WARRINGTON CATHOLIC BOWLING LEAGUE ASSOCIATION

Rules and Constitution
(Revised 31st January 2026)

1. NAME, STATUS & OBJECTIVES

1.1 Name

The Association, originally founded in 1959, shall be known as:
The Warrington Catholic Bowling League Association
(hereafter referred to as “the Association”).

The Association is affiliated to the Lancashire County Bowling Association.

1.2 Objectives

The objectives of the Association are to:

Organise and promote competitive Crown Green Bowling for Catholic clubs and parishes.
Arrange league matches and competitions.
Promote fellowship, sportsmanship, and the interests of the game.
Where possible, make donations to charitable organisations.

1.3 Headquarters

The headquarters of the Association shall be determined by the Management Committee from time to time.

2. MEMBERSHIP

2.1 Eligibility

Membership is open to Catholic Clubs or Parishes within the Warrington area, subject to approval by the Management Committee.

2.2 Annual Registration

All member clubs must register annually following the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

2.3 New Clubs

New clubs (i.e. not members in the previous season) must:

Complete an official application form.
Submit the form to the League Secretary no later than 31 December.

2.4 Re-Affiliation

Existing clubs seeking re-affiliation must:

Complete a re-affiliation form.
Submit it to the League Secretary no later than 31 December.

3. ADMINISTRATION & GOVERNANCE

3.1 Management Committee

The Management Committee shall consist of the following officers, elected at the AGM:

President
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Secretary
Treasurer
Fixture & Competition Secretary
IT Officer

3.2 Authority

The League shall be governed by the Management Committee, whose decisions are binding.

3.3 Powers

The Management Committee may:

Temporarily co-opt members to fill vacancies.
Form sub-committees as required.
Interpret and enforce all League rules.

3.4 Quorum

A quorum shall consist of 10 members, including:

A minimum of 3 officials
A minimum of 7 club delegates

3.5 Appeals

The Management Committee acts as the ultimate authority.
However, an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called to hear appeals.
The quorum requirements in Rule 3.4 shall apply.

3.6 Life Membership

The Management Committee may award Life Membership in recognition of outstanding service.

4. FINANCE

4.1 Fees

All fees shall be set at the AGM.

4.2 Registration Fees

Annual registration fees must be paid on or before 31 May.

4.3 Banking

All League funds shall be held in a suitable bank account.
The Treasurer and/or Secretary are authorised signatories.

4.4 Accounts Access

Any club delegate or committee member may inspect the accounts held by the Treasurer.

4.5 Annual Accounts

The Treasurer shall present a Statement of Accounts to the AGM for the year ending 31 December.

4.6 Player Eligibility (Subscriptions)

No player may take part in promotions if they owe subscriptions to any club, league, or association including previous seasons

4.7 Prize Money

All prize winnings and honorariums shall be paid and recorded in the accounts for the year ending 31 December.

5. GENERAL MEETINGS & DISCIPLINE

5.1 Meetings

The following meetings shall be held annually in January:

Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Rules Revision Meeting (RRM)
Finance Meeting (FM)

Clubs shall receive at least 21 days’ notice.

5.2 AGM Business

The AGM shall include:

Approval of minutes (AGM and any EGMs)
Secretary’s, Treasurer’s, and Fixture Secretary’s reports
Election of officers
Rule amendments/revisions
Any other relevant business

5.3 Voting

Voting shall be by show of hands or red/green voting cards.
Each registered team has one vote.
The Chairman has no casting vote.

5.4 Non-Attendance Fines

AGM / EGM / RRM: £5 fine
Council Meeting: £2 fine

5.5 Extraordinary General Meetings

An EGM may be called by:

Written request signed by 6 club members, or
Instruction of the Management Committee

At least 7 days’ notice must be given.
Only notified business may be discussed.

5.6 Rule Changes

Rule changes may only be made at a General Meeting.
Proposals must be submitted in writing by 31 October to the League Secretary.

5.7 Protests

Protests must be submitted in writing within 5 days of the incident.
All parties may attend the Management Committee hearing.
Frivolous protests may result in a fine.

6. LEAGUE MATCH RULES

6.1 Teams

Each team shall consist of 12 registered players.

6.2 Team Selection

Captains must name the first 4 players to start.
The remaining 8 players must be nominated immediately.
Four blocks must be maintained at all times.

6.3 Substitutions

Once a player’s name is removed from the team sheet, they may not return.

6.4 Scoring

Scorecards must be agreed every 4 ends.
The away marker ensures compliance.
In disputes, the home card is final.

6.5 Start Times

April & August: 6:30 pm
May to July: 7:00 pm
September: 6:15 pm
Floodlit greens: 7:00 pm

6.6 Practice

Home team clears green 20 minutes before start.
Away team practices for 10 minutes.
Green cleared 10 minutes before start.

6.7 Equipment

Club blocks preferred; individual blocks permitted.
Players must declare jack bias before delivery.
The League accepts no responsibility for loss or damage.

6.8 Match Format

Games played 15 up off level.
Team handicaps added after completion.

6.9 Absentees

Absent players score 0; opponent awarded 15–0.

6.10 Match Sheets

Home team completes and submits match sheet.
Both captains must sign.
Results must be entered online promptly.

6.11 Cancellations

Clubs must notify the League Secretary 2 weeks in advance if a green is unavailable.

6.12 Fixtures

Matches must be played as drawn unless mutually agreed.

6.13 Results Submission

All match result sheets should be provided prior to the season commencing.

6.14 League Ties

Ties are decided by:

Aggregate score difference
Play-off (if still tied)

6.15 Late Registrations

Allowed throughout the season
Handicaps may be reviewed by the handicap committee, if they believe there is an unfair advantage through players signing on a late registration.

6.16 Points

HOME Win: 2 points
Away Win: 3 points
Home Draw: 1 point (if aggregate score is level)
Away Draw: 2 point (if aggregate score is level)
Each individual game winner will receive 1 point toward overall

6.17 Handicaps

All player and team handicaps for the forthcoming season shall be determined by the Handicapping Committee and confirmed prior to the commencement of the season.
Any player registered after the start of the season (“late registration”) shall require a minimum notice period of 48 hours prior to participation in any League match, to allow the Handicapping Committee to assess and apply an appropriate handicap.
Where a player is registered less 48 hours before a scheduled League match, the Handicapping Committee may, under exceptional circumstances, permit the player to participate.
In such cases, the player shall be permitted to play without any handicap adjustment or benefit for the remainder of the season, unless otherwise determined by the Handicapping Committee.

6.18 Postponed Matches

Must be replayed within 14 days.
Extensions allowed in exceptional circumstances.
Games resume from the point of suspension.

6.19 Player Eligibility

Any bona fide male club member who is aged 10 or over prior to the start of the season shall be eligible to play in the league.

All clubs must have a registered and certified Safeguarding Officer in place. Any player under the age of 18 is deemed a child under safeguarding regulations, and the following requirements must be adhered to at all times:

Ages 10–15 (Years 10–15)
Players must be accompanied or supervised by a parent or legal guardian at all times while on site.
Alternatively, a nominated responsible adult may supervise the player, provided written parental consent has been given and approved by the club’s Safeguarding Officer.
Ages 16–17
Players must have written consent from a parent or legal guardian submitted to the club’s Safeguarding Officer prior to participation.
Once consent is received, the player does not need to be accompanied by an adult.
Aged 18 and over
No restrictions apply (standard safeguarding practice).

The League Committee reserves the right to request safeguarding documentation from a club’s Safeguarding Officer at any time as evidence of compliance with this rule. Failure to provide such documentation may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to fines or suspension from the league.

7. K.O. CUP COMPETITIONS

(‘Challenge’ and ‘J.G. Bate’ Trophies)

7.1 The draw for all rounds of the K.O. Cup competitions shall be made at the appropriate Secretaries’ Meeting, and all affiliated Clubs shall be duly notified.

7.2Each team shall consist of twelve (12) registered players, and all matches shall be played on neutral greens as determined by the League.

7.3 Each competitor shall play from scratch, with all games played to 15 shots (15 up).

7.4 Team handicaps shall be determined by the Management Committee prior to the commencement of the selected cup.

7.5 Practice prior to the commencement of a match shall be limited to 7 ends each, with a maximum duration of 20 minutes.

7.6 Matches may be brought forward to an earlier date by mutual consent of the competing teams. Where agreement cannot be reached, the original date of the draw shall apply.

7.7 Matches postponed or left uncompleted due to inclement weather or other unavoidable circumstances shall be rearranged and played on the earliest possible convenient date, and in all cases prior to the next round of the competition.

7.8 For the Final of the competition, Team Captains shall submit to the League Secretary the names of all twelve (12) players, in playing order, together with any reserves, not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the scheduled date of the Final, to allow for the preparation of programmes.

7.9 Matches shall be played in the order as drawn and recorded on the team sheets. Changes to the playing order may be made by mutual consent of both Team Captains, up to and including the eighth block.

7.10 In the event of a cup tie resulting in a draw:
a) The team that has won the most games - Qualifies, if still a tie refer to (b).
b) The card with the best individual card (Highest chalks) - Qualifies, if still a tie refer to (c).
c) One player from each team will be nominated by each team (captain pick only). A game up to 5 points will commence with the team with the highest handicap leading the jack. In the event that the handicaps are tied then you will toss for the jack.

8. INDIVIDUAL MERIT COMPETITION

8.1The competition shall be open to all registered members of the Warrington Catholic Bowling League.
8.2 The draw shall be made at the appropriate Secretaries’ Meeting, and all entrants shall be duly notified.
8.3 All entries must be submitted on the prescribed entry forms and accompanied by the correct entrance fee by the closing date set at the Secretaries’ Meeting. Entries received after this date shall not be accepted.
8.4 No practice shall be permitted on the green selected for the competition on the day of play.
8.5 Any player who fails to report to the Referee in charge within fifteen (15) minutes of the advertised starting time shall be scratched, irrespective of weather conditions.
8.6Any protests, disputes, or matters of interpretation arising in connection with the competition shall be referred to and determined by a full Secretaries’ Meeting, whose decision shall be final.
8.7 All matches shall be played on the date as drawn, unless otherwise determined by the League.
8.8 All games shall be played to twenty-one (21) chalks, played off level.

9. PAIRS COMPETITION

9.1 The competition shall be open to all registered members of the Warrington Catholic Bowling League.
9.2 The draw shall be made at the appropriate Secretaries’ Meeting, and all entrants shall be duly notified.
9.3 All entries must be submitted on the prescribed entry forms and accompanied by the correct entrance fee by the closing date set at the Secretaries’ Meeting. Entries received after this date shall not be accepted.
9.4 Each entry shall consist of three (3) nominated players, any two (2) of whom may play in any match. No alterations to the nominated players shall be permitted after the closing date for entries to the competition.
9.5No practice shall be permitted on the green selected for the competition on the day of play.
9.6 Any team that fails to report to the Referee in charge within fifteen (15) minutes of the advertised starting time shall be scratched, irrespective of weather conditions.
9.7 Any protests, disputes, or matters of interpretation arising in connection with the competition shall be referred to and determined by a full Secretaries’ Meeting, whose decision shall be final.
9.8 All matches shall be played on the date as drawn, unless otherwise determined by the League.
9.9 All games shall be played to twenty-one (21) shots, played off level.
9.10 All nominated players must be registered members of the same club team.

10. PLAYER OF THE YEAR

10.1 The honour of Player of the Year shall be awarded to the player who records the highest number of League match wins during the playing season.
10.2 In the event that two or more players record an equal highest number of League match wins, a play-off shall be arranged to determine the winner.
10.3 Club Secretaries shall notify the League Secretary, in writing, of any member who may be eligible for this award. Only League matches shall be taken into consideration.
10.4 Where the League operates in two sections, the player with the highest number of League match wins in each section shall contest a play-off to determine the Player of the Year.

11. PRESENTATION EVENING

11.1 At the conclusion of each playing season, the League Management Committee shall arrange a Prize Presentation Evening, normally to be held in November.
11.2 Each affiliated Club shall be responsible for the purchase of two (2) tickets for the Prize Presentation Evening, at a cost determined by the League.

12. COMPETITION FINALS

All finals shall be played using standard jacks

2025	2024	2023
2022	2021	2020
2019	2018

Comp 2025	Comp 2024	Comp 2023
Comp 2022	Comp 2021	Comp 2020
Comp 2019

Warrington Catholic Bowling League 2026