League Rules 2025

Rule 1 – Play Dates

All league games will be played on Monday evenings except for:

1. serious inclement weather when rule 1b will be implemented.
2. Rearranged games that can be played on any day of the week

Rule 2 – Greens

Greens must be classified “C” grade or higher by the County Greens Committee.

Rule 3 – Dress

Club colours are to be worn by all players.

Rule 4 – League Fees

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

Rule 5 – Green Fees

No Green Fees are required. If any green fees are required for a public green, then all fees must be covered by the home team.

Rule 6 – Format

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.

Rule 7 – Scoring

Maximum 5 points per match
Half point for each tied rink.
1 point for each winning rink
1 point for an overall tied score
2 points for the highest total number of shots scored

Rule 8 – Membership & Registration

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

In addition, all players must register with the Northants Triples League Officers and submit their information via the website at the beginning of each season.

There is no maximum to the number of players that may be registered.

Rule 9 – Players

A Player may only play for only one team during the season.

A player who has not played any games may be de-registered and re-registered for any team in any club during the season.

Notification of such changes MUST be made to the League Officers before a player is allowed to play.

Rule 10 – Fixtures

Fixtures for all clubs will be determined at the AGM by drawing for initial league positions.

Any club with two teams in the same division will play each other in the first and eighth games of the season. League positions for these two teams will be determined via a preliminary draw.

Fixtures for remaining clubs will then be determined for each division.

Rule 11 – Selection of Rinks and Jack Possession

The home team captain selects and books three rinks for the match to be played on.

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

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

Rule 12 – Lateness

15-minute grace will be given to teams or team members arriving late. If a team is short after 15 minutes, rule 13 will take effect.

Rule 13 – Players Short

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 team with two players will consist of a Lead and a Skip. 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 absence 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.

Rule 14 – Fixture Not Played

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.

Rule 15 – Matches

a) 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.

b) 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.

c) 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 5 points. There will be no exceptions.

Note – Once a game has been arranged, this date cannot be changed. If either side is unable to field a team, then the injured party will be awarded 5 points.

Rule 16 – Substitutes

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 13.

Rule 17 – Dead Ends

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

Rule 18 – Visiting the Head

Leads and number two 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 may visit the head after their second bowl and may remain at the head until it’s their next turn. Skips may also follow their last bowl to the head.

Rule 19 Results.

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.

Important: Scorecards should be signed by each Skip and retained by Team Captains for the duration of the season in case of any disputes.

Rule 20 – Promotion/Relegation

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.

Rule 21 Trophies

Trophies will be awarded to the winning teams of each division and will be presented along with Knockout Trophies on the Knockout Cup Finals day.

Rule 22 – Arbitration

Any issues raised not covered by existing rules will be resolved by the League Officers whose decision will be final and binding.