Isle of Man Crown Green Bowling Association – Ladies Section
LEAGUE RULES
- 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.
- a) Open Age League teams shall consist of 9 (nine) players, plus 2 (two) reserves, each being BCGBA registered and a fully paid-up member of the Club entering the team in the League. No minimum age limit. These 11 (eleven) names need to be submitted to the Competition Secretary by 31st March the year they wish to enter a team into the Open Age League. Clubs must continue to submit new BCGBA registered members names throughout the season. When a club wishes to enter additional teams, a further 9 (nine) names per team need to be submitted by 31st March. Where a club has more than one team, players who have played 3 (three) or more league matches for a higher ranked team, shall not be eligible to play for a lower ranked team at the same club in the same season. A player is restricted to playing once for a single team per NUMBERED MATCH.
b) Over 60’s League teams shall consist of 6 (six) players, plus 2 (two) reserves, each being BCGBA registered and a fully paid-up member of the Club entering the team in the League. These 8 (eight) names need to be submitted to the Competition Secretary by 31st March the year they wish to enter a team into the Over 60’s League. Clubs must continue to submit new BCGBA registered members names throughout the season. When a club wishes to enter additional teams, a further 6 (six) names per team need to be submitted by 31st March. Where a club has more than one team, players who have played 3 (three) or more league matches for a higher ranked team, shall not be eligible to play for a lower ranked team at the same club in the same season. A player is restricted to playing once for a single team per NUMBERED MATCH.
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. - 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 7.15pm scratch. Leeway to be given for extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the two Captains.
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 re-arranged during TT, MGP, S100 if teams are depleted
by more than 3 (three) players because of dedicated workers/helpers at the
races, or any such periods where road closures may cause a Health and
Safety issue, e.g., use of access roads. These matches can be re-arranged
well in advance of the set date. Matches may also be re-arranged when a
team has one or more players representing the IOMCCGBA at BCGBA
competitions or official Association business if they take place within 48hrs of
the affected game. A match scheduled for any Festival Friday can be rearranged
if one or more team members are playing in the Quarter, Semi or
Final stages of the Ladies Main competition, but can only be re-arranged by
the Thursday evening of Festival week. All re-arranged matches to be
organised by captains on a date prior to the scheduled fixture or within 2 (two)
weeks of the original date irrespective of availability of players. If either team
cannot agree, this must be reported to the Assoication and the date provided
by the Association will be final. Should a team decide not to play on this date
they forfeit the match, and the opposing team will receive the full number of
points.
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. - 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. If a match is to be postponed, then the deadline time should be 9am
for Over 60’s League matches and 5pm for Open Age League matches,
provided a continuing adverse weather forecast has been given. In the event
of a match being abandoned 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 a
valid reason 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 game/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.
If a match must be abandoned due to inclement weather or is re-arranged for
postponed or abandoned matches, the match should be re-arranged ideally
within 48 hours and played the next date the green is available (excluding
weekends), and must give precedence over any arranged club event, if
possible. If not, the teams concerned must arrange to complete the fixture
with 2 (two) weeks of the original date, irrespective of the availability of
players. If teams cannot agree, this must be reported to the Association
Committee and the date provided by the Association will be final. Should a
team decide not to play on this date they will forfeit the match and the
opposing team will receive the full number of points.
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 compete the match the home and away fixture may be reversed.
c) The Competition Secretary and Results Officer should be informed immediately by the home Captain of a postponed or abandoned match and with details of the re-arranged fixture if available, or if the teams are unable to agree on a date for such a re-arranged fixture. If a team is defaulting on a fixture date set by the Association Committee it is the responsibility of the defaulting team Captain to inform the Committee, and an explanation must be given. - 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.
- Result must include FIRST and LAST names of players written in BLOCK CAPITALS. Home and Away Captains are responsible for checking their own teams’ results are correct. Result of matches to be checked and signed by both team Captains on completion of the match. HOME team Captain to or-ganise sending the results electronically to the Results Officer after the match is completed.
- 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 substitute player or alter the order of the draw, this must be in an emergency or supported by a valid reason and should be agreed by the home Captain or Vice-Captain, prior to the draw being made. A substitute may be allowed prior to the last player taking to the green but must have been at the green at scratch time. 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. - a) For the Open Age League, no player shall practice on a match green within one hour of the start time.
b) For the Over 60’s League, no player shall practice on a match green within 10 minutes of the start time. - 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) Each team must also supply a measurer for the match, and the home team shall be responsible for supplying the measure to be used. - a1) The Association shall organise a Knockout Handicap Competition for the teams consisting of nine players in the Open Age League. Players should be BCGLBA registered and a fully paid-up member of the club entering the competition and should not have played for any other club in the Open Age League that year.
a2) Each match to be played as drawn on dates agreed at the Fixtures Meeting.
a3) The format to be a straight knockout on points system with the away team having the jacks expect in the Semi-Finals and Final when the players will have alternate jacks.
a4) Individuals Handicaps to be based on previous years Leagues and Knockout Handicap Competitions results. These will be individually recorded by players names on the scorecard, agreed and signed off by both Captains prior to the commencement of the game.
a5) At the discretion of the Ladies Section Committee, each team that is ranked below first place position, from the previous playing season playing away from home, will receive an additional 9 (nine) points (Open Age).
a6) Both teams in the Semi-Finals and Final to have no additional handicap as will be played on a neutral green.
a7) In the case of a draw on points then the number of games won will decide the winners.
a8) A player which starts the season for one club is unable to play for another club in the Jean Kelly competition in the same season.
a9) If a club has two teams any player can only play for either the A or B team throughout the whole competition.
b1) The Association shall organise a Knockout Competition for teams consisting of six players in the Over 60’s League. Players should be BCGLBA registered and a fully paid-up or Associate member of the club entering the competition and should not have played for any other club in the Over 60’s League that year.
b2) Each match to be played as drawn on dates agreed at the Over 60’s Fixtures Meeting.
b3) The format to be a straight knockout on the points system with the away team having the jack except in the Semi-Finals and Final when players will have alternate jacks. There will be no practising allowed prior to the start of any match throughout the JMS competition.
b4) Individuals Handicaps to be based on previous years Leagues and Knockout Handicap Competitions results. These will be individually recorded by players names on the scorecard, agreed and signed off by both Captains prior to the commencement of the game.
b5) At the discretion of the Ladies Section Committee, each team that is ranked below first place position, from the previous playing season playing away from home, will receive an additional 6 (six) points (Over 60’s).
b6) Both teams in the Semi-Finals and Final to have no additional handicap as will be played on a neutral green.
b7) In the event of a tie the following to be applied as printed in the BCGBA Yearbook
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 second, third, fourth best winner etc.
b8) A player which starts the season for one club is unable to play for another club in the JMS competition in the same season.
b9) If a club has two teams any player can only play for either the A or B team throughout the whole competition. - a) On completion of the Open Age and Over 60’s League fixtures the winning team will be determined by the highest number of points achieved. In the event of two or more teams having the same number of points, league places will be determined on the basis of fewer points against. If teams are still tied then places will be determined by number of matches won.
b) The Association shall present an award at the end of the League season to both the Open Age and Over 60’s Player of the Year. Points will be 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. - 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.
- 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.
- If the Ladies Association are required to select a “Ladies Island Team” the squad should be selected from the Ladies ranking for the present season.
- If an individual club member or club make a derogatory or insulting remark(s) against another individual or club at any time, including on social media, then the IOMCGBA will act against that individual or club as they see fit according to the adopted Code of Conduct and Rules 24 & 25 of the IOMCGBA Bye-Laws and Standing Order.
- Secretary to provide all clubs an electronic copy of the League Rules.
APPROVED BY
THE ISLE OF MAN CROWN GREEN BOWLING ASSOCIATION, LADIES SECTION AT THE ANNUAL RULES REVISION MEETING HELD ON
WEDNESDAY 26th NOVEMBER 2025