SHEVIBOWLS

1. The League shall be known as the ORRELL & DISTRICT MEN'S BOWLING LEAGUE and is Honorary member of the Lancashire County Bowling Association.

2. The League shall consist of any number of club teams and be governed by a management committee consisting of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Fixture Secretary.

3. The League consists of a Monday Night League and a Friday Night League forming two separate leagues, with two divisions on each night and a play-off for the Champion of Champions. A player MAY register with a team on a Monday night and also be registered with a team on a Friday night, allowing him to play on BOTH evenings. Season to start and finish on dates decided by the committee.

4. If any individual member or members of a club or team have a dispute with their club which is not a bowling concern, this will not be a matter for the League or brought in front of the League or delegates at any meetings.

5. Any team raising an objection within the rules must do so within five days after the incident to the Secretary in writing, otherwise the objection will not be considered.

6. Any team objecting to an Executive decision will have 14 days to appeal in writing to the Secretary, in order that the matter can be dealt with by an Appeals Committee.

7. The Appeals Committee will consist of one member of the Executive, in a none voting capacity, to act as Chairman and one representative from each division of the league concerned. Should any team in connection with a dispute or protest have a member on the Appeals Committee then the said member shall not be allowed to sit on the same whilst the dispute is in progress. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final.

8. The Annual General Meeting will be held on the first Tuesday in December each year; for the consideration of any rules and bye-laws, elect a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Fixture Secretary for the coming season, pass the the yearly accounts and any other matters necessary for the efficient running of the League. Any team not represented at the Annual General Meeting will be fined £10.00.

9. No bye-laws or laws in connection with the running of the League shall be altered, rescinded or added without the consent of the majority of those present at the Annual General Meeting. In the event of a split vote, the Chairman will have the casting vote. Notice of any alteration of rules or bye-laws must be given in writing to the Secretary 28 days previous to the Annual General Meeting.

10. Any team desirous of becoming a member of the League must be duly proposed and seconded, submit a list of players when applying, must be a member of the Lancashire County Bowling Association or their own County, and all team members must be registered British Crown Green Bowling Association members.

11. Team representatives must attend all meetings. A fine of £4.00 will be enforced for every absence.

12. The entrance fee for each team will be decided at the Annual General Meeting each year and fees MUST be paid to the Treasurer by the February meeting.

13. Any outstanding fines which should have been paid previously will be withheld from the team's prize money if not paid.

14. Any team not playing in the Champion of Champions play off, at the end of the season, will forfeit half of their prize money allocated to them as divisional league winners. Any team not turning up for for a K/O Cup game will forfeit half of any prize money which they generate in that cup competition.

15. Any captains allowing absent players names to be entered on a results card will be fined £5.00 and further action MAY be taken. Home team captains shall forward results cards no later than seven days after the match, if not a fine of £2.00 will be enforced.

16. Any team receiving prize money at the end of the season who does not attend the presentation evening will be deducted 50% of their winnings.

17. Teams may consist of any number of players who shall be bonafide male registered members of that team, with 10 players to play in each match. Registration of players must be sent or given to the Fixture Secretary by the March meeting, with the closing date for additional players being MAY 31st. Anyone playing in a match after May 31st, who has not notified the Fixture Secretary of his B.C.G. membership number, will be classed as a non-registered player and could render the team liable for fines and the application of Rule 18.

18. Any team playing an unregistered player shall have six points deducted from them at the end of the season.

19. Matches will be decided on the aggregate score of the 10 bowlers. 2 points for a HOME win, 3 points an AWAY win, 1 point HOME DRAW, 2 points for an AWAY DRAW. In case of a tie for divisional championships the team with the highest aggregate score will be the champions.

20. The visiting captain will be allowed to practise with the Home team. A minimum of 4 blocks must be on the green at all times. Where a green normally accommodates 5 blocks at any one time, and this facility has been indicated on the teams registration form, then the 5 block format will apply to any match on that green.

21. Best individual winner, AWAY winner, will be decided from the league records of results. In the event of a tie on number of wins, the best aggregate score will determine the winner.

22. Qualifying finalists for the Individual Merit competition who fail to turn up could be refused future entry for 2 years or until the Executive Committee approve.

23. Matches must not be postponed for any reason other than inclement weather. Any cancelled game must be played within 28 days of postponement, with the Home team giving the Visiting team all dates when the green is available within these 28 days. From these dates, a mutually agreeable date and time must be set. Failure to fulfil the fixture within these 28 days will result in BOTH teams being awarded NO points. Visiting teams must turn up in all weathers.

24. Any team who postpone a match for any reason other than rule 23 will have the match awarded to to their opponents, the defaulting team shall have 5 points deducted at the end of the season and fined £10.00.            ( a ). Matches may be brought forward at any time throughout the season.

25. The first four matches and the final four matches of the season shall start at 6.30pm and all other matches at 7.00pm. Home teams with floodlights will be able to start their matches at 7.00pm in the first four and the last four of the season. Teams with floodlights are marked in the handbook with an (F). Fifteen minutes practice will be allowed to the visiting team who will have sole use of the green. Any member of the home team will not be allowed to practice during this time.

26. No member of the visiting team shall be allowed to practice on their opponents green on the day of the match (OTHER THAN FOR A PRE-ARRANGED FIXTURE.) Conditions are covered in rule 20.

27. Any player arriving later than one hour after the scheduled start time will not be allowed to play.

28. All matches to be played under the laws of the British Crown Green Bowling Association unless stated or provided for in rules of the Orrell & District Mens Bowling League.

29. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Fixture Secretary shall form the Executive Committee and have the power to deal with any matter not provided for in the rules.
     

    RULES & Handicaps FOR THE LEAGUE & TEAM KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS

    1.  (a)  Monday and Friday night leagues will have their own main K/O cup competitions.

         (b)  All member teams will be drawn in their own K/O cup competition.

         (c)  Based on the final league positions of the preceding season a handicap will be:-

               Top Six in Division 1.......................................Scratch.

               Next teams in Division 1..................................15 Start.

               Last Two in Division 1

               and First Two in Division 2..............................25 Start.

               Next Four teams in Division 2..........................35 Start.

               Next teams in Division 2..................................45 Start

     Last Two teams in Division 2...........................50 Start.

(d) Any team being demoted from the 1st division carrying a penalty league handicap, should only lose 10 points from their Home handicap (5 points Away).

1. Any team that wins the Knockout Cup with a handicap start, the following season will revert back to a scratch start.

2. A Player must have played in 2 league games, during a season, to be eligible for selection to play in a Knockout or Supplementary Cup Final.

3. Teams to consist of ten players, five playing at home and five playing away.

4. Away teams to be allowed fifteen minutes practice as per rule 25 in the League Rules.

5. In the final, the complete teams of ten players will play on a neutral green, both teams will be allowed a practice of fifteen minutes each.

6. Substitutes will be allowed but opposing captains must be notified before the fourth game commences in all rounds up to the final. In the final, substitutes will be allowed up to the eighth game.

7. In each of the matches , the winning team will be decided as per the League Rule 19. In the event of a tie the following order of elimination shall apply:-  Tie on aggregate.......................the team with the most winners;

                                                         If still a tie...............................the team with the best winners;

                                                         If still a tie...............................2nd, 3rd, 4th best winners etc.

7. If a club has two teams in the competition or a team share a green with another team and both matches are arranged to start at the same time, then two games from each team must be on the green at the same time.

8. Any rule not provided for, shall be governed by the Lancashire County Bowling Association competition rules and shall be final.

9. The first round of the Knockout cup will take place in week two of the fixtures. The first round of the Starbank Cup & second round of the K/O cup will be played before the May meeting.