Constitution & Rules (version 2023)

This is the current version of the Constitution and Rules as agreed at the AGM 2023. 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 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, except where otherwise stated.
  2. Teams or players must notify League, League Triples and League Singles results to the League Secretary by the prescribed method by the day following the fixture. Any team or player failing to comply will incur a fine of £10 for each occasion.
  3. The away team or player gets the jack for the first end, but can choose to give it to the home team or player.
  4. Dress code.
    1. Players must wear a club top, or white top if awaiting a club top.
    2. Other dress should be as per the club's dress code.
    3. Team captains must ensure their players abide by the club's dress code and the players are dressed as a team.
    4. Dress code for League Triples and League Singles finals is white, or club coloured trousers or shorts.
  5. Fines must be paid by 31 October for a club's registration to be accepted. Failure to pay by this date will mean the club's entry will not be accepted for the following season.
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, or female players according to rule 8.4.
    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 September.
    4. Details of any dispute should be entered on the result card.
    5. If disputes are not thus recorded, any subsequent protest is invalid.
    6. Queries on result cards or league results must be received by the League Secretary before the end of September.
  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.
    4. If a team cannot field 12 male players, it may include female players to complete the team. If a club has more than one team in the league, it must promote male players from its lower division teams to fill shortages in its higher division teams. Thus, female players can only fill shortages in the lowest division team.
  9. Tuesday matches
    1. When Tuesday matches are scheduled as 'on or before', the assumption is the match will be played on the date specified unless one team contacts the other to arrange for an earlier date.
    2. That team must give at least one week's notice to the opposing team and give three alternative dates for the match to be played.
    3. If the opponents can't play on any of those three dates, the match is awarded to the offering team, with 7pts and 15 bowls scored.
  10. 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. The opposition captain, or home team green keeper or a nominated deputy must verify cancellation.
      3. Players cannot request a cancellation.
      4. Any team cancelling a match without opposition captain or green keeper verification will be deducted 7 points and pay a £10 fine.
      5. A match cancelled through inclement weather before 15 ends have been played is considered void. The rematch starts from scratch.
  11. 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.
  12. 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. Matches are played on the Friday deadline date, unless either team contacts the other to arrange for an earlier date. That team must give at least one week's notice to the opposing team and give three alternative dates for the match to be played. If the opponents can't play on any of those three dates, the match is awarded to the offering team.
  9. Since captains are able to offer three alternative dates to the Friday deadline date, lady players are not allowed to play in League Triples.
  10. 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. Matches are played on the Friday deadline date, unless either player contacts the other to arrange for an earlier date. That player must give at least one week's notice to the opposing player and give three alternative dates for the match to be played. If the opposing player can't play on any of those three dates, the match is awarded to the offering player.
  9. The Committee will select a green for the final.