2020 - Lytham St. Anne’s Men’s Bowling League
League Rules and Competition Notes
(This League encourages the participation of disabled players and
recognises their needs)
Rule 1: League Name.
The League shall be known as ‘Lytham St.
Anne’s Men’s Bowling League’, and all League matches to be played under
British Crown Green Bowling Association (hereinafter BCGBA) rules.
Rule 2: Executive Committee
The affairs of the League be governed by an Executive Committee elected
annually at the A.G.M. The Officers of the League Committee shall comprise
Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Fixture Secretary and the
Competition Secretary. Any Club without a representative on the Executive
Committee may send a member to a League Committee Meeting, who will have the
power to vote on matters arising.
Rule 3: Subscriptions and Teams
The annual subscription of each Club shall be determined annually at the A.G.M.
A Club wishing to revise the number of
teams competing in the League for that club must notify the secretary in
writing by the 31st October prior to the new season.
Rule 4: Financial Year
The financial year-end of the League shall be the 31st October.
Rule 5: Annual General Meeting
The League A.G.M. shall be held not later than the 31st January and all
members of league clubs may attend. For all matters requiring a vote, a
maximum of three representatives from each club will each cast one vote. All
members of the Executive Committee and Officers of the League, excluding the
Chairman, may represent their Club and exercise one of the Club’s three
votes.
The Chairman may cast an additional casting vote if necessary to break a
tie.
Rule 6: Financial Affairs
The Treasurer shall submit a statement of the financial position of the League
at the A.G.M. and at any other time on request.
Rule 7: Rule Amendments
No League rule shall be altered, except at the A.G.M. Notice of any suggested
alterations must be in the hands of the Secretary by the 21st October, who
shall advise each Club Secretary of any proposed alteration at least 28 days
prior to the date of the A.G.M. Any club wishing to move an amendment to a
proposed amendment shall notify the Secretary, in writing, no later than 7 days
prior to the date of the A.G.M.
Rule 8: Registration of Players
Any new club joining the League must submit a printed list of their members,
wishing to play in the League, to the Fixture Secretary on or before the 31st
March for the coming season. This list should detail Christian name, Surname
& BCGBA Reg no. For all existing clubs in the League, the list of
registered players from the previous season will be automatically carried over
to form their starting list of registered players for the coming season. There
will be no requirement for existing clubs to forward a list of their registered
members to the Fixture Secretary, unless they wish to do so. Any amendments to
a clubs existing list of members can be made at any time by contacting the
Fixture Secretary with details of members to be added or removed from the
existing list. For league matches, and with exception to the last 4 games of
the season, a team may field any player, even if they have not been registered
with the Fixture Secretary, providing that:-
I. They currently hold a valid BCGBA Registration Number OR a number has been
applied for.
II. They are a member of the club.
III. They have not played any other games for another club in the League during
the season. See exception below.
Bowlers shall only be allowed to play for one Club in a specific league in any
one season, i.e Bowlers may play for different clubs in the different leagues,
except prior to the 31st July and provided the player has not played more than
five matches. Individual applications must be made to the Fixture Secretary
with a letter from his existing Club giving permission for transfer to a new
Club. Any transfers must be agreed with the Fixture Secretary before the bowler
can play for the new club. Only registered players may play in the last 4 games
of the season and no new registrations will be permitted during this
period.
Any team in breach of the above will be deemed to have played an unregistered
player.
Rule 9: Matches
The Lytham St Anne’s Men’s Bowling League consists of 3 separate leagues:
1.
Monday
Evening League
2.
Friday
Evening Doubles League - Note: Ladies are
permitted to play in this league.
3.
Veterans
League – Played on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
Rule 10: Player qualification for a Match and the Season
A player may play for any team
within his club at any time, but may only play for one team on any one day and the
total games playable during the season shall not be more than that of any team
within the League concerned. If therefore there are a varying number matches
playable in differing Divisions, of the same League, the player can play up to
the total of the team with the highest number of games playable of a team in
the League concerned.
Even if the match limitation
has not been reached then the following will also apply:
Note: “Lower
league position” is at the date the match is played.
Monday & Friday Evening Leagues: Once a player has WON 6 or more matches for a single team he may not play for another
team which is in a lower league position.
In addition,
during the last four scheduled matches
of the season and where the fixture may affect the Championship, Runner Up or relegation
positions, a player who has played in 8
or more matches for a single team may NOT play for another team which is in
a lower league position.
Veterans League: Once a player has WON 6 or
more matches for a single team he may not play for another team which is in a
lower league position.
In addition,
during the last four scheduled matches
of the season and where the fixture may affect the Championship, Runner Up,
promotion or relegation positions, a
player who has played in 8 or more
matches for a single team may NOT
play for another team which is in a lower league position.
If there is any doubt about the
eligibility of a player, then please check with the fixture secretary before
the match.
Any team playing an ineligible
player shall be subject to the following penalty. The offending player shall
lose the match, the game being awarded 21-0 in favour of the non-offending
team. For the purpose of the League Merit table, the score shall count as 21-15
to the non-offending player. The Match Secretary shall be instructed to draw to
the attention, of the League Officials, any noticeable infringements of this
rule. The League Officials are empowered to take any steps as they deem
necessary. This may include a fine or the deduction of further points if the
circumstances warrant such action.
Rule 11: Promotion and Relegation
Monday Evening League:
Until
such time there is more than one division in the Monday Evening league,
relegation and promotion is not applicable.
Friday Evening Doubles
League:
Until such time
there is more than one division in the Friday league, relegation and promotion
is not applicable.
Veterans League:
Promotion and relegation will apply annually.
The top two teams in Division 2 will be promoted to Division
1, and the bottom 2 teams in Division 1 will be relegated to Division 2 for the
following season.
Rule 12: Commencement of Game
Matches shall commence no later than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time.
If the Captains agree and the conditions or failing light warrant it, they
shall have the necessary power to start the game at an earlier time than that
laid down.
Rule 13: Match Postponement provisions
A match cannot be postponed due to lack
of players, unless it is at the end of the season and does not affect
relegation, promotion or Championship / Runners Up positions and is agreed by
both Captains and The Fixtures Secretary.
Where a match
has been postponed through inclement weather, or unforeseen cause, the
following procedure must be followed:
13.1 Within 24
hours of the match being postponed:
13.1.1 The
Home Captain, or delegate, must offer the Away Captain, or delegate, two alternative
dates, together with the times of play.
13.1.2
These should be on 2 differing days of the week and must be within 14 days of
the original postponement.
13.1.3 If the postponement occurs within 14 days of the end of the season for
that particular team, the alternatives offered MUST be prior to the last
scheduled date laid down for the League fixtures. Where the time constricts the
application of this, the Fixture Secretary must be consulted on the day of
cancellation.
13.1.4 The Home Captain should also ensure that the Fixture Secretary is
informed of the postponement and the alternative dates offered to the Away
team.
13.1.5 If the Away Captain, or delegate, is not offered revised alternative
dates in accordance with 13.1.1 to 13.1.3 of this rule, he should inform the
Fixture Secretary of the fact.
13.2 Within 48
hours from the original time of play:
13.2.1 The Away Captain, or delegate, must accept one of the
alternatives and notify the Home Captain, or delegate, accordingly. He should also
notify the Fixture Secretary of the agreed date of play.
13.2.2 If the Home Captain, or delegate, has not received confirmation of the
revised date within 48 hours, he should inform the Fixture Secretary of this
fact.
13.2.3 The Fixture Secretary then has the power to designate a revised date of
play, which will normally take into account the two dates initially notified by
the Home Captain. He will inform the Away Captain of this revised date and no
appeal will be allowed to this. If either team is not present on this
designated date, their opponents will be awarded a walkover and full match
points as applicable.
13.3 After 72 hours from the original date of play:
13.3.1 If the Fixture Secretary has not received the revised date of play
within this time, he will have the power to designate a date on which the match
MUST be played. Both teams must adhere to this ruling and no appeal shall be
allowed. If either team is not present in the designated date, their opponents
will be awarded a walkover and full match points as applicable.
In this entire rule, the Fixture Secretary will work in conjunction with the
League Officials, but his decision will be final.
Rule 14: Making the Draw
Monday
Evening & Veterans League
The home Captain shall list his players from 1 to 8 on his match
sheet in the order of preference that he wishes them to play in the match.
Without reference to this match team sheet, the away Captain shall hand a list
of his players to the home Captain numbered 1 to 8, in the order of preference
that he wishes them to play. The lists shall be paired and the Match Sheet
completed by the home Captain. The games shall be played in that order, from
which there shall be no deviation. Any player absent when called to play must
be replaced by a reserve and shall not thereafter play in the match.
Friday Evening Doubles League
1.
Matches will consist of
8 players (Gents or Ladies) for each team, made up of 4 pairs.
2.
The pairings will be
decided by turn of a card. Each Captain places 8 score cards face down on the
table containing the name of each player, in any order they wish.
3.
The away Captain then
selects any 2 cards from the home team cards, this decides the first pairing
for the home team. The home captain then selects 2 cards from the away team
cards, deciding their first pairing. These pairing’s play each other. The same
procedure is followed to decide the 2nd, 3rd and 4th
pairings.
4.
If there are enough “Markers” available then
all 4 matches may commence at once. If “Markers” are not available then 3
matches can commence. When one match is completed the fourth match can then
commence.
4(a) If there are
not enough markers available and the Captains agree, then one of the players
playing may “Mark” the card.
5.
When submitting the
results on-line please use the following procedure.
If “Alf and Bert”
from East End ‘A’ play “Colin and David” from Lytham BC ‘A’ and
win 21-16 input as follows:
|
Home Team
|
Away Team
|
|
East End
'A'
|
Lytham
BC 'A'
|
|
Alf
|
21
|
Colin
|
16
|
|
Bert
|
21
|
David
|
16
|
Complete
the scorecard for all four matches and complete the “Total” and “Points” totals
as normal for a singles match. The merit
table will then reflect the top doubles player irrespective of who they have partnered
throughout the season.
Rule 15. Match Practice
Practice other than 15 minutes prior to the start of the match, must not take
place on an opposing teams green on the day of the League match, unless the
player is a member of the opposing Club or involved in a tournament on that
green. In the 15 minutes before a scheduled match start time, the away team has
exclusive use of the green for practice. The visiting Captain shall be
allowed
15 minutes prior to this time to allow for the draw to take place and the match
to commence at the correct time.
Rule 16: First Jack
In each match, the Jack shall be led off by the visiting team.
Rule 17: Provision of Jacks
The home club must provide eight standard Jacks. These standard Jacks, (which
must be in date in accordance with the current BCGBA rules) must be used in
practice before the match; four of these then to be used in the match.
Failure to comply with this rule will result in a fine of £1.00 per
non-certified Jack per match. Not more than four Jacks shall be used on the
green at the same time, except if conditions warrant it and the captains agree.
They shall have the discretionary power to put up to six Jacks on the green at
the same time.
Rule 18: Markers
There shall be two markers for each game. All cases of dispute will be governed
by the Laws of the BCGBA, a copy of which must be held by each club and shall
be interpreted by a both Captains who shall be appointed by the home club
Captain before each match commences.
Rule 19: Walkovers
Each game shall be 21 up, from scratch; a player having a walkover shall count
21-0 for the purpose of the match result, but for Merit purposes, his score
shall count as 21-15.
Rule 20: League Match Points Scoring
System
The result of each match to be calculated as follows:
Both the home and away teams shall receive one point for each winning
player.
An additional two points will be awarded to a home team with the winning
aggregate score.
An additional three points will be awarded to an away team with the winning
aggregate score.
In the event of the aggregate being equal, then one point will be awarded to
the home team and one point will be awarded to the away team.
Rule 21: Final League Table Points
Scoring System
The championship shall go to the team obtaining the greatest number of Match
Points, as decided in Rule 20 above. In the case of a tie for any position in
the League, the positions will be decided by factors in the following
order:
1. The team with the most Games won during the season.
2. The team with the highest Individual Aggregate Points Difference during the
season.
3. The team with the greatest number of Match Points in games between the two
teams during the season.
4. The team with the higher Aggregate Points Difference between the two teams
during the season.
In the event of two or more teams still being level, a play off will take place
between the teams concerned.
The result of the play-off will be decided on the number of Games Won during
the play-off. In the event of a 4-4 tie, the Individual Aggregate Points total
shall be the deciding factor. If the teams are still level, a further play-off
shall take place.
Rule 22: Submission of Results
The detailed result of each match should be transmitted to the Match Secretary,
by each home team captain, or his appointed delegate, within 24 hours of the
completion of the match.
The preferred methods of submission are as follows:
1. Website Input -- Input via the
www.online-bowls.com website by an authorised delegate of each club or
team.
Other accepted methods of submission are;
2. Email. By forwarding an email to
the Match Secretary, attaching a detailed match result sheet.
3. Direct Delivery. The completed
result details should be delivered to the Home address of the Match Secretary.
4. First Class Post. By posting,
first class details of the match result to the Home address of the Match
Secretary.
Rule 23: Cups and Shields
The Challenge Cup and/or Shield, appropriate to each division, shall be held
from year to year by the winners of each division.
Rule 24: League Constitution and
Application for membership
The Constitution of the LSA Men’s Bowling League shall be ratified for the
forthcoming season at each AGM. Any new applications by new clubs or teams for
membership of the League will also be ratified, or otherwise, at this
meeting.
Rule 25: Fines
A Team failing to arrive to fulfil a fixture will be fined £5.00. A Team
playing an ineligible player will be fined £5.00 for each player in addition to
the penalty applied in rule 10.
Rule
26: Merit Prizes
For the League merit prize a player counts 1 point for a
home win and 2 points for an away win. Should more than one player have the
same number of points the one with the highest aggregate shall take the prize.
If players are still equal then the prize will be shared.
Rule 27: Adherence to Fixture List
When clubs have
more than one team in the same division, their fixtures, both home and away will
be scheduled before the last 2 weeks of the season.
All clubs in the League
shall play home and away matches in accordance with the official fixture list
and no alterations shall take place without first receiving permission from the
Fixture Secretary. Any suggested re-arrangement shall be prior to the date specified
in the fixture list. The request for any alteration of any fixture shall be
made at least five days before the proposed date and enclose written agreement
to the alteration by the other club. The Fixture Secretary shall have the power
to arbitrate and sanction re-arrangement of fixtures when necessary. Clubs are
requested to make reasonable allowance for non-availability of popular greens,
wherever possible.
Rule 28: Affiliation
All Clubs shall be affiliated in accordance with the BCGBA Bye-Laws.
Rule 29: Referees
Referees shall be appointed to league or other competition matches at the
discretion of the Executive Committee.
Rule 30: Veterans League
Only players who have attained the age of Fifty-five years or who will attain
that age during the current year shall be eligible to play in the Veterans
Divisions. The rules for the Veterans shall be the same as rules 1 to 29
above.
Rule 31: Presentation Ceremony
In respect of all League Competitions cash prizes will not be paid out prior to
the Presentation Ceremony. Any winner of a cash prize not present at the
Official Presentation shall forfeit it, and the cash will be donated to a local
charity. The name of the charity shall be decided by the Executive
Committee.
General: The Executive Committee has
the power to deal with any matter not provided for in these rules.
The rules have been revised in accordance with amendments carried at the Annual
General Meeting of Wednesday 4th December
2019.
D.D.Hamilton
Secretary
4th December 2019
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