MATCH RULES
Jan 2008
1. TEAMS
1.1 Competing teams to number twelve players each who shall be twelve years of age or over.
1.2 In the event of a team fielding less than twelve players, the Club concerned shall be fined £2-50p for each player short, unless in the opinion of the Committee there are mitigating circumstances.
1.3 No team shall be allowed to play any member who has not been registered at
least seven days prior to the match or any player who is registered with any other team in the League.
2. PLAYERS
2.1 A list of all players to be registered shall be sent to the League Secretary before the 15th. April in any season. Where a Club has more than one team, a separate registration form must be submitted for each team.
2.2 A Club having more than one team in the League shall be entitled to play registered players in either 'A', 'B' or 'C' (or however they are named) teams provided that they have played no more than four matches with the team with which they were originally registered . Only one such move or transfer is allowed and the League Secretary must be notified prior to the move. The players concerned cannot afterwards return to the original team in the same season.
2.3 A player may be transferred to any team of another Club provided he/she has not played more than two matches for one team in the current season and the transfer is
notified to the Secretary of the League seven days before the match in which
he/she is selected to play: only one transfer per player is permitted in one season.
2.4 After June 30th. each year, no further registrations or transfers are allowed,
unless in the opinion of the Council there are exceptional circumstances prevailing which make a breach of this rule acceptable.
2.5 Club Secretaries shall notify the Secretary of the League before the Annual General Meeting of any player who has not fulfilled his/her obligations to the Club for the preceding season. No Club shall accept any such player for registration if the Club has been notified of the default , in writing, by the League or by the previous Club. If not notified a Club can accept any such registration and allow the player to play until otherwise resolved by tile General Committee or the League, or the League Council, whose decision shall be final.
2.6 The penalty for playing an unregistered player or a player not properly registered under Rule 2 shall be that the score 21 - 0 shall count to the opponent.
3. PLAY
3.1 The game shall be 21 up and played under the British Crown Green Bowling Association laws, 1 point being awarded for each individual winner, the team having the best aggregate receiving an additional 2 points. In the event of a tie on aggregate the 2 points for aggregate shall be shared, each team receiving
1 point.
3.2 Practice.
3.2.1 Members of the visiting team are allowed to practice on the home green for fifteen minutes prior to the commencement of play, during which period no home players will be allowed on the green.
3.2.2 Other than this, no member of the visiting team shall play on the home green on the same day except in an organised competition at Club level or above. Penalty for breach of this rule is that the guilty player(s) involved is(are) not eligible to play in this particular match; also such player(s) cannot be replaced in said match.
Part 3.2.2 of this rule will not apply where two teams from the same Club use the same green.
3.3 The captains of the respective teams shall have exclusive control of the game.
The pairing of players shall be drawn for and the captains shall arrange the order in which the players shall be called on to play.
3.4 Visiting team to have first throw of the jack.
3.5 Matches shall commence at 6:30 p.m. At this time both teams must have four players available for play and they shall be paired immediately. Each subsequent pair shall be drawn as soon as any one game on the green finishes. The score 21-0 shall be awarded for each player not available at these times, and captains are responsible for enforcing this Rule.
4. MATCH DATES AND RESULTS
4.1 Generally, matches must be played on the date specified in the League Handbook,
although the fixture may be brought forward if mutually agreed and in which case the Secretary of the league must be notified by BOTH team officials in writing prior to the match being played.
4.2 In the event of adverse weather conditions, the home captain shall make the decision with regards to postponement of the match, and if possible, notify the away captain
4.3 No postponement shall be allowed because of team difficulties. Adverse weather or death of a
team member being the only acceptable reasons for postponement. In the event of such a postponement, the match should be played whenever possible within fourteen days of the original date of the fixture, but, if this is not possible, then it MUST be played on the first available date of the four dates set aside specifically for this purpose, i.e.
last Thursday in May
last Thursday in June
last Monday in July
last Monday in August (where applicable)
4.4 Failure to comply will result in the matches, being declared VOID with NO points being given to the defaulting team or teams. Matches scheduled to be played after the last Monday in July and not played on or before the final fixture date will be treated in the same manner. Adverse weather or the death of a team member being the only conditions allowing postponement. Any such match must be played within fourteen days of the original fixture date. If a match is started but has to be abandoned because of bad weather or other unavoidable causes, all completed games shall stand. Where games are started but not finished, and where players are drawn but have not started, then Law 8/14 of British Crown Green Bowling Association Laws shall be implemented forthwith. When any match is postponed, the two captains concerned shall agree upon the re-arranged date and shall immediately send notification thereof in writing to the Secretary of the League stating the reason for the postponement.
4.5 The home captain shall forward to the Secretary of the league, the result of the match played. THE OFFICIAL MATCH RESULT CARD supplied by the League is to be the ONLY ONE used for this purpose.
4.6 This Match Result Card should be signed by both team captains in the appropriate spaces and posted (First Class Post) within 48hrs. hours of the completion of the match, the home team captain being responsible for implementing this Rule. In the likelihood of postal delays, then the home captain should telephone the result to the Secretary of the League in addition to posting the Match Result Card. Late arrival of match result Card will bring the
following :
For a first offence a written warning will be sent.
Further offences will attract a £5 fine.
5. DISPUTES
5.1 Should there be a dispute or likelihood of a protest the captain concerned shall
write the words 'under protest' on the Match Result Card after his signature.
This Rule shall also apply to League Competitions.
5.2 Any protest arising out of League matches or competitions shall be referred to the League Council, accompanied by a fee of £5 which will be returned on the protest being sustained. Notice of such protest to be made in writing within three days from the date of the match concerned, confirming protest made on Match Result Card. The
Secretary of the offending club shall be notified of such protest by the Secretary of the League at once.
6. TROPHIES, AWARDS, PROMOTION AND RELEGATION
6.1 The 'Weston' Championship Cup will be awarded to the team securing the highest number of League points in 'A' Division, the 'Cayzer' Cup to the team securing the highest number of League points in 'B' Division and a trophy to the team securing the highest number of League points in 'C' Division, during the season.
6.2 Unless otherwise decided at the Annual General Meeting, the two teams with the highest and second highest number of League points in 'B' Division at the end of each season, shall take the places in 'A' Division of the two teams with the lowest and the next lowest number of points, who will be relegated to 'B' Division for the following season.
6.3 Similarly, the two teams with the highest and second highest number of league points in 'C' Division at the end of each season shall take the places in 'B' Division of the two teams with the lowest and next lowest number of League points, who will be relegated to 'C' Division for the following season.
6.4 All new teams will be placed in the lowest Division, unless in the opinion of the General Committee there are valid reasons to do otherwise. It is the duty of the Special Council to investigate each application and recommend accordingly to the General Committee at the next AGM.
6.5 In the event of a tie in the number of points, priority of position in the League Tables will be decided on average by dividing shots for by shots against.
6.6 A cheque will be presented to the winners, runners-up, third and fourth placed teams of each Division. A cheque shall be presented to the player in each Division securing the highest number or wins during the season (Divisional Performance Award), provided he/she his played in 75% of the matches. In the event of-a tie between two or more players on the number of matches won, a presentation shall be made to each player. Should any player involved have received a 2 1 -0 (absent) it shall count as a win.
6.7 An Under 20 Performance Award will be presented to the player in any Division, under the age of 20 years at the end of the scheduled League Season, securing the highest number of wins during the season; the conditions applying to the Division Performance Award shall apply.
6.8 Club Secretaries shall, immediately after tile final league match each season, submit to the Secretary of the League the name of the player in each team with the highest number of wins in League matches. They should also submit the name of the player under twenty years of age in each team with the highest number of wins in League matches. Players themselves can claim. No player shall be eligible for consideration unless a claim is received from a Club or player within fourteen days after the Club's last match.
6.9 Club Secretaries should notify the League Secretary in writing, within 7 days of their last match, the name of their nominee to participate 'In the CHESTER LEAGUE MERIT competition which is held during September, after the League Programme his been completed.
6.10 Clubs or individuals who win League-owned trophies, are solely responsible for care and safe custody of such trophies. Engraving should be dealt with by the winners, and invoices for same may be passed to the League Treasurer for payment. All such trophies, including loose plinths or bases must be returned in clean condition to the League Secretary at least seven days before they are required for presentation. Any repairs necessary, due to damage caused whilst in the custody of clubs/individuals, will be charged to the club/individual concerned.
7. LOCATION OF LEAGUE MATCH
7.1 Where a team uses premises with more than one undesignated Green, the home team must adopt the convention that the match be played on the Green on which the jacks are laid for practice. The home team therefore has the responsibility for ensuring the playability of the Green before laying out the jacks.