| Comment | Editor | Date | Version |
| Import of old rules | Tony Fogarty | 05/11/2024 | 2.2025.1 |
| Updated rules | Tony Fogarty | 21/04/2025 | 2.2025.2 |
| Updated rule change proposals | Tony Fogarty | 23/04/2025 | 2.2025.3 |
| Added front cover | Tony Fogarty | 23/04/2025 | 2.2025.4 |
| Term/Abbreviation | Definition |
| SMD | South Manchester Darts |
| LD | Least Darts |
| HF | Highest Finish |
| League | A structured competition played over a season where teams (or individuals) compete weekly, earning points for wins. Standings are based on accumulated results. |
| Division | |
| Match | A match is a scheduled league or cup fixture between two teams |
| Game | A game is played between two players of opposing teams during a match. Seven games make up a match in the South Manchester Darts League. |
| Leg | A single game of 501 (or other format) where players race to zero, finishing on a double. Most matches are made up of multiple legs. |
| Straight Start | Players can start a leg by scoring whatever they like. |
| Double Start | A format where players must hit a double to begin scoring in a leg, not just to finish |
The South Manchester Darts League exists to provide a welcoming, competitive, and community-driven environment for players of all abilities to enjoy the game of darts. With a proud history rooted in the pubs and clubs of South Manchester, the league brings together players from all walks of life in a spirit of sportsmanship, local pride, and friendly rivalry. Whether playing for silverware, averages, or simply for the social occasion, the league offers something for everyone — from experienced County or Superleague level throwers, to newcomers finding their feet at the oche.
At its heart, the league values fairness, participation, and camaraderie. It champions a respectful and inclusive playing culture where every player and team, win or lose, contributes to the shared enjoyment of the game. The league is built on volunteer effort, local commitment, and a genuine love for the sport. By fostering strong connections between venues, teams, and individuals, the South Manchester Darts League continues to thrive as a community institution — celebrating the game, the people, and the pub culture that brings them together.
The South Manchester Darts League is overseen by a voluntary committee consisting of five key roles, all of which are voted for and ratified by team captains at the AGM which takes place prior to the start of each new season.
The committee is made up of individuals committed to supporting, organising, and developing the league.
The committee exists to ensure fairness, consistency, and transparency in all League, cup and individual/pairs competition matters, and to provide a clear point of contact for players and teams.
Each committee member has specific responsibilities to help the league run smoothly and to support its values of inclusivity, integrity, and community spirit.
All Committee members are responsible for sharing any communication they receive with the rest of the group. No decision made by an individual member or members will be approved by the league without prior discussion by the full committee.
The Chairman provides leadership and direction to the committee and assumes full responsibility for the operation of the league. They chair committee meetings, ensure decisions are made democratically, and are the primary representative of the league in any formal capacity. The Chairman also has the final say/vote in the resolving of disputes, the enforcement of rules, and on any tied votes or deadlocked decisions.
This role involves collecting, verifying, and publishing all match results and player statistics across all league and cup competitions, ensuring accurate league tables, player merit charts and individual player statistics, also managing the prompt submission of match data from all teams, and the enforcement of points penalties where any should apply.
The Results Secretary is also responsible for the publication of the League Rules and Constitution document, and the design, development and hosting of the southmanchesterdarts.com website.
The Results Secretary plays a crucial part in weekly communications and may also deal with the rearrangement or postponement of league fixtures.
The Competitions Secretary is responsible for generating league fixtures and oversees all competitions, including the KO Cup, KO Shield, and all pairs and Individuals tournaments. This includes managing draws, arranging venues, handling queries, and ensuring rules are upheld throughout.
The President collaborates closely with the other members of the committee to help cultivate an inclusive environment for all players, encouraging participation and contributing to the growth of the league’s presence. The President plays a key role in supporting league competitions and is responsible for the planning and delivery of Presentation Night with assistance from the rest of the committee.
While not always directly involved in daily operations, the President provides historical perspective, advises on formal matters such as rule changes or disciplinary procedures, and upholds the league’s traditions.
The Treasurer manages all financial matters for the league. This includes collecting team fees, paying out prize money, handling expenses, and maintaining accurate financial records. The Treasurer ensures that funds are used responsibly and provides an annual financial report to the committee and member teams.
Elected committee members will retain their position on a rolling season-by-season basis provided that they express their intent to continue, and their position is ratified by vote at the AGM prior to each season.
Prior to the end of each season the committee member must confirm their intent to continue in the role to the other members of the committee. If a committee member does not wish to continue in the role, the committee will inform all captains of the availability of a position prior to the AGM. This information should be shared with team members or potentially interested parties who may wish to put themselves forward for the role.
Each committee member’s position must be ratified by a vote of attending captains at the AGM which takes place prior to the start of each season. A position is declared retained if a committee member receives 50% or more of the votes cast. If a committee member receives less than 50% of the votes cast, a vote of no-confidence is declared.
There are two situations in which a vote of no-confidence can be declared.
The South Manchester Darts League recognises that fair play, clarity, and consistency are vital to the smooth operation of league competitions. As such, the Rules and Constitution document is maintained as a living document—subject to review, improvement, and clarification as the needs of the league evolve. This section outlines how rule changes are proposed, discussed, and implemented.
Significant amendments to any existing league rule(s) can only be made with the approval of the committee and must be discussed and voted on by team captains at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), or where necessary, at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
A significant amendment is described as ‘an amendment which fundamentally changes the structure or responsibilities of the committee, the league structure or the playing format of any competition or division’.
Proposals from teams or players for rule amendments must be submitted by a team CAPTAIN to the committee in advance of the AGM or EGM.
Rule amendment proposals must be seconded by the CAPTAIN of another team. The committee reserve the right to validate that the seconding captain is aware of and supports the proposal; if this is not the case, or if either party is not the captain or delegated representative of a team, then the proposal will be declared void.
Each proposal will be reviewed for fairness, practicality, and potential impact on league play.
At the half-way point in the season an ‘AGM proposals form’ will be added to the South Manchester website and the link for this will be distributed to league captains via email. Proposals should be submitted using this form only. A Facebook group post at that time will inform league members to contact their team captain with any proposals. All proposals for the AGM must be received at least seven days before the date of the AGM meeting.
Occasionally, clarification may be needed on existing rules where ambiguity or interpretation issues arise. In such cases, the committee reserves the right to issue official clarification notices and subsequent updates to this document. These will be shared via official communication channels and are considered binding for the remainder of the season.
Clarifications do not constitute a rule change, but serve to interpret or reinforce existing intentions of the rule.
Proposals from teams or players for entirely new significant rules (see section 5.1) must follow the same process as amendments (see section 5.1.1) and must also be submitted by a team CAPTAIN to the committee in advance of the AGM or EGM.
New rules will be evaluated based on their benefit to the league, relevance to current operations, and alignment with the values of the South Manchester Darts League. If approved, new rules will come into effect at the beginning of the following season unless otherwise stated.
An ad-hoc rule is described as ‘any requirement for a documented rule which does not currently exist, and which does not meet the criteria of a significant rule change’.
The executive committee reserves the right to update this document with ad-hoc rules at any time to cover any requirement which:
Any such amendments will be agreed by the full committee and team captains will be advised by email and provided with an updated copy of the Rules & Constitution.
Effective communication is essential to the smooth running of the South Manchester Darts League. The committee is committed to ensuring that captains, players, and venues are kept up to date with fixtures, results, rules, and other important announcements.
Several platforms are used to share information, promote engagement, and respond to queries. It is the responsibility of team captains to ensure they check these channels regularly and pass on relevant updates to their players.
The South Manchester Darts League Facebook Group serves as the primary social platform for news, announcements, fixture updates, results submissions, and community discussion. All captains are expected to be members of the group and check it regularly, if a captain is not a member of the group or chooses not to use Facebook, another team member should be nominated to perform this task.
While casual and good-humoured interaction is encouraged, all posts and comments must remain respectful and in keeping with the spirit of the league.
The official league website is the central resource for fixtures, tables, results, competition draws, and documents. Match stats, weekly roundups, and merit tables are published here throughout the season. Historic seasonal stats (since the 2023 season) for all divisions and players are also available for review.
Captains should check the site each week for updated standings and published match reports. The site may also be used to host official league documents such as the Rules and Constitution document.
The league operates an official email contact point for formal matters, including submission of complaints, appeals, or queries to the committee.
The email address used is [email protected] and where possible this should be whitelisted (added to authorised contacts) to prevent any issues with deliverability.
Captains will also receive important notices and fixture reminders via this email from time to time. Any changes to captain contact details must be reported promptly to the committee to ensure accurate mailing lists.
Any disputes relating to an interpretation of the rules, or complaints regarding the conduct of a team or individual(s) should be raised to the committee within 72 hours.
Committee members are volunteers with day jobs and home commitments and may not always be immediately available. Please be respectful of their time and try to direct routine queries between 9am and 9pm on weekdays. Urgent matters relating to active fixtures can be raised until 10pm on the day of the fixture only.
The preferred method of communication with the committee is via the [email protected] mailbox, or by Direct Message on the league’s official Facebook group. Teams are encouraged to use the appropriate committee contact for their enquiry — for example, sending squad update requests to the Results and Statistics Secretary, requesting competition clarification from the Competitions Secretary, or enquiries about Trophies or presentations to the League President.
Publicly posted grievances or accusations against any team, player or committee member on the Facebook Group will not be published. Similarly, comments added to previously approved posts that meet these criteria will also be deleted.
Use the proper channels for communication and we commit to dealing with any issues fairly and as soon as is practical for all parties.
League meetings are a vital part of the governance and smooth running of the South Manchester Darts League. They offer member teams an opportunity to be involved in key decisions, propose changes, and stay informed about the direction and structure of the league. Meetings are also a space for open discussion, problem solving, and collaboration between the committee and team representatives.
The AGM is held once per year, prior to the start of a new season. All registered teams must send a representative. At the AGM, key topics such as rule amendments, season formats, committee elections, and financial updates are discussed and voted upon. Each team has one vote, and motions are passed by majority unless stated otherwise in the constitution. The agenda and any proposals for discussion are circulated in advance.
All new teams must have a representative at the league’s AGM. If a captain cannot attend, a nominated representative should take the place of the captain at the meeting. Whilst circumstances on the night might still mean attendance is not possible, a sufficient reason must be provided to and accepted by the committee. Failure to provide a sufficient reason will result in exclusion from the fixtures for the upcoming season and the loss of any deposit paid.
All exiting teams must have a representative at the league’s AGM. If a captain cannot attend, a nominated representative should take the place of the captain at the meeting. Whilst circumstances on the night might still mean attendance is not possible, a sufficient reason must be provided to and accepted by the committee.
If the team has not submitted a valid reason for non-attendance to the committee, and the team still intends to compete in the upcoming season a fine of £25 will be added to that teams League Fees, and a points deduction of 9 points will be issued.
An EGM may be called by the committee or requested by a minimum of ten member teams. EGMs are convened to address urgent matters that cannot reasonably wait until the next AGM. Notification of an EGM, along with its purpose, will be communicated to all teams with as much notice as possible, and the same voting rules as the AGM will apply.
Ad-hoc meetings may be arranged by the committee throughout the year to discuss operational matters, competition organisation, or to resolve ongoing issues. These are typically more informal than AGMs or EGMs and may be attended by relevant parties only. Outcomes of ad-hoc meetings will be communicated to all teams where applicable.
Team captains may from time to time be asked by email to vote on behalf of their team on league matters. As much time as possible will be given for consultation with teams.
The South Manchester Darts League prides itself on fostering a respectful, inclusive, and competitive environment for all players, teams, and venues. In order to maintain the integrity of the league and ensure the enjoyment of all participants, all members are expected to adhere to standards of good conduct. This includes behaviour during fixtures, at league events, and in any communications relating to the league, including online or social media.
The committee is empowered to act in the event of serious or repeated breaches of conduct. Sanctions may include warnings, suspensions, or exclusion from the league. These actions are taken with the long-term interests of the league in mind and are always subject to fair process.
Teams may be excluded from the league for failure to pay league fees, consistent failure to meet fixture obligations, repeated rule violations, or behaviour considered damaging to the league’s reputation. Examples include frequent late cancellations, abuse of opposition or league officials, or persistent failure to comply with competition rules. The committee will review any such cases and may impose sanctions including exclusion. Wherever possible, a team will be given the opportunity to respond to any concerns raised prior to a final decision.
Any player found to have engaged in abusive, threatening, or highly inappropriate conduct may be excluded from playing in all competitions for a length of time to be determined by the committee. This includes verbal or physical abuse towards opponents, teammates, venue staff, or committee members, and extends to online behaviour related to the league. The committee will consider each case individually, taking into account the severity of the behaviour, any previous incidents, and the response of the player or team involved.
Players or teams facing exclusion will be notified of the committee’s intention and the reason for the proposed action. They will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before a final decision is made. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the committee within 7 days of notification. The committee will review all appeals and provide a final decision within 14 days. All decisions made after the appeal process are final.
All participants in the South Manchester Darts League are expected to:
Breaches of these expectations will be dealt with in line with the above policies.
The South Manchester Darts League is proud to be rooted in a wide-ranging but manageable local area. Venues eligible to enter a team into the league must be located within one of the supported regions, which currently includes: Altrincham, Timperley, Hale Barns, Wythenshawe, Sale, Stretford, Trafford, Flixton, Urmston, Chorlton, Withington, Didsbury, Burnage, and Levenshulme. If prospective venues are in locations immediately adjacent to, or between, these areas, then they will be strongly considered for eligibility.
Due to the practicalities of travel for visiting teams, we are currently unable to accept teams based in Manchester City Centre, East Manchester, Salford, or Stockport. Prospective teams outside of the listed areas above are still encouraged to contact the committee, who will consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis where travel impact can be minimised.
While there is no formal requirement on the type of establishment, the league has historically been based in traditional pub or bar venues, and teams are expected to provide a suitable and welcoming environment for visiting players.
Each venue must provide a dartboard that meets competition requirements. The board must be a standard bristle (sisal) dartboard with clearly visible scoring zones and numbering. It must use a modern, embedded ‘blade’ style wiring system — not the older pinned or staple-fixed wire types, which can cause excessive bounce-outs and uneven play. The centre bullseye must be exactly 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 metres) from the floor when mounted.
The board must be securely fixed and free from excessive wear, warping, or fading that would impact play. Boards should be rotated regularly to reduce segment wear and replaced as needed to maintain fairness and consistency across league fixtures.
Each venue must also provide a clearly visible scoreboard, either manual (whiteboard/chalkboard) or digital, positioned so that it is easy to see from the oche and scorer’s position. Scoreboards must be clean, clearly marked, and adequately lit.
All dartboards used in league fixtures must be securely mounted to a solid, stable surface that does not move or rattle during play. Boards must not be fixed to doors or folding panels or on any type of temporary or portable darts stands, as this can cause vibration, wobbling, and affect dart impact and scoring. Competition standard standalone or stage setups are acceptable.
The fixing point should allow for easy rotation of the board to preserve segment condition, while still maintaining a firm hold when locked in position. Venues are encouraged to use bracket-style wall mounts or other approved secure fixings to ensure the board stays completely still throughout the match.
Before the start of each match, teams should check that their board is firmly secured and compliant. If any issues are reported during matches — such as board wobble or loose mounting — the home team will be expected to resolve them immediately or if that is not possible, before the next fixture.
All South Manchester Darts fixtures must be played from a properly marked and measured oche (throwing line). The oche must be:
Players must have both feet behind the raised oche when throwing. Temporary or makeshift arrangements (e.g. taped-on blocks or portable mats) are not acceptable, unless this is a temporary ‘one-off’ fix necessary for the fulfilment of a league or cup fixture. Venues must ensure the oche remains stable and compliant for every home fixture. The league may require improvements to any oche setup deemed substandard or unsafe.
Good lighting is essential for fair play and clear visibility of scores. All South Manchester League venues must ensure that their dartboard area is:
Standard ceiling lights or ambient pub lighting are not sufficient on their own. Flickering, dim, or misaligned lighting must be corrected prior to the start of play. The league may require venues to upgrade inadequate lighting setups as a condition of continued participation.
Providing food for both home and away players is a longstanding and appreciated tradition in the South Manchester Darts League. While there is no strict requirement on what must be served, home teams are expected to offer some form of food as part of their hospitality.
This doesn’t need to be a full meal — a simple spread of sandwiches, chips, or snacks is more than acceptable. The key is the gesture itself: it fosters camaraderie, encourages post-match socialising, and reflects the welcoming spirit of the league.
Teams who host without offering food may be reminded of this expectation, especially if feedback is received from visiting teams. We encourage all venues to continue this valued part of SMD culture.
Each team competing in the South Manchester Darts League must maintain a registered playing squad. Players must be ‘signed on’ prior to participation in any fixture and should be submitted through the appropriate registration process (see section 11.3). The league encourages teams to build squads that can comfortably fulfil fixtures throughout the season, bearing in mind the requirement to field at least seven players for each League Match. All signed-on players are eligible to play in both league and cup competitions, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
Currently signed-on players for any team can be viewed on the South Manchester Darts website by clicking a team name in any league table.
At the end of each season, two online forms are made available on the South Manchester Darts League website.
The link for existing teams will be distributed to current team captains just before the end of the current season.
The link for prospective new teams will be published on the homepage of the southmanchesterdarts.com website or provided directly by email to the sender of any ‘new team’ enquiry submitted on the generic website contact form.
The deadline for submitting these forms is before the Annual General Meeting (AGM) ahead of the new season. Timely and accurate submissions are essential to ensure team eligibility. After this date any requests received from teams seeking inclusion for the new season will be rejected. This applies to both new and existing teams.
New teams will always start from the lowest division in the South Manchester Darts league pyramid, regardless of the perceived or assumed standard of the players recruited for that team.
League Fees for the 2025 season have been frozen at the same rate as the 2024-25 season: £125.00 per team. Whilst there is a reasonable expectation from most teams that venues will cover the cost of League Fees, South Manchester Darts recognises the team itself as the party responsible for payment of fees and the team captain as responsible for ensuring fees are paid on time to avoid points penalties or exclusion. Upon successful entry/re-entry to the South Manchester Darts League, a team will receive an invoice by email for the league fees for the coming season.
A deposit of at least £25 must be made at or before the AGM that takes place prior to the start of the season. An email receipt will be sent upon confirmation of payment.
The remaining balance can be paid at any time up until the halfway point of the season, and an email receipt will be sent upon confirmation of payment.
Teams with outstanding balances leading up to the second half of the season will be issued a reminder, sent by email to team captains. If a team fails to pay the balance of their League Fees after the commencement of the second half of the season, no league points will be awarded until full payment of the outstanding balance has been made.
If a team is unable or unwilling to pay the outstanding balance of their league fees, then that team may be excluded from the league. Players from teams who have failed to pay their league fees will not be permitted to enter the singles or pairs competitions and will owe 10% of the team’s outstanding balance before being allowed to rejoin another team in the league in a future season.
New players must be registered before they play. The preferred method of registration is by using the Add/Remove Players form on the South Manchester Darts website. Teams may also register a player by sending an email to: [email protected] or by sending a Direct Message to a member of the committee on the South Manchester Darts Facebook Group.
New Player submissions will be checked and validated by the Results and Statistics Secretary, and the player will be added to the relevant team squad on the website as soon as possible.
If the new registration is taking place on a match day, it must be received by one of the above methods before 8pm, for that player to be eligible to play in that game. Provided the new registration request has been received and is timestamped before 8pm, the player is eligible to play even if the squad has not yet been updated on the website.
Captains are responsible for ensuring that only registered players take part in matches. Any team playing unregistered players will be deducted 2 points per match that the unregistered player(s) took part in.
New players may be added to a team’s squad up until the halfway point of the league season. After this cut-off point, no new signings will be permitted.
Teams may apply to the committee for special dispensation to sign players if required. The committee may, in exceptional circumstances, consider late signings, but only with good reason and prior approval. Teams are reminded that once a player has taken part in a league fixture (including the Gallon), they are tied to that team for the rest of the season (see section 11.7).
Committee members cannot authorise additional players for their own team.
The South Manchester Darts league is, primarily, a pub darts league and must operate in accordance with the wishes of participating venues with respect to the minimum age allowed to enter their premises. As such, the league is aimed at players of 18 years of age or older.
With that in mind, but whilst also considering the exponential growth of the game in recent years, especially amongst younger players, the league will allow players under 18 to participate in league fixtures under certain conditions:
No team may rely primarily on players under the age of 18, A team MUST consist of seven or more players of 18 years or older and may sign on a maximum of 5 under-18 players.
A captains vote at the AGM prior to the 2025 season unanimously determined that players under the age of 14 will not be allowed to sign-on for a team in the South Manchester Darts League.
At the 2025 AGM, a concession was agreed that any players in the league under the age of 14 who have already participated in a league fixture prior to the vote, and wish to continue to participate, will be exempt from this ruling. The rule will apply to new signings during the 2025 season and onward. Any exemptions must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The inclusion of under 18 players is dependent on some key rulings which must be adhered to.
Team Captains should ensure the safety and wellbeing of any under 18 players signed on for their teams.
Players under the age of 18 are in attendance to play darts only and must not consume or attempt to purchase alcohol at any venue. Failure to comply with this may result in the player becoming ineligible for future games.
All players at the lower age limit must be accompanied by a parent or designated guardian if attending/playing in a league fixture.
Any team which includes one or more under 18 players in their team must ensure that the hosting venue will permit entry to a player under 18. The South Manchester Darts League have NO control over whether a venue will permit entry to under 18 players, and teams should ensure that their players are eligible for entry prior to attending the venue.
Each team must have a designated captain, who serves as the main point of contact between the league and the team. Captains are responsible for attending meetings where required, ensuring result sheets are submitted correctly, and maintaining communication with the committee.
Teams may also appoint a vice-captain, or official second representative who can assist or stand in when the captain is unavailable. In situations where the captain is unable to use Facebook, email, or other digital methods of communication, an alternative contact (such as the vice-captain) must be provided to the league.
If a team changes its home venue at any point before or during the season, the league must be informed immediately. Any new venue must meet the league’s requirements for board setup, lighting, and location. Approval of the new venue is at the discretion of the committee, and matches may not be scheduled at the new location until confirmation has been received.
For the 2025 season onwards, if at the end of the league season a group of players from an existing team decide to play together elsewhere, and the remaining players also wish to continue in the South Manchester Darts League, then the committee will decide the divisions that each team will play in.
This decision will be based on but not limited to the following criteria: In situations where the original team finished the previous season with a position that guaranteed inclusion in the new season’s fixtures for Divisions 1, 2 or 3, then the team which retains more than 50% of the players that played 3 or more league games in the previous season will likely retain the higher league position. The other team will start as a new team in the bottom Division.
If a group of players leave a team by choice midway through a season, but that team is subsequently able to continue and fulfil its fixtures, then the former players are adjudged to be team-locked free agents. If that group decide to start a new team in the new season, they must start as a brand-new team in the bottom Division (currently Division 4, though this may be dependent on the number of requests for new teams to join the league).
A player who has participated in any cup or league fixture, including either a singles match or the Gallon, is not permitted to transfer to another team within the same season. This rule is in place to preserve fairness and integrity across divisions.
Between seasons, players are free to move between teams and sign for a new squad during the pre-season registration window. Captains are encouraged to check eligibility with the committee prior to signing on a player if there is any doubt regarding a player’s status.
Once the season concludes, all players are free to sign for any team ahead of the next campaign, subject to the usual registration processes.
In the unfortunate event that a team must fold or withdraw from the league, the committee must be notified as soon as possible. Results from fixtures already played will be voided but player stats will be retained. Re-entry into the league the following season is not guaranteed and will be subject to committee approval based on the circumstances of the withdrawal. Any outstanding league fees must be paid, and the team will not be allowed re-entry into the league until all outstanding monies are paid.
If a team has folded / withdrawn from the league and wishes to immediately rejoin in the following season then, provided all league fees for the previous season are up to date, they are likely to be accepted to rejoin as a new team in the bottom division.
The South Manchester Darts League is split into four competitive divisions. Each division operates under the same core structure, with tailored formats to reflect playing standards and to support progression across the league pyramid. All teams play a home-and-away schedule across the course of the season, and each division has separate league tables for both the League and the Gallon.
Teams compete not only for league points and standings but also for potential promotion or relegation depending on final league position.
The top two teams in division’s 2, 3 and 4 will typically be promoted to the division above at the end of the season.
The bottom 2 teams in division’s 1, 2 and 3 are typically relegated to the division below at the end of the season.
Promotion and relegation may be adjusted at the discretion of the committee based on team withdrawals, expansions, or restructures.
A maximum of 9 league points can be earned per fixture (7 singles wins + 2 bonus).
The team with the most points at the end of the season will be declared champions of their respective division.
If at the end of the season two or more teams are tied on the same number of points, their respective finishing position will be determined following consideration of the following metrics:
Teams failing to submit match stats before midday on the Sunday after a league fixture will be deducted 1 league point. Repeated non-submission of results may also result in additional points penalties at the committee’s discretion.
Any team playing unregistered players will be deducted 2 points per match that the unregistered player(s) took part in.
The fixture lists for each division are generated prior to the start of a season and are published to the southmanchesterdarts.com website. Published fixture lists are updated each week with the scores of completed matches.
Team specific fixture lists are available on the website on any team page. Team pages for the 2025 season are accessible by clicking a team name within any league table, or via the Team Pages section on any divisional summary page for the 2025 season:
It is not always possible to fulfil a fixture if a venue is unavailable, or if the majority of signed on players are unavailable due to other commitments.
No game may be postponed without committee approval.
Teams must make every effort to raise the required team for each fixture. If this is not possible, then the following options are available:
Each team may be directly responsible for the rearrangement of a scheduled league fixture on a maximum of four occasions during a season.
Once a rearrangement has been validated, a committee member may mediate to help agree a suitable date for the postponed fixture to take place. Additional ‘free weeks’ have been added to the 2025 season fixture lists to help accommodate.
Free dates for the 2025 season are:
League fixture rearrangements may also be scheduled for cup dates, provided that neither team is involved in that round of cup fixtures.
Teams are encouraged leave the 01/10/2025 free for any emergency rearrangements involving the final 6 games of the season.
In the interest of fair play all teams are reminded that not having your best player(s) available due to work commitments is not a suitable reason for rearrangement of a fixture. Teams on average have squads of 15 or more players. If any seven of these are available, then a reasonable expectation is that the available players should fulfil the fixture.
Teams failing to fulfil a fixture without giving adequate opportunity for it to be rearranged (at least 48hrs before the scheduled start time of any league fixture) will automatically forfeit that league fixture and the opposing team will be awarded a 7-0 win and nine league points.
All reasonable efforts must be made to complete all league fixtures. Late notice of a teams’ inability to fulfil an end-of-season fixture (the final 6 weeks of the season), whether scheduled or previously rearranged, and where the outcome of the fixture may have a direct impact on a league championship, promotion or relegation may result in the offending team starting the new season with a 10-point deduction or a cash fine. Any such punishment will be notified in writing and maybe appealed within 7 days of the notification. The committee decision on any such scenario or subsequent appeal is final.
Matches are to commence by 8.30 pm and the home team should vacate the board by 8.15pm to allow the away team to practice.
The first game played during any League Match, The Gallon is a pairs game played as the best of three legs of 501, contested between a pair of players from each team. This format is consistent across all four divisions.
In the 2025 season, The HOME team will throw first in the Gallon game.
The League Match consists of seven singles games, with the order of play determined by “The Draw”. All seven games are played.
In the 2025 season, The HOME team will throw first in legs 1, 3 and 5 (if required) in ALL seven games.
League Match format for each of the seven singles games is the best of five legs of 501, straight in, double out.
League Match format for each of the seven singles games is the best of three legs of 501, straight in double out.
In all divisions, prior to the start of any league fixture, each team captain must select seven players from their squad to be entered into the draw for the League Match. Captains must use their own discretion and judgement to select which players should take part in the match.
Captains must also select two of their players to take part in the Gallon game which is played at the start of the match.
Teams with 9 or more squad players available on the night must use any two of the players not selected in the main draw for the League Match as their Gallon pairing.
If a team has 8 squad players available, the Gallon pairing is made up of the player not selected in the main draw for the League Match, and the player drawn in Game 7.
In the event a team only has seven or fewer players available, the Gallon pairing for that team is determined to be the last two players drawn out for that team in the main draw of the League Match.
Teams should consist of 7 players. However, if a team does turn up with fewer players, the team with more players may select the same number of players to match.
When each Captain has selected his/her team for the main League Match, they should present a set of seven “name tags”, each of which should have the name of a player selected for that match written clearly upon it.
The name tags can be custom made tags, keyrings, lollypop sticks, laminated cards, or even simple pieces of paper. The only requirement is that a tag identifies a player and can be turned over to obscure the name from view.
As an alternative, a captain might use playing cards or other tokens to represent player names. This method is only acceptable if the captain writes down a clearly visible ‘key’ detailing which player name a card or token represents.
Each captain should place his seven name tags on a table so that the name is not visible, then mix the order of the tags up. Once this is done, the draw can take place.
The home captain should randomly select one of the away tags and turn it over, before the away captain does the same with one of the home tags, with the two players drawn contesting the first game of the night. This process continues until player pairings have been made for all seven games.
Any request for any player from either team to go on either earlier or later in the draw due to work commitments, or any other fair reason, MUST be discussed and agreed between team captains prior to the draw taking place.
The league expects that any such requests are made honestly and are not made with the desire to gain an advantage of any kind.
The committee encourages opposition captains to receive any such request in good faith and to be as accommodating as possible.
BOTH team captains are expected to post their own results and statistics summary to the South Manchester Darts Facebook page as soon as possible following the completion of a match. See section 14.3 for full details.
Teams failing to submit match stats before midday on the Sunday after a league fixture will be deducted 1 league point. Repeated non-submission of results may also result in additional points penalties at the committee’s discretion.
The South Manchester Darts KO Cup is contested on a seasonal basis by all teams across all Divisions of the South Manchester Darts League.
All KO Cup games must be played on or before the designated date for the round. If a game is not rearranged to an earlier date by mutual consent, and a team cannot fulfil the fixture on the date specified, then the opposition team is awarded a 7-0 walkover and will progress to the next round.
The first games in the KO Cup are the traditional curtain raiser in the South Manchester Darts league and are the first fixtures played each season. This may be the first-round proper (last 32), or in seasons where the total number of teams exceeds 32, a Preliminary Round will take place.
In the event of a requirement for a preliminary round, the initial draw will take place for both the preliminary round and the first round, ensuring that all teams have been included in that draw.
There is no seeding involved in any draw.
Following completion of each round, a date will be announced for the draw for the next round. The draw will be organised and hosted by the Competitions Secretary or another member of the committee and will be broadcast live on Facebook.
All rounds of the KO Cup, up to and including the quarterfinals, will be played at the home team’s venue as per the cup draw. The Home team is determined as the first team drawn out in any fixture. Semi-finals and finals will be played at a neutral venue to be decided by the committee.
For the 2025 season, all games in all rounds will be best of 5 legs of 501.
As with regular league fixtures, the order of play is determined by a random draw of the opposite teams’ players performed by team captains, or a nominated representative from either side. (See section 12.4.1 Selecting players for a league/cup matchand 12.5.1 The Draw).
In all rounds up to and including the quarter finals, the AWAY team will throw first in games 1, 3, 5 and 7.
The home team is required to mark all games, unless an alternative arrangement is agreed between captains prior to the first game taking place.
Team captains in KO Cup semi-finals and finals must toss a coin to decide who throws first. The winner throws first in games 1, 3, 5, and 7 and marks these games. The other team starts and marks the remaining games. An independent marker is allowed if available, and captains may wish to come to an alternative arrangement. Provided games are marked fairly and captains are in agreement then this is acceptable.
The same rules apply as for a regular League Match. (See section 12.5.2 Changes to the order of play).
Any signed-on players are eligible to take part in KO Cup fixtures up to and including the Quarter Finals.
For signed-on players to be eligible to play in the Semi-finals or final of the KO Cup, the player must have made a playing appearance for the team in a minimum of 3 different fixtures. These can be either main league games, Gallon games, or KO Cup games during the current season.
Playing in both the Gallon and main game league fixture on a single night is counted as 1 appearance.
Failure to adhere to this rule will result in the cup result being reversed if a win is gained.
For all KO Cup fixtures, both Captains are required to submit game results and statistics as per standard league fixtures. (See section 14.3)
The South Manchester Darts KO Shield is held each season for teams eliminated in the preliminary round and the first-round proper of the KO Cup.
A team that secures a victory in a preliminary round game but is subsequently defeated in the first round of the KO Cup remains eligible for inclusion in the draw for the KO Shield.
All KO Shield games must be played on or before the designated date for the round. If a game is not rearranged to an earlier date by mutual consent, and a team cannot fulfil the fixture on the date specified, then the other team is awarded a 7-0 walkover and will progress to the next round.
In the event of a requirement for a preliminary round in the KO Shield, the initial draw will take place for both the preliminary round and the first round, ensuring that all teams have been included in that draw.
There is no seeding involved in any draw.
Following completion of each round, a date will be announced for the draw for the next round of the KO Shield. The draw will be organised and hosted by the Competitions Secretary or another committee member and will be broadcast live on Facebook.
All rounds of the KO Shield, up to and including the quarterfinals, will be played at the home team’s venue as per the cup draw. The Home team is determined as the first team drawn out in any fixture.
Semi-finals and finals will be played at a neutral venue to be decided by the committee.
For the 2025 season, all KO Shield matches, in all rounds up until the final, will be best of 3 legs of 501. The final will be the best of 5 legs of 501.
Team captains in KO Shield semi-finals and finals must toss a coin to decide who throws first. The winner throws first in games 1, 3, 5, and 7 and marks these games. The other team starts and marks the remaining games.
Any signed-on players are eligible to take part in KO Shield fixtures up to and including the Quarter Finals.
For signed-on players to be eligible to play in the Semi-finals or final of the KO Shield, the player must have made a playing appearance for the team in a minimum of 3 different fixtures. These can be either League Matches, Gallon games, Cup games or Shield games during the current season.
Playing in both the Gallon and main game league fixture on a single night is counted as 1 appearance.
Failure to adhere to this rule will result in the cup result being reversed if a win is gained.
For all KO Shield fixtures, both Captains are required to submit game results and statistics as per standard league fixtures. (See Section 14.3).
Any player taking part in the singles or pairs must have played in at least one league/Gallon/Cup or Shield game during the current season.
For the 2025 Season, pre-registration for any Individual or Pairs competition will be advertised on the South Manchester Darts Facebook Group in the weeks leading up to the date of the competition.
Players in all singles and pairs competitions must bull-off to decide who throws first in odd-numbered legs. The player named first on the draw sheet throws for bull first.
In the singles and pairs competitions, the loser of the previous game is responsible for the marking of the next game on the board. If they feel unable to do this, they should find a replacement marker promptly. Failure to do so may result in the committee taking action against the player involved.
Contested by signed-on players from Division 1 and Division 2 only.
Contested by any signed-on players from Division 3 and Division 4 only.
Contested by any players aged 50 or over on the date of the competition. The format will be best of 3 legs of 501 up to and including the quarterfinals, the semi-finals and final will be best of 5 legs of 501.
Contested by women players from any division. The format will be 501 best of 3 on the qualifying night with the quarterfinals onwards played as best of 5.
The pairs competition will combine all divisions. and will be best of 3 until the quarterfinals, the semi-finals and final will be best of 5.
A draw to determine the pairings of all registered players will take place on the night of the competition. These Pairs will contest a straight knockout format with each game the best of three legs of 501.
The South Manchester Darts League places great emphasis on the accurate recording and reporting of match results and player statistics. These records not only determine league standings and progression but also provide individual players with recognition through the merit tables, and their individual player pages.
For each fixture, the following team-level statistics are recorded:
These statistics contribute directly to the relevant league tables and are essential for determining promotion, relegation, and championship outcomes.
Player performance is recorded individually for each fixture to allow for statistical tracking and recognition.
For each player in the main game of any league or cup fixture, the following statistics are recorded:
These stats are used for both individual tracking and qualification for merit recognition. If any of these stats are not provided on result sheets for any match, then they will not be added retrospectively.
Merit tables are published and maintained for each division throughout the season to highlight outstanding individual performances. The player finishing at the top of each merit table is eligible for recognition at the end of season in the form of a trophy or cash award.
Statistics which are eligible for merit tables are as follows:
During match-play in either League or Cup/Shield fixtures, it is required that both team captains accurately record match results and statistics. These match results and statistics must be submitted promptly following each fixture.
Submissions should be made using an official Match Report template, but other methods are currently acceptable (older templates, excel screenshots, or handwritten on a sheet of paper) provided the bare minimum of information is provided.
The South Manchester Darts league has made various match report templates available for download from the files section of the South Manchester Darts Facebook page.
The recommended method of submission is to send a photo or digital copy of the results sheet via a post the South Manchester Darts League Facebook group. Captains who do not use Facebook should appoint a nominated member of their team to submit results. Submissions must be received by midday on the Sunday following a League or Cup fixture.
For any league fixture, result sheet submissions must detail as a minimum:
For inclusion in merit tables and team/player statistics, both captains should record the following statistics for each player (home & away) in every game played in the fixture. Statistics in bold are eligible for the respective divisional merit table, and contribute towards a player’s total, or best effort in that category.
For Cup and Shield matches, only the main game results and stats are required. Gallon data is not recorded as these competitions do not feature a Gallon game.
All recorded divisional, team and player statistics are published on the official website: southmanchesterdarts.com. League tables, merit lists, and individual team and player pages are updated weekly, provided result submissions are received on time.
If a result submission contains errors or omissions, the relevant team captain must notify the Results & Statistics Secretary. Amendments will only be considered if clear evidence is provided (e.g., legible original result sheet, or confirmation from the opposing captain if the amendment is regarding a stat missing on both submissions). The League reserves the right to reject amendments if the original data was submitted late or without sufficient detail.
The South Manchester Darts League celebrates seasonal success through a range of trophies and awards distributed at Presentation Night, which takes place early in the season. These include both individual accolades and team honours, with a focus on recognising achievement, consistency, and darting ability.
Early in each new season, a Presentation Night takes place to hand out awards to teams, individuals and pairs, for achievements in the previous season.
Perpetual trophies are awarded to winners and runners-up of league, cup and Individual/Pairs competitions and are handed out on Presentation Night. These trophies are retained by the winning teams or individuals throughout the season and must be returned in good condition ahead of the next awards cycle.
All perpetual trophies returned in time for engraving will be updated with the names of the relevant winning players or teams. Engraving is handled by the league and is included as part of the annual administrative budget. Any late returns that do not allow time for engraving may be omitted or engraved at a later date at the expense of the team that failed to return the trophy on time.
The presentation of trophies and awards for a completed season usually takes place shortly after the start of the new season. All league members are encouraged to attend, and the evening typically includes the formal presentation of team trophies, merit awards, and any special recognitions for contributions to the league.
There is usually a professional player exhibition scheduled, and the event serves not only to celebrate past achievements, but also to promote camaraderie and community within the league.
Awards are presented to:
In addition to perpetual trophies where appropriate, these teams/players will receive a trophy to keep (or a cash prize alternative on request) as a memento of their achievement.
Teams and individuals who are awarded a Perpetual trophy are expected to take care of it while it is in their possession. Any loss or significant damage to a trophy may result in an invoice for repair or replacement, and the league may require additional assurances before awarding future trophies to the same recipients.
Trophies must be returned at or before the Annual General Meeting (AGM) that precedes the start of the new season. This allows sufficient time for the league to have them engraved with the names of the most recent winners.
If a team or player fails to return a Perpetual trophy by the AGM, the league reserves the right to invoice the responsible party for the full replacement value of the trophy. Until the balance has been paid in full, that team or individual will be ineligible to compete in any league or cup fixtures.