The entire contents of these rules are copyright to Mr Richard Cunliffe and Dr James Gaynor and may not be reprinted, copied, duplicated or otherwise reproduced, wholly or in part, without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.
Where not explicitly stated, all standard darts rules apply. Where ambiguity exists, seek clarity immediately from the organisers.
The organisers have the final say on any judgement. This cannot be questioned.
All challenges to the score or the result should be made at the time. Once the result has been recorded then it cannot be amended.
Only one entrance per person is allowed i.e., you cannot play in more than one group.
GENERAL REGISTRATION
The entrance fee for the tournament is £4. The pmethod of registration is the online form.
General registration was opened to everybody on 11 May 2009 at 8am. Please do not sign up if you are ineligible as this will only result in you being removed from the tournament at a later date and may prevent somebody who is elibile for signing up.
It is up to the discrepancy of the organisers on whether to refund any player who pulls out of the tournament. Anyone who pulls out within 2 weeks of the tournament will not be entitled to a refund of their entry fee or any costs they have incurred up until this point.
ALLOCATION OF PLAYERS
There was initially a limit on the number of players per university. However, on 10th October 2009, this was lifted.
There will be a total of 144 players in the tournament. The first 128 to fully complete registration (by paying the registration fee) will become part of the main draw of (32 groups fo 4)
The "Alternate 16" will be be guaranteed a game, but in what context wont be completely known until closer to the tournament. Whoever is first on the "Additional 16" list will replace the first person to pull out of the main draw. If on the day of the tournament, there are still people on the "Additional 16" list, they will be placed into groups to make groups of 5.
ON THE DAY: On 21 November 2009, please start arriving for registration from 10.00am. Registration will close promptly at 11.30am. The first round of matches are to get underway at 12.00 noon prompt. Any vacant spaces can be filled by spectators who register on the day, so long as they fit the eligibility criteria.
Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Some points to note:
Details of the payment mechanism will be provided once confirmed after registration.
Registration on the day of the tournament will open at 10.00am and close promptly at 11.30am. The first round of matches are to get underway at 12.00 noon prompt. Any vacant spaces can be filled by spectators who register on the day, so long as they fit the eligibility criteria.
NON ATTENDANCE
If one or more players does not show up or refuses to play any of their games then their opponent(s) shall receive the maximum wins i.e., 2-0 in the group stages or 6-0 in the final. This will count as a bye and automatic progression for the player involved.
OVER SUBSCRIPTION
If more than the scheduled number of participants turn up, the organisers reserve the right to introduce a system which will reduce the entrants to 128 or adapt the league structures to incorporate the increased numbers of players.
DRESS CODE
There is no specific dress code but anything that is defamatory or inflammatory will not be permitted.
DRINKS
Can be taken in to the playing area as long as they kept in the designated area provided. Where media companies are present i.e., television or radio broadcasters, no alcohol should be kept within the oche area.
SMOKING
To comply with UK legislation, no smoking is permitted in the venue and smoking breaks can only be taken in between matches and where the participant is not required for any other activity i.e., scoring a game.
REST BREAKS
All rest breaks e.g., toilet breaks, smoking breaks etc. are to be taken in between matches. A rest break will not be granted nor will it be acceptable to take one during a game except where approved by the organisers.
LEGS
All legs will be played from 501, straight in, double out. All matches will be a "best of" format. If the match is "best of 3 legs" then this means the first person to win two legs will be declared the winner, the match stops and no further legs will be played.
In a league format, the person with the most number of wins will progress through to the knock out stages. If there are two or more players who are tied with the most number of wins then leg difference will decide who should progress. If there is still a tie then results between the players will decide who shall go through. If still the players cannot be separated then 1 leg of 301 straight in, double out will be played between two or more of the tied competitors. The match is to be played in accordance to the rules stipulated below i.e., throw closest to the bull. The first person to check out, will progress through to the knock out stages.
PRIOR TO GAME
A maximum of 9 practice darts will be thrown before each game.
THROWING FOR BULL
A coin toss shall decide who will throw closest to the bull first. The winner of the closest bull will have the right to choose who shall throw first in the odd numbered legs. i.e. Who will throw first in legs 1, 3, 5 etc.
Darts that hit and remain in the bull or the 25 bed shall be retrieved by the Player before the opponent throws a dart if the second Player so requires. If a dart rebounds from the board or falls out of the board during a throw then the Player shall throw a further dart, or darts, until one remains in the board.
If the darts thrown for the bull prove to be a tie then both Players shall retrieve their darts and shall throw again in reverse order until a decision has been made by the scorer.
IN BETWEEN GAMES
A random draw will decide who will score the first game. From then on, the winner of the game will score the next game. If there are no scorers available then contact one of the organisers who will be able to assist.
If not scoring another match, a practice board can be used. You must keep in close proximity to your match board as matches must be kept as continuous as possible. If you arrive late for one of your games, you will forfeit your right to practice darts.
Any player that is not in attendance when called upon to play at the nominated time will forfeit that leg or match, whichever, at the discretion of the organisers, is applicable. In such instances no entry fee shall be refundable.
Players must be in attendance at their assigned match board when their match is due to be played or when they are due to mark a match. Failure to do so may render the player liable to disqualification.
GENERAL CONDUCT
All players and spectators will desist from any behaviour which may reasonably be construed as gamesmanship before, during or after any match. If somebody is not conducting themselves in a way that allows you to play how you like, then tell them to stop whatever they are doing.
Good behaviour and a gentlemanly manner is expected at all times. Verbal or physical abuse will not be tolerated. No player should feel intimidated either through racial or sexual hatred (http://www.cre.gov.uk/sportingequals/index.html) and this will not be tolerated by the organisers, sponsors or venue. If you are subjected to this, contact the organiser at anytime in confidence.
VENUE
Should be treated with respect and any damage will have to be paid for out of the budget of the darts competition. Any damage spotted before the payment of prize money will result in the prize money being reduced proportionally to the amount of damage caused. . If you see anyone doing something they shouldn't then contact the organiser or the venue staff.
Anybody who does not abide by these rules of conduct will be asked to leave and must do so immediately and will not receive any prize money nor will they receive their entrance fee back. If you get kicked out of the tournament. You will not be invited to play in any future tournaments.
COLLUSION
Players shall not become involved in any activity that may be considered to be not in the interest of the tournament and the game of darts. Players may not, before or during a darts event, make an agreement to produce a particular score or to share prize money between those players irrespective of the result.
All prize money and trophies are to be awarded by the organisers at the end of the event. Photographs will be taken. All prize money will be made in cheque format unless exceptional circumstance prevent this. All trophies awarded will be available to keep permanently and do not need to be returned prior to the next tournament.
A player shall throw darts from a standing position, excepting only in those circumstances when a physical disability or physical injury requires a player to adopt a non-standing position (for instance from a wheelchair or similar form of support).
All darts must be deliberately thrown in an over arm fashion, one at a time, by and from the player’s hand. A “throw” shall consist of a maximum of three darts thrown consecutively (without interruption for any throw by any other player) by a player unless a leg, set or match is completed in less than three darts thrown by that player.
If the throwing player physically touches any dart which is in the dartboard during a throw, then that throw shall be deemed to have been completed. Any dart bouncing off or falling out of the dartboard prior to being retrieved by the throwing player after that player’s throw does not count and shall not be re-thrown.
EQUIPMENT
Players' darts shall not exceed an overall maximum length of 30.5 cms (12ins) nor weigh more than 50 grams. Each dart shall consist of a needle shaped point which shall be fixed to a barrel. At the rear of the barrel shall be an attached flighted stem which may consist of up to a maximum of three separate pieces (namely any combination of: a flight, a flight securing device and a stem).
STARTING AND FINISHING
The organisers shall decide upon the order of the games. This will be done using a set formula and games must be played in this order.
The “bust” rule shall apply, namely if a player scores more than the number required then that score shall not count and the player’s score shall revert back to the score the player had prior to the opponent’s last throw.
A game shot called by a scorer is valid only if the thrown darts:
(i) achieve the required finish and
(ii) remain in the dartboard until retrieved by the player whose throw it was at the time of calling the game shot. A leg is not completed until all darts are retrieved from the dartboard by the player who has thrown.
The first player to reduce the score required to exactly zero by obtaining the required “double” is the winner of that leg, set or match, whichever is applicable.
SCORING
A dart shall only score if the tip of the dart remains in or touches the face of the dartboard within the outer double wire and, having been “called”, is retrieved from the face of the dartboard by the player throwing that dart.
Darts shall be retrieved from the dartboard by the throwing player but only after the score has been called by the scorer.
A protest about the score attained or called, after the retrieval of the darts from the board, must be done before the player's next throw. The score must be agreed by the scorer and both players. If a player commences their next score before realising the error then the score cannot be changed.
GUIDANCE FOR SCORERS
The actual score required by a player must be shown on the score board, clearly visible at eye level in front of the players and the scorer. No indication of the required double to make the game shot shall be given by the scorer (namely, for instance, “32 required” is permitted but not “Double 16 required”).
The scorer shall inform the organisers of the result after the match.
Any problems with the oche should be raised with the organiser and modifications can only be made before or after a match and can only be undertaken by the organisers.
A player wishing to throw a dart, or darts, from a point on either side of the oche must keep their feet behind an imaginary straight line, the position of which shall be adjudged by the scorer, extending on either side of the raised oche. Any dart subsequently delivered in breach of these clauses shall not score and shall be declared invalid by the scorer.
No person shall be allowed within the playing area or in front of the player currently throwing other than a scorer or the player retrieving their darts.
A player at the oche is entitled to consult with the scorer on the amount scored or required at any time during a throw. However, the player shall not be advised on how to finish from the scorer.
The organisers shall perform the draw for the event, once either all 128 places are filled or within 5 days prior to the tournament, whichever occurs first.
The organisers shall perform the draw in the presence of at least 3 witnesses.
If prior to the draw, there are not 128 participants, any byes will be placed into position 4 of groups 32, 31, 30, etc. If any new participants sign up to the tournament before the day, they will be randomly added into any group containing a bye.
If any byes exist on the day of the tournament due to either people not turning up or from the draw (see point above), the vacant spaces can be filled by spectators who register on the day, as long as they fit the eligibility criteria. Any byes should be dealt with in the following way:
The draw will be made available on the big screen at the venue.