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Right . . It's time to give it a shot . . I'm going to draft a proposal for the match format to be changed for the 2008 Croydon Summer Pool League . .

This is my proposal . . Please let me know your thoughts and it will be adjusted where necessary prior to it being submitted . . CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ONLY PLEASE!

Maximum of 10 players per squad
Reducing the squad size in line with the minimum number of players required to form a team

Matches to be played over 10 frames (2 sets of 5)
Giving scope for more frames per night and providing longer match durations to benefit venues

5 players to play first set . . Up to two 'substitutions' can be made in the second set . . Therefore up to 7 players can play in any one match . . Substitutions do not HAVE to be made so there is the possibility that 5 players can play twice per match.
Opportunity for players to play more than one per night . . Less players required to make a match will suit the Summer League where it is thought to be less 'important' than the Winter League and where unfortunately players tend to turn up less frequently . . Less commitment will be required to start and run a team . .

The away team's second set order to change so that no player to play the same opponent more than once per match . .
Suggested by Scottish-Hustler

Only a player's first frame counts towards towards Divisional Singles wins if they play more than one frame in any match
Makes it fair for teams with larger squads

Where a team turns up with less than 5 players, the picking a player again rule can only be used once with the remaining frames being awarded to the opposition. Where both teams are short of players and the pick again rule has been used, the remaining frames become void.
This still allows flexibility with regards to team numbers but at the same time provides fairness to those teams that turn up with adequate numbers

KnockOut Cup Semi Final to be played to 3 sets of 5 frames and the KnockOut Cup Final to be played to 4 sets of 5 frames . . The substitution rule is applied again with up to two substitutions permitted with the only stipulation being once a player is substituted they cannot be brought back in later in the match (as in football) . . If the final reaches 10-10 a player is picked by their own team to play a one-frame decider to decide the match outcome
To keep the format in line for both league and cup competitions

If the plate competitions remains in place for the 2008 Summer Season, a new Division One Singles KO to be introduced with matches being played to the best of 9 frames throughout . . To be played on Wednesday nights . .
This will attempt to redress the balance where by Division Two and below teams have the possibility of three extra competitions for the same team entry fee

To be in place for the Summer League only as a trial run
There are a lot more things to take into account with the Winter League and a lot more can go wrong if the format doesn't work out so the Summer League to be used as the test