Promotion and Relegation
The NSDCA runs its league as a set of divisions linked by promotion and relegation each season. Yet there are no rules for deciding these matters. How does this work?
The short answer is that matters relating to the structure of the league are decided on at the AGM on a year by year basis.
Looking more deeply we see that this does not lead to a free for all, since over time a code of what might be called "Normal Practice" has evolved. The practical effect is that
- There is a starting point for discussion.
- Clubs are entitled to ask for variations to suit their specific needs, but cannot demand them.
- When it is not possible to accommodate all requests (or there is a strong feeling that it is not desirable to do so) and a vote is necessary, the majority will usually vote in line with said normal practice. Consequently votes are seldom needed.
My impression of the current position in the evolution of normal practice is:
Size of Divisions
With the total entry varying year by year, it is impossible to fix the size of divisions. However 8 teams seems to be regarded as the best compromise between those clubs without access to other leagues (who might prefer larger divisions, and those that do have such access (and therefore might prefer smaller ones).
When it is not possible to have all divisions of size 8, it is the lower divisions that are first considered for having a different number.
Promotion and Relegation
Where no change in the size of a division is needed: two up, two down.
To increase the size of a division: first relegate one fewer, then promote one more.
To decrease the size of a division first relegate one more, then promote one less. In fact forced reductions in the size of a division are rare other than in an upheaval, so to talk of normal practice here is perhaps misleading, particularly as there is usually at least one club involved who would be willing to play in the lower division.
New Teams
New teams should expect to be placed in the bottom division unless a request to be placed elsewhere can be accommodated without adversely affecting the promotion and relegation rights of other clubs.
Withdrawal of teams
If a club reduces the number of teams it enters year on year then it is the lowest finishing team(s) that is (are) deemed to have been withdrawn regardless of the personnel involved.
Upheavals
If a large number of changes is necessary - for example when there is a change in the number of divisions - the AGM may appoint a (very) small committee to meet while the AGM is discussing other business to produce a suggested structure to present to the meeting.
Precedents
By going back a sufficient number of years a precedent can be found for most things. People hoping to use precedent (or lack of one) to support an argument should be warned that the only precedent that matters is that the AGM decides.
People unfamiliar with such a flexible approach may find the concept rather strange. However it enables the league to operate each year, responding to the wishes of member clubs as seems sensible, without imposing constraints on future decisions in this area. How closely normal practice is followed can and does vary from year to year. In particular if there is a feeling that one or more clubs are trying to abuse the flexibility in the system there will be a tendency in subsequent years to push for a strict following whereas evidence that a club has suffered through an over-zealous application is likely to lead to a more sympathetic approach.
The league has run successfully for very many years without a formal procedure. On the "If it aint broke dont fix it" philosophy, attempts to produce a formal set of rules are liable to meet considerable opposition. This should not be taken to mean that the informal ones are fixed.