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Committee Notes

Notes from LSDL Committee meeting 1st September 2009

1) LSDL Score Sheet turn-in policy revision - Committee Meeting - 1 Sep 2009. Score sheets turned in late or lost and never turned in continues to be our league's number one problem despite all attempts to correct this. Season XIX which will start Tuesday 15 Sep 2009 will have all score sheets turned in no later than 8 PM Wednesday - the day after the match. Failure to do so by any team will result in a loss of all match and individual points - a team not turning in a score sheet will receive zero points and none of the players individual points will be recorded.

As annotated on the score sheet - score sheets may be faxed, scanned and emailed or turned into designated turn-in points - Moonshine Pub - D'Pelican Inn or Chalkies Bar. At 8 PM Wednesday following a Tuesday match - score sheets from Moonshine and D'Pelican will be delivered to Chalkies for our stats man Keiran.

Score sheet drop boxes will be available at all designated turn-in points with the cashier. A team captain or team player dropping off a score sheet MUST personally put the score sheet into the drop box. Reason - too many score sheets left with "one of the staff" never make it to the collection point. Additionally, if you give your score sheet to the opposing team to turn in and they fail to do so - your team will lose your points.

Harsh policy for a "fun league"? The overwhelming majority of players in the league are not having "fun" waiting for stats to be published. Leagues record stats - the LSDL has a stats system in place - stats can only be updated in a timely manner with data (score sheets). This entire point will only be an issue with a few teams. Most teams do all that they can to get score sheets turned-in on time and as of Season XIX those teams will see their stats published in a timely manner.

2) Mickey Mouse Rules Sheet - Every host bar has been provided a laminated copy of the LSDL Mickey Mouse Rules. We request that host bars post this on the wall near their dart board. Most do however some do not wish it to be on the wall. Any bar that does not post the rules on the wall must have them imminently available in the case of any disagreement of LSDL MM rules. If a host bar cannot imminently produce the sheet in the case of a disagreement - all calls of the rules will be determined by the visiting team.

3) The Captain's Contact list is not for public display. It contains personal information such as captains' mobile numbers and email addresses. It should be kept in the Captain's packet for reference in case the need arises to contact another team. Photographs of players ineligible to play in the LSDL will also be listed on the captains' contact sheet so there is no question if a player is eligible to play in an LSDL match.

Banned from the LSDL for disciplinary reasons: In any competitive game, including our sport of darts, disagreement between players will occur. The wish of all members of the LSDL is that these disagreements be worked out amicably on the night. However if any player goes beyond a common sense level of disrespect of others or unsportsmanlike conduct towards another LSDL member or team and it is brought before the committee - the committee will then decide if the individual should receive a league warning. If a second such incidence from a player receiving an initial warning is brought to the committee then the committee will decide on banning the individual from the LSDL. Any player banned from the LSDL may apply to be reinstated prior to the start of an LSDL season in sufficient time for the committee to put out a LSDL majority vote without delaying the start of a season. Decision on whether or not to reinstate a banned LSDL player will be made by majority vote of all league members.

The integrity of the LSDL as a fun league with players out for a social night of fun, competitive fair-play darts with friends will not be compromised by any individual (s) out to insult, slander, cheat or looking for a fight. Any teams knowingly allowing a banned or ineligible player to play an LSDL match will lose all points on that night and receive a league warning. A second incidence will result in the team immediately being banned from the league and all players knowing allowing this to be personally banned. Teams may apply to be reinstated prior to the next season as well as banned individuals by personally applying for reinstatement which will be decided by a league vote.

For those LSDL members unaware of a current situation in the league let me assure you that these seemingly unnecessary, senseless rules are not the result of an over-zealous committee that has nothing better to do. These new rules are the direct result of a totally unnecessary, unfortunate, unpleasant situation that was forced on us. In accordance with LSDL policy - individual names or team names involved in any disciplinary action are not published on-line but notes from all such committee meetings are available on request by any LSDL member.

Committee Notes

Notes from LSDL Committee meeting 25 Aug 2009

Three Orders Of Business

(I) Possible reinstatement of an individual banned from the LSDL.
(II) Getting teams to turn-in score sheets on time - our newest policy.
(III) The starting date of our next season.

(I) We do not publish on-line - individual's names and or teams names that come under any LSDL disciplinary action. League members can email us for these notes or a hardcopy print out of all notes from the 25 Aug meeting are available to all league members at D'Pelican Inn.

(II) The problem of getting some teams to turn-in score sheets "on-time" continues. We've also had problems with our turn-in system Lost sheets in turn-in points and fax machines down. A growing number of members are unhappy with match results and stats being published late. Results and stats can't be published without score sheets.

So again we are going to revise our system. The fax and email of scanned score sheets will remain the same - except the D'Pelican does not have a reliable fax - so the only fax turn-in point will be directly to Keiran. Two physical turn-in points are Moonshine Pub and D'Pelican Inn or directly to Chalkies (new bar behind Larry's Dive that will be open by start of next season).

All turn-in points will have a plastic office-style file box at the cashier post labeled "Score Sheet Turn-In". Score sheets must be put in the box by the team captain or a team member delivering the score sheet. Why must you personally place your score sheet in the drop box? Far too many score sheets get misplaced and lost but just giving it to any staff member. There are always new staff members and although they will smile and accept your score sheet many times they just place it with a stack of the bar's paperwork.

The drop boxes are for score sheets only - not for storage of the home bar captains packets or member darts. Asking the opposing team to turn in your team's score sheet is fine BUT if they fail to turn it in - your team is responsible for not turning in your team's score sheet.

Score sheets from the designated drop boxes will be delivered to Chalkies the day after the match - Wednesday at 8 PM - which has always been the deadline for shore sheet turn-in. Teams that fail to turn in their score sheets (either by fax, email or at a designated drop box) by the deadline will lose all match points as well as individual points. Even if your data is on a score sheet turned in by the opposing team - a team that fails to turn-in a score sheet by the deadline time will have their points from that match deducted.

Time has proven that teams that regularly do not get their score sheets turned in on-time take days or weeks to do so which makes recorded stats impossible. All league members want to see match results as well as individual stats published in a timely manner. In the upcoming season this will happen. If we can prove to make this successful for one season - we will then contact the local newspapers for having weekly stats published in the sports section. This is great advertisement for not only our league but for our host bars as well.

It is our hope that these new rules will motivate those teams that have been lax about shore sheet turn-in to get their score sheets turned-in on time. To all LSDL members - if you have an absolutely great night of league darts and lose all points and your individual stats on that night because your team's score sheet was not turned in on-time - remember where to direct your anger - not at the stats man - not at the committee - but at your own team captain!

(III) LSDL Season XIX will begin Tuesday 07 September 2009. We are most happy to report that we are now looking at some new teams from new darts venues as well as some existing venues fielding additional teams. As soon as we confirm the number of teams for next season Keiran will make up a schedule. Many thanks to all LSDL members for making our league so great and spreading the word as we continue to grow and expand with new and enthusiastic players and host venues.
Johnny - Keiran - Kenny - Matt - Pisuth
LSDL Committee

27 Feb 09 - Committee Meeting Notes

A committee meeting was held yesterday - 27 Feb - to address the worsening problem of score sheets being turned in late and score sheets never turned in. This is the first season that the league has enforced the late rule - 3 times late or not turning in a score sheet and that team loses one overall point. So far this has caught the attention of some offenders in the Fun League and the problem no longer exists. Unfortunately it has done nothing to improve matters in the Premier League.

Leagues record match results. A league where no results are recorded is no longer a league but simply a group of guys playing a night of darts. Many players are angry and rightfully so that they don't have stats. The committee - by unanimous vote - has added an amendment to the late and / or no score sheet turn-in rule.

3 times late or no score sheet turned-in = 1 overall point lost by that team.
6 times late or no score sheet turned-in = the offending team is ineligible to play in the following league season.

Players of an ineligible team will be allowed to play on another team BUT NOT out of the SAME HOST BAR be it on another team in that bar or reorganizing or renaming their team. It's fairly oblivious that teams late or not turning in score sheets have little if any regard for the league in general or more importantly the people in that league.

Nitpicking and over legislating a simple darts league? Hardly - the Premier League this season - more score sheets NOT turned in than turned in !!! Check their stats site - the only up-to-date stats are teams penalized for late or not turning in score sheets. Some teams overall point standing is in negative numbers.

The overall objective of both the Premier League and Fun League is to expand - more teams and more host bars. In the process it is our sincere desire that by a bar hosting a team they gain added profit on the night. Bar owners and managers that see this will hopefully insure that their team gets its score sheet turned-in on time. Some will say this new rule is counterproductive to expanding the league but I think that most will agree that cutting out dead wood will allow for further growth in the future.

Additionally - we the committee are aware that there are some players in the Premier League that feel that the Premier League and Fun League should be combined with additional divisions within one league. If a majority vote of all Fun League players were called on this and approved - it would be changed. But this is not the case. Some in the Premier League feel that if the Premier League fails that the Fun League will be forced to incorporate Premier teams and players into the Fun League. This is DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE.

The Fun League remains an invitational league - teams and or players applying are approved by majority vote. Those wishing the demise of the Premier League - if succeeding - will be among many without a darts league to participate in on Tuesday evenings. The committee continues to promote the Premier League and with minimal cooperation from its existing members we have no doubt at a future of this league growing and expanding.

Johnny Witkowski
LSDL Committee Chairman

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28 Dec 2008 - LSDL Committee Meeting Notes

The first meeting with our newly elected committee members Kenny and Pisuth - joining Matt, Keiran and myself was Sunday 28 Dec at D'Pelican Inn. Our goal is to keep the league as informal as possible but to represent and act on what concerns the majority of our members may have. It was brought to my attention that a committee meeting must have committee meeting notes. After reading through my following long drabble, I got a feeling that will be the last request for such that I ever receive.

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS
The first order of business concerned an issue from last season. Unfortunately last season the committee was forced to issue warnings to two individuals for unacceptable behavior toward members of the opposing team at league matches. One individual had no further reported intendances. The other individual had two additional reported incidences after the initial warning. The committee voted unanimously to ban this individual from the LSDL.

Individual's name will not be published but team captains will be made aware of who he is and that this person is no longer eligible to play on any LSDL team. Any team attempting to play this person in the future will have any match he plays in result in a forfeit of all points from that match. This is all covered in our bylaws found on both Premier & Fun Leagues stats sites under Handbook.

For the benefit of any new members or existing members that have not already heard about these incidences through the grapevine - let me say this. We're not talking about common disagreements on the night that are resolved on the night by rational folks out for darts and a good time for all. We're talking about intentional verbal assaults that ruin the night for all and have people leave with bad feelings at best - luckily none resulted in physical confrontation.

Again we as the whole of the league rely on team captains to insure that their players are folk possessing at least minimal sportsmanlike qualities, respect for others and out to enjoy a night of league darts. The league will not tolerate players who are unable to act in a civil manner at our matches. The continued growth and popularity of this league is our goal. It is most certainly not to provide a stage for those out to destroy that for their own entertainment. In the history of our league such incidences are nearly unheard of - however one in the past resulted in a host bar banning league darts in their venue. Onto more pleasant news but rest assured that LSDL has zero tolerance for troublemakers.

UPCOMING LSDL SEASON XVII
As three teams from the Premier League are applying to join the Fun League - ballots have been sent to Fun League team captains for a majority vote of all Fun League members on whether to accept these teams into the Fun League. The three teams applying are 1) Domino Seniors - 2) Domino Stone and 3) Flaming Moe's. Statistics of each Premier League player from last season applying to join the Fun League - are listed below.

1) Domino Seniors (Captain Dew - Am - Aod - Aod - Prasert - Pino - Gorg - John - Moo) Dew ranked 28 - Am ranked 9 - Pino ranked 37 - Moo ranked 27 on the league's cumulative stats. Aod - Aod - Prasert - Gorg - John were not ranked.

2) Domino Stone (Captain Peter M - Peter L - Giffy - KamLai) Peter L ranked 48 - Giffy ranked 13 - KamLai ranked 42 - NOTE Peter (no initial) ranked 21 - played for this team last year and it is not known if he is "Peter M" listed above.

3) Flaming Moe's (Captain Sai - Sar - Tum - Lek) Sar and Lek are the only players that played in the Premier League last season. Sar ranked 16 - Lek ranked 33 on the league's cumulative stats.

There are 14 people who intend on moving from the Premier League to join the Fun League in Season XVII (over 3 teams). Of those 14 people, 6 of them are in the top 27 of the Premier leagues individual statistics for last season - meaning those 6 players are in the top half the Premier League. 5 of the 14 players intending to join the Fun League for Season XVII are currently in the individual top 20 of the game stats break down for the Premier League. 4 of the players intending to join the Fun League for Season XVII are currently in the individual top 20 of the cumulative statistics for last season premier league.

These stats have been provided to Fun League Teams when deciding on whether or not to vote these Premier League teams into the Fun League - realizing that they will not have access to a computer when voting. All above stats can be verified from the LSDL Premier League website.

ADDITIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
1) Possible new team coming into the league. Boy who played for Flaming Moe's in the Premier League last season may bring in a new team. Still looking for a home venue.
2) Vichai's TDA team is changing venues - probable new home at The Penalty Spot.
3) Old Other Office team from Patpong have dropped from the league.

FUN LEAGUE NEWS
All existing teams from last season are back. Kerry and Kenny are moving to Ship Inn on Soi 23 - their new venue. Remainder of the team will be made up of the bar's players. Cat's Meow - their home venue last season will not be fielding a team this season. Jayke and myself (Johnny) - played out of Silver Dollar last season will be bringing on a new venue - Corner Bar in Queen's Park Plaza with a new team made up of Jeab, the manager and some of their staff. Regrets to my Silver Dollar team but Corner Bar has provided me what I've been asking for the past two season - I will be their fifth player. This means I will shoot what I shoot best - my camera and get team photos back online this season.

Basically there are two new venues with existing Fun League members - meaning a "new" team vote is not required. No Fun League captains (25% required) called for a vote on any team in the Fun League to be moved up to the Premier League.

Additionally would like to mention that team captains are doing their jobs - if you want a Fun League team don't overload it with strong players. Kenny and Kai out of Cat's Meow were too strong - that's no longer an issue. Individually Komsan playing for Lazy Pelican also too strong a player with their squad. Komsan is now looking to join a weaker team to keep a balance in the league. If team captains do their job - a level playing field in the Fun League is an easy workable solution.

SPLIT THE FUN LEAGUE INTO TWO DIVISIONS
We currently have 13 teams in the Fun League with a possible 3 more if voted in from the Premier League. Do we split the Fun League into two divisions? General consensus is in favor of this - firstly to keep a shorter season and secondly to divide the playing levels of teams within the Fun League. The breakdown of the two divisions will be published on the league website after the League vote on teams applying to come down from the Premier League is received.

OTHER LEAGUE ISSUES
Player Move from One Team to Another Per Season - RULE AMENDED
Moving from one team to another during one season has been allowed but never encouraged. The original reason for this being allowed was if a player had a falling out with a player or players or the venue - he would then be allowed to move to another team to play out the season. It was never intended for venues with more than one team to have a pool of players to move about as needed. Although still not encouraged - a player may make one team move per season BUT NOT to another team in the same home venue.

MORE IMPORTANT: After the vote has been passed and season XVII begins, NO players from the LSDL PREMIER LEAGUE may join the LSDL FUN LEAGUE until they become eligible to apply again which will not be until Season XVIII. Any Fun League player who feels he is good enough or has progressed in his skill level to join a Premier League team is allowed to and encouraged to do so.

MORE IMPORTANT STILL: LSDL FUN LEAGUE Captains MUST make certain that they are not accepting ineligible players onto their teams. Check first by either contacting the committee or checking the statistics websites online or by doing both.

STARTING TIME LSDL MATCHES
Games start at 8 o'clock. Lee-way is granted until half-past-eight, but if no-one has arrived or been in contact by then, the singles games may be claimed. If this continues until quarter-to-nine, then the whole match is forfeit. This applies regardless of whether a home team is awaiting visitors, or the visitors are awaiting the home team. Again, flexibility is encouraged, so the playing order can be altered if both Captains agree. If a team is not going to arrive by eight-thirty then the opponents must be notified, REASON: Communication and understanding of any problem avoids conflict. Showing up after 8 Pm with no prior call atomically forfeits any warm up. Even a short delay multiplied out over all of the legs played can result in a substantial amount of time wasted waiting.

The above paragraph is copied directly from our handbook online and has been league policy for many seasons. Yet continual complaints were voiced last season about teams arriving late. Not once in the history of the league has any team ever enforced the late rules and claimed points. So is it any wonder why some teams continue to show up late for matches out of sheer habit?

Some will say it's a fun league and enforcing these "late" rules is getting too serious about our night of fun playing darts. But the serious truth is than an increasing number of players are not having fun sitting around getting half pissed waiting for the opposition to turn up for a match. So for those unhappy with teams continually showing up late on match nights with no phone call or good reason - sad to say - other than enforcing the late rules it's unlikely that the situation will change.

BACK IN THE BANGKOK POST?
We plan to get our weekly write-up back in the Bangkok Post this season. The write-up will include both the Premier and Fun Divisions as long as score sheets are received on time. Teams from the Premier League were unable to accomplish this last season. We waited until it was too late trying to get them on board with the example set by the Fun League last season. If the Premier League is unable to meet the Bangkok Post deadline time they will be dropped from the write-up. We lost a great opportunity to promote not only our league, darts in general, attract more players and get some free publicity for our host venues. The Fun League will not lose this opportunity again this season. This is not a point open for any discussion. The Bangkok Post will not allow missed weeks or varying lengths of write-ups due to late and missing Premier League score sheets.

In conclusion the Premier League needs to start helping itself grow if it is to have a future. Late score sheets eventually lost means that your stats website will not be complete for the past season. The loss of the Bangkok Post write-up last season means fewer potential players aware of a Premier League. New teams brought into the Premier League by Premier League players? Zero, however two Premier League teams brought in by Fun League players.

There is an assumption by some Premier League players that none of that really matters thinking that if the Premier League fails that the Fun League will be forced to incorporate the remaining players and or teams back into the Fun League as one league. This is not true. If the Premier League fails it will go away and players and teams from that league will only be admitted into the Fun League by applying and receiving a majority vote of its members.

The LSDL was started as an invitational fun darts league and the Fun League of the LSDL remains and continues just as that. With some cooperation and maybe even a bit of assistance from the Premier League - we as a committee have no doubt that we can promote and expand your league from what it originally had asked for - more competitive and skilled players and teams.

Sorry for such a long report but as we thankfully have so few problems - we have few committee meetings.