National Sea League

Rules & Guidelines - 2014

The National Sea League can be described as an organisation of Local Sea Leagues from around the United Kingdom meeting certain basic eligibility criteria. The objective of the National Sea League is to run an Annual Final event at which qualified teams from these Local Leagues can compete to determine the champion National Sea League team. The intention of this document is to provide some very basic rules and format for these Local Leagues and the National Sea League Final.

Local Sea Leagues

A Local League can be formed anywhere in the United Kingdom, there are no boundary restrictions.
A Local League must comprise of at least 4 Teams and fish at least 4 rounds in the qualifying period to qualify for the National Sea League Final.
A Team may only participate in ONE Local League for qualification.
Each Team in the Local League must comprise of a maximum of 5 anglers.
Each Team Member can only fish for ONE team during the qualification period.
It is recommended that the Local League adopts a catch & release policy but this is not mandatory.
The format and running of the Local League will be determined by the local organisers and can comprise of either pegged or rover matches.
It is recommended that NSL Match Rules are used by the Local League but this is not mandatory.

National Sea League Final

The National Sea League will be responsible for running an Annual Final event at which a champion team will be determined.

The following statements relate to the organisation for the Final. These can only be changed at an AGM via a majority vote of participating team members …
As from 2015, the National Sea League will be an independent Organisation with sponsorship when obtained.
The elected National Sea League (NSL) Organiser will be responsible for the full running of the NSL Final event. These responsibilities will include …

- Identifying and arranging HQ for Final.

- Establishing match venues with or without Local Organiser.

- Announcing and distribution of NSL Final information to Local League
Organisers.

- Coordinating NSL Final team bookings with qualified Team captains.

- All administration for the NSL Final.

- Managing results and trophy presentation for the NSL Final.

- Chairing the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

- Managing all the financials for the NSL Final and after the event
preparing a balance sheet.
The NSL Organiser will have the authority to co-opt others into the Organising Team to assist in the running of the NSL Final.
The Local League Organiser(s) at the NSL Final venue will assist the NSL Organiser in the running of the Final. This will include assisting with HQ selection, identifying match venues, pegging and event administration. If there is no Local Organiser these responsibilities will be taken on by the NSL Organiser.
During the event all nominated captains become committee members and their collective majority decision will be final if needed.

The following rules relate to the qualification for the NSL Final. These can only be changed at an AGM via a majority vote of participating team members …
All Local Leagues must register with the NSL Organiser no later than 3 months prior to Final for that year.
A Local League may participate in the Final if any of its matches have been run within 12 months prior to the date of the Final. Local Leagues run and completed before the previous Final are not eligible for the current year’s Final. However, with appropriate representation to the NSL Organiser and under certain circumstances such a Local League may be allowed to participate.
All teams in a Local League qualify for the National Sea League Final.
All teams must participate under the ‘team name’ used for qualification.
Participating Team Members in the Final must have either only fished for their Final Team or no Team in the qualification year. Team Members found during a Final to have fished in other Teams will be disqualified from the Final.
Participating Teams must field at least 3 members of their qualifying Team in the Final along with 2 reserves. However, with appropriate representation to the NSL Organiser and under certain circumstances other reserves may be allowed.

The following statements relate to the competition format for the NSL Final. These can only be changed at an AGM via a majority vote of participating team members …
Each participating Team will comprise of 5 members although a team may elect to bring along a 6th member or reserve who may replace another member in any of the matches.
The results of all 5 team members will go towards the Team’s final total score, there will be no dropping of worst score.
The NSL Final will be a 2 day 2 match event unless weather conditions dictate that it should be reduced to 1 day with just 1 match or 2 short matches on the same day.
Each match will comprise of 5 sections and a team member will fish in each section.
The NSL Organiser in conjunction with the Local Organiser will be responsible for assigning Day 1 and Day 2 peg numbers for Team Captain selection. Each Team Captain will randomly select his/her Team’s match cards for Day 1 and Day 2 at registration time.
The Team Captain will be responsible for submitting his/her team’s match cards to the NSL Organiser or representative at the end of each match within an advertised deadline.
The NSL catch and release chart will be used in which length is converted to weight where 1/3oz is equivalent to 1 weight point.
The traditional points scoring method will be used where the winner of each section will receive 1 point, second 2 points, third 3 points and so on. In the case of a tie on weight points the number of fish (greatest best) will determine position and if these are the same then identical section points will be allocated.
A Team Member that blanks or does not return match card will be assigned a number of points equivalent to the number of pegs assigned to a section. This same assignment will apply to a team if they have one or more team members missing.
A Team’s result will be the accumulation of each of the team member’s section points over the two day event and the team with the lowest score will be deemed the winners. In the case of a tie then total weight points and then total fish number will be considered. If there is still a tie then the position and associated prize money will be shared.

The following match rules to be used in the NSL Final. These can only be changed at an AGM via a majority vote of participating team members …
NSL Match and Catch & Release Rules will apply in all NSL Final matches.
Size Limits to be used in a NSL Final will be determined by the NSL Organiser in conjunction with the Local Organiser(s).
Bait bans will be employed in a NSL Final as determined by the NSL Organiser in conjunction with the Local Organiser(s).

The following venue selection criteria to be used in the NSL Final. These can only be changed at an AGM via a majority vote of participating team members …
The NSL Final venue will be selected at the previous year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) along with a backup venue at the same location if this is available.
It will be the responsibility of the Local Organiser or NSL Organiser to determine how the venue is to be used.
If the main venue is unfishable then the NSL Organiser in conjunction with the Local Organiser will be responsible for determining if the backup venue (if available) is to be used.
If weather creates a safety issue, probable cancellation of one or both matches or change of match itinerary, the NSL Organiser will convene an emergency meeting between all Team Captains to determine the course of action to be taken and this will be determined by a majority vote.

The following prize table and reporting to be used in the NSL Final. These can only be changed at an AGM via a majority vote of participating team members …
For the main team event there will be an overall Team winner and appropriate prize money will be paid out. The exact value of this prize will be determined by the number of teams participating. Prize money will also be paid out to the lower placing’s but again the number of positions and amount will be determined by number of teams. To assist in this pay out the following is a guide to the prize money breakdown …

(BREAKDOWN TO BE ADDED)

The NSL Organiser will have the authority to make small adjustments to this breakdown to make the values more appropriate for ease of payout.
Trophies will be awarded to team members of the 1st and 2nd placed teams and in the majority of cases to 3rd place dependent on team numbers.
A perpetual trophy will be presented to the winning team at the Prize Presentation. This trophy will be retained by the NSL Organiser who will have it suitably engraved with name of winning team.
The Optional Pools monies will be paid out by individual on a section by section basis for each day where 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th may be paid out depending on the numbers participating.
At the discretion of the NSL Organiser an Individual Super Pool will be run. The structure and amount of payout will be determined by number participating.
After the event a full set of team and individual results will be posted on a NSL associated website.

The following details the AGM to be held at the NSL Final. These can only be changed at an AGM via a majority vote of participating team members …
An AGM will be held if possible at the HQ during the 2 day event.
The current NSL Organiser will be the chair for the whole of the meeting.
Proposals to be discussed must be received by the NSL Organiser by the advertised deadline and only these will be discussed at the meeting.
Throughout the meeting a majority vote of those participating will determine course of action.
At the meeting the NSL Organiser for the coming year will be elected. This Organiser will be both Secretary and Treasurer for the NSL.
The meeting will determine the venue for the next year’s Final from proposals provided by the advertised deadline.

General ruling for a NSL Final. This can only be changed at an AGM via a majority vote of participating team members …
During any NSL Final the NSL Organiser will have the authority for whatever reason to convene an emergency meeting with the Team Captains of the participating Teams.

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