Rules of the League
BURY, TOTTINGTON & DISTRICT WORKSHOPS BOWLING LEAGUE – Rules 2020/21
1. THIS LEAGUE SHALL BE KNOWN AS “BURY, TOTTINGTON & DISTRICT WORKSHOPS BOWLING LEAGUE”. IT SHALL BE COMPOSED OF REGISTERED BOWLING CLUBS IN BURY & DISTRICT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LEAGUE EXECUTIVE.
2. THE EXECUTIVE SHALL BE EMPOWERED TO FORMULATE AS MANY DIVISIONS OF THE LEAGUE AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY. GENERALLY, TWO TEAMS WILL BE PROMOTED AND TWO RELEGATED. IF DIVISIONAL RE-FORMATION IS REQUIRED, ONLY ONE TEAM IS GUARANTEED PROMOTION.
3. THE OFFICIALS OF THIS LEAGUE SHALL CONSIST OF PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, CHAIRMAN, SECRETARY, TREASURER, MATCH SECRETARY, AND THE ELECTED MEMBERS WHO WILL FORM THE EXECUTIVE WHO SHALL HAVE FULL VOTING POWERS.
4. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING SHALL BE HELD ON THE SECOND THURSDAY IN JANUARY 8.30 P.M. WHEN THE OFFICIALS IN RULE (3) WILL BE ELECTED AND THE BALANCE SHEET ADOPTED. AT THIS MEETING EACH CLUB REPRESENTED WILL BE ALLOWED TWO VOTES,
5. MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE SHALL BE HELD ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH EXCEPT APRIL, JULY, SEPTEMBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. MEETINGS COMMENCE AT 8.30 PM. EACH CLUB MUST BE REPRESENTED. NON-ATTENDANCE WILL RESULT IN A FINE OF £5 BEING IMPOSED ON THE CLUB FOR EACH OFFENCE.
6. EACH PLAYER SHALL BE REGISTERED BY HIS/HER OWN CLUB AT A FEE OF £2 PER YEAR. NO PLAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH MORE THAN ONE CLUB IN THIS LEAGUE DURING ANY ONE SEASON.
7. ALL REGISTRATIONS FOR THE SEASON MUST BE FORWARDED TO THE SECRETARY ON OR BEFORE THE FEBRUARY MEETING, ADDITIONAL REGISTRATIONS OF UP TO FOUR PLAYERS PER TEAM CAN BE MADE ON OR BEFORE THE MAY MONTHLY MEETING. ANY REGISTERED NAMES DELETED MUST BE PAID FOR.
8. LEAGUE FEES SHALL BE £35 PER TEAM. NEW CLUBS TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL FEE OF 50p. ANY CLUB WITHDRAWING FROM THE LEAGUE DURING THE SEASON SHALL FORFEIT ALL MONIES PAID; ALSO THEIR RECORD WILL BE EXPUNGED.
LEAGUE COMPETITIONS
9. EACH COMPETING TEAM SHALL CONSIST OF EIGHT PLAYERS ONLY. ALL GAMES SHALL BE 21 UP. STANDARD JACKS TO BE USED IN ALL MATCHES, WHICH SHALL BE MARKED TO SHOW BIAS. NO PRIVATE JACKS TO BE USED. ANY PLAYER NOT APPEARING SHALL HAVE THE SCORE 21-0 RECORDED AGAINST FOR MATCH PURPOSES, BUT FOR AVERAGE PURPOSES THIS SHALL COUNT 21-10. SHOULD IT BE PROVED THAT A TEAM HAS PLAYED A NON-REGISTERED PLAYER IN A LEAGUE MATCH; THE OFFENDING TEAM SHALL FORFEIT THE POINTS AND BE FINED £2. IF THE OFFENCE TAKES PLACE IN A CUP MATCH, THE OFFENDING TEAM SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED.
10. EVENING MATCHES TO COMMENCE AT THE TIME INDICATED IN THE FIXTURE SHEET. COMMENCEMENT TIMES FOR DAYTIME TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS SHALL BE AS NOTIFIED BY THE EXECUTIVE. CAPTAINS OF EACH SIDE MUST HAND TEAM LIST TO OPPONENTS. FOUR PLAYERS TO BE AVAILABLE AT THE COMMENCEMENT TIME OF TEAM MATCHES. REMAINING PLAYERS MUST BE AVAILABLE AS EACH JACK BECOMES AVAILABLE FROM THE FIRST HALF. IN THE EVENT OF PLAYERS NOT HAVING ARRIVED, NAMES TO BE DRAWN FROM MEMBERS PRESENT. VISITING TEAMS TO HAVE FIRST USE OF THE JACK.
11. THE HOME CAPTAINS SHALL HAVE CHARGE OF THE MATCH. ALL HOME TEAMS BE OBLIGED TO PROVIDE MEASURES. THE VISITING TEAM TO BE ALLOWED 15 MINUTES PRACTICE WITH THE STANDARD MATCH JACKS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE APPOINTED TIME OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE MATCH. EACH CLUB TO PROVIDE MARKERS. ANY PLAYER INSULTING A MARKER SHALL BE DEALT WITH BY THE EXECUTIVE.
12. THE HOME TEAM SHALL SEND SCORE CARDS WITH CORRECT RESULT OF ALL MATCHES PLAYED, SIGNED BY BOTH CAPTAINS TO BE RECEIVED BY THE MATCH SECRETARY WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE FINISH OF THE MATCH. ANY TEAM FAILING TO COMPLY SHALL BE FINED £2 FOR EACH OFFENCE.
13. ANY TEAM FAILING TO TURN UP FOR A MATCH, THE MATCH WILL BE AWARDED TO THEIR OPPONENTS WITH THE DEFAULTING TEAM RECEIVING NO POINTS, AND TO BE FIRMED UP, IF NECESSARY AT THE END OF THE SEASON TO SUIT THEIR AVERAGE HOME OR AWAY RESULTS. THE DEFAULTING TEAM WILL ALSO BE FINED £2.
14. ALL MATCHES TO BE PLAYED AS PER FIXTURE LIST EXCEPT CUP MATCHES (SEE RULE 17), UNAVAILABLE GREEN, UNSUITABLE GREEN CONDITIONS AND MUTUALLY AGREED POSTPONEMENTS. THE INABILITY TO RAISE A TEAM IS NOT NECESSARILY AN OPTION FOR POSTPONEMENT AND A CAPTAIN MAY REFUSE THIS REQUEST (SEE RULE 13). ANY MATCHES NOT PLAYED ON THE DATE ARRANGED MUST BE NOTIFIED TO THE MATCH SECRETARY WITHIN 24 HOURS. A NEW DATE WILL BE SET BY THE MATCH SECRETARY AND, WHEREVEVER POSSIBLE, THIS WILL BE ON THE USUAL NIGHT OF THE HOME TEAM. IN BOTH INSTANCES, FINE FOR NEGLECT £1. SUCH MATCHES MUST BE ARRANGED TO TAKE PLACE NO LATER THAN THE PENULTIMATE WEEK OF THE SEASON. THE FIRST WEEK AFTER THE SEASON END IS TO BE RESERVED FOR POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENTS DURING THE LAST WEEK OF THE SEASON. THE CRITERIA TO BE USED FOR NEW DATES, EVEN IF THIS INVOLVES BOTH TEAMS PLAYING TWICE IN THE SAME WEEK, WILL BE EITHER (A) USING THE HOME TEAMS USUAL NIGHT OR (B) THE HOME TEAMS CHOICE OF EITHER A DIFFERENT MID-WEEK NIGHT (EXCEPT MONDAY) OR (C) THE FIRST AVAILABLE FRIDAY ON THEIR OWN GREEN OR (D) THE HOME TEAMS CHOICE OF A NEUTRAL GREEN BASED ON A ‘HOME NIGHT’ OFFERED BY THE MATCH SECRETARY. ANY NEW DATE NOT MUTUALLY AGREED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF THE ORIGINAL DATE WILL BE ARRANGED BY THE MATCH SECRETARY
15. ALL UNFINISHED OR ABANDONED MATCHES DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS TO RE-START AT A LATER DATE. ALL OUTSTANDING GAMES, INCLUDING INCOMPLETE GAMES, SHALL BE REDRAWN FROM THE AVAILABLE PLAYERS BUT PLAYERS FROM GAMES THAT WERE COMPLETED WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY IN THE RE-ARRANGED MATCH.
ALL PLAYER DETAILS AND SCORES OF UNFINISHED OR ABANDONED MATCHES MUST BE NOTIFIED TO THE MATCH SECRETARY IN WRITING, STATING THE REASON, WITHIN 5 DAYS. FINE FOR NEGLECT £2.00
16. THREE POINTS TO BE AWARDED FOR A HOME WIN AND FOUR POINTS FOR AN AWAY WIN. ONE POINT FOR A HOME DRAW AND TWO POINTS FOR AN AWAY DRAW. BONUS POINT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL WINNER. IN THE EVENT OF TEAMS FINISHING LEVEL ON POINTS AT THE END OF THE SEASON, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL WINS WILL DETERMINE THEIR FINAL POSITION. IF THE INDIVIDUAL WINS ARE ALSO LEVEL, THE AGGREGATE POINTS SCORE IN THE TWO MATCHES BETWEEN THE TEAMS SHALL BE USED. IF THESE TWO MATCH POINTS TOTALS ARE LEVEL, USE THE AGGREGATE MATCH SCORE. IF THESE ARE LEVEL, TEAMS WILL PLAY OFF ON A NEUTRAL GREEN TO BE DECIDED BY THE EXECUTIVE.
17. CUP MATCHES TO TAKE PREFERENCE OVER LEAGUE MATCHES.
18. ALL LEAGUE MATCHES TO BE PLAYED FROM SCRATCH.
19. ANY CLUB WITH MORE THAN ONE TEAM IN THE LEAGUE MUST STAR FOUR PLAYERS, WHOSE NAMES MUST BE SUBMITTED TO AND APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE. THESE PLAYERS CAN ONLY PLAY WITH THE SENIOR TEAM THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. CLUBS WITH MORE THAN TWO TEAMS MUST STAR AN EXTRA FOUR PLAYERS PER TEAM WHO WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY IN ANY LOWER DIVISION.
KNOCK-OUT COMPETITIONS
20. ALL TEAMS ARE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY FOR THE “HARGREAVES CENTENARY CUP” AND, WHEN ARRANGED, FOR THE RESPECTIVE DIVISIONAL K.O. TROPHIES. ALL TEAMS WILL BE HANDICAPPED TO SUIT THEIR DIVISIONAL PLACING PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 8 POINTS FOR THE AWAY TEAM. CUP MATCHES TO BE PLAYED ON FIRST TEAM OUT OF DRAW AT HOME AND BE BASED ON A METHOD RATIFIED AT EACH AGM. SEMI-FINAL AND FINAL ONLY TO BE ON NEUTRAL GREEN.
21. IN THESE COMPETITIONS RULES 6 TO 15 AND RULE 19 SHALL APPLY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LAST CLAUSE IN RULE 10, WHICH SHALL READ “CAPTAINS TO DECIDE FIRST USE OF FOUR JACKS BY TOSS OF A COIN”. CUP GAMES TO BE DECIDED ON AGGREGATE ONLY. IN THE EVENT OF A DRAW THE TEAM WITH THE GREATEST HANDICAP (EXCLUDING THE AWAY TEAM ALLOWANCE) SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE THE WINNER.
22. NO TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED TO PLAY ANOTHER PLAYER WHO HAS ALREADY TAKEN PART IN ANY OTHER TEAM IN THESE COMPETITIONS DURING ANY ONE SEASON. ANY TEAM FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING THIS RULE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
23. PLAYERS IN THESE COMPETITIONS MUST QUALIFY BY PLAYING ONE LEAGUE GAME FOR THE ACTUAL TEAM PRIOR TO THE SEMI-FINALS. ANY TEAM PROVED GUILTY OF VIOLATING THIS RULE WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
24. NO PLAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED TO PLAY IN MORE THAN ONE DIVISIONAL CUP COMPETITION IN THE SAME SEASON. ANY PLAYER HAVING PLAYED IN 6 OR MORE LEAGUE MATCHES IN A SENIOR DIVISION SHALL BE DEBARRED FROM COMPETING IN A LOWER DIVISION CUP COMPETITION. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL MEAN TEAM DISQUALIFICATION.
DIVISIONAL INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP COMPETITION
25. INDIVIDUAL HANDICAP COMPETITIONS MAY BE ARRANGED FOR EACH DIVISION OF THE LEAGUE. THE WINNER TO HOLD THE TROPHY FOR THE ENSUING 12 MONTHS. THE ENTRANCE FEE WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE EXECUTIVE.
26. PLAYERS WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN ONE COMPETITION. THIS TO BE THE ONE IN WHICH PARTICULAR DIVISION “THE PLAYER” IS TAKING PART.
27. SEE RULE (24)
CHALLENGE CUPS
28a: THE VICE PRESIDENTS CUP (SINGLES) SHALL BE ARRANGED AS A COMPETITION FOR ALL LEAGUE MEMBERS. THE VENUE AND ENTRANCE FEE WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE EXECUTIVE.
28b: THE MAXIMUM DISTANCE FOR A MARK TO BE SET IN THE THREE PAIRS COMPETITIONS UNDER RULES 28C, 29A AND 29B IS TO BE 37 METRES.
28c: THE PRESIDENTS CUP (PAIRS) COMPETITION FOR ALL LEAGUE MEMBERS TO BE PLAYED AT SEEDFIELD BOWLING CLUB. THE DATE, ENTRANCE FEE AND FORMAT TO BE DETERMINED BY THE EXECUTIVE.
29a: THE CHARLES SWARIES MEMORIAL ROSEBOWL (PAIRS) COMPETITION TO BE PLAYED AT TOTTINGTON CONSERVATIVE CLUB ON A MUTUALLY CONVENIENT DATE FOR MRS. SWARIES AND TOTTINGTON CONSERVATIVE CLUB. THE FORMAT TO BE DECIDED BY TOTTINGTON CON AND THE EXECUTIVE.
29b: THE HARRY HARPER MEMORIAL TROPHY (PAIRS) COMPETITION TO BE PLAYED AT STANLEY CONSERVATIVE CLUB. DATES AND FORMAT OF THIS COMPETITION TO BE DECIDED BY STANLEY CON AND THE EXECUTIVE.
CLAIMS AND OBJECTIONS
30. ANY CLUB WHO SHALL HAVE CAUSE TO CLAIM AGAINST ANOTHER CLUB FOR ANY EXPENSE INCURRED SHALL SUBMIT SAME TO THE LEAGUE SECRETARY, WHO SHALL BRING THE MATTER BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE TO DECIDE.
31. ANY CLUB RAISING AN OBJECTION UNDER THESE RULES SHALL DO SO WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF THE MATCH IN QUESTION AND SHALL LODGE A DEPOSIT OF £10 WITH THE LEAGUE SECRETARY WHICH WILL BE FORFEITED SHOULD THE OBJECTION BE PROVED FRIVOLOUS OR GROUNDLESS.
GENERAL RULES
32. ALL GAMES SHALL BE PLAYED UNDER B.C.G.B. ASSOCIATION LAWS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.
33. SUITABLE INDIVIDUAL MOMENTOES WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS OF ALL COMPETITIONS.
34. INDIVIDUAL TROPHIES TO BE TAKEN TO THE GREENS ON THE DAY THEY ARE COMPETED FOR. ANY CLUB OR INDIVIDUAL FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THIS RULE SHALL BE FINED £3 AND PAY FOR ENGRAVING.
35. THE EXECUTIVE SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING NOT COVERED BY THESE RULES.
36. THESE RULES SHALL NOT BE ALTERED EXCEPT AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OR SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING CONVENED FOR THAT PURPOSE BY THE LEAGUE SECRETARY, WHO SHALL HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED ALTERATIONS 28 DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING. THE SECRETARY TO NOTIFY EACH CLUB OF THE PROPOSAL.
37. THE JANUARY MEETING EACH YEAR TO BE THE LAST DATE FOR CLUB REGISTRATIONS AFTER WHICH ALL CLUBS SHALL BE DEEMED AS MEMBERS FOR THE FOLLOWING SEASON (SEE RULE 8)
38. ANY TEAM FAILING TO TURN UP OR GIVE REASONABLE NOTICE IN CUP COMPETITIONS TO LOSE ANY PRIZE MONEY THAT MAY BE DUE AND BE FINED BY THE LEAGUE.
39. CLUBS MUST PAY ALL MONIES OWING ON OR BEFORE THE JUNE MEETING OR BE FINED £5. NAMES OF CLUBS OWING TO BE READ OUT AT THE JULY MEETING.
40. ALL KNOWN BOWLERS TO BE OFF SCRATCH IN SUCH COMPETITIONS AS THE “HARRY HARPER”, “CHARLES SWARIES” AND VICE PRESIDENTS CUP. THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE.
41. EACH CLUB SHALL PROVIDE A RAFFLE PRIZE FOR THE ANNUAL PRESENTATION NIGHT. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A £10 FINE PAYABLE BEFORE THE START OF THE FOLLOWING SEASON, ALSO EACH CLUB TO PURCHASE FIVE TICKETS FOR THE ANNUAL PRESENTATION NIGHT.
42. IN ORDER TO SELECT THE SEASON’S SPORTING TEAM, EACH TEAM, AT THE OCTOBER MEETING, IS TO NOMINATE THREE TEAMS FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE DIVISION IN THE ORDER OF FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD CHOICE. THESE THREE TEAMS WILL BE AWARDED 3, 2 AND I POINTS RESPECTIVELY WHICH WILL BE CARRIED FORWARD TO ESTABLISH THE SPORTING TEAM FROM EACH DIVISION. THE OVERALL WINNER OF THE SPORTING TEAM TROPHY WILL BE SELECTED FROM THE DIVISIONAL WINNERS AND BE BASED ON THE TEAM WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF POINTS. IN THE EVENT OF A TIE, A COUNTBACK WILL BE APPLIED TO THE NUMBER OF FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD CHOICES IN THE TEAMS RESPECTIVE DIVISIONS.