Note: These By-laws are made pursuant to Article 17 of the Constitution
A.0. Membership
A.1 Country Member
A.1.1 A NSA located within the Asian Region and duly accredited by its NOC, or equivalent, for the billiards sports, shall be eligible to apply for membership as a Country Member on such prescribed forms made available on application to the Secretary.
A.1.2 The billiards sports herein defined shall expressly mean the games of “snooker” & “English billiards” and, where applicable, shall include pool and carom. Other NSAs devoted to other disciplines of the billiards sports, if they so wish, may equally for ACBS membership.
A.1.3 The Asian Regions defined herein shall coincide with that as geographically classified by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), as per By-law R.0 herein.
A.1.3 All Country Members of the ACBS shall enjoy equal rights of membership as provided for in the Constitution.
A.2 Affiliate Member
A.2.1 A NSA not yet accredited by its NOC for the billiards sports, or any person or trade organisation having an active role in the promotion of the billiards sports, may equally be eligible to apply for an Affiliate Member of the ACBS, on written application to the Secretary.
A.2.2 The approval procedures and fees payable by the Affiliate Members concerned shall be the same as that applicable for Country Members.
A.2.3 Affiliate Members shall have no voting rights nor can they hold any office within the ACBS, save to serve as co-opted members of sub-committees, if duly appointed.
A.3 Membership application procedures & fee payments
A.3.1 A NSA applying for ACBS membership shall submit its application to the Secretary, to be accompanied by the prescribed fees, together with a copy of its constitution and registration certificate recognized by its NOC and/or other equivalent agency, to support its national accreditation status.
A.3.2 The annual membership fees payable to the Confederation for both the Country Member and Affiliate Member shall be US$500; the entry fees being US$300 and the annual subscription thereof shall be US$200.
A.3.3 The annual renewal subscription fees shall be US$200, made payable on written demand by the Treasurer on the 1st day of January each year till January 31 thereof.
A.3.4 Payments shall be made direct to the Treasurer or by telegraphic transmission to the appointed bank accounts of the ACBS. If by telegraphic transmission, the remitting Country Member concerned shall extend a copy of the said transmission to the Treasurer.
A.3.5 All payments shall be made to exact sum as stipulated in US currency; any exchange and/or bank charges incurred therefrom shall be wholly borne by the payee Country Members concerned.
A.3.6 Country Members whose annual subscription payments are in arrears exceeding two (2) consecutive years shall cease to be an ACBS member; in consequence thereof, it shall forfeit all rights of membership connected therewith.
B.0 Executive Board
B.1 At its first meeting after the applicable AGM, the Executive Officers shall appoint one representative from each of the four (4) Asian Regions, to join and constitute the Executive Board as the collective decision-making body of the administration of the Board.
B.2 Executive Board Members shall serve for a term of two (2) years; on expiry, each is eligible for re-election or may resign or be substituted therewith by his home Country Member on written notification.
B.3 A Executive Board meeting may be held one day before and/or after an AGM; notice thereof shall be given by the Secretary who shall keep minutes thereof for subsequent circulation to Board members.
B.4 The Board may establish sub-committees and ad hoc committees for special tasks as required; such committees shall preferably be chaired by an Executive Board Member, who may at his discretion co-opt other suitable members thereto.
B.5 Notwithstanding the aforesaid, the ACBS shall have the following Standing Committees:
B.5.1 Referees Control Panel;
B.5.2 Multi-sports Working Committee;
B.5.3 Constitution and Membership Committee;
B.5.4 Publications and Publicity Committee; and
B.5.5 Finance and Marketing Committee.
B.6 In addition, the Board shall establish ad hoc committees and appoint suitable candidates to represent the ACBS on other boards of international bodies.
B.7 Decision-making on all matters (save on Constitution amendments), other than those to be carried by postal ballot, shall be at Board Meetings as scheduled. If by postal ballot, the Secretary shall circulate same to all Board Members at least six (6) weeks in advance, giving one (1) week thereafter for voting. A simple majority votes thereof shall carry the said motions, with absentee replies being counted as an absentation.
C.0 Annual General Meeting
C.1 Eight (8) weeks before the scheduled AGM, the Secretary shall give written notice thereof to all Country Members, setting out the date, time, place and agenda connected therewith.
C.2 Any motion by a Country Member shall be received by the Secretary at least ten (10) weeks before the said AGM, for its inclusion and required circulation.
C.3 At an AGM where election of Executive Officers is to be held, nominations thereof shall be received by the Secretary for the required circulation at least ten (10) weeks before the said AGM.
C.4 Nominations so received by the Secretary shall contain the following information:
C.4.1 The candidate’s personal particulars, his Country Member and current/past positions held therein; a resume of his track records and his consent to accept nomination;
C.4.2 The names of the proposer and his seconder. (one ought to be his own Country Member)
C.5 All nominees, including their proposers and seconders, shall be Country Members who are in benefit in their dues on the day of the said AGM.
D.0 Executive Board Meeting
D.1 The President shall call a Board meeting either to coincide with the Asian championship or at other times as warranted. For a Board meeting, the Secretary shall circulate the notice and agenda thereof to all Board members at least six (6) weeks in advance.
D.2 Any matter requiring voting thereat shall be set out in a proper motion with supporting documents by the Secretary. If any Board member is unable to attend, he may submit his views thereof to the Secretary within two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled meeting. There shall be no proxy votes; a simple majority in votes is required to carry the said motion.
E.0 Sub-Committee Meetings
E.1 It is the chairman’s discretion in each sub-committee to carry out the tasks so entrusted thereto. The proceedings thereof may be conducted by electronic media or faxes or correspondence; any decision reached thereof shall require no quorum but a simple majority by consensus.
F.0 AGM Election Procedures
F.1 At an AGM where elections are to be held, the floor shall appoint by majority a Returning Officer and two scrutiners to oversee the election proceedings.
F.2 The said Returning Officer shall not be a candidate for any office election, shall have no direct conflict of interest and shall be empowered to decide all matters relating thereto, so provided for by the Constitution and by-laws. The scrutiners shall assist the Returning Officer in the distribution, collection and counting of the ballots, which results shall be announced by the latter on request of the chairman of AGM.
F.3 Proxy votes shall not be allowed under any circumstances.
G.0 Finance
G.1 The Treasurer shall keep an up-dated accounts of the Confederation at all times; he shall be the signatory to all out-going remittances thereof, which shall be countersigned thereto by either the President or the Secretary.
G.2 He shall open a bank account(s) of the Confederation as decided by the Executive Board; prepare an annual Statement of Accounts,(ending December 31), to be externally audited for due circulation and presentation at the AGM.
G.3 In addition, he is required to prepare and present at the AGM a current un-audited statement accounts of the Confederation, not less than one (1) month preceding the date of the said AGM.
G.4 All out-going payments by the Treasurer shall be based on receipts or signed vouchers in support.
G.5 All expenses incurred by each Board member shall be with the prior authority of the Executive Board; if expended under dire emergency, it shall be duly reported to the Board and/or the AGM, whichever comes first.
G.6 For better transparency, unless with the prior approval of the Council, the Board is authorized to approve expenses incurred for and on behalf of the ACBS, based on the following prescribed quota:
G.6.1 President, up to a maximum US$2,000 on any one count;
G.6.2 Executive Officers up to a maximum US$2,000 on any one count;
G.6.2 Executive Board up to a maximum US$10,000 on any one count;
G.6.3 In excess of $10,000 on any one count, prior approval from the Council shall be obtained.
G.7 Notwithstanding the aforesaid, such heads of expenditure incurred shall be duly reported to the Council either by special circulation or by direct report at an AGM, whichever comes first.
G.8 For any contract payments arising from ACBS sponsors/partners, approval for such payments shall have to be initially obtained from Council for subsequent waivers and/or applications without further approval.
G.9 An officer assigned by the ACBS and/or its Executive Board attending official functions representing the ACBS shall be reimbursed for his return economy class airfares and hotel accommodation. In addition, an allowance at the rate of USD25 per day is payable.
H.0 Host Country for Asian Snooker Championship
H.1 Bidding procedures
H.1.1 Aside from the annual Asian snooker championship, the ACBS shall sanction or organise or help to organise such other championships like the Asian billiards, the Asian Cup, the Asian U21 etc. In such an event, the ACBS shall issue separate championship conditions and format of play connected therewith.
H.1.2 Likewise, the ACBS shall exercise such rights to debar any of its Country Members from entering or competing in an unsanctioned tournament that it deems detrimental to the aims and objects of the Confederation.
H.1.3 For the annual Asian snooker championship, a Country Member wishing to play host shall submit its bid to the Secretary or at an AGM, which acceptance shall be decided by the Executive Board or the Council, whichever is applicable, based on such valid grounds of the bid and in the absence of any further bidders.
H.1.4 If the said bid is insufficiently comprehensive, or if it is not firmly committal, the AGM shall direct the said Country Member to confirm subsequently the same in writing to the Secretary within two (2) months thereof.
H.1.5 If there be more than one (1) bidder, the AGM shall decide the offer to the Country Member concerned, based on comparatively more favourable conditions; the remaining unsuccessful Country Members shall be placed on waiting list in the order of priority for subsequent championships
H.2 Championship dates
H.2.1 If duly confirmed, the Host Country concerned shall furnish in writing the exact dates, venue and negotiated hotel tariffs thereof to the Secretary. The championship dates, wherever possible, ought to be held within the months of June and July of the year.
H.2.2 The Secretary shall forward the appropriate entry forms to all Country Members not less than four (4) months before the start of the said championship.
Completed entry forms shall be returned within stipulated time, with a copy thereof being extended to the Host Country.
H.2.3 After consulting the Host Country, the Secretary in close liaison with the ACBS Tournament Director, shall circulate the dates set down for the seeding and the draw, immediately after the aforesaid closing of entries.
H.2.3 After the draw, no further changes thereto shall be allowed under any circumstances, save that, in extreme exigency, prior approval for minor changes from the ACBS shall have to be obtained.
H.2.4 Before the start of the said championship, the venue and the match-tables shall have to be checked and approved by the ACBS Tournament Director.
I.0 ACBS contracted partners
I.3.1 The Host Country is permitted to source its own sponsor(s) for the said championship. Notwithstanding this, if there be a subsisting partner(s) entered into by agreement with the ACBS, it is a pre-condition herewith that the sponsor(s) of the Host Country shall share proportionally with the aforesaid ACBS partner(s), in areas of publicity and advertising for the said championship. By such an arrangement, the ACBS shall endeavour its utmost to secure certain financial subsidy for the Host Country concerned.
I.3.2 In addition, the Host Country is to facilitate the said ACBS partner(s) to install their overhead webcam at the venue, for the purpose of internet broadcasting for the said championship.
I.3.3 The Host Country is further required to provide a suitable area, with internet connecting facilities adjoining the said venue, to enable the said ACBS partner(s) set up their own “internet café”. All computer hardwares connected therewith, however, shall be the responsibility of the said partner(s).
I.3.4 Likewise , the ACBS has signed an agreement with the following billiards trades to sponsor all its sanctioned events;
WIRAKA for the Supply of match-tables;
SALUC for the suppply of Aramith billiards balls; and
HAINSWORTH for the supply of billiards cloth.
J.0 Eligibility for entry of players
J.1 All Country Members are eligible to enter the Asian championship, to be represented by two (2) players and one (1) delegate by each participating Country Member; the Host Country is entitled to enter three (3) players and one (1) delegate, excluding its President who shall be the accredited ACBS Vice-President for the said championship.
J.2 The reigning champion (including the current ACBS U21 Champion, if any, and the IBSF Champion, if he is an Asian) shall be entitled to enter, if the travelling expenses thereof are to be borne by their own Country Members, with hotel accommodation and per diem payments to be borne by the Host Country, on the same basis as other entered players.
J.3 If, after the closing of entries, there are absentees or last-minute withdrawals, the Host Country is allowed to enter, additionally, up to a maximum of 5 players, provided always that no more than two (2) players from any one Country Member are allowed to compete in each group in the round-robin stages.
J.4 Although all Country Members are invited to participate, Member Countries whose annual membership subscriptions are in arrears consecutively for two (2) or more years after the stipulated closing date of entries, shall be disqualified to enter.
K.0 Accommodation
K.1 Host Country is to provide a twin-sharing room (including breakfast) for the two (2) players of each participating Country Member for the duration of the championship plus two (2) extra days, the latter being defined one (1) day before and one (1) day after the championship period. The overall duration of the championship shall not exceed nine (9) days in all.
K.2 For all participating delegates, the Host Country shall provide each with a single occupancy hotel room, including breakfast.
K.3 Economy return air-passages for the ACBS President, Executive Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be borne by the ACBS; however, their hotel accommodation & breakfast by the Host Country on the same basis as the other delegates.
K.4 Other Executive Board Members attending Board meeting(s) held in conjunction of the championship shall be borne their expenses by the ACBS for the express purpose and duration of the said meeting(s)
L.0 Meetings & meeting facilities
L.1 The Host Country shall provide meeting facilities for the AGM, to be preceded, by a Board meeting and, if necessary, another after the AGM. As far as it is practical, the said AGM shall be held within the last five (5) days of the championship period.
L.2 A Technical Committee meeting, chaired by the ACBS Tournament Director or any other available Executive Officers shall be held one (1) day before the start of the championship. This meeting shall be attended by all participating delegates/players with the object of fine-tuning all the championship rules and conditions for adoption at the said championship. If needed, a press conference may be convened hereat by special arrangement of the Host Country.
L.3 The Host Country is entitled to organise the Opening & Closing Ceremony connected therewith in a simple but dignified manner; advance notice shall be given to the ACBS to delegate its Executive Officer(s) to officiate at such functions. Site visits, if any, are left to the discretion of the Host Country.
M.0 Prize moneys & trophies
M.1 The Host Country is at liberty to provide higher prize moneys as it wishes for each of the following winners; under no circumstance, however, shall such prize moneys be less than the following stipulated :
1st prize US$2,500 cash (plus challenge trophy + replica)
2nd prize US$1,200 cash ( plus replica trophy)
3rd prize US$ 600 cash ( plus replica trophy)
4th prize US$ 300 cash (plus replica trophy)
Highest break(over 100 pts) US$ 100 cash (challenge trophy +replica trophy)
M.2 At times, it may be necessary for the ACBS to include certain incentives to the aforesaid winning prizes. (such as selection for the Asian Tours etc).
M.3 Challenge trophies for the Asian champion and the “Highest Break” player shall be provided for by the ACBS; replicas thereof and other trophies for the remaining winners shall be borne by the Host Country. The highest break shall be over a century in points and is to be governed by the player who first made such a break.
N.0 Format of play & conditions
N.1 The following format of play shall be adopted for the Asian snooker championship:
Qualifying Round-Robin matches -Best of 7 frames
Quarter-Finals -Best of 9 frames
Semi-Finals -Best of 9 frames
Final -Best of 11(in one session with 30min break)
3rd and 4th placings shall be competed on the best of five (5) frames; breaks made therein shall be discounted for championship records.
N.2 In the event of there being eight (8) groups, their respective group winners and runners-up shall qualify for the pre-quarter finals. The re-draw thereof shall then be carried out in the presence of the players concerned and/or their delegates, to be witnessed by the ACBS Tournament Director.
N.3 In making the pre-quarter-final draw, the eight ( 8) group winners shall be re-seeded based on performance by the ACBS Seeding Committee. They are then placed in positions 1, 8, 5 and 4 on the top-half of the draw, with 3, 6, 7 and 2 on the bottom-half thereof. The group runner-ups shall then be drawn at random thereto, crossing over their respective halves.
N.4 At the end of round-robin matches, if two (2) or more players have an equal number of wins, the best frame differentials shall decide the winner. If still being equal, the winning result between the two (2) players concerned shall determine the said winner. If a tie still prevails, a single frame knock-out match between them shall decide the ultimate winner.
N.5 The player winning the Asian championship on three (3) consecutive years shall be entitled to keep the winning trophy for good.
N.6 The recipients of the champion and highest break trophies are permitted to keep them for a year; but their respective Country Members shall be solely held responsible for their safe custody and return of same to the ACBS, prior to the start of the next Asian championship.
N.7 The Host Country, if it so wishes, may organise a delegate tournament during the championship; prizes, if any, shall be left to its discretion.
N.8 If possible, a five (5) minute practice shall be granted to each player on the allocated match-table, before the start of the said match. A standard wall clock installed at the competition venue shall decide on all time requirements.
N.9 Players shall report their presence to the referee-in-charge at least twenty (20) minutes before the start of their match. If the player concerned is late for three (3) minutes thereof, he shall lose one (1) frame. If he is late for ten (10) minutes from the start time, the whole match shall be forfeited to his opponent.
N.10 Notwithstanding the aforesaid, all forfeits shall be fully investigated thereafter by the ACBS; if there be a prima facie on misconduct against the defaulting player, appropriate disciplinary action shall be taken against the offending Country Member concerned.
N.11 The player not in default shall be credited with a win, but no frames shall be awarded thereto. The matches in each group shall be calculated on a percentage basis; however, should the non-award of the forfeited match affects the player concerned in his qualifying for the quarter-finals, then a sufficient number of winning frames shall be awarded thereto, to enable him to tie with the lowest qualifier for a consequential play-off between them, in order to establish the eventual qualifier for the said quarter-finals in this group.
N.12 Should the need arise, the Host Country shall have the rights to transfer any match to another match-table or change of any scheduled time-table, provided always that the delegate(s) of the Country Member(s) concerned, shall have to be duly notified in writing in advance.
N.13 Evening dress or dark suits shall be worn by players for all match sessions, preferably with a single-colour long-sleeve shirt, bow-tie, waist-coat or vest and black shoes. If ACBS subsidy is granted to the said championship, all players may need to wear additionally approved partnership logos so prescribed by the ACBS partner(s) and approved by the ACBS.
N.14 Notwithstanding the aforesaid, under extreme emergency when the Host Country needs to vary the championship rules and conditions, prior approval shall have to be secured from the ACBS in good time, to enable the same be duly conveyed to other Country Members concerned.
N.15 All mis-conduct or demeanor on a reported player, if found guilty after due investigation, shall be reprimanded by the ACBS, including the Country Member under whom he represents.
O.0 Seeding of players
O.1 All seeding and the draw of players shall be made by the ACBS Seeding Committee, comprising the tournament directors of the Host Country and of the ACBS and, if necessary, the Secretary and the Chairman, ACBS Referees Control Panel. Previous Asian snooker championship records are to be used for seeding criteria, including other performance records thereby achieved at other multi-sport events and/or at the IBSF world snooker championship and the WSA professional circuits.
O.2 Country Members entering their players should identify their ranking and track records in the prescribed entry forms, to enable their seeding be fairly assessed by the Seeding Committee. In the absence of any such data information being provided, it shall be the sole jurisdiction of the said Committee to decide on such seeding requirements.
P.0 Referees deployment
P.1 Championship referees shall have to be registrants of the ACBS Referees Control Panel (RPC) with a minimum Grade “B” status, or any other equivalent qualifications with the prior approval of the RCP.
P.2 Host Country is to provide practice tables for players either at the competition venue proper or at any other convenient centres.
P.3 A neutral referee shall be deployed to ensure that no player in a match hails from the Country Member of the said referee.
Q.0 Publications
Q.1 Host country shall publish a souvenir programme to commemorative the said championship; the contents thereof shall include, inter-alia, current ACBS officials and past championship records with the identities of their respective presidents.
Q.2 Secretary shall issue and prescribe time-table for participating Country Members to furnish to the Host Country, messages and photographs of their respective Presidents and entered players, including, if available, flight particulars.
Q.3 Certificates of participation so approved by the ACBS shall be presented to all delegates, players and officials by the Host Country.
Q.4 Country members are encouraged to set up their internet web-sites with hotlinks to the ACBS web-sites or authorized sites, for which the ACBS shall provide thereto a token monetary incentive, the exact sum to be decided by the Executive Board from time to time.
R.0 ASIAN COUNTRIES OF THE OLYMPIC COUNCIL OF ASIA
The following countries are currently members of the Olympic Council of Asia, for which the ACBS shall adopt herewith for its definition:
East Asia: China; Chinese Taipei; China Hong Kong; China Macau; DPR Korea; Kazakhstan; Korea; Mongolia; and Japan.
South East Asia: Brunei; Cambodia; Indonesia; Laos; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; and Vietnam.
South Central Asia: Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Bhutan; India; Maldives; Nepal; Pakistan; Sri Lanka; and Uzbekistan.
West Asia: Bahrain; I. R. Iran; Jordan; Kyrgyzstan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Oman; Yemen; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; and United Arab Emirates.
|
