The EPC League

To assist you in determining whether to join the league and what to expect when doing so, the following summarizes how it will operate.  Please read it if you are considering participating.

General Description.  The league is a select doubles competition, “select” meaning each team is comprised of the same two players who choose each other and agree to be partners throughout the season and in the post-season tournament.  Participants in the league must be members or associate members in the Club.  Any gender mix is permitted.

While it is open to all of our members, it is intended to cater to our more seasoned players who wish to have an opportunity to play against our own members in a construct that reflects the conduct and level of play in other select tournaments.   This does not mean players who are new to the game or are still learning how to play should not consider participating; indeed, those with less experience will often find their experience in the league contributes to their improvement.  At the same time, it’s important to understand that the league is intentionally different from our casual play, and is designed for those who understand and comply with the rules of play and share a commitment to complete all of their matches on time and to participate in the post-season tournament.  If all of this sounds fine to you we hope you will consider playing in our league this year.

Our newer players sometimes feel challenged to find a partner.  Those who wish may send an email to David or Doug at their addresses below by not later than March 31st indicating that he or she would like the Board to identify him or her as needing a partner.  A note to that effect will be emailed to all of our members.  It will, however, remain the responsibility of each participant to select his or her teammate and make that choice known via the submission of a completed registration form by the registration deadline.

The league is being administered by our two Sports Directors, David Rockwell and Doug Lockhart.  David may be reached at dandninwa@comcast.net or (206) 963-4047; Doug at delockhart14@gmail.com or (510) 761-6542.  

ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THE LEAGUE ARE TO BE COMMITTED TO COMPLETING ALL OF THEIR MATCHES AND PLAYING ALL OF THEIR GAMES IN THE POST-SEASON TOURNAMENT.  

Location of Play.  All of the games are to be played on the Club’s courts at the playfield at 6th & Bell.  However, if all four participants agree, the venue may be changed to a location that is not within the playfield as they see fit.  

Schedule of Play.  The league season will run from April 23rd to May 30th.    A post-season tournament will be held on Saturday, June 14th .  The schedule of play may be impacted by the number of players, but otherwise the structure of both the league and tournament will be similar to those of the past few years with additional details announced prior to or during the league season.  

The schedule will be distributed before the season begins.  Tuesdays through Thursdays will be preferred; other days may be added if the number of participants requires.  If possible, each team will be required to play one match against all of the others, but again, that will depend on the number of our participants.  

Matches are to begin at 10:00 a.m. on the date stated in the schedule.  As with the venue, both that time and the date may be changed with the agreement of the four players involved so long as the match is completed at least ten days before the post-season tournament.  Matches may also be played before April 23rd when agreed by both teams to count as their league games and are played in accordance with the Club’s rules.  Such changes in the dates of play should be reported to David and Doug as they occur, but they do not require any prior approval.  

Players who arrive 15 minutes late for any scheduled or rescheduled match cede one game point to the other, plus one point for each additional 5 minutes they remain tardy.  The second game is to commence within 15 minutes after the conclusion of the first.  If a team arrives for a match more than an hour later than its scheduled starting time (either as stated on the league schedule or agreed to by the participants) and has not informed the other that it cannot play that day it will be deemed to have forfeited unless the other agrees to play it.  The same is true for not being available to proceed with the second game of a match within 15 minutes following the end of the first one.  Agreements to play are mandatory the first time they are requested by the forfeiting team and strongly encouraged thereafter inasmuch as we wish to avoid forfeitures to the full extent possible.

If a match cannot be played as scheduled and rescheduling is not reasonably possible, substitutes may be used by one team member when his or her partner is not present or able to play.  Using substitutes for both players on the same team in the same game is not allowed.  Substitutes must be members or associate members of the Club, but may not be a member of any other team in the league.  David or Doug will provide each player with the names, telephone numbers and dates available of our members who have informed him of their willingness and availability to play as substitutes.  All participants will be expected to make reasonable efforts to invite those members before turning to others.

Scoring and Seeding.  All matches will consist of two games played to thirteen points each.  One match point will be awarded the team winning each game, plus a third point will be earned by the team scoring the most points collectively over the two games.  Where the cumulative number of game points is equal, each team will be awarded one point for each game and one-half of that match’s third point. 

Seedings for the post-season tournament are based upon the league season’s final standings. Tiebreakers in those rankings involve the total number of points a team scores and has scored against it in its games over the season, so the players should be aware that every point won in each game can influence their initial rankings in the tournament.

No match points will be awarded for games not played.  However, to avoid an unfair disadvantage, teams that complete at least a prescribed number of matches and that are prepared to play in a match or game that is forfeited by their opponents will have their final ranking determined by a method that considers the average match points earned in its other games.  For 2025, the minimum number of matches to be completed for a team to remain in the rankings is ten unless the jury determines that a lesser number not less than eight will be adequate under particular facts and circumstances.

Reporting Scores and Standings.  Each team is responsible for accurately reporting the results of each match to both David and Doug within 48 hours after its conclusion.  A WhatsApp group will be developed once the full roster of league players has been finalized. Please use the WhatsApp group or email to facilitate the retention of a record of those reports, even when also made orally. That includes the team numbers, points scored by each team in each match, when any match has been forfeited, and if and to when a match is rescheduled.  If only one team reports, that submittal will be assumed accurate.  Conflicting reports are to be resolved by the respective teams or, absent that, by the league’s jury.  

David or Doug will periodically inform the participants of each team’s standing.  At the conclusion of the season, medals will be awarded to the first, second and third place finishers, and those winning first place will also have their names inscribed on the Chris Guitton Cup.  

Rules of Play.  The current FPUSA rules of play and the rules that have been adopted by the Club for multi-day tournaments will apply to the league, except we will not be strictly enforcing those that require the ensuing throw to occur within 60 seconds after the coin flip or the last boule thrown or measurement or that prohibit insignificant foot overlaps with the circle.  The locations of thrown jacks and prefabricated circles are to be marked, but there will be no penalties imposed if they are not.  Our rules supersede those of the FPUSA with respect to tardy players, absences during play, and the suspensions of matches.  Coin flips are to be used to determine which team first throws the jack in each game.

League play will not be attended by umpires.  If any measurements are disputed or cannot be definitively ascertained, a disinterested person is to be enlisted to assist.  That includes players on other teams, so everyone is asked to accommodate this when needed.

 David and Doug will endeavor to resolve any questions and disagreements that arise during the season or post-season tournament.   Their decisions or matters they does not resolve may be appealed or referred to the league’s jury for final settlement.  The jury is comprised of David, Doug and Bill Laprade. David’s and Doug’s email addresses and phone numbers are stated above; Bill’s are  edmondspetanque.bill@gmail.com and (206) 999-4811.  At least one member of the jury is to be advised of any disputes it is to adjudicate within 48 hours of the conclusion of the match or event or the receipt of a decision to which it pertains.  Any jury member who may be unduly advantaged or disadvantaged by the outcome of a dispute will of course be recused from the consideration of that matter.  If that requires removal of any two of the three jurors, the third will appoint a substitute for one or both of them.

Etiquette of Play.  All players are expected to be courteous to the other participants and to abide by the etiquette guidelines that have been adopted by the Club.  This includes ensuring boules are not left where they are likely to be stepped on; when an opponent is in the circle, avoiding distractions, and either standing opposite or behind the jack or behind and at least two meters to the side of the throwing player; and helping to keep the games moving at a reasonable pace.

Assumption of Risks of Play.  As stated in the Club’s bylaws and the registration form employed for this year’s league, the waiver of liability that relates to the Club’s activities will apply to league play and all of the members who participate in or observe it and their respective family members, friends and guests.  Members assume all risks of personal injury, illness and property damage, including any risk of contracting any illness.

Additional Requests and Information.  The league has gone well throughout its history for a number of reasons, and among those was that almost every team played all of their matches and the players were very good about promptly reporting scores to David or Doug, which enabled them to issue weekly updates of the standings.  We ask that everyone again make every effort possible to avoid any games being forfeited during the season or in the tournament and to continue to use the EPC League 2025 WhatsApp group or email the regular season scores to him and Doug within a day or two of their conclusions.

Following the completion of the registration, this year’s schedule of play and the contact information for those wishing to be substitutes will be ascertained and sent to each participant.  You will also be provided with a copy of or instructions about how to access the rules of play adopted by the FPUSA and the local rules and etiquette guidelines created for these types of competitions by  our Club.   Please read them.  And feel free to call or email David or Doug if you have any questions about the registration process, the rules or this year’s schedule.  

Good luck, and have fun!

March 10, 2025