Last updated 07/02/2022
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Association Regulation No 131: League Bowls Rules
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1 General
1.1 These Rules are in addition to the Competition Rules.
1.2 The league shall be known as the Ray Keen Association League.
1.3 The objective of the League is to encourage competitive bowling within the County
and to raise the skill level within Clubs, thus contributing to the overall standard of bowling.
1.4 A League Manager shall be appointed at a General Meeting and who shall
administer all aspects of the League.
1.5 Affiliated Clubs or their affiliated members of either gender shall be eligible to
enter a team.
1.6 Affiliated Clubs may enter more than one team.
1.7 Affiliated Clubs or their affiliated members wishing to enter a team for the next
year shall pay an entry fee, as determined by the Executive Committee, to the League Manager by 1st February each year.
1.8 The number of Leagues shall be dependent upon the number of entries.
1.9 The number of divisions in each league shall not be limited.
1.10 Teams from each League shall be sorted into divisions. Each division shall have a
maximum of six teams. New teams joining the league shall join the lowest division
in the appropriate league.
1.11 Under normal circumstances one team shall be promoted and one team relegated
from each Division annually. However, the League Manager shall have the power
to reconstruct each League should the number of teams entering or withdrawing
from the League change radically.
1.12 Prize monies and a Framed Certificate shall be awarded to each Division winner
which shall be presented at the appropriate Association’s Presentation Dinner. For
non-attendees these will be available for collection from the League Manager.
1.13 League winners shall be paid any prize monies through the appropriate Club
Secretaries.
1.14 The Executive Committee shall approve any changes to these rules.
1.15 The League Manager shall resolve all questions, issues and disputes not covered by
these Rules subject to the overriding authority of the Executive Committee.
1.16 Any team affected by a decision may appeal to the Administrator in writing or by e-
mail.
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2 League Rules
2.1 The Leagues shall be played under the Laws of the Sport, except where defined
below.
2.2 Teams in each division shall play each other twice in a season, once at home and
once away. This can be changed to three times in a season if a league has less than
five clubs.
2.3 Each team shall be represented by one rink.
2.4 A player shall not play for another team in the same season.
2.5 If a league team plays a player who has played for another team in the same season,
three points and ten shots shall be awarded to the opposing team.
2.6 The home rink shall be responsible for any green fees.
2.7 The home rink shall have choice of rink and the ‘starred greens’ rule shall not
apply.
2.8 If a team is not ready to play within 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time then
the opposing team shall be awarded 5 shots. If a team is not ready to play within 30
minutes of the scheduled starting time then 3 points and 10 shots shall be awarded
to the opposing team.
2.9 If a team is one player short they may play a 3.3.2 format and lose 25% of their
score.
2.10 The match shall normally be played over 18 ends or 2 hours and 15 minutes play
with the final jack being cast 2 hours and 10 minutes after the start of play.
However, the full 18 ends may be played if both teams agree prior to the start of the
match.
2.11 There shall be no trial ends.
2.12 Teams shall not play 3's up and Skips shall not visit the head.
2.13 In the event of a killed end, two shots shall be awarded to the opposing team.
2.14 If a match has been curtailed by bad light or weather and a minimum of ten ends
have been played the score on the last completed end shall count. If ten ends have
not been completed one point and ten shots shall be awarded to each rink.
2.15 No fixtures shall be cancelled:
2.15.1 Within two weeks of the play-by date. The defaulting team must
either play Rule 2.9 or concede the match;
2.15.2 Outside of this period without the permission of the League Manager;
2.15.3 If permission is granted, the non-defaulting team shall offer three dates
within 14 days, all of which must be before the last match day of the season. The
defaulting team shall accept one of those dates within three days. If none of the
offered dates are acceptable to the defaulting team, three points and ten shots shall
be awarded to the non-defaulting team.
2.16 Points to be awarded in each match:
2.16.1 Three points to the winning team.
2.16.2 One point to each team in the event of a tie.
2.17 The position in the league shall be determined by points and if a tie, by shot
difference. If the shot difference is also equal then the results of the matches
between the teams involved shall be the deciding factor.
2.18 The matches shall be played on a Wednesday evening with the exact dates to be
notified in the Events Diary. All outstanding Matches must be completed before the
last League play-on date.
2.19 Home and away dates may be reversed and the League Manager shall be informed.
2.20 If a green is unfit for play the match shall be rescheduled and the League Manager
informed.
2.21 In the event of a match not being played by the date and time allocated, one point
and ten shots shall be awarded to each team unless the fixture has been rescheduled
and agreed by the League Manager.
2.22 Both teams shall email the result of the match to the League Manager by 10.00pm the same evening.
All Teams shall ensure that their own scorecards are kept until Finals Day and must be produced if requested.
2.23 The League Manager shall determine the latest start time of the match when
sending out the fixtures.
2.24 If a team withdraws from the league not having played each team once, all their
results shall be declared null and void. If having played each team once, one point
and ten shots shall be awarded to each rink.
2.25 All outstanding matches shall be played before the final fixture.
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3 Finals Day
3.1 County stickers shall be used.
3.2 The date shall be set as part of the Events Diary.
3.3 The League Manager shall complete the draw for rinks and opponents prior to Finals Day.
3.4 If needed, a preliminary round shall be played on Finals Day.
3.5 Presentations shall be in accordance with paragraph 1.12 above.
3.6 If inclement weather occurs on the day, the League Manager may play reduced
ends.
3.7 If the Finals Day is ‘rained-off’, no trophies shall be presented and prize monies
shall be shared equally between the qualifying teams.
3.8 If a team is not available for Finals Day or fails to attend the League Manager shall
have the authority to replace the defaulting team.
3.9 If a team is one player short, paragraph 2.9 above shall apply.
3.10 The Finals Day shall be completed on one day.
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