UTTOXETER &
DISTRICT BOWLS LEAGUE
(FORMED 1947)
RULES
(updated 2008)
1. The name of the League shall be “The Uttoxeter & District Bowls League”(hereinafter referred to as the League) and run as three Saturday Divisions known as Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3. and Tuesday Over 55s Division 1, Division 2
2
Membership of the
League shall be open only to those clubs affiliating to the British Crown Green
Bowling Association. (Hereinafter referred to as B.C.G.B.A.)
3. All
Clubs in membership of the League to be affiliated to a County Bowling
Association and to have Indemnity insurance in force, and must produce evidence
of same to the Management Committee if, and when requested.
4. The
Officers of the League shall be the President, Vice President, Chairman, Vice
Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Result Secretary/Secretaries, all to be
elected at the A. G. M. of the League.
5. The
League shall be managed by a Committee, with executive powers, consisting of
the Officers of the League and two representatives of each club in membership
of the League but only one
representative may vote on a motion. Five members of the Management
Committee shall be required to be present to form a quorum. The Management Committee shall
meet in the months of March/April, September and October and when called upon
by the Executive Committee during the playing season. All clubs to have one delegate at
all Management Meetings. Any
club failing to comply will be fined £5.00.
6. An
Executive Committee consisting of the Officers (named in Rule 4) of the League
together with one representative from each division of the League who will be
elected at the Annual General Meeting. No Club will have more than one
person on the Committee. The
Executive Committee shall meet as and when necessary to act upon matters
arising and will have control over all competitions and will have power to
co-op where they think necessary.
The Executive Committee will have power to call a meeting of the League
Management Committee should they deem it necessary.
7. The
A. G. M. of the League shall be held in February of each year for the purpose
of the election of officers and to receive the financial statement of the
League. To accept Clubs and
Teams into membership of the League.
To discuss and vote upon notices of motion, such notices of motion to be
submitted in writing to the League Secretary by November 30th, of
the previous year and circulated to all clubs in membership of the League. Acceptance or rejection of motions
to be by majority vote. Voting to be two votes per club.
8. The
financial year of the League will be
1st January to 31st December. The accounts will be audited by
auditors appointed from clubs in membership of the League in alphabetical order
(Denstone for 2006). The funds
of the League to be placed in such a bank as may be decided by the Management
Committee.
9. The
fees for membership of the League & Competitions shall be decided annually
at the A. G. M. The
honorariums to be decided at that meeting. League dues for Club and team
entrance fees to be paid before the start of the season.
10. A) Registration of players
1. Only players in possession of a bona fide BCGBA
registration shall be eligible to play in
the League.
2. A list of registered players and their BCGBA registration
numbers shall be prepared annually by the secretary of each club and be made
available to the League Secretary before or at the League’s March
Management Committee meeting.
Each club shall keep their list in accordance with BCGBA byelaws and it
must be made available for inspection by a visiting team, if so requested.
3 The names
of additional players requiring registration during the playing season must be
submitted to the League secretary and the results secretary/secretaries, together
with a valid BCGBA registration number, prior to their taking
part in a league match.
Players registered after the March Management Committee meeting will
only be eligible to play in the team they first play for.
B) “Starring” of Players
1. Clubs entering two teams into the league must star*
five players on the Registration list.
These players will only be eligible to play in the highest placed team
(from the previous season).
Any exceptions will be at the discretion of either the management or the
executive committee
2
Clubs entering three teams into the league must double star** an
additional four players who will only be eligible to
play in either the first or second team (from the previous season). A club with two teams playing in the
same division
may not play any registered player more than three times against any
opposing team in that division.
3 The
responsibility for starring players shall rest with the respective clubs. The
Management or the Executive Committee
reserve the authority to review
the “starred player” list and to reject any players name put
forward and to substitute that player’s name with another from the same
club.
C) Players complying with all
the above regulations shall be deemed eligible to play in the League.
D) Ineligible Players
A club fielding a player who does not comply with any of the above regulations
(for whatever reason) shall forfeit all points scored by the
said player and in the case
of a doubles game shall forfeit all points scored by the said player and their doubles partner. In each case the game/s
shall be awarded to the
opposing team who shall get maximum points (21-nil) .
E)
A player who is a member of more than
one club can only play for one club in League matches.
11.
All League matches
to be played according to B.C.G.B.A. rules and consist of 4 doubles and 8
singles games.
Doubles 21 up. Singles 21 up.
Time for commencing
League matches
12 A
team with no other option than to play their home matches on a Sunday is
acceptable, HOWEVER ALL AWAY MATCHES must be played
on their opponents scheduled home day.
13. In
League matches standard jacks shall be used and be provided by the home
club. Away teams to have
jacks at the start of the match.
14. To
determine the position of teams in the League tables of a division, a total of
492 chalks, (4 doubles = 164 and 8 singles = 328) be played for in each match,
a maximum of 252 to the winners and 240 to their opponents. In the event of an end of season
tie, the team with the lowest chalks against shall win.
15. (a)
a system of promotion and relegation will normally be applied after the finish
of each SEASON, when the final positions of the teams in the divisions are
known. The bottom two teams in
Division one will be relegated to Division two. The top two teams in Division
two will be promoted to Division one. The bottom two teams in Division
two will be relegated to Division three. The top two teams in Division
three will be promoted to Division two.
(b) New teams entering the League will
automatically be placed in the lowest division.
This
may be the only reason to vary the first part of this rule in regard to
promotion and relegation.
Clubs changing name or moving to a different green will maintain their
position in the League.
16. A
team for League matches should consist of
8 players. No team to
play a match with less than 7 players. (This facility is only granted to
teams with a genuine player shortage in order that they may fulfil fixtures and
can only be used three times during a season). In the event of a team having less
than 8 players the opposing Captain will choose those players required to
complete the draw from down turned cards. Any player thus drawn refusing to
play in such games shall forfeit the points at stake. Players drawn to play twice in
singles games can only have their first drawn game which must be first game
played on the green recorded for the purpose of best average result and result
sheets must be marked accordingly.
No alteration to Result Sheet or Cards to be made after the original
draw has been made. A team of
7 players shall be penalised and deducted 20 chalks, by the Results
Secretary/Secretaries, prior to their total score being recorded ,for the
purpose of league tables.
17. All results to be in the
hands of the Results Secretary/Secretaries not later than 5 days after the
match. All defaulters to be
fined £2.00.
18. Any
fixtures clashing with Annual Holiday dates etc. must be re-arranged before the
commencement of the season.
The team asking for the alteration to the fixture will be responsible
for agreeing the alteration with their opponents and notifying the League
Secretary of the same.
Emergency
alterations to fixture dates must be notified to the League Secretary and relative
Club Secretary direct and not via a third person, (only one emergency
alteration allowed to any one team).
Teams whose Club has commitment to other Leagues will have their home
fixtures arranged on Saturdays, wherever possible, but if their greens are not
available for Uttoxeter League games it will be the responsibility of the home
team concerned to re-arrange the fixture with their opponents and notify the
League Secretary before the start of the season.
19. Postponed
matches to be arranged and played before or within 30 days of original
date. All postponed matches
to be notified to the League Secretary and referred to Management
Committee. Notice of
postponement for any fixture (other than that caused by adverse weather on the
day of the match) to be given by the team asking for the same, to the other
club concerned not later than 12 noon on the Thursday prior to match date. Failure to comply with the
conditions of this rules and rule 18 will render the team at fault to forfeit
all points at stake.
20 Where no
agreement can be reached to rearrange a match within the 30 day rule, the
Executive Committee must be informed immediately and a date set by them to play
the match. If the match is
not played on that date, then both teams shall forfeit all points.
21. Abandoned
matches due to adverse weather or other cause to be played/completed within 30
days of the original fixture
date. In those cases were
matches are not completed within the 30 days, only chalks scored in abandoned
matches to stand. All cases
of abandoned matches to be notified to the League
and Result Secretary/Secretaries.
22 In
the event of any Club withdrawing from the League for any reason during the
playing season all matches played by them shall be void and the League Table
altered accordingly. A player
from a club which has withdrawn from the League and wishing to seek
registration with another club within the League must seek permission of the
Management Committee whose decision is final.
23. All
players to be suitably dressed, i.e. shirts or blouses to be worn at all times
during matches. (Vests and
tank tops are not suitable attire).
24. Captains
to referee and be responsible for measuring ends. The Home Captain to have privilege
in organising the order of play.
25. The
teams winning each Division of the League shall be awarded a Trophy and a
prize, the value of which shall be decided by the Management Committee. The Trophies to be held by the
winning teams for 12 months. The teams who are runners up in
each Division of the League to be awarded a prize, the value of which shall be
decided by the Management Committee.
26.
A trophy shall be presented, annually, to
the player with the best average within a division and is awarded a prize to
the value of which shall be decided by the Management Committee.
The
player with the best singles average at the end of the season shall be
determined by taking the total chalks scored by players and dividing this total
by the number of matches played to give the average points scored per
match. The player with the
highest average shall be deemed the winner. In the event of a tie the total
away chalks of the players concerned shall be taken and divided by the number
of away matches played and again the player with the highest average shall be
deemed the winner. In order
to be eligible for consideration in the competition players must have played in
at least 80% of matches.
A
bowler who has a walkover in the match will be awarded a score of 21 –
11. This is to be for best
aggregate only. The Result
sheet is to record the score of 21 – 0 and to be clearly marked “W0” to indicate a walk over, before being sent in to the
Results Secretary.
27. Catering arrangements for
League matches to be left to the teams concerned
28. The
League will run such competitions as the Management Committee shall decide
upon. The rules and fixtures
to be decided by the Management Committee. League trophies awarded to the
winners of such competitions to hold same for 12 months.
29. All
League Trophies presented to winners to be kept securely and in good
order. Any damage or loss,
incurred whilst in the custody of holders to be made good and the loss/repairs
paid for by them. Holders to return
them to the League Secretary at the September Management Committee meeting.
30 No
lady member of the League may represent the League on the Management Committee
of any County.Bowling.Association, in the event of same being an all male body.
31. Special
General Meeting of the League may be called if requested by two-thirds of clubs
in membership. Such requests
to be made in writing and reason stated.
32. These
Rules are not intended to cover every situation but are a basis on which to run
the League. Any matter not
covered by these rules to be referred to and decided upon by the Management
Committee or Executive Committee who shall be the sole interpreter of such
rules.
33 All Clubs in
membership of the League to be supplied with a copy of the rules. Any infringement by anyone to be
reported to the League
Secretary
and dealt with by the Management Committee or Executive Committee.
34 All
Clubs in membership of the League must make their greens available for
competitions. Greens to be decided
upon by Management Committee on a
rota system.
35 Competitions to be
played on a Sunday with the exception of the Frank Crutchley Cup and Albert
Keates Trophy.
36. Results and League tables
shall be published during the season on a two-weekly or monthly basis, in the
local press.
37. Any
team/player having a problem or grievance must inform the League Secretary and
follow up in writing stating same which will be dealt with by the management
Committee or Executive Committee.
The Complainant may attend such meeting.
1. All competitions shall be open to all players
registered with the League.
Entrants must have played at least 3 games in the season before entering
any competition or played at least 30% of games in previous season.
2. Entrants will be allocated to greens and a full draw
on each green will be made from those present at the stated scratch out time.
3. No substitutions will be permitted in singles
competitions, but one of a pair in doubles competitions will be permitted, but
once played no substitution will be allowed,
4. Any player competing on a green where he/she is
currently a member shall owe as follows: 1st round 3 points, 2nd round 2 points and 3rd
round 1 point. Games to be 21 throughout.
5. League trophies will be awarded to the winners of each
competition and to hold same for one year. Any damage or loss incurred whilst
in the custody of the holder(s) to be made good, and the cost of the loss/repairs
paid for by them.
6. Prize money and value to be decided by the Management
Committee.
7. In the event of prizes not being collected by the
winners at the Annual Prize Presentation Evening, any money’s may be
donated to Charity at the discretion of the Management Committtee.
8. Trophies to be returned to the League Secretary on or
before the Management Committee meeting held in September. Failure will render a £5
fine being imposed and until payment the holder(s) at fault will be suspended
from playing in the League.
9. The League will run a Singles Competition for the A. Keates Trophy to be held by the
winner for 12 months. It will
be open only for players aged 60 years and over at the closing date for entries
to be in. The Management
Committee will decide rules for the competition.
10.
Frank Crutchley
Cup.
All
member clubs shall pay a mandatory fee of £5 to enter a team in this
competition, whether they play in it or not.
This
shall be a team competition consisting of 10 named players (8 plus 2 reserves)
played on 2 pairs away and 2 pairs at home, highest chalks scored to decide the
winner, and in the event of a tie then, the team with the highest away chalks
shall be the winner.
11.
Two scorecards shall be marked for each game played in all competitions,
as per B.C.G.B.A. rules.
12.
Measurers shall be appointed by the Management Committee to officiate on
finals day only.
13.
The
Management Committee shall appoint some one to act as referee on finals day
only.
VETERANS DIVISION.
a) The
division shall operate under the above rules with the exception and variations
listed below.
b)
Matches shall be played on a Tuesday’s unless by mutual consent of
both clubs concerned.
Re-arranged matches must be re-arranged at the
fixture
meeting.
c) .
All players registered with the League shall be eligible to play in this
division on attaining 55 years of age
d) Players registered
to play for a club in the Saturday League may register to play for another club
(provided that he /she is a bona fide member of
that
Club) in this division.
e) Rule 11 shall be
varied as follows:
All
match’s to be played in according to B.C.G.B.A. rules and shall consist
of 4 singles and 2 doubles games.
Double21 up, Singles
21 up. A team shall not
consist of less than 6 players.
The time for commencing matches shall be 2pm unless by mutual consent of
both clubs concerned.
f) The singles
games shall first be played.
g) Where
a team consists of less than 8 players taking part in a match – only the
lowest scoring singles player(s) shall be allowed to play again in the
doubles. Should more than the
required number of players to make up the doubles have equal scores then those
chosen to play will be made from down turned cards, and in the event of all
four singles players winning, only those whose opponents have the highest
scores shall be chosen for the doubles. Where only 6 players take part, 2
players having played
on the green, shall not play together as a doubles pair.
h) Rule 13 shall be
varied as follows:
To
determine the position of teams in the League tables of a division, a total off
246 Chalks, (4 singles = 84 and 2 Doubles = 42) to be played for in each match,
a maximum of 126 to the winner and 120 to their opponents. In the event of an end of season tie, the team with the lowest
chalks against shall win.
i) Team fees shall
be paid over to a Charity of the Division Winners Choice.
j) The Winners of
the division(s) shall not receive any prize money.