Northern Districts Darts Association Playing Rules Affiliated to Darts SA and Darts Australia
1. Definitions: a) For the purpose of these rules the following definitions shall apply: b) A CALLER is the person nominated to control the proceeding of a dart game on an assigned matchboard. In the absence of a specifically nominated Chalker the person performing the function of Chalker shall be the caller. c) A BUST shall mean the score in e3xcess of the value of the score remaining in the game. With a bust the number of the darts thrown are counted but no score is counted for the purposes of determining the player s average. d) CALLED means that the Caller has assessed the value of the score thrown and called the score as the official score achieved. e) THE CHALKER is the person appointed to record all the scores on the scoreboard and the score remaining. The chalker can also be the caller if a separate caller is not present. 2. Playing Attire: a) All players shall conform to the good image of the sport, the minimum standard being enclosed shoes, shirts, pants or shorts. Lady contestants should adjust their attire to an equivalent female standard. b) No risqué or obscene motifs are to be displayed on clothing, and no tank tops or thongs are allowed. c) No headgear shall be worn in the club without prior permission of the Committee. Under normal circumstances approval would only be granted for religious or medical reasons. d) Where medical conditions necessitates, the wearing of attire that does not conform to the above rules, then specific permission must be obtained by a Committee member. e) All players representing the Northern Districts Darts Association in competitions are expected to obtain and wear the official club shirt. 3. Players Rights and Obligations. a) All players (or teams) shall play within these playing rules.
b) In the event of a player (or team) being involved in, or causing, actions considered to have brought the sport of darts into disrepute then that player (or team) shall be subject to disciplinary measures being taken against that player or team which could result in the imposition of a fine, suspensions or other penalties. c) Any protest must be lodged with the Match Secretary in writing and accompanied with a $5 fee, within 24 hours of the alleged violation, and if necessary brought to the committee for adjudication. The Playing Area 4. Players Conduct: a) Only Caller/Chalkers are allowed to stand or sit in front of a player actually throwing darts. Such Caller/Chalkers are expected to restrict their movement during the course of the throw. b) A player s opponent must stand at least 600mm (approx 2 feet) to the rear of the player at the oche. c) During match play all players shall remain silent and only the player at the oche may direct inquiries to the Caller/Chalker. 5. The Oche and Dartboard a) The dartboard shall be fixed such that the perpendicular height from the centre bull to the floor, at the same level as the oche shall measure 1.73 metres. b) A raised oche of at least 25mm high and 915mm long must be places in a position where the minimum throwing distance shall measure from the back of the raised oche 2.37 metres along the floor to a plumb line at the face of the board. c) During play no player shall tread on any part of the raised oche, nor shall the player deliver any dart with their feet in any position other than behind the toe edge of the raised oche. d) A player wishing to throw a dart, or darts, from a point either side of the raised oche must keep their feet behind an imaginary straight line extending from the toe up face either side of the raised oche.
e) If there is considered to be a breach of these rules a team captain can request the appointment of an oche judge, who would be seated in line with the oche. The oche judge shall not distract players and shall remain silent except in the case of any infringement of the oche, in which case shall call out no dart and no score shall be recorded for that dart. 6. Players a) All players must be registered on the approved registration form and receive a registration number. b) All players must be financial and the registration fee be enclosed with the registration form. c) All players must be registered with the South Australian Darts Council either through this association or any other affiliated association for which they play (but only through one association). d) Transfers: (i) A player can only transfer from one team to another team by obtaining a financial clearance in writing from (ii) their previous team. Any transfer during the season must be accompanied with a fee of $5. e) A player will not be permitted to drop by more than one grade by means of a transfer in any season. f) Any player who transfers to another team during the season will not be permitted to transfer again during that season, unless approved by the Committee. g) All transfers and registrations will cease six weeks before the end of the current season. h) To be eligible to play in the finals, a player must have played 20 games in Prem A division in a season and 15 games in A Major in a season. A game is a singles/doubles best of 3 legs. For instance: 20 games is equivalent of five 95) full matches played for Prem A division, 21 leg you play 1 double and 3 singles so 4x5=20. For A Major 15 legs you play 1 doubles and 2 singles = 3 per night, so 3x5=15 games (equivalent of 5 full matches).
Matchplay Rules 7. The Throw a) All darts must be thrown by, and from, the hand. b) The throw shall consist of three darts unless a leg, or set or match is finished in less than three darts. c) Any dart that is thrown, bounces off, or falls out of the dartboard shall not be re-thrown. d) The player who is about to take their turn must not commence their throw until the previous player has returned behind the oche. Penalty for the first offence is loss of throw. Penalty for second offence is loss of a leg. e) The thrower cannot leave the oche after they have commenced their throw for any reason. f) After throwing a player must retrieve their darts and immediately return behind the oche. 8. Starting and Finishing a) In all darts events each leg shall be played with a straight start and finish shall be on a double. b) The bull shall count as 50 and if 50 is required to complete a leg, set or match then the bull shall count as double 25. c) The first player (or team) to reduce the score required to exactly zero by obtaining the double out, is the winner of that leg, set or match whichever is applicable. d) Any dart mistakenly thrown by a player, after scoring the required double shall not count as the respective leg, set or match is concluded by the dart scoring the required double. 9. Scoring a) A dart shall only score if the point remains in, or touches the face of the dartboard within the outer double wire, and having been called. In the event of a dart falling out of the board after it has been called it shall count as a score. b) Darts shall only be retrieved by the thrower after the score has been called by the caller/chalker. Retrieval of darts thrown before the caller/chalker has called a score may result in a no
score being called. If a score finishes the leg, then the caller/chalker shall call game shot. c) Upon completion of each throw the caller/chalker shall decide the score thrown and, if a separate marker is present, communicate that score to the marker whose sole duty is to mark the scoreboard. If a separate marker is not present then the caller/chalker shall record the score on the scoreboard. d) The bust rule shall apply i.e. if a player scores more than the score required then the score thrown shall not count and the player shall revert back to the score required prior to their opponent s last throw. e) The result of each players throw, unless the player busts, must be clearly shown on the scoreboard, giving the score thrown and the balance required to finish the game. f) All scores and subtractions made on the scoreboard, should be checked by the caller/chalker and players after each throw. g) All requests to check the score recorded, and subtractions made, must be directed to the caller/chalker and made before the players (or teams) score is thrown upon. h) A protest about the score obtained, after the retrieval of the dart or darts, may not be upheld. The caller/chalker decision shall be final and binding. i) If the player asks the caller/chalker for the score remaining and the caller/chalker replies incorrectly, the following shall apply: 1) If the player scores the advised number and the number is the double required to complete the score, the throw shall be called game shot. 2) If the player scores less than the advised number, the value scored during that throw will be deducted from the actual remaining score, i.e. if the player is advised 60, but in reality needed 58, and the score was only 20, the remaining score is 38 not 40. 3) If the player scored more than the advised score, and also more than the remaining score, the result is a bust. 4) If the player scored more than the advised score but less than the true remainder, the true remainder will apply, i.e. if the player needed 62 and was advised 58, but throws 60, then the remaining score is 2 not bust. 5) Any dart(s) deliberately thrown after a bust shall be deemed as practice darts and the penalty is the loss of the leg.
j) A player whilst at the oche may inquire of the caller/chalker the value of a score thrown or score remaining. No indication of the required double shall be given by the caller/chalker (i.e. 32 required not double 16). Whilst at the oche a player may not receive advice or coaching from any competitor, official or spectators. k) The caller/chalker shall act as an umpire in all matters pertaining to these Playing rules when conducting a darts match and shall, if necessary, consult with the team captains before announcing any decisions during the course of a leg, set or match. l) All match protests must be sent to the Secretary within 72 hours in writing stating fully the nature and particulars of the protest. $5 must accompany the protest, which will be refunded if the protest is upheld. 10. Order of Play a) Will be determined by throwing for the bull (men s home team, Ladies away team). If both darts are in the bull then the darts have to be thrown again. The closest to the bull being the first player in the opening leg and subsequent alternate legs and sets. 11. Match Record Slip a) A score sheet is to be kept on which scores, peg outs, 180 & 171 scores, and player averages are to be recorded. Both captains are to sign the score sheet after ensuring players signatures and registration numbers are on the sheets in the space provided. Captain s signatures on the score sheets are an acceptance that the match details are in order. Score sheets not showing clearly the name and number of players, may cause the team to lose the points shown on the score sheet. b) Score sheets must be received within 72 hours by the match secretary after the match has been played. Failure to do so renders the team liable to a fine of $5 or loss of match score, or both.
12. Practice a) Each player is entitled to nine (9) practice darts to be thrown at the assigned match board prior to the match commencing. b) No practice darts are permitted after the start of a game consisting of legs or sets. Players are to be warned by the Captain or the caller/chalker should they throw practice darts between legs and a recurrence of a breach of this rule will result in the forfeiture of the next leg of the game. 13. Teams a) At the beginning of each season a member club may nominate teams for the various grades in which they wish to participate, the grading of which shall be finalised by the committee of management. b) Teams shall list prior to the commencement of the match after which no switching of players shall be permitted. c) No team shall play with less than four registered players. d) Players must be in attendance by the commencement of their game before their names are written on the board. e) For a doubles game to be considered legal, there must be two players participating in at least one of the competing teams. f) For a triples game to be considered legal, there must be three players participating in at least one of the participating teams. g) Teams commencing short of players must list the players in order commencing at number one, thus leaving the vacancy at number six. A team short of players will forfeit in each round a throw for the player absent. h) Late players must arrive before the commencement of the 3 rd doubles unless arranged by the captains. i) Teams failing to put in an appearance will forfeit two points and legs equivalent to the average of winning teams in that division for that week, to the opponents. All games played against a withdrawn team will be treated as a forfeit until the end of the round, after which they will be treated as a bye. j) The matches must start by 7.30pm (with a maximum grace of 15 minutes), and if the match is not finished on that night, then the score shall stand as played.
14. Competition and Trophies a) Any player who wins a trophy and cannot collect it on presentation night (or a day) shall notify the Match Secretary in writing at least one week prior to the presentation that they are unable to attend and to nominate a substitute to receive their trophy. If not collected within four weeks it will remain the property of the Association. b) The captain of a winning team, that has registered more than eight players, must notify the Match Secretary in writing, the names of the players that are to receive the trophies. This is to be done within fourteen days after completion of the season. c) A trophy will also be awarded for the highest individual finishing score of the season in each grade. d) All players throwing a 180 or 171 (three triple nineteen s) in an association fixture will receive a badge for their first 180 or 171 and inserts will be supplied for every ten thereafter. 15. Meetings a) For a Delegates meeting or Annual General Meeting a minimum of two registered players from each member team is expected to attend. Teams not represented will be liable for a fine of $5, at the discretion of the Committee of Management, and may not be granted membership into the Association on their next application. A delegates meeting can be called in writing to the member teams fourteen days before the meeting is to be held. 16. Alteration of Rules a) Any changes in the rules of the Association may be made at properly constituted monthly meeting of the Committee of Management, provided that notice of any proposed change in the rules has been submitted in writing at least one week prior to the meeting to all members of the Committee. b) Any changes to the rules of the Association shall not take effect until all member teams have been notified in writing of the change.