RULES AND BYE-LAWS
1. TITLE The League to be known as the "Mid-Cheshire Ladies Bowling League", and to be open to all female members of bona-fide clubs in Mid-Cheshire who are duly proposed , seconded and accepted subject to 1a
The League is affiliated to the British Crown Green Ladies Bowling Association and play under British Crown Green Rules.
a) Any new team applying must first be vetted by the Committee, re:distance
b) Any new team joining the League must play their home matches on Monday or Tuesdays only.
c) Any team that plays their home fixtures on a Thursday evening may continue to do so but if their green becomes available as rule 1b they shall change to this rule.
d) If a team changes venue then rule b must be adhered to.
2. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS Registration fee of £7.00 per player to be paid before the first game.
3. WITHDRAWALS Any team wishing to withdraw from the League must submit their resignation before the AGM, penalty any dues or expenses to be paid to the League.
4. GENERAL MEETING The AGM will be held on a date to be decided by the committee, for the election of Officers, Rules and Bye-Law changes etc. TWO MEMBERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE FROM EACH TEAM. ANY CLUB NOT REPRESENTED AT THE AGM WILL BE FINED £5.
a) Further meeting will be held in January for the operation of the general running of the League.
b) A Special General Meeting can be convened at any time by the Secretary on receiving a requisition to that effect signed by the Secretaries of not less than four (4) Clubs belonging to the League.
5 COMMITTEE The League Committee to consist of Chairlady, Vice-Chairlady, League Secretary, Treasurer, Competition Secretary and County Representative. THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS TO BE CALLED WHEN REQUIRED.
a) The President, Chairlady and Vice-Chairlady to be appointed at two (2) yearly intervals and to hold office for two (2) years. The Vice-Chairlady to be appointed Chairlady after the Chairlady retires and a new Vice-Chairlady to be appointed. The League Secretary, Treasurer, Competition Secretary and County Representative to be appointed at Four Two (2) yearly intervals and to hold office for Two (2) years, (4) members to form a quorum.
b) The County Committee to be elected at two (2) yearly intervals and to consist of Secretary and eight (8) Committee members.
6) NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS. That notice of any amendment or alteration of Rules and Bye-Laws of the League, together with the names of the proposer and seconder of any such amendment or alteration must be submitted to the Secretary ie 6 weeks prior to AGM.
The accounts shall be audited and a balance sheet be shown at the AGM. All cheques will require two (2) signatories.
ANY PROPOSAL NOT ACCEPTED AT AN AGM CANNOT BE RESUBMITTED FOR TWO (2) YEARS
7. REGISTRATIONS. All players must have paid their registration fees four (4) days before their first game of the season and must reside within a fifteen (15) mile radius of their club. A Club having more than one (1) team separate registrations for each team to be submitted, penalty for infringement: game awarded 21-0
a) Teams must register a minimum of eight (8) players for the 'A' team of which three (3) shall be "starred" these will be the top three averages from the previous season. Any "starred" player will not be allowed to play for a lower division. Any team may only borrow three(3) players in any one League game. Any "B" team player who plays five (5) times in an "A" team league match will be deemed to be an "A" team player, no "A" team player can play for the "B" team more than five(5) times.
The final date for all registrations is 30th June except under special circumstances. A player can only be registered with one club during one season unless prior to the 30th June they obtain the transfer.
c) No minimum age limit.
8 AWARDS. Cash awards will be awarded to the winners, runners up, and third place in each division. League Knock-Out winners, runners -up and two semi-finalists. An Individual average cash prize for each division to be awarded each year for the average winner and runner-up. To qualify players must have played in 75% of available matches and in 75% of available away matches. Awards will be made using the results from the web.
9. CONDUCT. In the event of any unladylike conduct of any player or official in a League or Cup Match, the offending player or official will be required to appear before the Committee to give account of themselves and will be suitably dealt with by the Committee, who can impose suspension, fine, loss of chalks or whatever action is deemed appropriate. No smoking is allowed on the green during the playing of a match Penalty as in Rule 11. Mobile phones, pagers or any electrical devices e.g MP3 players, are not allowed on the Green, unless with special dispensation. Should a player fail to comply, that player shall foreit the game. The offender(s) to receive no further score and the opponent(s) to receive the maximum score. To comply with BCGBA Rule 10
10 DISPUTES. Should any dispute arise that is not provided for in these Rules , the Committee shall consider same and their decision shall be final. In addition to the above rules, all BCGBA Laws will be adhered to. The Committeee reserves the right to take appropriate action against Clubs who have committed proven breaches of any of the League Rules and Bye-Laws. match or Cup Competition Rules, irrespective of whether or not a Club or Clubs have officially protested.
11 TROPHIES. The Chairlady, Vice-Chairlady and the League Secretary shall be to all intents and purposes the Legal owner of the Trophies in trust for the League, and trophies shall never become the property of any other Club. All trophies, cups and shields (if not previously returned for competition purposes) MUST be returned to the Competition Secretary/committee before the end of the current season.
12 DRESS CODE. In all MCLBL matches, players are expected to dress in a manner which neither harms the image of the sport or gives offence to other players or spectators (knee length shorts are acceptable)
13. DISSOLUTION CLAUSE. Should the Committee by a a majority, decide on the grounds of expediency to dissolve the Mid-Cheshire Ladies Bowling League, it shall call a meeting of all members clubs giving Twenty One (21) days notice. At this meeting, if two thirds majority of those present, eligible to vote decide to dissolve the League, the Committee shall have the power to dispose of the assets of the league after all Liabilities and debts have been cleared. The beneficiaries of such assets shall be the member clubs or such charities as decided by the members clubs.
MATCH RULES
1. LEAGUE CONSTITUTION. The league will be formed at each AGM into a suitable number of divisions to make allowances for the inclusion of new clubs joining the League. Each team will consist of eight (8) players and games will be twenty one (21) up. Matches cannot be split over two (2) weeks.
2. SECTION WINNERS. Results of League Matches to be decided as follows: That the team obtaining the highest total aggregate score to be declared the winner, the clubs in each division finishing the season with the highest total scores from each match to be declared Champions of each division and hold the Trophy for twelve (12) months. First and second place to be promoted and the bottom two (2) clubs to be relegated, unless divisons have to be re-organised. Teams finishing on equal chalks, to be decided on wins, if still equal on plus and minus, play off on neutral venue, this also applies to relegation.
3) CANCELLATIONS. The league secretary must be informed immediately if matches cannot be played on the day fixed, except for cancellations due to:
a) Inclement weather.
b) Green unavailability.
c) Clubs mutually agreeing to play their matches before the date shown in the fixture list.
d) No league match must be cancelled due to individual holidays.
e) In any of these cases all games must be re-arranged to be played within twenty one (21) days.
f) Bank Holiday matches to be mutually agreed by both teams or re-arranged before the due date or as Rule e),
g) Any cancellations not covered by the above rules will be dealt with by the committee on an individual basis.
4) STARTING TIMES. Games to commence at 6:45pm. Matches in April, August and September to commence at 6:00pm. this early start to apply only to clubs without lights. Players in all matches shall play as drawn. Captains to ensure that players 1-4 are available before making score cards out. If one player is not present when called then a reserve to play.
5) PLAYERS ABSENT. Should a team be unable to field eight (8) players then one (1) player will be permitted to play twice. The captain will put forward as many cards as there are players available. The draw will then take place as normal and the chosen player will play at position 1 + 8 for any more missing players the 21 points per missing player shall be foreited. The player receiving a walk over in any match, their points shall be taken pro-rata for all matches played during the season on a basis of home and away results. Result sheet to show 21 absent. Anyone who is not capable or doesn't want to play twice can be left out of the pick and then included in the match draw proper.
6) RESULTS TO SECRETARY. The home team captain must ensure results of each match shall be entered via the website within 24 hrs of the match being played. Failure to do so will incur a £5 fine. Captains to retain sheets until the end of the season.
7) MEASURING. If two players are unable to decide as to which of their bowls is a winner, the respective team captains or deputies appointed by them shall measure and their decision shall be final.
a) When an end is being measured all players should stand away and not interfere with the action of either referee or measurer(s).
b) All teams to be in possession of nineteen (19) metre tapes. During measuring: running end to jack, only measures recognised by BCGBA to be used.
8) PRACTICE. Players of a visiting team shall not be allowed to practice three (3) days prior to the match and not be allowed to play/practice on the day of the match. Penalty for infringement, the deaulting lady to foreit her game and her opponent's card shall read 21-0.
9) OBJECTIONS. Should any club wish to raise an objection they must do so in writing to the Secretary wihtin seven (7) days of the match.
10) VISITORS' JACK In all league matches the visitors have the jack at the commencement of the game and must set a mark within one atempt.
a) Standard jacks only to be used in matches, as Appendix 'A' BCGBA rules.
b) Four (4) jacks only allowed on the green during matches unless agreed by the captains.
11) COMPLETION OF GAMES.
11) Once a match has commenced the green must be kept occupied by at least three (3) games. In the event of a team unable to maintain three (3) games the defaulting team to forfeit twenty one (21) points per player.
12) In the event of a green not being fit to be played on, the visiting team to be notified by 5:00pm on the day of the match.
13) If an objection is raised by the visiting team as to whether the green is fit to play on, it is left to the home captain to decide as to whether play shall commence.
14) In the event of a match being abandoned the points score shall count. For unfinished games the jack shall be noted and it will be from this positin that the game will be resumed. If one or both players in any game are unavailable on the re-arranged date, substitutes will be permitted but the scores and position of commencement as mentioned above will apply.
15) All matches to be played by the very last fixture date. All outstanding matches not completed by this date (other than in exceptional circumstances), clubs will forfeit all points.
16) Re-aranged matches can be played over 2 nights at the discretion of the committee.
FLAT SHOES MUST BE WORN - WEDGES ARE NOT ALLOWED.
COMPETITION RULES
LEAGUE KNOCKOUT.
1. League Knock-out entrance fee to be £12:00 (8 players per team). ONLY PLAYERS REGISTERED BY THE MARCH MEETING WILL BE ALLOWED TO PLAY IN THE KNOCKOUT COMPETITION. After the first round, to qualify in the competition a player must have played one league game. Any club entering more than one team may promote players from one team to another although such players may have already played in the current competition for the lower team with which they were first registered. Under no circumstances can a player be relegated from a team which they were first registered even though they have not played in the competition with that team or from a team to which they have been promoted. The penalty for default under this rule will be to have the players score deleted and their opponents score to read 21-0. Markers should sit together and check every third end.
2. In the event of the score being in dispute by members concerned, play must be stopped and any discrepancy must be decided by referee. If no agreement can be made the game to be re-started at the point where both cards show the score agreed to be correct.
3. All teams to be handicapped after the March registration meeting, in order of sectional status on a rising scale, 1st Division winners off scratch, then on a sliding scale down to the lowest team. Winners of the previous season's TKO as sectional status minus 10 chalks. Any player registered or transferred from another club after the handicap meeting will not be allowed to play in the competition. In the event of a drawn game the match is to be re-arranged by both teams to be played at the same venue within 14 days. If this is not possible due to the venue not being available the competition secretary will arrange a new venue.
4. In all rounds greens to be decided by Competition Secretary, to be played on neutral greens as local as possible.
5. Referee to be appointed for the final.
6. All individual competitions to be handicapped as follows: Div 1 Scr, Div 2 off 3. Pairs competitions Div 1 Scr, Div 2, 2 per person (so a maximum handicap of 4 for Div 2 players.)
7. Should the winner of the Team Knockout decline to attend the Club Championship, the team to represent our league will be the runners-up of the Team Knockout start for one year.
8. Past winner(s) to concede one (1) start for one year,
9. Any club member participating in any competition will be handicapped by 2 chalks if the competiton is held on their own green.
10. A team that is drawn on a neutral venue at which it has a playing member(s) must notify the competition secretary as soon as the venue is known. If a team intends to play any such player(s) they must confirm this in writing seven (7) days before the match and a new venue will be arranged if necessary. If a team is found to be in breach of this rule, defaulter(s) to forfeit game(s) 21-0. Defiinition of a playing member is one who pays a subscription to a Bowling Club or to a bowling section of a Sports or Social Club or is a member of an organisation which utilises the green of such club or section.
11 Presidents Cup, Captains to inform the President of their teams average winner/representative at least ONE WEEK prior to the competition being held.
12. All entry fees for the league competitions must be submitted with entry form by the stated date.
10.PRESENTATION EVENING.
a) All teams shall buy a minimum of two (2) tickets for the Presentation Evening. No returns allowed.
b) All prize money not collected at the Presentation Evening either in person/team or by a nominated person/team shall be foredited and will be returned to the league funds.
c) Each club will provide a raffle prize for the Presentation Dance.