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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
Division One of the League a team shall consist of eight players.
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(e)
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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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(f)
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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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(g)
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Any
team may apply for a vacancy in a higher division.
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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 start at 7.30 p.m., or else any other time by mutual agreement.
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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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(f)
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No
smoking is allowed in the match room unless agreed by both, or all,
captains present.
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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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