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RULES
FOR TEAM COMPETITIONS
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14.
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ORGANISATION OF THE
LEAGUE
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(a)
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The Association
shall organise a League for competition between teams representing member clubs,
arranged in a number of divisions determined by the number of teams.
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(b)
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Whenever possible
all divisions of the League except possibly the lowest shall consist of
eight teams, each of which shall play two matches (home and away) with each
other team. When it is not possible to establish eight teams in a division
at the AGM the president shall use his discretion to allow a lower number
for that season.
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(c)
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The lowest division
of the League shall be arranged to accommodate the varying number of teams
from year to year; and shall consist of a minimum of five teams, and a
maximum of thirteen teams.
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(d)
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In the lowest
division of the League a team shall consist of a minimum of four
players, but this may be increased, by mutual agreement, to either 5 or a
maximum of six players. (Changed at the 2018 AGM)
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(e)
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In all
other Divisions of the League a team shall consist of six players.
(Changed at the 2018 AGM)
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(f)
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Any team may apply
for a vacancy in a higher division.
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(Former Davy-specific 8-player clause 14
(d) deleted, with re-numbering, at the 2023 AGM)
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15.
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ELECTION OF TEAMS
TO THE LEAGUE
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(a)
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Election of teams
to play in the League competition shall be for one season only.
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(b)
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Applications for
election must be made at the AGM, to whose approval they are subject.
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(c)
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The approved teams
shall be arranged into divisions at the AGM.
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(d)
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A new entrant shall
normally be admitted only to the lowest division.
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(e)
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No club may have
more than three teams in any one division other than the lowest
division.
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16.
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LEAGUE FIXTURES
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(a)
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At the Fixture Meeting
each club shall receive a fixture list from the Secretary.
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(b)
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League matches
shall take place from 15 September to 30 April inclusive. In exceptional
circumstances, such as bad weather, the league secretary may allow
rearranged matches to be played up to 15 May
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(c)
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No league matches
shall be arranged in the weeks beginning on the second Monday of October,
November, January, February and March, unless both teams concerned have
already been eliminated from the Richardson Cup competition.
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(d)
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When a club has
teams competing in the same division, the league matches between them must
be completed by December 31st
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(e)
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By mutual consent and
with the approval of the Divisional Secretary, the clubs concerned may:
(i) alter the venue
of any match
(ii) arrange one
match for double points, in place of home and away matches, or
(iii) alter the
date of any match, provided that the new date is notified by both clubs to
the Divisional Secretary not later than five days after the previous date
fixed.
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17.
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REGISTRATION OF
LEAGUE PLAYERS
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(a)
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Clubs with teams competing
in different divisions shall register with the Association the names of the
strongest regular players for each team, except the team or teams in the
lowest division. The number of players to be registered for each team shall
be equal to half the number of players which constitute a team in that
division.
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(b)
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Except as provided
under Rule 17(c) and 17(d), registration of players shall be subject to
approval by the Fixture Meeting
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(c)
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After a team has
played four matches the Divisional Secretary shall, from time to time,
check whether the actual strongest regular players are registered. If,
after consultation with the club concerned, it appears not to be the case,
the Secretary may register one or more additional players, such
registrations taking effect seven days after written notice to the club by
the Secretary.
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(d)
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Any player who
plays four or more matches in the top half of any team shall be
automatically registered for that team
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(e)
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If a player registered
for one team also becomes registered for a team in a higher division, then
that player ceases to be registered for the lower team, and, after
consultation with the club concerned, the Divisional Secretary may register
an additional player for the lower team, taking effect seven days after
written notice to the club by the Secretary
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18.
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ELIGIBILITY OF
PLAYERS
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(a)
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Registered players are
ineligible to play in any team in a lower division than the one for which
they are registered.
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(b)
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A player is
ineligible to play for a team after earlier in the season playing for a
different team of the same club in the same division.
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(c)
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Once a player has
represented a club in any competition organised by the Association that
player is ineligible to represent another club in Association competitions
in the same season, unless officially transferred by the Executive.
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(d)
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The penalty for
playing an ineligible player shall be that the game concerned and all games
on lower boards shall be declared lost.
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19.
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CONDUCT OF MATCHES
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(a)
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The home club shall
provide boards, sets and clocks suitable for match play, and
scoresheets.
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(b)
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Matches shall be
played on Monday to Friday evenings, and shall start at 7.30 p.m., or else
any other time by mutual agreement. [Changed at 2022 AGM]
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(c)
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Before play starts
the captains shall nominate the players in order of strength and pair them
off.
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(d)
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The captains shall
spin a coin for choice of colour on the top board and arrange the other
games alternately.
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(e)
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If a nominated
player is absent, another player may be substituted at any time before
thirty minutes have elapsed on the clock; if neither the nominated player
nor a substitute is ready to commence play within that time, the game shall
be lost by default.
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[Former 19 (f)
deleted at 2022 AGM]
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20.
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CLOCK AND
TIME-LIMITS
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(a)
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Each game shall be
played under the time limit using a clock.
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(b)
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In all team
matches, each player shall have 75 minutes in which to complete the
game. [Changed at 2017 AGM]
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(c)
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Clocks on all
boards shall be started at the official or mutually agreed starting time.
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(d)
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If an absent player
is replaced by a substitute, any time already recorded on the clock shall
stand.
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(e)
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A claim for a win
under the time limit may only be made by the player concerned and no other
person may draw attention to the clock.
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21.
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MATCH RESULTS
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(a)
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One game point
shall be scored for each game won and half a game point for each game
drawn. A match is won by a team which scores more game points than the
other team. If game points are equal the match is drawn.
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(b)
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The detailed
results must be sent by both clubs to the Divisional Secretary, within five
days of the match.
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(c)
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Details of any
dispute or complaint regarding the match must also be sent to the
Divisional Secretary within five days; otherwise, such dispute or complaint
shall not affect the result of the match.
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(d)
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If no results are
sent by either club within five days, the match shall be declared lost to
both sides. Extenuating circumstances may be accepted by the Divisional
Secretary or referred to the Executive [added 2003].
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22.
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WITHDRAWALS AND
DEFAULTS
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(a)
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A team shall have one
match point deducted for every ten games lost by default, including losses
by default for failing to submit the results. If half or more of a team is
prevented from attending a match by circumstances beyond its control, the
Executive may, at its discretion, waive the penalty. Any team whose
aggregate of defaults for the season exceeds 30 must seek re-election at
the next AGM.
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(b)
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Any team failing to
fulfil a fixture shall lose the match by default. Additionally, unless the
opposing team is given 48 hours’ notice, the defaulting team shall have a
penalty match point deducted. Any extenuating circumstances will be
referred to the Executive in accordance with Rule 21(c).
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(c)
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If a team fails to
fulfil at least half its league fixtures, the results of all its matches
shall be cancelled.
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(d)
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If a match is not
being played, or is declared lost to both sides under Rule 21(d), both clubs
shall provide written explanations. The Executive may call the officers of
the clubs concerned before them if deemed necessary.
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23.
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LEAGUE POINTS,
PROMOTION AND RELEGATION
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(a)
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Teams shall be
awarded two match points for each match won, and one match point for each
match drawn. If a match is played for double points, then double the
totals of match points and game points from that match are added into the
teams’ point totals. The teams in a given division shall be placed, first
to last, in descending order of their respective totals of match points.
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(b)
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The team scoring
most match points in each division each season shall be declared champions and
hold the appropriate trophy until the end of the following season. The two
teams scoring most points in each division, other than the highest, shall
be entitled to play in the next higher division in the following season,
unless disqualified under Rule15(e).
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(c)
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The teams finishing
lower than sixth place in each division (other than lowest division) shall be
relegated in the following season to the next lower division unless there
is a vacancy in their present division, in which case they may be
considered for re-election.
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(d)
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(i) If in any
division a tie occurs such that match points fail to determine the winner,
or the teams eligible for promotion, or the teams due for relegation, then
the teams involved in the tie shall be placed in descending order of their
respective totals of game points awarded for the matches played between
those teams.
(ii) If that still leaves a tie to be resolved, then the teams involved in
that tie shall be placed in descending order of their respective totals of
game points awarded for the matches played between those still-tying teams
after excluding the bottom board of each match. If that still leaves a tie
to be resolved, then the next bottom board shall also be excluded and so on
until the tie is resolved.
(iii) In the unlikely event that a tie remains, then the teams involved
shall play off at a neutral venue unless either club agrees to play at the
premises of its opponent. In a play-off, only players who have played at
least three times previously during the season in the same competition shall
be eligible to take part. Play-offs, when required to decide issues of
promotion, relegation or championship between three or more teams, shall
take the form of a single match at an agreed venue between all teams
involved; the boards to be arranged according to Jamboree rules; in the
event of a tie, a repeat of the match shall follow at 10 minutes time
limits between three teams, or a match between two teams if so required.
[Changed at AGM
2017]
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(e)
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In the event of a tie
in the play-off match, the winners shall be decided by board count and, if
necessary, by elimination. If all games are drawn, the match shall be
replayed.
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24.
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THE RICHARDSON CUP
COMPETITION
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(a)
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A knock-out competition
shall be held annually, for teams of six players, rounds being held in the
weeks commencing on the second Monday of October, November, January,
February and March. If further rounds or any final-round replays are
necessary, these must be played on dates determined by the secretary, and
not later than May. Each member club must enter at least one team, except
that entry shall be optional for a club that runs only one 4-player team.
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(b)
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A subsidiary
knockout competition shall also be held for teams which lose in the first
round, called the Plate. However, any team which defaults its first round
match shall not be eligible.
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(c)
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The Plate shall be
played at the same time and under the same conditions as the main
competition.
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(d)
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The winners of the
main competition shall hold the Richardson Cup, the runners-up the YMCA
Trophy, and the winners of the Plate the Sam Haystead Memorial Trophy,
until the end of the following season.
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(e)
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When a team is entered
for the main competition, the club concerned shall state whether they wish
it to be entered in the Plate, if it loses in the first round.
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(f)
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The draws shall be
made either by the Fixture Meeting or the Executive, except that the draw
for the first round of the Plate shall be made by the Richardson Cup
Secretary.
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(g)
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If there is an odd
number of teams entered, a bye shall be given in the first round to the
holders of the Richardson Cup. All other byes necessary shall be given in
the second round (first round of the Plate).
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(h)
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The first team
drawn in any pairing shall have choice of venue.
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(i)
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The Richardson Cup Secretary
shall notify each team of its opponent, who has choice of venue and when
the match is to be played. The Bulletin may be used for this purpose.
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(j)
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Matches shall be
conducted in accordance with Rules 18 to 23 inclusive, except those
sections which relate only to league matches, and the following sections of
this Rule.
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(k)
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Drawn matches shall
be decided by board count, and if there is still a tie, then by
elimination. In the event of six drawn games, there will be a replay. In
the event of a tie in the final, the winner shall be decided on board
count, and, if necessary, by elimination. If all games are drawn, the final
shall be replayed at a neutral venue on a date determined by The League
Secretary. (Blue words introduced 2018 AGM)
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(l)
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The final shall be
played at neutral premises, unless either club agrees to play at the
premises of its opponents.
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(m)
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Only players who
have played in at least one previous round of this competition during the
season shall be eligible to play in the final.
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(n)
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No player shall be
allowed to play for more than one team in this competition.
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(o)
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The following teams
shall be kept apart in the first round: winners from the last 3 years,
losing finalists from the last 2 years, losing semi-finalists from the last
year.
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