League Cup competition format 2021/22

[tengu]

The League Cup competition starts on Jan 10th and consists of 4 fixtures over 5 weeks. Each team plays every other team just once, either home or away. This year the competition will include a player handicap, an opening break cap and a bonus match point.

The match format / rules for this year's competition are below:

League Cup match rules

1. A match shall comprise three singles and two doubles games. Games 1 to 3 are singles; games 4 and 5 are doubles. The home team takes the break in games 2 and 4; the away team takes the break in games 1, 3 and 5. One point shall be awarded for each game won, plus an extra point for the match.
2. In each game a handicap will apply, based on the players' individual handicap band, and the table rating. Both players will be credited with their handicap bonus before start of play. For pairs, the handicap band of the 'stronger' player will be counted. See below for handicap system.
3. In all games, a cap of 3000 will apply on the first visit to the table of each side (NOT each player in doubles games). In such case, if a successful shot would result in the break score equalling or exceeding 3000, the scorer shall call end of break and the break score, including any excess over 3000, shall be recorded.
4. Players for the singles games shall be drawn at random by the team captains before play starts. Unless a side has fewer than 5 players available on the night, each captain shall submit at least 5, and up to 7, names into the draw.
5. Players for the doubles game shall be nominated by the team captains before each game. The home captain shall nominate first. Any player from the singles draw who did not play singles, must play in one of the doubles games. The other places in the doubles games may be taken by players who played in the singles games or by other available registered players.
6. If a team has only 4 available players, these 4 names shall go into the singles draw, and the same 4 players shall play in the doubles.
7. If a team has fewer than 4 available players, then 3 names shall go into the singles draw, and only one doubles game shall be played, the other being forfeited. The side that is not short-handed shall take the break in this doubles game.
8. No player shall play in both doubles games. No player shall take the break in more than one game.
9. In the event of a black peg, a player's score shall be returned to their original handicap bonus.

[tengu]

Handicap System

The following handicap system was decided at the committee meeting of 14 December.
Each player is allocated to one of 6 handicap bands based on their average scores in Lewes league matches only. No distinction is made between home/away or break/non-break games.

Successive selection criteria have been used as follows:

1. Games played in the first half of this season (2021/22) plus the previous season (2019-20), provided at least 5 games were played.
2. As above, plus games played in the previous three seasons (2016/17 onwards) - minimum 5 games.
3. As above, plus games played in the previous five seasons (2011/12 onwards) - minimum 5 games.
4. All games played since records began (1994/95 onwards) - minimum 1 game.
   
5. Where no qualifying games are available a players handicap band has been decided by the committee.

The handicap bands are:

Band	Player average
A	5000 ≤ avg
B	4000 ≤ avg < 5000
C	3000 ≤ avg < 4000
D	2000 ≤ avg < 3000
E	1000 ≤ avg < 2000
F	avg < 1000

The handicap bonus given to each player will depend on their handicap band, and on the table rating, based on average total score for each table in the first half of the current league competition.

Download the player handicaps here

(please check you have latest version 2022-01-01)

If anyone wants to confirm the calculations, source data can be downloaded as an Excel file (1 Mb).

[little legs]

Looks confusing 😕

Rule 3 , there is a cap of 3000 but you can exceed this with your last shot ?

Is there a list of player / table handicaps .

Do the handicaps count in the doubles.

[tengu]

Dec 30, 2021 22:18:15 GMT little legs said:

Looks confusing 😕

Rule 3 , there is a cap of 3000 but you can exceed this with your last shot ?

I initially proposed an absolute cap at 3000, but I'm told that this is how it's "commonly" interpreted so this is what we have.

Is there a list of player / table handicaps.

Yes. Just rechecking the maths - will be released shortly.

Do the handicaps count in the doubles.

Yes. See rule 2 - "For pairs, the handicap band of the 'stronger' player will be counted".

We can all be confused together

[gandalf the untidy]

i like it

[BB Warrior]

Hi Ric, please could you clarify a couple of the rules for me....

3. In all games, a cap of 3000 will apply on the first visit to the table of each side (NOT each player in doubles games). In such case, if a successful shot would result in the break score equalling or exceeding 3000, the scorer shall call end of break and the break score, including any excess over 3000, shall be recorded.
So, if I read that correctly.... there are no restrictions on breaks once both players (or the first player on each side in a doubles game) after they have completed their first visit to the table?

8. No player shall play in both doubles games. No player shall take the break in more than one game.
So, the captains must avoid putting 2 players together in a pair if they have both had the break in their singles games?

[tengu]

Jan 5, 2022 23:44:43 GMT BB Warrior said:

Hi Ric, please could you clarify a couple of the rules for me....

3. In all games, a cap of 3000 will apply on the first visit to the table of each side (NOT each player in doubles games). In such case, if a successful shot would result in the break score equalling or exceeding 3000, the scorer shall call end of break and the break score, including any excess over 3000, shall be recorded.
So, if I read that correctly.... there are no restrictions on breaks once both players (or the first player on each side in a doubles game) after they have completed their first visit to the table?

8. No player shall play in both doubles games. No player shall take the break in more than one game.
So, the captains must avoid putting 2 players together in a pair if they have both had the break in their singles games?

Hi Dave

3. Yes that's right. No restrictions after the first visit from each side.

8. Yes indeed. This rule has been carried forward from the previous incarnation of the League Cup, and I think it's caught out one or two captains before. Worth keeping in mind the second doubles pairing when choosing the first!