1. DEFINITIONS

The League Rules (known as the ‘Rules’) shall apply to those Leagues managed by the Nottinghamshire Federation Bowls League (known as the ‘League’) and shall form part of the League Constitution (known as the ‘Constitution’). Each Club/Team 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 leagues may be promoted and successfully completed within the spirit of the game of bowls.

3. LEAGUE FORMATS

Saturday 4 x 3 League matches: –

Four rinks of three players, two bowls each, Twenty eight ends (with tea optional, but a break to take place half way through the match).

Saturday 3 x 3 League matches:-

Three rinks of three players, three bowls each, Twenty-one ends. (with tea optional, but a break to take place half way through the match).

Midweek 3 x 3 League matches:-

Three rinks of three players, three bowls each, Eighteen ends.

Midweek 4 x 2 League matches:-

Four rinks of two players, four bowls each, Eighteen ends.

Afternoon 2 x 3 League matches:-

Two rinks of three players, three bowls each, eighteen ends.

League games may not be foreshortened unless due to inclement weather or with the prior permission of the Divisional Secretary.

4. ORGANISATION OF FIXTURES

Saturday 28 end and Saturday 3 x 3 League matches will be assumed to be played at 2.00 p.m. on the Saturday scheduled. Any Club needing to rearrange a Saturday match should be rearranged as soon as possible on any mutually acceptable date and the Divisional Secretary notified of the new date. Matches should be rearranged for a Saturday but if this means playing the game late in the season then any mutually accepted day should be arranged.

Midweek 3 x 3 League and Midweek 4 x 2 League fixture lists will be published to be played on Mondays. These matches may be played on afternoon or evenings mutually agreed between Clubs, but must be completed by Friday of that week, and must not be carried over to the next week.

Afternoon League fixtures may be played on any day mutually agreed between the clubs and should commence at 1.30 pm (preferably Mondays and Fridays).

FIXTURE LISTS MUST BE SENT TO THE DIVISIONAL SECRETARIES, TO ARRIVE BY THE END OF MARCH OF EACH SEASON.

The times for commencement of matches are, EVENINGS no later than 6.30 p.m. All midweek matches in the months of August and September to start at 6.00 pm to avoid any misunderstanding with Clubs, SATURDAYS no later than 2.00 p.m. and SUNDAYS no later than 2.30 p.m.

5. MANAGEMENT OF LEAGUES

The Leagues shall be managed by the League’s Executive Committee (known as the ‘Committee’) who will nominate Divisional Secretaries for each Division, from within the Committee, to receive results.

For the purpose of acquainting the Divisional Secretaries with the results of matches, special result cards will be supplied to each Club. Such cards to be agreed and signed by the TWO CAPTAINS. For each match the Home team will be responsible for supplying the card and the winning team will be responsible for IMMEDIATELY posting the card to the Divisional Secretary. The results card may be sent by email or picture message with the club retaining the original card. If a results card is lost then all rink cards should be retained until the end of the season to confirm the result.

Any dispute arising during the course of the season must be referred to the relevant Divisional Secretary within 72 hours of the dispute arising. The Committee will decide any dispute not resolved by the Divisional Secretary, their decision will be final.

The Committee will decide any matters arising not covered by these rules, and any penalties for contravention of any of these Rules, their decision will be final.

6. TWO TEAMS FROM ONE CLUB

A Club may enter more than one team in a League. However, although player registration is no longer required, it is expected that Clubs will ensure that their players only play for one of their teams.

7. DECIDING THE RESULT OF A MATCH

For Saturday 4 x 3, Saturday 3 x 3, and Midweek 3 x 3 League matches, points will decide the result of a match after being awarded as follows: –

One point for each winning rink (half point for a drawn rink) PLUS Three points for the team with the greater total shots (one and a half points to each team where the shots are equal)

For the Afternoon League the points will be 2 points for an overall win and 1 point for each winning rink – giving 4 points in total per match.

For the Midweek 4 x 2 League the points will be 1 points for a win per rink and 3 points for winning the match giving 7 points in total per match.

8. DECIDING LEAGUE POSITIONS

League positions will be determined by points won. Where points are equal between teams, shot difference will be used.

9. PROMOTION AND RELEGATION

The champions and runners up in each Division will be promoted to the next higher Division, the two bottom Clubs will be similarly relegated to the next lower Division, except where any re-organisation of Divisions is necessary.

10. IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER

A match will only be regarded as a completed match where the following number of ends has been played: –

Saturday 28 end 4 x 3 League matches fourteen ends.

Saturday 3 x 3 League matches twelve ends.

Midweek 3 x 3 League matches twelve ends.

Midweek 4 x 2 League matches twelve ends

Afternoon 2 x 3 League matches twelve ends.

Any game postponed or abandoned due to inclement weather, with less than the above number of ends completed must be re-arranged in accordance with Rule 14.

11. MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS FOR A LEAGUE MATCH

A match must be played if a team can provide the minimum of 2 players per rink, meaning:-

4 x 3 league = 8 players

3 x 3 league = 6 players

2 x 3 league = 4 players

In the event that a team play with one player short on a rink, then the sequence of play shall be as follows:

Lead, Lead, 2 for the 4 x 3, 3 x 3 and afternoon leagues.

Teams turning up to play with less than the minimum required number of players shall forfeit the match and Rule 14 will be applied.

There is no minimum number of players in 4 x 2 league. All rinks must be a full complement of players to qualify for a match.

No extra woods to be played by the team playing one player short.

12. IN THE EVENT OF A CLUB BEING UNABLE TO FULFIL A FIXTURE

(a) A team unable to fulfil a fixture must notify their opponents at least 48 hours before the match is due to be played. Failure to meet this deadline could result in the offending team being penalised. The Divisional Secretary should also be notified.

(b) The two clubs are expected to agree a mutually acceptable alternative date which should not be late in the season (within one month of the date the match should have been played on).

(d) In the case of Saturday postponements the flexibility under Rule 4 should be noted.

(e) If a mutually acceptable date cannot be agreed the Divisional Secretary should be involved for a determination.

13. FAILURE TO PROPERLY MEET A LEAGUE FIXTURE

(a) Any Club that fails to properly meet a league fixture on any occasion will be referred to the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to subject any offending Club to penalties which may include any of, reprimand, points deduction, points awarded to opponents or relegation or expulsion from the League. The Committee may also direct that the match be played/replayed on a specific date if necessary.

(b) If a Club notified the League Secretary they are withdrawing from a league at any stage of the season, all points and shots relating to the withdrawn Club and gained by opponents will be deleted.

(c) If a club fails to fulfil a fixture and is not the offending party they shall receive the average points per game achieved over the whole season. This calculation will be made exactly and then rounded up or down to the nearest half point.

14. FAILURE TO APPEAR AT THE AGREED TIME

For any player, or team, 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: –

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.)

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.

15. 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.

In order to encourage and accommodate the continued participation of bowlers whose fitness levels are affected by medical or physical disabilities, to allow 2 bowlers to represent the bowling club by playing half the match each in either singles, doubles or trips matches. Each bowler pairings are to be named on the score cards by the Club Captains before the commencement of the match.

16. DRESS

In all League matches players must wear the correct dress, which will be ‘Greys or club colours’.

‘Greys’ shall consist: –

White shirt/blouse; grey trousers/grey tailored cropped trousers/culottes/skirt/tailored shorts; Flat soled 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.

Waterproof clothing (including hats) if worn, shall be white or club colours.

For the purposes of this Rule, white shall also include cream.

Latest Amendments: –

2023 3 The Midweek 4 x 3 league was dissolved.

2024 15 Players to share a match (play half match each)