed worthy of these honours. Any player who has represented Cambridgeshire on 100 occasions will automatically become an honorary life member.
7.00 ELIGIBILITY RULE – (OFFICIALS & PLAYERS)
7.01
No person who is, or becomes, a member or official of, or plays for, any outside Darts Body, shall be eligible to act as an official in any match, tournament, or other event, or to be a Super League representative or to play in any match, tournament, or other event organised by the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation, including any match, tournament, or other event organised on behalf of any other
Darts Body.
7.02
For the purpose of this Rule an outside Darts Body is any Darts Body other than one of the recognised Darts Bodies listed below, or any team not selected by one of the recognised Darts Bodies, which plays in any formal match, tournament or other event.
7.03 RECOGNISED DARTS BODIES
a. World Darts Federation and its members
b. United Kingdom Darts Association and its members.
c. England Darts Organisation and its members.
d. Irish National Darts Organisation and its members.
e. Northern Ireland Darts Organisation and its members.
f. Scottish Darts Association and its members.
g. Welsh Darts Organisation and its members
h. Professional Darts Corporation
i. Any league, team, or club, or association that is affiliated to, or become a
member of one of the above.
7.04
The General Committee shall have the power to declare any match, tournament or other event as an ‘Open’ event to which the ‘Eligibility Rule’ will not apply. This power shall be exercisable notwithstanding that the match, tournament or other event has already taken place. Moreover, the general Committee shall have the power to permit a person to play in any match, tournament or other event notwithstanding that the person is ‘Ineligible’ under this Rule.
7.05
Any dispute concerning the ‘Eligibility’ of any person under this Rule may be referred in writing at the instance of any member or by the person concerned to the County Organiser for inclusion on the Agenda of a General Committee Meeting at any time. Prior notice of such meeting and the subject matter thereof shall be given to the person concerned and all of the General Committee. At any such meeting the person concerned shall be given reasonable opportunity of being heard. The decision of such a meeting that a person is ‘Ineligible’ shall be found by a unanimous agreement by the General Committee. At any such meeting any written report received by the County Organiser that the person concerned is, or has been, a member or official, or has played for an Outside Darts Body, and that person fails to attend and refute the allegation is well founded, provided always that the person concerned has been given written notice of the allegation and when and where it is to be heard.
7.06
Any person who is, or becomes ‘Ineligible’ under this Rule shall remain ineligible for a period of eighteen months. This period shall commence from the date when the person was last a member or official, or played for an Outside Body. The General Committee may reduce the time period if they consider it is in the interest of the Organisation to do so.
7.07
If circumstances arise where a decision is required concerning the ‘Eligibility’ of any person under this Rule pending reference to a General Committee Meeting, the Chairman shall, upon making such enquiries as they shall deem fit, including, where reasonably practicable, of the person concerned, have the power to decide the matter pending a decision of the Executive Committee.
7.08
Players that play in events run by the Professional Darts Organisation who hold a tour card are not allowed to play in Members-Only events run by the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation.
8.00 FINANCE
8.01
All monies or cheques must be payable to the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation.
8.02
All cheques issued by the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation must be signed by two Executive Committee members.
8.03
All monies, must be banked by the Treasurer as soon as possible in a Bank or Building Society as agreed by the General Committee.
8.04
A balance sheet will be made available at the Annual General Meeting for all members and to the Executive Committee on request.
8.05
All members, Full and Associate, must be fully paid up at all times or be subject to debt suspension.
8.06
The financial year will normally run from July 1st of each year.
9.00 DISCLAIMER
The Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation shall not be held responsible for any financial commitments made by, or any claims against any individual member. The Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation and its officials take no responsibility for the safety of spectators or their property whilst attending or travelling to or from any match, tournament or other event run by the Organisation. All spectators attend the match, tournament or other event entirely at their own risk.
10.00 MEETINGS
10.01
The Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation shall hold an Annual General Meeting every year, in addition to any other meeting in the said year and shall specify the meeting as such in the notice calling it.
10.02
In addition to the Annual General Meeting, the Executive Committee will arrange regular meetings throughout the year. The Executive Committee will also have the power to call meetings with the General Committee, any other meetings shall be called Extraordinary Meetings.
10.03
An Annual General Meeting shall be called at least one month prior to the set date, in writing by the County Organiser to all Full Individual Members.
10.04
A Extraordinary Meeting for the passing of a special resolution shall be called at least seven days prior to the set date, in writing by the County Organiser to all Full Individual Members.
10.05
The non-receipt or accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to entitled persons shall not invalidate proceedings at the said meeting.
10.06
Any Full Individual Members wishing to make a proposal for the Annual General Meeting must do so in writing to the County Organiser, all said proposals must be received at least fourteen days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
N.B. Proposals may be allowed on the night, at the discretion of the Chairman, time permitting.
10.07
In the absence of more than twenty per cent of the Full Individual Members, no business shall be transacted with the members that are present.
10.08
Each Individual Member shall be entitled to one vote on each separate issue.
10.09
No members are entitled to vote by proxy.
10.10
The Annual General Meeting shall normally be held as soon as possible after the 1st of July of each year.
10.11
An Associate Member who wishes to raise any matter at the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation Annual General Meeting should put their point in writing to the respective Super League Committee who will discuss the matter before deciding if the item should be forwarded for consideration at the County Annual General Meeting.
11.00 MEETING PROCEDURES
11.01
The Chairman’s ruling shall take precedence on all matters and shall be final, providing no Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation Rules are broken.
11.02
Any Full Individual Member who wishes to speak at a meeting shall indicate by raising their hand and shall be called to speak in turn by the Chairman.
11.03
Any speaker shall refrain from speaking at the Chairman’s request and they may also be subject to a time limit.
11.04
The Chairman shall have the right to introduce items on to the Agenda at any time, including during a meeting.
11.05
The Election of all Officials, Selectors, Captains and Vice Captains shall be voted into office at the Annual General Meeting, all retiring Officials, Selectors, Captains and Vice Captains shall be eligible for re-election without being nominated through the normal procedure, provided they have confirmed their willingness to re-stand. Executive Officers to be elected for two year periods at the AGM with 50% of each position being voted on bi-annually.
as follows:
2019 – Chairman & Treasurer elected for one year then up for election on each even numbered year from 2020 for two year periods.
2019 – Vice Chairman & County Organiser are elected for a period of two years and from 2021 they are then up for election on each odd numbered year for two year periods.
This would then give the county stability and stop all officials being replaced at the same time thereby leaving the county in a vulnerable position.
A Captain and Vice Captain for the respective Men’s and Ladies County teams will be determined by the players in that years County squad, this will normally be done at the first match in each County season.
11.06
Anyone wishing to stand for Election as an Official, Selector, Captain or Vice Captain must be nominated by a Full Member and seconded by another Full Member and inform the County Chairman that they are willing to stand for the proposed position, failure to comply with these rules will mean any person is ineligible for election.
11.07
Any proposal put forward in writing by a Full Individual Member must be seconded in writing by another member before it can be debated or voted on.
11.08
Amendments shall be allowed only if they are a counter proposal to an original proposal.
11.09
All eligible personnel Full Individual Members must sign in at each meeting to record their attendance, this will be confirmed in a roll call.
11.10
Only Full Individual Members, and Elected Officials and regular helpers (as decided by the Executive Committee) shall be allowed to take an active part in a Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation meeting unless an individual is specifically invited by the General Committee for a special purpose. Associate Members and recognised helpers of the County will be welcome as observers
11.11.
Tape recorders or video equipment shall not be used in any Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation meeting.
No Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation meeting is to be recorded in full or part without permission of the Executive Committee. Anyone sharing or posting on any social media platform will be subject to disciplinary action.
12.00 VOTING PROCEDURES
12.01
In General Meetings and Annual General Meetings each Full Individual Member shall have only one vote on any item being put to the vote. This is with the exception of the Chairman who shall only exercise a ‘casting’ vote in the event of a ‘tie’.
12.02
Should a person be elected as an official and also be included in the County Squad, or be elected to two individual positions, they will only be allowed one vote at any meeting.
12.03
On every vote taken votes shall be recorded with votes for, votes against and abstentions.
12.04
Items to be brought up in ‘Any Other Business’ in a Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation meeting shall only be allowed at the discretion of the Chairman. No voting shall take place on any such items, but a Notice of Motion arising out of any discussions may be made by a member. Such Notice of Motion shall be recorded in the minutes and brought up in the following Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation meeting.
13.00 OFFICIALS DUTIES
13.01
Chairman: The Chairman shall be responsible for controlling all Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation meetings and his decision in any such meeting shall be final. They shall also be available to offer advice to any member of the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation that requires it, this shall include other officials, who they should encourage to help wherever possible and to aid the smooth running of the County. They shall also ensure all officials are doing their duties and to the best of their ability.
13.02
Vice Chairman: The Vice Chairman shall be responsible for assisting the Chairman at any time and in the absence of the Chairman they shall be responsible for controlling all Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation meetings.
13.03
County Organiser: The County Organiser shall be responsible for the day to day running of the County. They will act as the principal contact between the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation and the United Kingdom Darts Association and the England Darts Organisation and for dealing with any correspondence with the United Kingdom Darts Association and the England Darts Organisation. They shall be responsible for the distribution of all correspondence to the members, Full and Associate, and make sure they are kept informed at all times. They shall liaise with the Chairman so he is aware of any contact with the United Kingdom Darts Association and England Darts Organisation and also up to date with all matters in case of their own unavailability.
13.04
Treasure : The Treasurer shall keep the Counties accounts up to date at all times, showing income and expenditure. They shall be responsible for producing an annual balance sheet at the Annual General Meeting and an up to date report for the General Committee on request.
13.05
Accommodation Manager: The Accommodation Manager shall be responsible for booking all hotels and coaches (see Transport Priority) used for Inter-County away fixtures, they shall also be in regular contact with the County Organiser to receive the information necessary for making such bookings. They shall also be responsible for taking bookings, accounting and collecting monies at away fixtures and liaise with the Treasurer on such financial maters.
13.06
Youth Officer: The Youth Officer shall be responsible for ensuring that the County Youth Organisation is run under similar terms to the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation. They shall keep the General Committee informed of the latest news from the Youths.
13.07
Marketing Officer: The Marketing Officer shall be responsible for items deemed necessary to promote the County.
13.08
IT Officer: The IT Officer shall be responsible for advising the Executive Committee of equipment needed/available to aid the smooth running of the Organisation.
13.09: Super League Secretaries : The respective Super League Secretary shall along with their respective Super League Committee be responsible for the smooth running of their Super League. They should produce regular League Tables and Top Average Lists which shall be available to all their Super League teams and the local press contacts at regular intervals. They shall also provide the County Selectors with the relevant information that they require to select the Cambridgeshire Inter-County teams.
14.00 DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
14.01
Incident: If any player, official or team is involved an any incident considered to have brought the game of darts or the reputation of the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation into disrepute, then that player, official or team shall be subject to disciplinary procedure. The Executive Committee will have the power to suspend a player, official or team with immediate effect if it is deemed necessary pending the arrangement of a disciplinary meeting.
14.02
Complaints: Any person(s) wishing to make a complaint about any player, official or team, should in the first instance make a verbal complaint to any of the Executive Committee on the spot if possible and follow it up with a written complaint immediately to the County Organiser. The County Organiser shall then consult the Executive Committee who shall then decide if the complaint is worth pursuing through the Disciplinary Procedure.
14.03
Preliminary Discussion: The Executive Committee shall discuss any on the spot incident or complaint and shall decide whether the incident or complaint should be referred to a disciplinary meeting. If a disciplinary meeting is held the Executive Committee may invite any witnesses of the incident or complaint to attend the meeting along with the offending player, official or team if deemed appropriate.
14.04
Disciplinary Meeting : Any player, official or team who is involved in a incident or complaint, shall be informed by letter from the County Organiser that they are subject to disciplinary procedure. The offending player, official or team may be invited to attend the meeting, depending on the outcome of the preliminary discussion.
14.05
Disciplinary Meeting Decision: A disciplinary meeting, having made a decision based on the evidence heard may implement or impose a fine, suspended sentence or expel a player, official or team, found guilty of, being party to, or responsible for an incident which is considered to have brought the game of darts or the reputation of the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation into disrepute.
14.06
Appeals Against Disciplinary Meeting Decision : Any player, official or team who is found guilty at a disciplinary meeting may appeal against the decision. The player, official or team must make the appeal in writing to the County Organiser with ten days of the initial disciplinary meeting. Any appeal shall be heard by members of the Executive Committee or alternatively the General Committee who were not present at the original hearing, however one Executive Committee member will always be present to ensure that the rules of the Organisation are not broken and to advise the meeting if required. If further people are needed they will be drawn from elected officials of the Cambridgeshire Ladies League and/or the Cambridgeshire Mens Super League and their committee’s.
15.00 DEFINITIONS OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION
15.01
Fines: Sums of money considered to be equivalent to the seriousness of the offence committed in the incident.
15.02
Suspension: A period of time to be suspended from taking part in any match, tournament or other event run by the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation for a stated period. (i.e. 1 event, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, etc.)
15.03
Suspended Sentence: To be suspended for a period of time but the sentence shall only be implemented should the offending player, official or team be involved in any further incidents within the said period of time.
15.04
Expulsion: Should an incident be deemed serious enough to warrant the expulsion of any offending player, official or team, then that player, official or team shall be banned from all matches, tournaments or other events under the jurisdiction of the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation.
15.05
Refusal of Membership: The Executive Committee has the right to refuse a player or team in becoming a member of the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation, this may be for a set period or even indefinitely.
15.06
Debt Suspension: Any player, official or team who fails to comply with any financial commitments or fails to pay any fine imposed under the disciplinary procedure shall be debt suspended and shall remain so until the debt has been paid, an interest charge may also be levied. Any player, official or team who is debt suspended shall be banned from all matches, tournaments or other events under the jurisdiction of the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation. The United Kingdom Darts Association will be informed of any player, official or team that becomes debt suspended.
15.07 Vote of No Confidence Procedure (02.12.19)
The League Secretary shall be responsible for the processing of a VNC including arrangement of meetings and collation of votes. If the League Secretary is the subject of the VNC, then the Chairman assumes this responsibility Vote of No Confidence (VNC) including justification to be provided to the County Secretary in writing by a Proposer and Seconder and circulated to all members within 10 days of receipt, irrespective of whether a vote is called. 70% of County members must support the VNC in writing (hard copy or electronic) to the League Secretary to enable a formal vote to be called. A minimum of 14 Calendar days’ notice shall be given between notification of the 70% threshold being reached and the formal vote taking place. At the VNC 70% of the members must be in attendance for the vote to proceed. A 70% majority of those present is required for the VNC to be passed. The Proposer (or Seconder) of the VNC must be present at the VNC for the vote to take place. The Proposer (or Seconder) of the VNC must outline the reasons for the VNC at the vote (maximum 5 minutes). The subject of the VNC will be given the opportunity to respond at the vote (maximum 5 minutes). A maximum of 1 VNC may be called against any officlal per elected term. A VNC may not be called less than 3 calendar months after an official has been elected or less than 3 calendar months before an offical is up for election at an AGM. If a VNC is successfully passed then the following process shall be followed: • The subject of the successful VNC shall step down from their position with immediate effect (no letter of resignation is required) • An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called within 28 calendar days of the VNC • The remaining officials shall be responsible for nominating the Chair for the EGM if required.
16.00 CONCLUSION
Any matters not covered in this County Constitution that are decided on by the General Committee shall then be added and the updated section will be made available on the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation web page. The Executive Committee has the power to update the Constitution in order that it is kept in line with the United Kingdom Darts Association and the day to day running of the Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation.
Below are items that have been passed at a Cambridgeshire Darts Organisation Annual General Meeting and as such form part of the Constitution.
Players Failing to Attend Finals
A player who qualifies from a County Play-Off to represent the County who then fails to attend the Finals should be banned from entering any further County Play-Offs for a period of one year from the date of non-attendance. They will also have to pay the County back the initial entry fee or part of that the County pays to enter a player into the competition.
This ban should be put in writing to the said player, informing them they broke the rules of the County Constitution and to which date they will be ineligible to enter County Play-Offs, failure to pay the initial entry fee will see the player debt suspended.
The County Executive will have the power to waiver this in exceptional circumstances.
Players Failing to Mark
A player who plays in a County organised competition and fails to mark the following game will be banned from the next County organised competition.
This ban should be put in writing to the said player, informing them they broke the rules of the County Constitution and which competition they will not be able to enter.
Booking Accommodation
Persons booking accommodation through the County, who then subsequently cancel this, or fail to turn up on the day, are charged the full cost of the room (including any guests booked) unless it can be cancelled by the County.
The County Executive will have the power to waiver this in exceptional circumstances.
Transport Priority
In the situation where transport is provided by the County, then priority is given to players who wish to use the transport.
A cut off point will be announced for each fixture and any remaining places will be available to player’s guest/supporters on a first come basis. Players asking to use the transport after the cut off point will only be given a place if there are available seats.
Booking Transport
Persons booking transport through the County, who then subsequently cancel this, or fail to turn up on the day, are charged the full cost of the transport (including any guests booked) unless the cancelled seats are taken by other persons.
The County Executive will have the power to waiver this in exceptional circumstances.
Last Update : 11/11/2020