SEASON 2009-2010

A preview for this season is coming soon, and the below information is available in a downloadable PDF format by clicking here.

The Universities Pool Council is delighted to announce the details of our competitions for academic year 2009-2010 and we would like to extend an invitation to your club/institution to participate.

Please note that all these events, excepting the UPC Women’s Eight-ball Pool Championships, are mixed.

NB. For tournament reviews, results and photographs from the current season, as well as in previous years, please see "Previous Seasons".

ENTRY

Entry forms and guidance notes will be dispatched in advance of the closing dates for each competition. Please ensure you read the guidance notes before completing the forms.

Entries can only be accepted if full payment of the entry fees is received by the closing date. Entry fees are non-refundable unless a team or player is refused entry by the Universities Pool Council for operational reasons.

Please note - entries received after the closing date may be accepted subject to the availability of places for up to one week but such entries will incur a late entry fee of £15.00 per team entry form and £5.00 per individual entry form. This does not apply to Student Eight-ball Pool Home International nominations.

For eligibility criteria, please see below.

EIGHT-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009-2010

The following teams will play at Championship/Trophy level for season 2009-2010:

• Aston 1st
• Bath 1st
• Cambridge 1st
• Cambridge 2nd
• Cambridge 3rd
• Cardiff 1st
• Cardiff 2nd
• Durham 1st
• Durham 2nd
• Edge Hill 1st
• Essex 1st
• Glasgow 1st
• Kent 1st
• Lancaster 1st
• Leeds 1st
• LSE 1st
• Manchester 1st
• Manchester 2nd
• Nottingham 1st
• Oxford 1st
• Plymouth 1st
• Portsmouth 1st
• Queens, Belfast 1st
• Reading 1st
• Reading 2nd
• Robert Gordon 1st
• St Andrews 1st
• St Andrews 2nd
• Salford 1st
• Sheffield 1st
• Strathclyde 1st
• Ulster 1st
• Ulster 2nd
• Warwick 1st
• Warwick 2nd
• Warwick 3rd
• York 1st
• York 2nd
• York 3rd

The following teams are eligible for the remaining place and any other places in the event of any of the above teams failing to enter:

• Canterbury 1st
• Durham 3rd
• Exeter 1st
• LSE 2nd
• Oxford 2nd
• Plymouth 2nd
• Trinity Carmarthen 1st

All other teams, including any new teams, will play at Shield level.

PROMOTION/RELEGATION

Teams that reach the Quarter-finals of the Shield will be promoted to Championship/Trophy level for season 2010-2011 subject to competition regulations.

Teams that finish bottom of their groups at Championship/Trophy level will be relegated to Shield level for season 2010-2011 subject to competition regulations.

CHANGES FOR SEASON 2009-2010

1. NINE-BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

This event will now run simultaneously at two clubs in Liverpool. This is due to Riley’s Solihull having some of their American Pool tables removed resulting in there being insufficient tables at that venue for the event.

We will organise the tournament schedule so that teams/players will only have to change venues a maximum of once each day, it is entirely possible that some teams/players will not have to make any change.

To help with this process we have arranged an exclusive high-priority UPC cheap set-fair for the journey between the two clubs with a local taxi company, Delta Taxis, especially for the UPC event. Delta Taxis will also be running a standard priority service at equally cheap prices for all other journeys throughout the weekend.

Note also that due to time constraints caused by the increasing popularity of this event, the Team Championship/Trophy will start on the Friday of the event.

2. DRESS CODE

Changes have been made to the dress code. Ensure you are familiar with the new code (reproduced below):

Code

Players must be dressed according to the following specification:

Male: formal collared shirts or polo shirts; waistcoats are permitted if worn over a formal collared shirt; black, or near black, tailored trousers and black, or near black, shoes.

Female: formal collared shirts/blouse or polo shirts; waistcoats are permitted if worn over a formal collared shirt/blouse; black, or near black, tailored trousers or knee length skirt and black, or near black shoes.

Strictly not permitted: any hooded top, any form of hat or cap.

Definitions

Shirts: formal collared shirts or polo shirts which must be plain. The shirts may not bear any writing or insignia on their fronts or sleeves other than the institutional crest and/or name. A sponsor’s logo and/or name is also permitted. On the reverse the players name and number may be written, the name may take nickname form provided that it is not deemed to be offensive. A sponsor’s logo and/or name is also permitted. No T-shirts or sports jerseys.

Trousers: black, or near black, tailored trousers must be worn. No studs; no combat styles; no jeans; no tracksuit or jogging bottoms.

Shoes: black or near black; no trainers; no smart-casual shoes.

Players failing to comply with the dress code will forfeit their current frame and one successive frame for each five minutes that they do not conform to the dress code.

The decision of the Tournament Director shall be final as regards whether a player conforms to the dress code.

3. E-FORMS

This season entry will be by e-form. E-forms may only be submitted from a verified Athletic Union (or equivalent) address so make sure you liaise with them in good time. Note that payment may be sent by cheque or made via a BACS transfer. Cheque payments must reach the submission address by the closing date. If you intend to use BACS make sure you liaise with your Athletic Union and request payment in good time as it may take some time for them to process the payment.

The bottom line is liaise with your Athletic Union (or equivalent) in good time to make sure your entry and payment is received in good time so as not to affect your participation in the event.

ELIGIBILITY

To participate in any of the events players must meet our eligibility criteria (reproduced below) and that of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS). See www.bucs.org.uk for further details.

8.1 Eligibility to compete

8.1.1 Eligibility of players
To be eligible to compete in any competitions organised by the Council players must fulfil the following criteria. (This does not apply to players representing the Ireland Students, they are dealt with under 8.1.5):

(a) represent an eligible institution as defined under provision 8.1.4 either as part of a team or as an individual.

(b) have their participation authorised by the relevant authorities within their institution. The authorisation must be made by an official from the institution’s athletic or student unions who are normally responsible for authorising such matters or a sabbatical officer of the union who has competence for sports clubs or societies. The authorisation shall take the form of a signature to that effect on the official entry forms. The Council shall have the right to question or reject such authorisation as it deems fit.

(c) be an internally registered student at that institution, that is being classified as a student by the university Registrar as an internal student and be registered on a credit rated course, that is a programme of study registered under the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme, undertaking a programme of study equivalent to at least sixty credits per year, or in the case of a postgraduate student be undertaking a programme of study no less than fifty percent of the full time student programme.

Also eligible are:

(a) A sabbatical officer of either a student’s union or an athletic union.

(b) A student completing their course of study within the sporting year.

(c) A student embarking on a sandwich course and / or year abroad course provided the duration of the course in industry is less than one year.

8.1.2 Ineligible players
(a) No student may compete for more than one institution in any one academic year.

(b) Students at ‘franchised’ colleges unless recognised as fully registered internal students of the institutions.

(c) Externally registered students, as determined by the university’s Registrar.

(d) Students undertaking 'foundation' courses are only eligible if their institution's Registry Office (or equivalent) deems them to fulfil the above eligibility requirements

(e) Research assistants who are not students will be deemed ineligible.

8.1.3 Proof of Eligibility
Proof of student status will be required at the registration for a competition. This will normally require a student card issued by the authorities of that institution bearing the name, student number and photograph of the student. The card must also have a date of validity or expiry date. Undergraduate students who are not full-time should also provide a letter from their head of department or the university registrar detailing the number of credits they are undertaking in the current academic year. Postgraduate students require a similar letter stating that they are undertaking a programme of study no less than fifty percent of the full-time student programme in accordance with 8.1.1(c) above. Should the card not bear a photograph of the student photographic proof of identity shall require a legal document such as a passport or photographic driving licence. Should the card not have a validity or expiry date a letter will be required from the university registrar confirming that the person is a current internally registered student.

The burden of proof shall fall on the individual to prove their eligibility to compete.

Any queries on eligibility must be made to the Council in advance. The decisions of the Council in this case are final.

8.1.4 Eligibility of institutions
Eligible institutions are those in membership of the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).

8.1.5 Eligibility of players representing Ireland Students
Players representing Ireland Students must conform to eligibility criteria of HESPC and CUSAI.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT

Dr. Iorwerth Griffiths
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