Team KO Rules

CMBL  Team Knock-Out Shield Competition Rules 2025 (as at 31/3/25)

1. The Team KO Competition

a. Competitions – There will normally be organised two Team KO Competitions in each season. Teams in divisions 1, 2 and 3 will be entered into one competition and teams in division 4, 5 and 6 will be entered into the second competition.

b. Disputes – If any dispute should arise concerning a match the matter must be reported within 48 hours in writing to the Hon Secretary for a ruling by the Executive Committee.

c. Regulations - The ‘Laws of the Sport of Bowls’ and those of ‘Bowls England’ shall apply to this competition unless otherwise modified by these Team KO Rules.

(The Laws of the Sport of Bowls and these Team KO Shield Competition Rules have been drawn up in the spirit of true sportsmanship. So, if a situation arises that is not covered by these laws/rules, players, markers and umpires must use their common sense and a spirit of fair play to decide on the appropriate course of action.

d. Competitors - All competitors must be members of their club and may only play for the team for which they are registered to play in the CMBL League.

No player may play in both KO competitions and may only play in one team in any one season. All players must be registered players of the team prior to the semi-final round.

2. Playing arrangements

a. Fixtures – The competitions shall be decided by the initial draw and played on the dates stipulated.

b. Number of rinks - Each match shall consist of two rinks of four registered players. One rink to play at home and one rink away. By mutual agreement both rinks can be played on the same green.

c. Starting time – All matches including trial ends are to commence by 6.15pm. This may be varied with the agreement of both Team Captains/Skips to allow known missing players to arrive. The start time however shall not be delayed any longer than 15 minutes. (Rule 3d may also apply) With the agreement of both Team Captains/skips trial ends may be dispensed with.

d. Players missing – A team having less than seven players available at the ‘Starting Time’ (Rule 2c) shall forfeit the match to their opponents. Any team competing with a rink of three players shall have three bowls for each of the lead and second player and two bowls for the skip. A match so started must complete in the same manner. The rink with three players will have their score reduced by one fourth of the total shots scored (including decimal places) to be deducted from their score after the game has finished.

e. Number of ends – All matches shall consist of eighteen ends. If the aggregate scores are equal when all ends have been played (Home & Away) an extra end must be played by the Home rink (First named team in the draw) to decide the result.

f. Rink/Green Fees – All rink and green fees shall be paid by the host club playing on their own green.

g. Result reporting – The winning team must telephone the Hon. Competition

Secretary with the result within 24 hours. One set of signed score cards must be sent by first class mail or by electronic mail as a true record of their rink scores.

h. Teams in default – A team in default of these ‘Playing arrangements’ shall be deemed to have lost the match.

3. Postponements

a. Rearrangement - If a team KO match is postponed due to weather conditions, the venue not being available or other unforeseen circumstance not otherwise covered by these rules the match shall be played within eight days of the postponement.

b. Notifications - The rematch date shall be notified to the Hon. Competition Secretary within two days of the original date.

c. Qualifying Ends - In the event of a match being unable to be finished due to weather conditions – provided two thirds (2/3) of the scheduled ends are complete (i.e. twenty four ends in an eighteen end two rink match) the score at the time of abandonment will stand as the final result. Otherwise Rule 3a and 3b applies.

d. Dangerous Conditions – In the event of conditions being considered dangerous to the players (e.g. lightening) the match or rink must be postponed and Rule 3a, 3b or 3c shall apply as appropriate.

e. Exceptional Circumstance – In the event of exceptional circumstances not otherwise covered by these rules at least two independent Officers of the Committee shall be empowered to agree a postponement of a match.

 As of 31/3/2025

End.