League Rules
3. LEAGUE BYELAWS
3.1. Leagues (See also clause 1.8 of Constitution re eligibility of players)
3.1.1. The Association will organize and control three separate Leagues as follows;
(a) Championship League comprising teams of four rinks normally played on a Thursday evening. All Affiliated Clubs shall have the right to enter one team only.
(b) Two Combination Leagues, comprising teams of three rinks and three triples, normally played on a Tuesday evening. Affiliated Cubs may enter more than one team.
(c) All Leagues shall comprise a number of divisions, each normally consisting of not more than eight and not less than six teams.
(d) Promotion and Relegation between divisions within each League shall take place on the basis of two up and two down. Where there is a need to reorganize the League due to a change in the total number of teams, then such reorganization will take place after effecting such relegation and promotion.
3.1.2. Any urgent business concerning the running of the League during the League season, shall in the first instance be dealt with by any League Liaison Group set up in Accordance with the Association Byelaws.
3.1.3. Application by clubs to enter new teams in the League for the ensuing season, must be submitted to the League Secretary not later than 31st December each year. Notice of intended withdrawal must also be submitted by the same date. Any new team will be admitted to the lowest division.
3.1.4. If a team withdraws before the start of the season and after the issue of the League Program, the League Liaison Group may decide how the vacancy shall be filled. If the withdrawal is during the season, all games played against that team shall be considered void.
3.2. League Rules
3.2.1. Each team shall play home and away with each other team in accordance with the program drawn up by the League Secretary, and approved by the Management Committee.
3.2.2. Where one club has more than one team in the same division, then the fixtures shall be arranged that these teams play each other as early as possible in each half of the season.
3.2.3. Where both clubs are in agreement, any League match may, with the approval of the League Secretary, be played before the stated date.
3.2.4. All League matches shall normally commence at 1815 hours unless mutually agreed between the two respective Teams.
3.2.5. A League Game may be postponed where the green has been declared unfit for play by the home club green keeper and/or captain or match secretary, with the opposing captain/match secretary having been advised immediately the decision has been made. The new date for the scheduled League Game to take place must be agreed within 14 days of the postponement, with the home captain/match secretary having offered two dates to the opposing captain/match secretary. The League Secretary must also be notified of both the postponement and the rearranged date agreed within 14 days. Should any game fail to be replayed, for whatever reason, the competing clubs are each required to submit their reasons to the League Secretary. The outcome of the awarding or deletion of points, or any other action shall be determined by the Executive Group, based on the facts submitted by both clubs, in written or oral form.
3.2.6. Twenty-one ends (21) shall normally be played by each rink and eighteen ends in the case of triples. In each case the rinks being allocated by draw. No pre-selection of rinks is permissible. There will normally be 2 trial ends and the visitors will have the choice of casting the first jack.
3.2.7. Should any rink be short of a player at the due time of commencement of play (fifteen (15) minutes grace being allowed) the incomplete rink shall play 3.3.2 bowls respectively and forfeit 25% of their score. In the case of triples following the same 15 minute grace the rink shall play 4.4. and 3.3.2.bowls respectively and forfeit 33% of their score. Should a rink be more than one player short after the period of grace, the point for the rink plus (10) shots will be awarded to the complete team.
3.2.8. If during the course of the game, a player has to leave the green, owing to illness or other reasonable cause; his place may be taken by a substitute who shall be a member of the same Club. If no substitution is made, the defaulting rink shall lose 25% of their score from that period only until the completion of the match.
3.2.9. . When it is impractical in the opinion of the captains of the teams (or in the event of disagreement by them, in the opinions of the majority of skips) either to start or finish a match on account of weather/green conditions, the remaining ends of the match shall be resumed, with the teams to oppose one-another with, as near as possible the same fours, within fourteen (14) days on a date agreed by the two captains. The result of the agreement shall be notified to the League Secretary within two days (2) of the original date by the home Club. In the event of eighteen (18) or more ends being completed by each rink the total will be considered to be the final score. In the case of triples 15 ends must have been completed before the score can count. Should any match fail to be completed for whatever reason, the competing clubs are each required to submit their reasons for the non-completion within two days of the event, to the League Secretary, The outcome of awarding or deletion of points or any other action shall be determined by the Executive Group, based on the facts submitted by the Clubs in written or oral form.
3.2.10. The Points for League Matches shall be;
Championship League; 1 point for each winning rink or 1/2 point for tie;4 points to the team with the highest aggregate score or two points to each team for a tie.
Combination League; 1 point for each winning rink or 1/2 point for tie;3 points to the team with the highest aggregate score or 1 1/2 points to each team for a tie;
3.3. Champions
The Team which, on completion of the league program, scores the highest number of points shall be declared the Champion Team in that division for the Year. In the event of a tie in the number of points held by two or more teams in that division, shot difference shall be taken into consideration and the winner shall be the team with the best difference. In the event of equality on points and shot differences, and number of winning ends, the championship will be declared shared. (Clubs are required to retain all score cards for each match until the end of season and will produce said cards to the League Secretary if called upon to do so.
3.4. Match Results
The result of league matches shall be detailed on a card on which the names of all participating players shall be entered together with individual rink and aggregate scores.
This result card shall be signed by both team captains and sent direct by the home team to the League Secretary immediately following each completed match. The League Secretary shall compile and issue league tables to each competing club, at two weekly intervals for the first eight weeks of the season and weekly thereafter. Individual rink score cards signed by the skips of each rink shall be retained by each club and produced at the request of the League Secretary. Each rink score card must contain the names of the competing players before the commencement of the game, and amended only when a substitute is used as per clause 3.2.7 and 3.2.8 above.
3.5. Restriction of Players (See also Clause 1.8)
3.5.1. Any player, who has played during the current season as a skip in the Championship League, shall not be permitted to play as a skip in a Combination League match in that season. Any Club found in breach of this restriction shall have three (3) points deducted for each defaulting rink in any Combination League match in that season.
3.5.2. Any player who has played in a Combination League match in any week of the current season may not play in a different Combination team of the same Club in the same week (Monday to Sunday). Any team violating this byelaw shall be penalised as below for the rink in which that player played in his second game in the same week. This Rule shall not apply to a player who started in a game which is stopped because of bad weather, and where the game is resumed in a different week.
3.5.3. Defaulting Combination League Player For one defaulting player, the rink will lose their shots score in this game together with any rink point gained, the latter which in lieu, will be awarded to their opponents. The said opponents will retain their own actual shots scored in that rink game. For two or more defaulting players in the same team, in the same game all six (6) points will be automatically awarded to the opponents’ team in that match, and said opponents will retain their own actual scored shots. Any points and/or shots removed from the defaulting team in the manner described above will be deleted from the league records.
3.6. Appeals
a.) Any urgent business concerning the running of the leagues during the season, shall in the first instance be dealt with by the League Liaison Group set up in accordance with byelaw 1.2.6.
b.) Any club wishing to complain about any violations within these league byelaws, should do so within seven days of the match, sent in written form to the League Secretary.
c.) Any appeal from the decisions of the League Secretary or League Liaison Group shall be made to the Emergency Committee in accordance with the Constitution.
3.1. Leagues (See also clause 1.8 of Constitution re eligibility of players)
3.1.1. The Association will organize and control three separate Leagues as follows;
(a) Championship League comprising teams of four rinks normally played on a Thursday evening. All Affiliated Clubs shall have the right to enter one team only.
(b) Two Combination Leagues, comprising teams of three rinks and three triples, normally played on a Tuesday evening. Affiliated Cubs may enter more than one team.
(c) All Leagues shall comprise a number of divisions, each normally consisting of not more than eight and not less than six teams.
(d) Promotion and Relegation between divisions within each League shall take place on the basis of two up and two down. Where there is a need to reorganize the League due to a change in the total number of teams, then such reorganization will take place after effecting such relegation and promotion.
3.1.2. Any urgent business concerning the running of the League during the League season, shall in the first instance be dealt with by any League Liaison Group set up in Accordance with the Association Byelaws.
3.1.3. Application by clubs to enter new teams in the League for the ensuing season, must be submitted to the League Secretary not later than 31st December each year. Notice of intended withdrawal must also be submitted by the same date. Any new team will be admitted to the lowest division.
3.1.4. If a team withdraws before the start of the season and after the issue of the League Program, the League Liaison Group may decide how the vacancy shall be filled. If the withdrawal is during the season, all games played against that team shall be considered void.
3.2. League Rules
3.2.1. Each team shall play home and away with each other team in accordance with the program drawn up by the League Secretary, and approved by the Management Committee.
3.2.2. Where one club has more than one team in the same division, then the fixtures shall be arranged that these teams play each other as early as possible in each half of the season.
3.2.3. Where both clubs are in agreement, any League match may, with the approval of the League Secretary, be played before the stated date.
3.2.4. All League matches shall normally commence at 1815 hours unless mutually agreed between the two respective Teams.
3.2.5. A League Game may be postponed where the green has been declared unfit for play by the home club green keeper and/or captain or match secretary, with the opposing captain/match secretary having been advised immediately the decision has been made. The new date for the scheduled League Game to take place must be agreed within 14 days of the postponement, with the home captain/match secretary having offered two dates to the opposing captain/match secretary. The League Secretary must also be notified of both the postponement and the rearranged date agreed within 14 days. Should any game fail to be replayed, for whatever reason, the competing clubs are each required to submit their reasons to the League Secretary. The outcome of the awarding or deletion of points, or any other action shall be determined by the Executive Group, based on the facts submitted by both clubs, in written or oral form.
3.2.6. Twenty-one ends (21) shall normally be played by each rink and eighteen ends in the case of triples. In each case the rinks being allocated by draw. No pre-selection of rinks is permissible. There will normally be 2 trial ends and the visitors will have the choice of casting the first jack.
3.2.7. Should any rink be short of a player at the due time of commencement of play (fifteen (15) minutes grace being allowed) the incomplete rink shall play 3.3.2 bowls respectively and forfeit 25% of their score. In the case of triples following the same 15 minute grace the rink shall play 4.4. and 3.3.2.bowls respectively and forfeit 33% of their score. Should a rink be more than one player short after the period of grace, the point for the rink plus (10) shots will be awarded to the complete team.
3.2.8. If during the course of the game, a player has to leave the green, owing to illness or other reasonable cause; his place may be taken by a substitute who shall be a member of the same Club. If no substitution is made, the defaulting rink shall lose 25% of their score from that period only until the completion of the match.
3.2.9. . When it is impractical in the opinion of the captains of the teams (or in the event of disagreement by them, in the opinions of the majority of skips) either to start or finish a match on account of weather/green conditions, the remaining ends of the match shall be resumed, with the teams to oppose one-another with, as near as possible the same fours, within fourteen (14) days on a date agreed by the two captains. The result of the agreement shall be notified to the League Secretary within two days (2) of the original date by the home Club. In the event of eighteen (18) or more ends being completed by each rink the total will be considered to be the final score. In the case of triples 15 ends must have been completed before the score can count. Should any match fail to be completed for whatever reason, the competing clubs are each required to submit their reasons for the non-completion within two days of the event, to the League Secretary, The outcome of awarding or deletion of points or any other action shall be determined by the Executive Group, based on the facts submitted by the Clubs in written or oral form.
3.2.10. The Points for League Matches shall be;
Championship League; 1 point for each winning rink or 1/2 point for tie;4 points to the team with the highest aggregate score or two points to each team for a tie.
Combination League; 1 point for each winning rink or 1/2 point for tie;3 points to the team with the highest aggregate score or 1 1/2 points to each team for a tie;
3.3. Champions
The Team which, on completion of the league program, scores the highest number of points shall be declared the Champion Team in that division for the Year. In the event of a tie in the number of points held by two or more teams in that division, shot difference shall be taken into consideration and the winner shall be the team with the best difference. In the event of equality on points and shot differences, and number of winning ends, the championship will be declared shared. (Clubs are required to retain all score cards for each match until the end of season and will produce said cards to the League Secretary if called upon to do so.
3.4. Match Results
The result of league matches shall be detailed on a card on which the names of all participating players shall be entered together with individual rink and aggregate scores.
This result card shall be signed by both team captains and sent direct by the home team to the League Secretary immediately following each completed match. The League Secretary shall compile and issue league tables to each competing club, at two weekly intervals for the first eight weeks of the season and weekly thereafter. Individual rink score cards signed by the skips of each rink shall be retained by each club and produced at the request of the League Secretary. Each rink score card must contain the names of the competing players before the commencement of the game, and amended only when a substitute is used as per clause 3.2.7 and 3.2.8 above.
3.5. Restriction of Players (See also Clause 1.8)
3.5.1. Any player, who has played during the current season as a skip in the Championship League, shall not be permitted to play as a skip in a Combination League match in that season. Any Club found in breach of this restriction shall have three (3) points deducted for each defaulting rink in any Combination League match in that season.
3.5.2. Any player who has played in a Combination League match in any week of the current season may not play in a different Combination team of the same Club in the same week (Monday to Sunday). Any team violating this byelaw shall be penalised as below for the rink in which that player played in his second game in the same week. This Rule shall not apply to a player who started in a game which is stopped because of bad weather, and where the game is resumed in a different week.
3.5.3. Defaulting Combination League Player For one defaulting player, the rink will lose their shots score in this game together with any rink point gained, the latter which in lieu, will be awarded to their opponents. The said opponents will retain their own actual shots scored in that rink game. For two or more defaulting players in the same team, in the same game all six (6) points will be automatically awarded to the opponents’ team in that match, and said opponents will retain their own actual scored shots. Any points and/or shots removed from the defaulting team in the manner described above will be deleted from the league records.
3.6. Appeals
a.) Any urgent business concerning the running of the leagues during the season, shall in the first instance be dealt with by the League Liaison Group set up in accordance with byelaw 1.2.6.
b.) Any club wishing to complain about any violations within these league byelaws, should do so within seven days of the match, sent in written form to the League Secretary.
c.) Any appeal from the decisions of the League Secretary or League Liaison Group shall be made to the Emergency Committee in accordance with the Constitution.
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