League Rules 2024

1. Declared a Completed Match
   

   A game can be declared a completed match after a minimum of 10 ends have been played on each rink.

   All subsequent completed ends after the minimum 10 ends should be counted in the final score.

2. Game Postponed or Suspended.
   

   In the event of prolonged bad weather, a game may be postponed before the commencement of the game.
   
   If a green becomes unplayable after the commencement of a game but before the minimum 10 ends have been played, the home captain will have the option of suspending the game. In this situation, the captains will rearrange to play the match as soon as possible. This will have to follow rule 1c.

   The original game will be voided and the rearranged game will commence from the beginning.

3. Arrangement of postponed or suspended games
   

   If a game is postponed for any other reason, the game should be rearranged within 14 days to an agreeable date to both parties. The league secretary is to be advised of the date agreed.

   In any event, the postponed game MUST be played by the 12th game of the season. If the game is not played by the 12th week then the team that is the injured party will be awarded 6 points.

All league games will be played on Monday evenings except for serious inclement weather when rule 1b will be implemented.

Greens should be classified “C” grade or higher by the county greens committee.

3 Rinks of triples.
16 ends or 14 ends after 31st August. 6.30 pm start.
No trial ends.

Maximum of 3 teams per club.

Dress: – Greys, white above the waist. Coloured shirts are only allowed if worn by all players, and registered with Bowls England.

15-minute grace will be given to teams or team members arriving late. If a team is short after 15 minutes, rule 7 will take effect.

In the event of a team being 1 player short, the game will proceed with the defaulting team playing one set of two players (6 woods) against the opposition’s three players ( 9 woods). The defaulting lead will change ends when the opposition’s lead and number 2 have played their bowls. The defaulting lead can direct his skip in the absences of the number 2.

In the event of a team being more than 1 player short the game will proceed with 2 sets of triples on each team and the defaulting team will award 1 point plus 10 shots to their opposition.

Should a player have to retire during a match due to illness or injury, a substitute may be brought into the team on condition (1) that he is not already a member of another team and (2) he does not play skip. If no players are available, continue the game as set out in rule 7.

Dead Ends will be re-played in the normal manner.

A club arriving with less than 6 players will be claimed to be in default and the match will not be played the defaulting team will forfeit 5 points plus 10 shots.

Any club deemed by the Officers at the end of the season to have wilfully not completed their fixture list will be deducted 10 points at the end of the season.

2 points for the highest number of shots scored 1 point for a tie.
1 point for each winning rink
Half point for each tied rink.
Maximum 5 points.

Green fee, if any, to be paid by the home club.

Leads and middle men must not follow their bowls to the head until they and their opposite number have bowled all three woods in the normal process of changing ends.
Skips who have both played two bowls in that end may visit the head but return to the mat before their opponents deliver their final bowl.

Entrance fees per team are to be agreed at the Annual General Meeting.

Selection of the playing rinks for each game to be drawn by both captains before the game.

Captains toss for Jack and can give the option away should he choose to do so.

All players must be fully paid-up members of the affiliated club they represent.

At the end of each season the top two teams in Divisions 2, 3, 4 & 5, will be promoted for the following season, and the bottom two teams in Divisions 1, 2, 3 & 4 will be relegated for the following season. In the event of a team retiring from the league, the committee will decide on promotion and relegation accordingly.

Trophies will be awarded to the winning teams of each division.

Players may play for only one team during the season.

Results are to be submitted to the club officials using the  “Match Result Submission Form” on the website within 24 hours of play. Results are to be submitted by both Team Captains for cross-checking purposes.
Scorecards should be signed by each Skip and retained by Team Captains for the duration of the season.

Any disputes not covered in these rules Captains must amicably settle.