Club League Rules

STAMFORD AND DISTRICT INDOOR BOWLS ASSOCIATION

Rules for League Play

1. League composition

The leagues will be arranged in pairs, Aussie pairs, triples or fours format to be either open, mixed or single gender as determined by the Management Committee each season, depending on the needs of the club.

These and any other League combinations as determined by the Management Committee shall be arranged in Morning, Afternoon or Evening sessions. The Leagues may be divided into Divisions. Where there are two or more divisions, they may alternate between sessions as published.

2. Eligibility & registration

2.1 All players must be fully paid up members of the Stamford & District Indoor Bowls Association. Teams playing persons who have not paid their subscriptions will be in default of these rules and for each match played the non-defaulting team will be awarded the  match and 2 points and a 5-0 scoreline (save that, the original scoreline will stand if the non-defaulting team won the match by more than 5 shots), unless exceptional circumstances apply.

2.2 The maximum number of players that can be registered in any  fours or triples team is eight and in any pairs team is six and Team Captains should ensure that they have an adequate number of players to fulfil their League fixtures. It is the responsibility of Team Captains to ensure that each of their registered players play in a balanced number of matches in accordance with their wishes.

2.3 Additional players may be registered after the start of the season - within the limits stated in rule 2.2. Registration must be made in writing or by telephone to the League Secretary. 

2.4 A player may not be registered for more than one Team in any League.

2.5 The prescribed league registration fee shall be paid before the start of the season, or on the occasion of their first League match.

2.6 A player may only transfer to another team within any League prior to January 31st of a current winter season and with the written consent of both Captains.

3. Substitutes.

3.1 In order to limit the number of rearranged League matches, full use of substitutes must be made. The number/gender of the substitute(s) must be in accordance with the specified League format. One registered Team member must always play. A substitute must be a fully paid up member of the Club and not registered with any other team in that League. If there are 2 or more divisions in any league then a player registered with a team in one division can play as a substitute for a team in another division of that league.

3.2 In all Leagues (with the exception of the Aussie pairs league) , substitutes may play in any position other than Skip and if so the non-defaulting team will be awarded the match and 2 points and a 5-0 scoreline (save that, the original scoreline will stand if the non-defaulting team won the match by more than 5 shots), unless exceptional circumstances apply.

3.3 The word 'SUB'; must be entered clearly beside the player(s)' name(s) on the scorecard. The Substitute may be a registered player in other Leagues but may play only once in any one League in any one week. (See rules 1 & 3.1).

3.4 A substitute may only play three times for any one team in any season.

3.5 A sheet will be posted on the notice board to enable eligible players to list sessions for which they are available as a substitute.

4. Play

4.1 The official scorecard must be collected and the rink fees paid before commencement of play. Any Team not in attendance shall be responsible for the payment of the rink fees of both Teams; the only exception being inclement weather or such good reason acceptable to an emergency subcommittee composed of the League Secretary and two other members of the Management Committee.

If the reason for non-attendance is accepted by the emergency subcommittee then the Captains must (within 7 days of being informed of the decision) mutually rearrange the fixture. For the avoidance of doubt, the rearranged match does not need to be played within 7 days of being informed of the emergency subcommittee’s decision but a date for the rearranged match must be fixed within that 7 day period. Failure to mutually rearrange the fixture will result in the match being declared a 0-0 draw and both teams being responsible for payment of their own team’s rink fees, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

4.2 No Trial ends are permitted

4.3 Timed matches will commence after the sounding of a starter signal. A signal will sound again indicating the end of the session. At the sound of the signal, providing that 18 ends have not been completed, a final end may be played providing that the jack has been cast from a proper stance on the mat by the appropriate Lead.

4.4 In the event of a jack in motion passing completely outside the confines of the rink or rebounding to a distance of less than 20 metres from the front of the mat the end must not be declared dead. Instead, the jack must be placed at a predetermined spot as follows:

4.4.1 If the jack passes outside the side boundary on the right of the rink, it must be placed on the marked re-spot to the right of the centre line.

4.4.2 If the jack passes outside the side boundary on the left of the rink, it must be placed on the marked re-spot to the left of the centre line.

4.4.3 If the jack passes above the face of the bank that is within the side boundaries of the rink of play it must be placed on the “T”.

4.4.4 If the jack rebounds to a distance of less than 20 metres from the mat line, it must be placed as in rule 4.4.1 or rule 4.4.2 above as appropriate, or in the case of it finishing on the centre line it must be placed as in rule 4.4.3 above.

4.5 Players may not visit the head nor follow  up their bowl so that they obstruct the view of their opponents or interfere in any way with players on an adjoining rink. Except in the course of changing ends, they must be behind the mat when their bowl comes to rest. All players must change ends at the same time as their opponents.

4.6 In the event of a player in Triples or Fours not arriving for the start of a match, the match will start on time and the players play in the following order: -

4.6.1 Triples

Team A plays Team B who are one player short. All players have 3 bowls each

4.6.1.1 Team A wins jack or preceding end

A lead B lead A second : A lead B lead A second : A lead B lead A second

(change ends)

A skip B skip : A skip B skip : A skip B skip

4.6.1.2 Team B wins jack or preceding end

B lead A lead A second : B lead A lead A second : B lead A lead A second

(change ends)

B skip A skip : B skip A skip : B skip A skip

4.6.2 Fours

Team A plays team B who are one player short. All players have 2 bowls each

4.6.1.1 Team A wins jack or preceding end

A lead B lead A second : A lead B lead A second : A third B third : A third B third

(change ends)

A skip B skip : A skip B skip

4.6.1.2 Team B wins jack or preceding end

B lead A lead A second : B lead A lead A second : B third A third : B third A third

(change ends)

B skip A skip : B skip A skip

In both, a member of the Team or an eligible substitute may enter the game after it has commenced to fill the gap left by the missing player, but not play as Skip. The Team in default is liable for payment of the full rink fees for their Team.

4.7 Players must be aware at all times of play on adjoining rinks. If a bowl, which is on a course, which will bring it back to the rink and is bowled with correct bias could collide with a bowl on an adjoining rink, the bowl on the adjoining rink may be lifted and replaced in order to avoid collision.

If a bowl inadvertently collides with a bowl on an adjoining rink whether in motion or at rest, providing that the bowl was delivered with the correct bias and on a course which would bring it back onto its own rink, it or they (if both were in motion) shall be returned and played anew.

4.8 Both scorecards, properly completed with the scores, team name and players names, shall be placed in the basket outside the office window immediately after the match. In addition a representative from each team shall enter the result of the match on one of the ipads/tablets.

4.9 All composition bowls must bear a legible stamp for 1985 or later and can continue to be used without stamping until such time as  the stamp becomes illegible. Any other type of bowls (such as Lignum Bowls) must be stamped every 10 years.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FOREGOING, THE EIBA LAWS OF THE GAME APPLY.

5. Postponements of League Matches

5.1 Substitute players should normally be used to avoid postponing a match.

5.2 A Captain may however individually postpone a fixture in the following circumstances:

5.2.1 When all members of the team are involved in National Competitions.

5.2.2 Exceptional adverse weather conditions.

5.2.3 Recent bereavement.

5.2.4 Exceptional and/or unusual circumstances acceptable to the Emergency subcommittee of the Management Committee (as defined in rule 4.1) and it will be the Team Captain instigating the postponement to raise the matter with the League Secretary who will report to the Emergency Committee.

5.3 Any other postponement has to be by mutual consent of the two Captains failing which the match will be deemed defaulted and the defaulting captain is required to pay both teams rink fees and the non defaulting team will be awarded the match and 2 points and a 5-0 scoreline , unless exceptional circumstances apply.

For all postponements the Team Captain must notify the  League Secretary and the opposing Team as quickly as possible and ensure that the rink is cancelled.

5.4 Where the opposition has agreed to a postponement the Team Captain instigating the postponement must, within 7 days of the match being postponed, agree a suitable date with their opponent and book a new fixture date, notifying the League Secretary of such arrangements. For the avoidance of doubt, the rearranged match does not need to be played within 7 days of the postponement but a date for the rearranged match must be fixed within that 7 day period. If the Team Captain instigating the postponement does not notify the League Secretary that the match has been rearranged within the aforementioned 7 day period then the League Secretary will email the Captain notifying him or her that the match must be fixed within the following 7 days. The Team Captain must then fix a date for the rearranged match within 7 days of receiving the email from the League Secretary failing which the sanction specified below will apply.

5.5 Failure to  rearrange a match in breach of  rule 5.4.2 above will result in the captain of the team postponing the fixture becoming responsible for paying both teams rink fees immediately and the non defaulting team will be awarded the match and 2 points and a 5-0 scoreline , unless exceptional circumstances apply.

5.6 In the event of the League Secretary having to postpone a League Match he / she will rearrange the match and notify both Team Captains accordingly and if required such matches may have to be arranged on different days or sessions to the norm.

5.7 If a player is unable to complete a match through a genuine illness or injury, a replacement may be permitted on behalf of the player concerned, provided the replacement is either registered for that team or an eligible substitute (i.e. a member of the club who is not registered for another team in the same league). The replacement will play in the same position as the player they have replaced save that if the replacement is a substitute they will not be permitted to play skip.

6. Default

6.1 A Team, which fails to turn up for a match without a good and acceptable reason, will be deemed to be in default. The opposing team will be awarded two points and five shots. The Team in default in these circumstances will be required to pay the entire rink fees of all players of both Teams.

Matches may neither be claimed nor conceded without reference to the Emergency subcommittee of the Management Committee as defined in rule 4.2.

6.2 A team will be deemed to be in default if an ineligible player is fielded and the non-defaulting team will be awarded the match and 2 points and a 5-0 scoreline (save that, the original scoreline will stand if the non-defaulting team won the match by more than 5 shots), unless exceptional circumstances apply.

7. League Tables, League structure, Promotion and relegation.

7.1 In all Leagues, 2 points will be awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw.

7.2 League positions will be decided on:

7.2.1 The number of points - highest,

7.2.2 If equal - shots difference

7.2.3 If still equal, the team that has scored the highest number of shots.

7.3 If there are sufficient Teams, each League will be divided into two or more divisions.

If a 'one division' League from the previous season has sufficient entries to form additional Division(s), the League Secretary shall decide the structure; any new Team usually starting in the lower /lowest Division.

In the case of a Team in the higher Division dropping out from the succeeding season, the League Secretary shall decide on the replacement.

If a Team withdraws during a season all points and shots scored in matches played against such Team will be discounted.

7.4 At the end of the season, promotion/relegation between Divisions of the same League will be on the general principle of two up &  two down but allowances may have to be made to accommodate changes to the number of entered teams in a league.

7.5 To maintain its status in a higher Division, a Team must reregister at least 50% of its players otherwise it will be required to play in a lower Division.

7.6 The Management Committee is empowered to refuse re registration to a Team continually in default or having committed breaches of the Rules.

8. Late arrival for start of a fixture

If an entire team is five minutes late, the team not in default will be awarded two shots.

If an entire team is up to ten minutes late, the team not in default will be awarded four shots.

If an entire team is up to fifteen minutes late, the team not in default will be awarded five shots.

In all instances the non-defaulting Team can waive their entitlement to the award of points against the late arriving Team.

9. Disputes

Any disputes or queries shall be referred in writing to the League Secretary, although any final decision will ultimately rest with the Management Committee.

10. Dress

Dress for all Leagues will be -

10.1 Any colour regulation flat soles shoes.

10.2 (i) Plain grey, black, white or registered coloured trousers (including cropped)/regulation skirts/culottes or (ii) plain grey, black, white tailored shorts, governing body approved shorts in grey, black or white or registered coloured shorts.

10.3 (i) Plain white shirts or white coloured piping or (ii) club registered shirts or (iii) coloured bowls manufacturers shirts or (iv) county or other team regulation shirts as long as the same is worn by all members of the team.

With the exception of registered shirts, trousers or shorts no advertising or promotional material may be displayed other than the bowls manufacturers’ label.

ALL PLAYERS ARE EXPECTED TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A SPORTING MANNER AND NOT BY WORD OR ACT CAUSE OFFENCE OR DISTRESS TO OTHER PLAYERS.

The Management Committee and Directors reserve the right to alter these Rules at any time.

No rules cover all eventualities. It is assumed that members playing in the Leagues will play with the good sporting attitude for which this game is renowned.

Several amendments have been made to correct some anomalies and the misuse of the existing rules by an extremely small minority.

These rules, as amended, were approved by a meeting of the Management Committee on Thursday 28th November 2024   and become effective from the 1st January 2025.

Roger Clarke

League Secretary