Bootle & District Pensioners Bowling League

That the League be called ‘The Bootle & District Pensioners Bowling League.

That the affairs of the League shall be vested in a committee consisting of a Chairman, Secretary/ Competition Secretary, Treasurer, Asst Secretary, and two members from the Clubs not represented by the elected officers. The President and Vice president shall be ex-officio of the Committee.

All Officers shall be elected at the Annual general Meeting and shall be eligible for re-election at the end of their term of office. In the event of a vacancy occurring during the season the remaining officers have the power to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the season.

The Committee shall meet in March and November and at other times when deemed necessary and shall deal with all matters and disputes arising between Clubs, all Competitions, Draws etc, and shall conduct any other business appertaining to the League.

General Meeting of all Clubs representatives shall be held as and when necessary, but the Annual General Meeting shall be held in October/November. THREE members of each Club may attend the Annual General Meeting but only ONE member of each team may vote. At ordinary meetings the Secretary of each Club shall attend and be entitled to vote.

At the Annual General Meeting reports from the Secretary and Treasurer shall be submitted and the election of Officers for the ensuing year shall take place. Notices and motions of the suggested alterations to the rules must be made in writing and submitted to the League Secretary at least ONE MONTH before the Annual General Meeting. The Secretary will then issue the agenda for the A G M with details of all Proposals and Rule Changes a minimum of FOURTEEN DAYS before the A G M.

No business may be transacted at a meeting unless a quorum of five members for a committee and thirteen members for a general meeting is present.

Subcriptions, Players registration fees and competition fees shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting. Fees commencing on the 1st April in any year.

Club Registration Fee £10.00 1st team £5.00 for 2nd & 3rd teams.

Players Registration Fee £ 2.00 per Player

Clare Cup £ 5.00 per team

League Cup £ 5.00 per team

League Plate (when played) £ 5.00 per team

All other Competition Fees £ 2.00 per Player

All fees must be paid at the March General Meeting together with players’ names for the ensuing season, subsequent registrations to be notified to the Secretary and confirmed in writing.

Clubs accepted for membership shall abide by the Rules laid down by the Committee in respect of all Competitions.

The League is open to both men and women players. Only team members who have attained the age of 58 and have been registered for at least THREE days prior to the date of their first match for the Club shall be eligible to play in any League match or Competition. In the case of team competitions a player must have played in at least TWO league matches for the same team in that season in order to be able to play for that team in a semi final or THREE league matches for a final.

Members can only play when they have reached the date of their 58th birthday. Only two members in this age group (58-60) may play in a team. Proof of date of birth must accompany player’s registration form.

A player may only register for ONE team in the League, that being the one specified on the team Registration Form.

New players can be registered up to the 30th June and Club Secretaries are required to submit a Registration form showing players details, including their date of birth, to the League Secretary.

Transfers of players between Clubs will not be allowed.

Clubs having two teams in the same division, may not use players in both teams.

Clubs having two teams in different divisions, may allow players in second team, to play in the first team, but once having played FIVE times in the first team, will be deemed to be a first team player. FIRST team players cannot play for second team.

Clubs having two teams in different divisions may not use players in both teams on the same day - or in a rearranged game which corresponds with a game that was played on its original (or also rearranged) date.

All games shall be played under B.C.G.B.A. Rules and shall be played in the afternoons commencing at 1.30 pm with at least four standard jacks [as approved by the B.C.G.B.A.] provided by the Home team. If the Captains agree a suitable alternative jack may be used.

If a team cannot provide four players at the time of 1.30 pm, the offending team shall forfeit 21 points in respect of each absentee and the game shall be deemed to have been played.

Any team not having sufficient players to keep the green fully occupied i.e. not less than four sets during the match, shall on appeal of the opposing Captain have the full number of points deducted. Viz:- 21 points for every player absent. If any player retires from the game for any reason whilst the green is open, he shall forfeit the game and his opponents score made up to 21. If a team has insufficient players then the score card should be marked absent. [Captains should not enter any player’s name].

A League or Cup game can be postponed due to severe weather conditions. The decision must be made on site, with the home captain in a league game being responsible for making the final decision. In the case of a cup match on a neutral green, if possible, a representative of the host club should make the decision and advise the two teams accordingly.

A League or Cup game may be postponed if the Funeral of a member of any team in the league is due to take place on a day scheduled for a game.

Any game postponed MUST be played within 15 Days (Fifteen), and the League Secretary notified of the new date (Cup matches are to be played on same venue if possible, by agreement with host club. If the green is not available the Secretary is to be advised A S A P, for an alternative to be found)

In all cases of a postponed game, completed games to count, uncompleted games to continue from point of abandonment (if both players available) all other games to be redrawn. No player with a completed card shall play again in the match. If a substitute player is required, they can take over the score of the previous player.

In League matches the AWAY team only to be allowed sole use of the green for practise during the quarter of an hour immediately prior to commencement of the League match. The away team captain can practice on the green alongside the home team.

Games shall be 21 up, each team to consist of 11 players. Visitors will play the first jack in League matches. On neutral greens and in Cup matches, Captains will toss for odd or even alternative lead off in each game. In individual Competitions the referee will toss the coin.

Check markers must be used.

All home teams shall be responsible for sending in properly completed and signed result cards to the League Secretary by first post following the match. A fine of 50p will be levied in the event of a result card being more than 7 days late, unless a satisfactory explanation is forthcoming.

In the event of two or more teams having the same number of points for league prizes, relegation or promotion purposes, the placing of teams shall be decided as follows.

Head to head results over the two matches, counting up league table points awarded in these two matches (so total number of individual winners plus aggregate win points).

If this level, the highest total of individual winners in these two head to head matches.

If still level, then the highest aggregate score over the two matches.

The Championship Cups will be held by the winners for a period of 12 months. Prizes in addition to the trophies will be decided by the Committee at the March meeting.

Any team found playing ineligible player(s) will be penalised by the Committee with 21 - 0 score(s) being awarded to the opposing team in the offending games.

In League matches the scoring method will be as follows:-

• One point is to be awarded to the winner of each game.
• Points for the highest aggregate will be as follows:-
• Three points for a team winning away from home.
• Two points for a team winning at home.
• Two points for a team drawing away.
• One point for a team drawing at home.

All monies belonging to the League will be banked in the names of three trustees, any two shall sign cheques or forms of withdrawal. The Trustees shall be the Chairman; the Secretary and the Treasurer.

Any Player or Official on the green must at all times wear at least a shirt.

No Player is allowed to consume an alcoholic drink whilst playing his game.