Saint Charles Dart League: News 2/8/2000 - Board Hands Out Three Year Suspension

Board Hands Out Three Year Suspension

February 8, 2000

The Board of Directors met on February 7 and discussed the case of an under age player who had been throwing in the SCDL for nearly a year before his minor status was discovered. The person in question had even captained a team in a previous season.

After reviewing the applicable rules, the Board decided that it had no leeway in assessing forfeits for those games played by the under age player, though most Board members felt that it was unfortunate that this penalty would be assesed against current season teams when the player had been throwing for several previous seasons. Rule 6(d) states, in part, "A forfeit will be declared for use of an ineligible player or players to the extent that all win points involving such players shall be forfeited to the opposing team or teams." The rule gives the Board no authority to modify the penalty.

In addition to causing the loss of team points, the under age player also endangered the liquor licence of every sponsor who's bar the player entered and was sold alcahol. The player was fully aware of this and as a former captain he was in technical violation of Rules 6(e) and 6(f), "knowingly and willfully" using an ineligible player - himself.

In view of the above, the Board voted unanimously to suspend the player for one year for each season he has played, to begin on his twenty-first birthday, for a total of three years beyond his minor status. He will not be eligible to play again until he is 24 years old -- verified by proper ID.

ADO Membership

In other business, the Board decided that the initial year's ADO (American Darts Organization) membership dues (for 2000) will be paid out of the current revenue surplus that was generated in the Fall, 1999 season with the temporary member's dues increase to $2 per week. The Board decided to leave it to the next Board, to be elected this Spring, to determine how this amount should be raised in the future.

The membership application to the ADO for the St. Charles Dart League will be submitted by the end of February.

Bi-State Tournament

The Bi-State Challenge, an inter-league tournament, was revived last year after a 10-year hiatus and was a great success. The event was hosted by the Southern Illinois Darting Association (SIDA) in Collinsville, Illinois in May of 1999. Also participating was the Mississippi Valley Darting Organization (MVDO) and the Blueberry Hill Dart League. The SCDL was represented by teams made up from the Traveling Trophy Champions from the Winter, 1999 Season.

The 2000 Bi-State Challenge will be hosted by the SCDL in St. Charles sometime this May. The Board decided to invite representatives from the three other participating leagues to an initial planning meeting to be held in March, 2000 with a follow-up meeting in April.

A search for a venue large enough to hold the event is under way. Each of the four leagues will send three 8-player teams for a total of 96 participants plus officials and spectators. 24 dartboards is considered desirable. The hosting league is responsible for any cost of a venue.

Other Business

During the meeting, the Board also discussed:

Elections - Elections for new officers are to be held in April. The Board made nominations for members of the Election Committee to run the election. Members of the Election Committee traditionally are members who are not currently on the Board and are not running for office in the election. The nominees will be contacted soon so that the Committee may begin work.
Spring Party - The Board began planning for the Spring Party, tentatively scheduled for May 6, 2000. A Party Committee was appointed and a search for a venue will begin immediately.
Member Dues - One team this season attempted to pay its member dues for the entire season in advance. The money apparently came from the team's sponsor. The Board re-iterated its long-standing policy that member dues will not be accepted in advance and must be paid weekly. The money will be returned and the team in question will be given one week to bring their dues current based on the number of players who actually played each week so far this season.
Next Meeting - The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on March 6, 2000 at the Playoffs Bar and Grill in O'Fallon beginning at 8:00 pm. League members are welcome to attend.