Stoke on Trent and District Bowling League

League Rules

The League shall be names and known as the Stoke on Trent and District Bowling League, and be affiliated to the Potteries and District County Bowling Association and the North Staffordshire Parks and Recreation Mens Bowling Association.

Each club accepted in membership of the League must be directly affiliated to the Potteries and District County Bowling Association.

The Officers of the League shall be the President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer who shall be elected annually and serve on the Management Committee.

The composition of the League shall be of such number of clubs as accepted and voted upon at the Annual General Meeting. All clubs accepted in membership shall be entitled to play first and second teams in the League. Any club wishing to enter a third or fourth team in the League must comply with match rule 4. Clubs entering first, second, third or fourth teams in the League must at the Annual General Meeting nominate on which greens all such teams will play on.

The system of promotion and relegation on the basis of two up and two down shall operate between all divisions.

The Annual General Meeting of the League shall be held in January or February of each year to elect the Officers and two Auditors, also to receive the audited accounts for the previous year ended 31st December. A copy of the accounts together with a notice convening the meeting shall be sent to each member of the Management Committee and each affiliated club at least seven days prior to the date of the meeting. The presentation of the previous seasons awards shall take place after the completion of The Annual General Meeting.

The League nominees for the positions of Junior Vice President and Management Committee representatives of the Potteries and District County Bowling Association shall be determined at the Leagues Annual General Meeting. All such Presidents and representatives to serve on the Leagues Management Committee.

All notices of motion for addition or amendment to League or Match rules, must be received by the League Secretary no later than December 1st of each year.

Written applications for League membership will be accepted up to and including the date of the Annual General Meeting.

The Secretary shall convene a Special General Meeting at any time on receiving a requisition to that effect by the Secretaries of not less than four clubs in the League.

No rule of the League shall be altered, rescinded, or added to, without the consent of the majority present at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. When an equal vote is recorded the notice of motion shall stand as defeated.

Each club affiliated to the League shall be entitled to two votes at all meetings, although more representatives may attend if they so wish.

The business of the League shall be transacted by the Management Committee who shall have full powers to deal with any matter which comes before them and settle any complaint, dispute, interpretation of rules etc. Three to form a quorum. Any club failing to conform with any such decision shall be fined a sum not exceeding five pounds and if this fine is not paid shall render itself liable to expulsion from the League and be reported to the Potteries and District County Bowling Association and the North Staffordshire Parks and Recreation Mens Bowling Association.

All complaints must be made in writing to the Secretary. Representatives or Officers of any such club who have made such complaint shall not sit on any committee or be present whilst such complaint is being decided and voted upon.

The affiliation fee to the League shall be fifteen pounds per team, and charged to each clubs annual account.

Any club wishing to withdraw from the League must fulfil all its financial obligations to the League and give notice in writing to the Secretary of its intentions to withdraw at least three days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.

No Cup, Doubles or Individual Merit competitions to be played or organised by this League.

A league match fee per player per match will be charged to each team. Teams in Divisions Seven, Eight and Nine will be charged 25p per player per match. Teams in Divisions Five and Six will be charged 30p per player per match. Teams in Divisions Three and Four will be charged 35p per player per match. Teams in Division Two will be charged 40p per player per match. Teams in Premier Division One will be charged 50p per player per match. Any amendment to this rule must be proposed, seconded, and voted upon at the Annual General Meeting.

The total amount of income received from the league match fees shall be utilised to cover the cost of the Leagues prize money to be awarded annually to the Leagues Winners, Runners Up, Individual Average Winner, Runner Up, or any other awards. The value of same to be determined at the Annual General Meeting.

Each club to be supplied with one copy of the rules of the League and two copies of each seasons fixture lists per team.

All clubs accounts to be paid to the Treasurer within 28 days of date of invoice. Any club not paying by this date to be fined £10.

In the event of the League being dissolved, the balance of funds in hand shall be divided equally between the clubs in membership at the time. Should there be a deficiency of funds to meet liabilities it shall also be the responsibilities of such clubs.

Each club shall be required to complete a registration form in duplicate of a list of players names for registration to the League Secretary seven days before the date of the League meeting to be held in March or April prior to the first fixture date. Registered players to be members of each club in membership. Only players in possession of a bona fide B.C.G.B.A. registration membership card will be eligible for League Bowling. All league registrations must quote each individuals registration membership number.

Clubs entering first and second teams in the League shall star their four best players who will be eligible to play for the first team only. Clubs entering first and second teams in the League with both teams in the same division shall star their best six players who will be eligible to play for the first team only. Clubs entering first, second and third teams in the League shall star their four best players who will be eligible to play in the first team only, and also star a further six of their next best players who will be eligible to play in the first and second teams only. Clubs entering a fourth team to star a further six of their next players who will be eligible to play in the first, second or third teams only. Each starred player shall be vetted and approved by the Management Committee at this meeting. One copy of the registration form giving the date of effective registration and signed by the League Secretary to be returned to each club for which a fee of 20p per player shall be payable to the Treasurer.

Additional players registrations shall be sent in writing direct to the Secretary up to the 31st July each year. A registration form will be sent to the club signed by the Secretary giving the date of effective registration. No player so registered shall be permitted to play for his club until the date of effective registration has been received by that club.

No player shall be permitted to play for more than one club in the same season.

That the Stoke on Trent and District Bowling League create the appointment of Vice Presidents unlimited as to the number in addition to the posts of Office available since the creation of the League.

All trophies to be returned to the League Secretary in September of each year, each club shall be notified at least 14 days prior to collection date.

Match Rules

All league matches shall be played under the rules of the British Crown Green Bowling Association.

Home and away league matches between each team consisting of eight registered players shall be played. All games shall be 21 up. At the commencement of each game the visitor shall have first throw of the jack. Each match played shall be decided on the total aggregate score obtained by each team.

Four jacks to be in play until completion of the fifth game. Any variation to the number of jacks in play as stated to be with the consent of both team captains.

The winners of each league will be the team which obtains the highest aggregate total of points scored at the close of each season. In the event of a tie the team with the lowest aggregate scored against shall be declared the winners.

League matches to be played on Wednesdays commencing in April of each year. Starting times, 6.30pm in April, 7.00pm in May to August 15th, 6.30pm August 16th to August 31st, 6.15pm in September, except when played on greens with floodlights when the starting time will be 7.00pm all dates.

All matches to be played on fixture date except for cancellation due to (a) Inclement weather and League Secretary and Opponents informed by telephone. (b) Green closed, and League Secretary informed in writing of reason before fixture date. (c) Clubs mutually agreeing to play before fixture date, and League Secretary informed before agreed fixture date by the home team.

Any team playing an unregistered player shall be fined two pounds for each offence, the players score to be deleted from the score sheet and his opponent awarded the game 21-0.

Players in all matches shall be numbered one to eight in order of play and the full draw to be made before the match commences. No players name shall be altered without the consent of the opposing captain except when a player originally drawn to play is not present when called upon to play one hour after starting time, a substitute player must be nominated to play in that players place. If no substitute player is available the team in default shall forfeit the game 21-0 to their opponents, the score sheet endorsed “Walk Over”. All eight matches to be completed on that night except when a fixture has to be abandoned due to exceptional circumstances.

When the match is in progress the two captains shall act as referees and measurers when their services are required, and the two vice captains shall so act whilst the two captains are playing.

Players shall not practice their opponents green for seven days prior to the date of any league match except when a member of both Clubs, or, if scheduled to play in a prearranged recognised competition or league or cup match. Players in default of this rule shall Not be eligible to take part in the match concerned.

In the event of inclement weather the greensman shall decide whether the green is fit for play. If the greensman is unable to give a definite decision or is not present, the two captains shall then decide. If a mutual decision is not agreed upon and a start is not made within one hour of the starting time the match shall stand as postponed.

In the event of any match not being completed due to inclement weather all completed games shall stand as a definite result. All Uncompleted games shall be completed on the same green on a date to be mutually agreed upon in accordance with Match Rule 5.

The home team after each match shall be responsible to forward one copy of the score sheet bearing the signature of the two captains to be in the hands of the League Secretary within three days of the match being played. Any team failing to conform to this rule shall be fined one pound for each offence.

Each players individual score obtained in each league match shall count towards the individual average award which will be awarded to the two players with the highest total of points scored in each League. In the event of a tie the player with the lowest total of points scored against shall be declared the winners.