League Rules

  1. Clubs affiliated to the Association shall be eligible to enter a team or teams in the League/s upon receiving the approval of the Association at an Annual General Meeting and upon payment of the current Affiliation Fee.
  2. a) Open Age League teams shall consist of nine players, plus nominated reserves, each being BCGLBA registered and a fully paid up member of the Club entering the team in the League. No minimum age limit. Where a Club has two or more teams a member of that Club is allowed to play in more than one team, however once the member has played three times for a team, they then play for that team only for the rest of the season. When a Club has two teams in the Open Age League that Club must be able to provide a minimum of 22 named players by the date of the Open Age Fixtures Meeting. b) Over 60’s teams shall consist of six players, plus nominated reserves, each being BCGLBA registered and either a fully paid up or Associate member of the Club entering the team in the League. Where a Club has two or more teams a member of that Club is allowed to play in more than one team, however once the member has played three times for a team, they then play for that team only for the rest of the season. When a Club has two teams in the Over 60’s League that Club must be able to provide a minimum of 16 named players by the date of the Over 60’s Fixtures Meeting. c) Each Club shall be entitled to send one delegate who shall have the power to vote as instructed by their Club. However the delegate may only vote on the Open Age and/or the Over 60’s League matters if their Club is entering in the particular League or Leagues.
  3. a) Teams entered in the Open Age League shall play each other on a home and away basis in accordance with the Fixture list as prepared by the Association. Matches to be played on evenings determined by the Association with a start time of 6.45pm and 7pm scratch. Leeway to be given for extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the two Captains. (Start time 7pm Festival Week with 7.15pm scratch). b) Matches scheduled for Good Friday to be played on the previous Wednesday. Tynwald Day fixtures may be re-arranged by mutual consent of Captains. c) A match may be only rearranged during TT and MGP practice and race weeks if emergency road closures are put into operation. Matches may also be rearranged when a team has a player, or players,representing the Isle of Man at BCGLBA Competitions provided that the competition is to be held on the following day. d) Over 60’s matches to be played on a home and away basis as per Fixtures List with a start time of 10.30am and scratch 11.00am. Leeway to be given for extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the two Captains. e) League Fixtures to be scheduled for both Fridays of Festival weeks if applicable.
  4. a) A match may only be postponed because of bad weather or upon recommendation of the Greenkeeper or both Captains in the event that the Greenkeeper is not available. If the green has been declared in a fit condition for play the match should go ahead. Should a team decide not to play they will forfeit the match and the opposing team will receive the full number of points. An alternative date shall be mutually agreed by both Captains of the affected teams, and in default by the direction of the Association. If a match is to be postponed then the deadline time should be 5pm providing a continuing adverse weather forecast has been given. In the event of a match being abandoned the Captains shall agree an alternative date for the completion of the match. The points scored by each player on the green at the time of abandonment shall count and the position of the jack marked, with play resuming from this position on the re-arranged date, however, if for valid reasons any player is unable to attend the re-arranged match then substitutes will be allowed in agreement with both Captains, and in this instance the games/s in progress will be void and restarted from scratch. In the event of any dispute the Association Committee will be called and their decision will be final. b) At the time of making the draw, the two Captains must decide on the use of lights. If no lights are available and it is obvious that there will be insufficient daylight to complete the match the home and away fixtures may be reversed. c) The Results Officer should be informed immediately by the home Captain of a postponed or abandoned match. Postponed or abandoned matches to be re-arranged on the first date the green is available.
  5. Each game shall be played in accordance with the Rules of the game as laid down by the British Crown Green Bowling Association. Each member of the team shall play an opposing team member in a game of 21 up off scratch. The winning team shall be the team scoring the highest number of points in a match.
  6. The home Captain shall be responsible for completing a result card signed by both Captains recording the result of a match. The score card to be posted directly following the match to the League Results Officer (appointed at the Association AGM) who is responsible for collating the League results. The Association is required to provide result cards for this purpose.
  7. a) The draw for a match shall be completed by the two Captains or their Vice-Captains and the home team Captain shall decide the order of play. If an away Captain or Vice-captain has requested to change the order for a member of her team this must be supported by a valid reason and agreed by the home Captain or Vice- Captain. Reserves to be nominated during the draw. The match shall commence with four or five jacks on the green (at the discretion of the two Captains) or three for the Over 60’s League. b) If any Open Age team member has not reported within 15 minutes of the start time i.e. before 7 p.m. the nominated reserve shall play. (The Over 60’s scratch time remains at 30 minutes following the start time). c) If a team cannot field a complete side then the opposing team shall be entitled to receive 21 points for each game forfeited.
  8. a) No player shall practice on a match green within one hour of the start time. b) Smoking is not allowed on the green during a League match.
  9. a) The visiting player shall have the jack at the commencement of each game. Both teams shall supply a marker for each game and players must agree the end before the winner signals the result to markers and takes possession of the mat and jack for the commencement of the next end. b) The two markers must sit together throughout the game and agree each others scorecards every third end and at the end of the game. Where the score cannot be agreed by the markers or the players, it shall revert to the end where both scorecards show the score to be in agreement. c) Each team must also supply a measurer for the match and the home team shall be responsible for supplying the measure to be used.
  1. a) The Association shall organise a Knockout Competition for teams consisting of nine players in the Open Age League. Each match to be played as drawn on dates agreed at the Fixtures Meeting. The format to be a straight knockout on points system with the away team having the jack except in the Final when players will have alternate jacks. Handicaps to be based on previous years League results with a scratch away team receiving 10 points when playing another scratch team. Both teams in the Final to receive their home handicaps. In the event of a draw on points then games won will decide the winners. b) The Association shall organise a Knockout Competition for teams consisting of six players in the Over 60’s League. Each match to be played as drawn on dates agreed at the Over 60’s Fixtures Meeting. The format to be a straight knockout on points system with the away team having the jack except in the Final when players will have alternate jacks. Handicaps to be based on previous years League results with a scratch away team receiving 5 points when playing another scratch team. Both teams in the Final to receive their home handicaps. In the event of a draw on points then games won will decide the winners. In the event of a tie the following to be applied as printed in the BCGBA rule book:i) Tie on points- best aggregate score. ii) Tie on aggregate – the team with the most winners. iii) if still a tie – the team with the best winner. iv) if still a tie – the best second,third, fourth best winner etc
  2. The Association shall present an award at the end of the League season to both the Open Age and Over 60’s League Player of the Year. Points will determined by results from all games. In the event of a tie, the points against each player will be calculated and the player with the lowest number against them will be the winner. All Clubs should adopt the above method when calculating their Merit winner.
  3. Following the end of the season a Presentation Evening will be organised when both League winners and runners up will be presented with their trophies. League and Open Merit winners will also be presented with trophies.
  4. The Association shall have the power to endeavour to obtain sponsorship for the Leagues and to determine any matters in connection with the running of the Leagues not governed by these Rules.
  5. Mobile phones or pagers in active mode are not allowed on the green. Should a player fail to comply, that player should forfeit the game. The offender(s) shall receive no further score and the opponent(s) to receive the maximum score. (Any player who is on call for an Emergency service will be exempt)