1
DEFINITIONS
The
Competition Rules (known as the ‘Rules’) shall apply to those competitions
managed by the Nottinghamshire Federation Bowls League (known as the ‘League’)
and shall form part of the League Constitution (known as the ‘Constitution’).
Each entrant/competitor shall be bound by these Rules and by the English
Bowling Federation Laws of the Game (known as the ‘Laws’). Alteration or
amendment of these Rules may only be made in accordance with Rule 9 of the
Constitution.
2
OBJECT
The object of these Rules is to provide
guidance to competitors by establishing a framework whereby the competitions
may be promoted and successfully completed within the spirit of the game of
bowls.
3
COMPETITION FORMATS
There will be five competitions each year: –
The
GLOVER TROPHY – being an open team competition played on the following format:
–
One rink singles, four woods, 25 ends
One rink pairs, two woods, 25 ends
One rink triples, two wood, 21 ends
One rink fours, two wood, 16 ends
The
‘home’ team will be responsible for providing the Marker for the singles rink.
The STEEL TROPHY – being an open team
competition comprising four rinks of two wood triples, to be played over 25
ends.
The ELVIN TROPHY – being a single rink,
open, three wood triples competition, to be played over 18 ends.
The WARREN TROPHY – being a single rink, mixed
pairs, two wood competition, to be played over 21 ends.
The GROVES TROPHY – being an open four wood
singles competition, 21 shots up.
The ‘home’ competitor will be
responsible for providing the Marker.
In
all rounds of all competitions trial ends shall be played, unless both
competitors agree to the contrary. The ‘home’ competitor shall be responsible
for meeting all green fees etc. associated with the match.
That all rounds prior to the final of the Steel Trophy
consist of 21 ends, with the final remaining at 25 ends..
All
rounds up to the Finals will be played on club greens according to the draw.
4 MANAGEMENT
OF COMPETITIONS
The
competitions shall be managed by the League’s Executive Committee (known as the
‘Committee’) who will nominate Competition Secretaries for each competition,
from within the Committee, to receive results from competition rounds and to
advise competitors of their next opponents.
Any
dispute arising during the course of the competitions must be referred to the
relevant Competition Secretary within 72 hours of the dispute arising. A
dispute not resolved by the Competition Secretary may be determined by the
League Secretary, whose decision will be final. Transgressors of these Rules
may be refereed to the Committee who will have the power to impose penalties.
5 ENTRY TO
COMPETITIONS
Applications
for entry into the competitions shall only be received from Clubs and will only
be open to those Clubs who are members of the League for the current year.
Competitors in all competitions must be members of that Club. No applications
for entry into the competitions will be accepted after the due date. No
competitor may enter or play in the same competition from more than one Club.
Entry fees for the competitions will be approved at the League Annual General
Meeting. No competitor will be allowed to play unless all appropriate fees have
been paid by the Club.
6 ORGANISATION
OF ROUNDS AND NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
All
competitions will be on a knock-out basis to be played in rounds as determined
by the Committee.
Where two clubs with a bye in the first
round are drawn against each other in the second round, they MUST USE THE FIRST
ROUND PLAY-ON DATE FOR THE SECOND ROUND MATCH.
If by mutual agreement and the consent of the Competition Secretary games
may be played at a date earlier than the play-on date.
In
the case of inclement weather on either of these fixed dates then the games
must be played before the next round is due to be played.
All
other rounds must be completed by the appropriate play-by date, which must be
strictly observed.
The ‘home’ competitor will be responsible
for contacting their opponent as soon as the round is open, (the day after the
previous round has closed, apart from the first round, or earlier if the
opponents are known) and in any case within 72 hours, when at least three dates
shall be offered. The dates shall not all be in the same week (the week to
commence on Sunday for these purposes) and shall not be on consecutive dates.
The opponent will accept one of the dates offered within 72 hours. The dates
offered must be during mid-week evenings and/or daytime or evenings at
weekends.
If the “away”
competitor has not been contacted within the 72 hours, they should immediately
contact the Competition Secretary. The
Competition Secretary will then contact the “home” competitor and give them a
further 48 hours to make contact. If no
contact is made within this time, the “away” competitor will be awarded the
match.
The
winner of the round will be responsible for notifying the Competition Secretary
of the result, (no contact should be made after 10pm) and shall provide
the Competition Secretary with fully completed rink score cards, which must
include the names of all competitors, within 72 hours of playing the match.
Failure by either the ‘home’ or the ‘away’ competitor to notify the result by
the close of the round may result in the disqualification of both competitors.
The
finals of each competition will be played on the fixed Finals Day with a
reserve date available to be used in case of inclement weather. Clubs and individuals should only enter the
competitions if they are available to play on both the finals day and reserve
date. If during the course of the
competitions circumstances change and a club or individual gets to the quarter
final stage they should withdraw if they are unavailable for the Finals Day and
reserve date.
Substitutions
will be allowed for all competitions, with the exception of the Groves Trophy
(singles). (See Competition Rule 8)
7 TWO TEAMS
FROM ONE CLUB, IN TEAM COMPETITIONS
A
Club may enter more than one team in the team competitions, but no individual
player may play for more than one team, in the same competition.
8 DEFINITION
OF ENTRANT AND SUBSTITUTES IN THE ELVIN AND WARREN TROPHY COMPETITIONS
The
competitors taking part in the first round shall constitute the entrant.
Only
one substitute is allowed in any match, that one substitute is only allowed
when an entrant is unable to play owing to illness or other reasonable cause.
The substitute must not have played
previously in the same competition for any other entrant. The playing of a
substitute must be identified to both the opponents and the Competition Secretary.
9 DEFINITION
OF WINNER AND DECIDING A TIE
The
winner of a match shall be the competitor having the highest shot total
aggregated over all rinks (with the exception of the singles competition which
will be 21 shots up).
In
the event of a tie after the prescribed number of ends an extra end will be
played on all rinks, and if necessary repeated to determine the victor. The
captains, in the case of team competitions, or otherwise the skips shall toss a
coin for the choice of jack on the extra end(s) which will be played from where
the last end ceased.
10 POSTPONEMENT, AND ABANDONMENT
a)
Should the start of a match not be
possible on account of adverse weather conditions, an unfit green or other
unforeseen circumstances, after waiting 45 minutes from the commencing time
originally agreed, the ‘home’ competitor may elect to postpone the match to
another date. In these circumstances the ‘home’ competitor shall offer new
dates in the same manner as detailed in Rule 6.
b)
In the event of a match being abandoned
owing to adverse weather conditions, an unfit green or other unforeseen
circumstances, the match shall be replayed in its entirety unless the minimum
ends (see below) have been completed. If this score is a tie, then the match
shall be replayed. In these circumstances the ‘home’ competitor shall offer new
dates in the same manner as detailed in Rule 6.
Steel
(25 ends) Minimum ends = 15
Glover
4 (16 ends) minimum ends = 10
3 (21 ends) minimum
ends = 13
2
(25 ends) minimum ends = 15
1
(25 ends) minimum ends = 15
Elvin
(18 ends) minimum ends = 12
Warren
(21 ends) minimum ends = 13
Groves (1st
to 21) If not completed due to inclement weather – match to be replayed.
c)
In the event that a competitor, or team,
is unable to fulfil an agreed match, a minimum of 48 hours notice of
postponement must be given. The competitor requiring the postponement must
accept one of at least three new dates provided by the opponent in the manner
detailed in Rule 6.
For
the purpose of this Rule, adverse weather conditions shall mean those where
play is either impossible and/or where damage may be caused to the green. The
number of ends to be played in a competition shall not be reduced for any other
reason than expressed in this Rule.
11 FAILURE TO APPEAR AT THE AGREED TIME
For
any player failing to appear at the time fixed for the start of play a maximum
waiting period of 15 minutes shall be allowed, upon the expiry of which: –
i)
A singles match shall be awarded to the
player present.
ii)
If a relevant substitute for a pairs
match is not fielded, the match shall be awarded to the pair present.
iii)
If a relevant substitute for a triples
match is not fielded. The match shall proceed in accordance with EBF Law VII.3
i.e. lead, lead, second (repeated as necessary), to be followed by the skips.
(No deduction in shots when deciding the result.). Otherwise the match shall be
awarded to the triple present.
iv)
A team match shall be awarded to the
team present if the other team is unable to field sufficient players for the
match to be played.
Any
missing player arriving after the match has commenced will not be allowed to
take part in the match nor will the match be recommenced. For the purpose of
this rule, trial ends do not constitute part of the match.
12 PLAYER
INJURED OR FALLING ILL
DURING A MATCH
In the event that a player is injured or
falls ill during a match, a substitute may be fielded.
If a relevant substitute is not fielded, the match shall
proceed in accordance with EBF Law VII.3 i.e. lead, lead, second
(repeated as necessary), to be followed by the skips. (No deduction to shots
when filling in the result card.) If this
is not possible, i.e. in the case of a singles or pairs match, the match shall
be postponed and the matter immediately referred to the Competition Secretary
for a ruling.
13 DRESS
In all rounds of all competitions players must
wear the correct dress which will be “greys” or “club colours” except in the
finals which will be in “creams/whites” or “club colours”. If any player from either team does not wear
“creams” or “club colours” for the finals, then the offending team will be
disqualified from the competition and the opponents put through.
‘Greys’
shall consist: –
White shirt/blouse; grey trousers/grey tailored
cropped trousers/tailored shorts/culottes/skirt; Flat soled, no heeled shoes
manufactured for lawn bowls.
“Club
colours” shall consist:- Club shirts and jackets which bear club coloured panels
and club badges or logos. Where clubs
elect to wear club coloured registered tops for matches, all the team
must wear the same top.
And if worn: –
Grey or
white socks, or brown/beige tights/stockings; white pullover, cardigan or
jacket; white cap or hat.
Club ties
or cravats may be worn.
“whites/creams” shall consist:-
White
shirt/blouse with collar, white trousers/tailored shorts/culottes/tailored
cropped trousers/skirt.
Flat soled, no heeled
shoes manufactured for lawn bowls.
And
if worn:-
White socks, pullover, cardigan or
jacket, cap or hat.
Waterproof
clothing (including hats) if worn, shall be white or club colours.
For the
purposes of this Rule, white shall also include cream.
14 PRIZES
For
all competitions the winners, runners-up and semi-finalists will receive cash
prizes which shall be determined at the League Annual General Meeting.
15 MANAGEMENT
OF FINALS
The finals for the competitions will be played
on a venue decided upon by the Committee which will be announced before the
competitors closing date for entry.
All competitors should make themselves available for the finals day and
the reserve day (which will only be used in cases of inclement weather on
finals day or if a competitor(s) is in several finals). A
qualified E.B.U.F umpire (if possible) and a marker will be supplied by the
Committee.
Latest Amendments: –
2024 3 All
rounds of the Steel Trophy will be 21 ends with the final being 25 ends.
5 Applications for entry into the competitions shall only
be accepted from clubs
registered with the NFBL and
those clubs who play in any of its leagues for the current
year.