Rules of the Colchester Borough Bowling Association

1. Name and Eligibility

The Colchester Borough Bowling Association, henceforth referred to as “The Association”, shall be open to membership from bowls clubs in the City, Borough and District of Colchester subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting.

2. The Object of the Association

The object of the Association shall be to promote the sport of bowls through competition and good sportsmanship.

3. Executive Committee

The affairs and management of the Association shall be conducted by an Executive Committee.

a. The Executive Committee shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall consist of:

• The President
• Hon. Secretary
• Hon. Treasurer
• Hon. League Secretary
• Hon. Competition Secretary
• Hon. Match Secretary and
• Two Committee Members

b. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held on the first Thursday in December each year.

c. An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be called at the request of 2 (two) clubs in writing to the Hon. Secretary or as may be deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.

d. The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy occurring during the year.

e. Past Presidents of the Association are entitled to attend meetings of the Executive Committee meetings but not to vote.

f. No member of the Executive Committee shall be allowed to vote on any matter pertaining to their own club. Further, if there shall be a dispute between two clubs then no member of the Executive Committee or a Past President shall be allowed to speak on the subject involving their own club if it could be held that to do so may be injurious or prejudicial to the position of the other club.

g. Three members of the Executive Committee shall form a quorum.

h. The finances of the Association shall be in the control of the Hon. Treasurer who shall account to the Executive Committee for the income and expenditure of the Association. Payments up to an agreed amount, as approved from time to time by the Executive Committee, may be made by the Hon. Treasurer without reference to the Executive Committee. Payments more than the approved amount may only be authorised by the Executive Committee. All cheques must be signed by any two of three appointed signatories.

i. The Association shall appoint a Press Officer to issue copy to the local press on all Borough Bowling Association activities.

4. Life Membership

a. The President of the Association shall, on retirement from this position, be made a Life Member.

b. Any member of a club forming part of the Association who, through service or conduct, has contributed to the Association for the benefit of its members, may be recommended by the Executive Committee for election to the position of Life Member of the Association at an Annual General Meeting.

c. At the Association's cost, Life Members shall be presented with a suitable certificate confirming this honour and, where the member holds the cloth badge of the Association, shall be awarded a flash designating the member as a Life Member.

5. Liquidation or Amalgamation of Clubs

a. In the event of a club being wound-up, its name shall be removed from the list of member clubs and the remaining clubs shall constitute the member clubs of the Association.

b. Clubs amalgamating without a change of name shall be known by the first name of their title and their teams shall assume the positions in any league in which that named club has competed in that season. For the purpose of this rule "without change of name" shall mean the incorporation of both names in full.

c. Clubs amalgamating with a change of name shall be regarded as a new club and their teams shall be placed in the lowest divisions of the leagues in which they wish to compete. For the purpose of this rule "with change of name" shall mean any completely new name or a combination of or any part of the names of the amalgamating clubs.

d. An existing club that changes its name should register the change with the Hon. Secretary as soon as possible.

 

[1] Rules of Bowls England refers to the World Bowls “Laws of the Sport of Bowls” Crystal Mark Fourth Edition

6. Leagues, Tournaments and Competitions

a. Except as mentioned in these Rules, the Rules of Bowls England[1] and the Essex County Bowling Association (ECBA) shall apply to all matches in connection with the League, Tournaments and Competitions.

b. Only players from clubs that are full members of the Association are eligible to enter the knock-out competitions.

c. The Association’s leagues, tournaments, and competitions are “open” competitions. For the avoidance of doubt, subject to other specific rules, every player from each member club is eligible to play in these competitions.

d. All trophies must be returned to the Hon. League Secretary or the Hon. Competition Secretary as appropriate no later than the day of the Association's Competition Semi-Finals each year and shall be in good condition. The cost of any required restoration shall be borne by the holding-member's club. Souvenirs shall be presented to the League’s winners and runners-up as the Executive Committee may determine.

e. Protests and disputes shall be decided by the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final. All protests and disputes must be sent from the Club Secretary involved to the Hon. Secretary.  They must be sent in writing within 3 (three) days of the fixture or issue concerned and accompanied by a fee of £1 (one pound) which shall be returned if the protest or dispute is upheld.

7. Registration of Players

a. With the exception of the Medley Double Fours League, players must be registered with the Association in order to be eligible for selection for teams competing in the leagues, tournaments, and competitions.

b. Each club secretary must deliver to the Hon. League Secretary a list of players eligible to play no later than the third Saturday in April each year. This shall constitute registration for that year’s season only.

c. Further players that are club members may be registered only until 30th June to play in the remaining matches of the same season.

d. New players that join clubs after 30th June may be registered to play in the remaining matches of the same season. However, the Hon. League Secretary must receive evidence of their newly joining the club at least seven days before any such player may be selected for any league match.

e. Players are permitted to move between a club's teams subject to the following conditions:

• All players may be selected for any team within the club at the start of each new season.
• Within the same season, no player is permitted to play for more than one team in the same division of the same league.
• Within the same season, a player is no longer permitted to play for a team in a specific division once that player has already played an aggregate of FOUR or more matches for any teams in any higher division of the same league even if that player had previously played for the team in the lower division.

f. A player may transfer between clubs during the season. Subject to the rules above, the player may play for the new club on condition that seven days’ notice has been given to the Hon. League Secretary and that the Executive Committee has sanctioned the transfer.

g. Any club infringing the rules above by the appearance of an ineligible player shall, at the discretion of the Executive Committee:

• Be fined £5 (five pounds)
• Be deducted 18 (eighteen) shots for an Evening Fours League match or for an Afternoon Triples League match from the rink score in which the ineligible player appeared.
• Forfeit the rink in which the ineligible player appeared irrespective of the adjustment in the score.
• Be deducted 2 (two) points from the aggregate score of the match, irrespective of the effect of the above.

8. Registration of League Teams

All member clubs may register, with the Hon. League Secretary, more than one team in each of the Evening Fours, the Afternoon Triples and the Medley Double Fours leagues subject to approval of the Executive Committee.

Each member club shall pay an annual subscription of such amounts as shall be approved at the Annual General Meeting, as proposed by the Executive Committee, in respect of each team in the Evening Fours League, the Afternoon Triples League, and the Medley Double Fours League together with an amount for each player registered under the rule “Registration of Players”.

9. League Composition and Match Execution

The Executive Committee shall have the power to fine any team that fails to complete its League fixtures by the approved dates with the sum of £5 (five pounds) unless a satisfactory reason is given. The Executive Committee shall have the power to extend the closing dates for each league or award or deduct points as deemed necessary.

Evening Fours League

a. The League shall be divided into two or more divisions known as the A-Division, the B-Division etc. of an equal number of teams or if there is an unequal number then the lowest Division shall have the lesser number unless decided otherwise by the Executive Committee.

b. Subject to clause a. above and the rule “Liquidation or Amalgamation of Clubs”, the teams competing in each division at the start of each season shall be determined by their positions in each division at the end of the previous season. In general, the top two teams in each lower division shall be promoted to the next higher division and the bottom two teams in each higher division shall be relegated to the next lower division. In the event of teams withdrawing from the League or new teams entering the League, further promotion of teams placed lower than second in each lower division may occur for the beginning of the following season.

c. If a team withdraws from the league before the first half of the season’s scheduled fixtures are completed, then all results involving that team shall be declared null and void for both that team and its opponents. If a team withdraws from the league after the first half of the season’s scheduled fixtures are completed, then only the first half-season’s results for that team shall stand, the rest being declared null and void for both that team and its opponents. Further, any team that withdraws from the league after the first half of the season’s scheduled fixtures are completed shall result in no replacement team from the same club being eligible to join any division of that league at the start of the following season.

d. The venue of each match, according to the published fixtures, may only be changed with the consent of the Hon. League Secretary.

e. Before each match begins:

• Each captain shall enter the names of the players on each of their team’s scorecards.
• Scorecards from each club shall be placed face down on a surface and the visiting captain shall pair each of their scorecards with a scorecard from the home club at random.
• Before turning over the scorecards the visiting captain shall write on the back of the paired scorecards the number of the rink, from those available for play, on which that pair shall play.
• Each captain shall then complete their scorecards by entering the opposing players against their respective opponents.
• A toss of a coin or any other agreed random chance selection shall decide which team holds the mat for the first end.

f. Each Evening Fours League team shall play home and away matches on Wednesday evenings or, if necessary, Monday evenings. Matches shall begin on a date in May determined by the Hon. League Secretary and continue until no later than the last Wednesday in August.

g. Every team is expected to play every match with a full team of 12 (twelve) players. If a team is only able to field 11 (eleven) or fewer players, then that team may incur both points and shots penalties according to the conditions below.

h. A full match shall consist of three valid rinks. A valid rink shall consist of opposing groups of 3 (three) or 4 (four) players only. The match shall therefore consist of:

• 3 Rinks: 11 or 12 players in each team.
• 2 Rinks: 7-10 players in either team. If one team is able to field all 3 rinks then that team shall be awarded the 2 (two) points for the missed rink with a score of 18-0.
• 1 Rink: 3-6 players in either team. If one team is able to field all 3 rinks then that team shall be awarded the 4 points for the 2 missed rinks with a score of 18-0 on each, thus gaining 36 (thirty-six) shots. If one team is able to field 2 rinks then that team shall be awarded the 2 (two) points for the missed rink with a score of 18-0.
• Irrespective of the number of rinks played, where any rink consists of 3 players against 4 then the 3-players shall forfeit 25% of their shot score rounded down (in all cases) to a whole number of shots. A 3-player against 3-player rink shall incur no shot penalty. If a team’s rink consists of 3 players, then players 1 and 2 shall play three bowls and the Skip shall play two bowls i.e. there shall always be 8 (eight) bowls per team in each rink on each end.
• Any rink for which neither team is able to field 3 or 4 players shall result in no match points being awarded to either team for that missed rink.

i. Each rink shall be played to 18 (eighteen) ends. Subject to clause h.iv. above, each player will bowl two woods on each end.

j. By default, there shall be two trial ends, each of which may consist of each player bowling 2 (by default), 3, or 4 bowls by agreement between the team captains. Either captain may request but NOT insist that there are no trial ends or only one trial end before the match begins. If the captains disagree then two trial ends MUST be played before the match begins. Both captains must communicate the decision on trial ends to their teams before the match begins. In any case, the score in the first two ends MUST NOT be limited to one shot.

Afternoon Triples League

a. Rules a-e for the Evening Fours League shall also apply to the Afternoon Triples League.

b. Each Afternoon Triples League team shall play home and away matches on Tuesday afternoons. Matches shall begin on a date in May determined by the Hon. League Secretary and continue until no later than the last Tuesday in September.

c. Every team is expected to play every match with a full team of 6 (six) players. A team shall consist of two rinks of three players. A valid rink shall consist of opposing groups of exactly 3 (three) players.

d. If either team can only field one rink of three players, then the match shall consist of one rink only. In this event then, if one team is able to field both rinks then that team shall be awarded the 2 (two) points for the missed rink with a score of 18-0.

e. If neither team is able to field 3 players for the second rink then no match points shall be awarded to either team for that missed rink.

f. Each rink shall be played to 18 (eighteen) ends. Each player will bowl three woods on each end.

g. By default, there shall be two trial ends, each of which may consist of each player bowling 2 (by default), or 3 bowls by agreement between the team captains. Either captain may request but NOT insist that there are no trial ends or only one trial end before the match begins. If the captains disagree then two trial ends MUST be played before the match begins. Both captains must communicate the decision on trial ends to their teams before the match begins. In any case, the score in the first two ends MUST NOT be limited to one shot.

Medley Double Fours League

a. Rules d and e for the Evening Fours League shall also apply to the Medley Double Fours League.

b. The League shall consist of a single division unless decided otherwise by the Executive Committee.

c. The first fixtures shall be scheduled for the second week after the completion of the Evening Fours League.

d. Each team shall play each other team once only. Each team shall play half of their fixtures at home and half away except for the case where there is an odd number of matches for each team. Where possible, corresponding home fixtures shall be played away the following season and vice versa.

e. Other than the August Bank Holiday Monday, the matches shall be scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in August and September.

f. All matches shall start at 6pm unless mutually agreed otherwise.

g. If a team withdraws from the league, then all results involving that team shall be declared null and void for both that team and its opponents. Any team that withdraws from the league with fewer than THREE scheduled fixtures left to be completed shall result in no replacement team from the same club being eligible to join the league at the start of the following season.

h. Every team is expected to play every match with a full team of 8 (eight) players. If a team is only able to field 7 (seven) or fewer players, then that team may incur both points and shots penalties according to the conditions below.

i. A full match shall consist of two valid rinks. A valid rink shall consist of opposing groups of 3 (three) or 4 (four) players only. The match shall therefore consist of:

• 2 Rinks: 7 or 8 players in each team.
• 1 Rink: 3-6 players in either team. If one team is able to field both rinks then that team shall be awarded the 2 (two) points for the missed rink with a score of 14-0.
• Irrespective of the number of rinks played, where any rink consists of 3 players against 4 then the 3-players shall forfeit 25% of their shot score rounded down (in all cases) to a whole number of shots. A 3-player against 3-player rink shall incur no shot penalty. If a rink consists of 3 players, then players 1 and 2 shall play three bowls and the Skip shall play two bowls i.e. there shall always be 8 (eight) bowls per team in each rink on each end.
• Any rink in which neither team is able to field 3 or 4 players shall result in no match points being awarded to either team for that missed rink.

j. Each rink shall be played to 14 (fourteen) ends. Each player will bowl two woods on each end.

k. There shall be no trial ends. A maximum of one shot may be scored on each of the first two ends.

Match Result and League Points

a. The result of each match must be recorded on one of the unique colour-coded Result Cards for the division of the league in which it takes place.

b. The captain of the home team must complete the correct Result Card fully, neatly, and accurately. Both captains must check and sign the result card after it has been completed. The home team may be deducted 2 (two) points in the event of a Result Card not being signed by both captains or not being completed correctly.

c. For matches in all Leagues each team shall be awarded two points for each rink it has won or one point for each rink that ends in a tie. No points shall be awarded for any rink in which neither team was able to field the sufficient number of players.

d. Further, the team with the highest aggregate shot score from all rinks shall be awarded two additional points. If the aggregate shot scores are equal, then each team shall be awarded one additional point.

e. The captain of the home team must post, hand deliver, photograph and send by message or WhatsApp, or scan and email the completed Result Card to the Hon. League Secretary. The Result Card must arrive no later than 24 hours after the completion of the match. Failure to conform to this rule may result in a 2-point deduction plus a fine of £5 (five pounds) against the home team, to be paid within 10 days of notification of the fine by the League Secretary or their delegate. If the fine is then not paid in time, the home team shall forfeit 8 points in the case of an Evening Fours League Match or 6 points in the case of either an Afternoon Triples League Match or a Medley Double Fours League Match.

f. All appeals against the above rule shall be made in accordance with Rule “Protests and Disputes” except that, in this instance only, the time allowed for an appeal shall be 10 days instead of 3 days.

g. The Hon. League Secretary shall keep a record of every league match played.

h. The position of the teams in each division of each league shall be determined as follows:

• Teams shall be placed in descending order of points gained.
• Two or more teams with the same number of points shall be placed in descending order of the difference between total shots scored and total shots conceded (shot difference).
• Two or more teams with the same number of points and same shot difference shall be placed in descending order of the total number of shots scored.
• Two or more teams with the same number of points, same shot difference and the same total number of shots scored shall be placed in order depending on the results of the matches played between them if possible otherwise in alphabetical order for the purpose of publishing a full league table.

10. Miscellaneous League and Match Rules

Schedule of Matches

a. Teams should adhere to the set fixture dates but, where both teams agree, a match may be played at an earlier date. However, no postponement of a match shall be normally allowed except when necessary, owing to climatic conditions or unfitness of greens.

b. Any breach of this rule must be notified to the Hon. League Secretary who may demand that the match be played within a certain time scale if the reason for the postponement is considered unsatisfactory. Should this be the case then the Hon. League Secretary shall award 8 points and 36 (thirty-six) shots in the case of the Evening Fours League, 6 points and 24 (twenty-four) shots in the case of the Afternoon Triples League, or 6 points and 18 (eighteen) shots in the case of the Medley Double Fours League to the opposition of the defaulting club.

c. Two teams from the same club may not play against each other in any division of any league in the penultimate or final set of fixtures of the league season.

Postponed Matches

d. A team with an insufficient number of players shall not be accepted as a satisfactory reason to postpone any match.

e. Postponements owing to climatic conditions or unfitness of greens must be notified to the Hon. League Secretary within 48 hours of the scheduled date of the match.

f. Postponed matches must be rearranged within 7 days of the original date and, in all cases, must be played no later than 7 days after the published date of the final set of fixtures for those teams. The Hon. League Secretary must be advised of the date of the rearranged match by representatives of both clubs involved.

g. Postponed matches between two teams from the same club may not be played after the published date of the penultimate set of fixtures of the league season.

Abandoned Matches

h. A match may only be abandoned owing to climatic conditions or unfitness of green.

i. A greenkeeper who is present may insist that a match is abandoned. Otherwise, the decision must be agreed between the two captains.

j. In the event that a match already in progress is forced to be abandoned then that match shall be considered completed if the aggregate number of ends played between all rinks is equal to or greater than 36 (thirty-six) for an Evening Fours League match, 24 (twenty-four) for an Afternoon Triples League match, or 18 (eighteen) for a Medley Double Fours League match.

k. In the event that a match already in progress is forced to be abandoned and the aggregate number of ends played between all rinks is less than 36 (thirty-six) for an Evening Fours League match, 24 (twenty-four) for an Afternoon Triples League match, or 18 (eighteen) for a Medley Double Fours League match then that match must be resumed at an agreed date and time from the point at which it was abandoned i.e. it must not be replayed from the beginning. If the match cannot be resumed then the state of the match at the time of it being abandoned must be reported to the League Secretary for adjudication.

Substitutions

l. In the event that a player is unable to continue during a match, then another player registered from the same club may substitute for the incapacitated player in the same position of the same rink and the rink may then continue.

m. In the event that a player is unable to continue during a match and there being no substitute available then the opposing team shall be awarded one shot for each end remaining to be played including a part-played end, and 2 (two) points for the rink irrespective of the final shot-score of that rink. The resultant shot-score of the rink shall contribute to the match aggregate shot-score and hence the award of the 2 (two) points for the aggregate.

Match Etiquette

None of the following may be used on or around the periphery of the green once a match has commenced except in the case of emergency:

• Mobile phones and other electronic devices
• Cigarettes or recreational drugs
• Alcoholic drinks

For the purpose of clarification, the green is deemed to include a minimum of 2 metres of the bank surrounding the playing area.

If any player contravenes this rule then any opposing player may request the transgressor’s skip to order that it ceases immediately. If the offending player refuses or reoffends in the same match then that player’s side shall forfeit the rink with points and shots awarded to the other team. For an Evening Fours League match this is 2 (two) points and 18 (eighteen) shots, for an Afternoon Triples League match 2 (two) points and 18 (eighteen) shots and for a Medley Double Fours League match 2 (two) points and 14 (fourteen) shots. For a match in the Team Tournament this is 2 (two) points and 18 (eighteen) shots.

11. Competitions

a. Competitions will be held on the following set days:

• Singles – Mondays
• Pairs – Tuesdays
• Triples – Thursdays
• Fours – Fridays

All matches should be played on the best available rinks.

In the Tournament Competition, the challenger must offer two dates, one of which must be a weekend date.
CBBA competitions take precedence over all others, except the four major competitions of the ECBA and Bowls England: Singles, Pairs, Triples, and Fours.

b. Entries will only be accepted from clubs that are full members of the Association. All competition entries close on the first Sunday in May. The draw will be made by the second week in May.

c. Dates for the completion of rounds will be set by the Executive Committee at the time of the draw. Clubs will be notified of the dates, venues, and greens to be used for the Semi-Finals and Finals.

d. Entries for Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours, and Tournament competitions must be made through a club that is a full member of the Association. If a player enters any Essex County Bowling Association competition, their entries to Colchester Borough Bowling Association competitions must also be made through the same club, and not through any other club they may belong to.

e. Entry fees for the four major competitions, the Tournament, and the Two-Wood Singles will be reviewed and set annually by the Executive Committee by 31 July, to take effect the following season.

f. Any player withdrawing from the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, or Finals of the Singles, Pairs, Triples, or Fours competitions, without providing a satisfactory reason to the Hon. Competition Secretary and Executive Committee, will be barred from entering any competition the following year.

g. A cloth blazer badge will be awarded to a player who:

• Wins any of the four major competitions, or
• Represents the Association in four matches against other Associations (a maximum of two matches may count towards this in any one season).

All losing Finalists in the four major competitions will receive two credits towards an Association badge. A player earning four credits in total will qualify for an Association cloth badge.

12. Indemnity

Every Officer and Committee member shall be indemnified by the Association in respect of any claim made against them in respect of the pursuance of their duties, except in so far as such a claim may relate to the wilful and individual fraud or wrongdoing on the part of the Officer or Committee member who is sought to be made liable.

13. Alterations, Resolutions and Nominations

No alteration or addition shall be made to these rules except at the AGM or an EGM. Resolutions and nominations proposed by one member club and seconded by another member club for consideration must reach the Hon. Secretary by the 1st of November of that year.

14. Interpretation of the Rules of the Association

Any difference regarding interpretation of these Rules and/or any matter not provided for within them shall be dealt with by the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final and binding on all members.