Constitution & Rules (version 2021)

To view the previous version of the Constitution and Rules, click here.

CONSTITUTION
  1. The League is known as Huntingdon & District Bowls League.
  2. An Executive Committee comprising President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer is agreed at the Annual General Meeting.
  3. League business is conducted at the Annual General Meeting.
  4. The Annual General Meeting consists of the Executive Committee and one voting member representing each team.
  5. The Executive Committee deals with urgent business during the bowling season according to the rules.
  6. The Executive Committee adjudicates on disputes between teams or contravention of these rules.
    1. Captains of teams in dispute attend if required.
    2. The Committee’s decision is be final.
  7. The annual subscription is decided at the Annual General Meeting.
  8. Any teams resigning from the League and any teams applying for entry to the League must do so by 31 October.
  9. In the event of the League disbanding, the Committee must return trophies to their respective owners.
  10. The holders of trophies must return them to the League Secretary by 1 August of the following year.
  11. The League Secretary must receive proposals for alterations to the Constitution and Rules by 31 October.

RULES

General
  1. All matches are played according to Bowls England rules.
  2. Teams must notify league results to the League Secretary by the prescribed method by the day following the fixture (typically by midnight Friday for a Thursday match). Any team failing to comply will incur a fine of £10 for each occasion.
  3. Dress code.
    1. Clubs are responsible for their players conforming to the dress code.
    2. If a Captain thinks that one or more members of the opposing team contravenes the dress code he should inform the League Secretary.
    3. All team members must wear the same coloured shirts. This can be either all white or Bowls England approved club colours.
    4. Trousers must be tailored grey or Bowls England approved and registered coloured club trousers. Shorts must be tailored dark coloured or Bowls England approved.
    5. Dress code for the League Triples and League Singles finals is all white. 
    6. Shoes must be flat soled and Bowls England approved. Sandals are not permitted except for medical reasons.
    7. Players of a specific culture may wear traditional dress.
    8. Tracksuits, shell suits or jeans are not acceptable.
    9. Headgear must be white or a registered colour.
    10. Waterproof clothing must be white.
League
  1. Division format
    1. At each AGM, the League Committee will propose the number of divisions and teams within each division for the next season.
    2. Trophies are awarded to the winners of each division as follows:
      Division 1 - The George Beaton Trophy
      Division 2 - The Hunts Post Trophy
      Division 3 - The Abington Trophy
      Division 4 - Division 4 Shield
  2. Division ranking
    1. Teams are ranked by total points within each division.
    2. If two teams finish the season level on points, the final ranking is decided on greatest bowls difference.
  3. Promotion and demotion
    1. The top two teams in divisions 2, 3 and 4 are promoted.
    2. The bottom two teams in divisions 1, 2 and 3 are relegated.
    3. The Committee may alter this rule when the total number of teams in the League changes.
  4. Match format
    1. League games are between two teams playing three rinks of four male players.
    2. Twenty-one ends are played unless the two Captains agree before the game begins that twenty-one ends may not be possible in daylight, when eighteen ends are played.
    3. If the match is not completed due to inclement weather, the result stands if at least fifteen ends have been played.
  5. Match scoring
    1. All shots scored from the beginning of the match are counted.
    2. Two points are awarded for each winning rink and one point for each drawn rink.
    3. One point is awarded to the team scoring the highest total number of bowls.
  6. Result card
    1. The home Captain must complete a result card immediately after the match.
    2. The completed result card must be signed by both Captains.
    3. The home Captain must retain result cards until the end of the season.
    4. Details of any dispute should be entered on the result card.
    5. If disputes are not thus recorded, any subsequent protest is invalid.
  7. Eligible players
    1. Captains must ensure rules on eligible players are strictly adhered to. 
    2. A player cannot play for more than one Club in League or League competitions in the same season.
    3. Any team playing an ineligible player will give up all points gained from that match. 
  8. Team short of player/s
    1. Where a club has two or more teams in the league, if any team is short of players they may select any registered club player to field a full team.
    2. If within 15 minutes from the time fixed for the start of the game a single player is still absent from one or more rinks, the game proceeds.
    3. On the defaulting rink/s the number of bowls played is 6 bowls v 8 bowls with no additional penalty reduction in shots.
  9. Cancellation of match
    1. Insufficient players
      1. If the away team cancels a match within 24 hours they pay the home team for food bought up to the value of £20
      2. Any team unable to play a game due to lack of players will be deducted 7 points and pay a £10 fine.
    2. Inclement weather
      1. Only in exceptional circumstances may a Captain request cancellation of a match.
      2. Cancellation must be verified by the home team green keeper or a nominated deputy.
      3. Players cannot request a cancellation.
      4. Any team cancelling a match without green keeper verification will be deducted 7 points and pay a £10 fine.
  10. Rearranging a cancelled match
    1. The rearranged date for a cancelled match must be mutually agreed within 14 days after the original match date.
    2. The League Secretary must be notified within 48 hours of the arrangement being made.
    3. All fixtures must be completed by the last fixture date on the league fixture programme.
    4. If a cancelled match is not played, or rearranged as specified above, by mutual agreement the original defaulting team forfeits 7 points and pays a fine of £10. The non-defaulting team is awarded 7 points and 5 extra shots per rink.
  11. National finals
    1. Matches scheduled during the weeks of national finals may be played before the original date, subject to mutual agreement.
    2. The League Secretary must be informed as soon as the change has been agreed. 
    3. Matches reorganised because of national finals cannot be played after the original date.
League Triples
  1. Payment of the annual subscription automatically entitles each team to enter the League Triples Competition on payment of the entry fee.
  2. Each team consists of four triples.
  3. Each match is played on a knockout basis over 18 ends.
  4. Aggregate shots determine the winner.
  5. In the event of a tie all rinks to play an extra end.
  6. If the match is not completed due to inclement weather, the result stands if at least fifteen ends have been played.
  7. No ‘trial ends’ to be played other than in the final.
  8. The home team gives three dates to their opponents at least one week before the expiry date of that round.
  9. If the home team fails to comply with 8 above, they forfeit the game.
  10. The winning Captain informs the League Secretary of the result within 48 hours.
  11. The Committee will select a green for the final.
League Singles
  1. Payment of the annual subscription automatically entitles each club to submit their singles champion or nominated player to enter the League Singles Competition, provided he has played in the League that season, on payment of the entry fee.
  2. Each club notifies the League Secretary of their nomination by 28 February.
  3. The winner is the first to twenty-one bowls.
  4. The home player gives three dates to his opponent at least one week before the expiry date of that round.
  5. If the home player fails to comply with 4 above, he forfeits the game.
  6. Two trial ends are permitted.
  7. Where possible the visiting player to have choice of approved rinks.
  8. The winning player informs the League Secretary of the result within 48 hours.
  9. The Committee will select a green for the final.