LEAGUE RULES & CONSTITUTION

(As agreed at the AGM on 7th February 2025)

  1. The League shall be called the Ryedale & District Veterans Bowls League.

  2. The Executive Committee to consist of five Officers to be elected each year at the Annual General Meeting ie Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer, Fixture Secretary and Competition Secretary who will manage the day to day running of the league. An elected Officer may hold more than one position if Officers positions cannot all be filled.

  3. The Executive Committee to additionally co-opt up to seven club representatives from separate member clubs to help resolve any disputes that may arise which cannot be satisfactorily resolved by the league officers.

  4. Applications for membership to be considered at the AGM.

  5. Subscriptions shall be agreed and paid at the AGM.

  6. Age eligibility to play in the league to be 50 and over at the start of the season.

  7. Playing format for teams in Division 1 is 4 rinks of triples playing 18 ends. Teams in Division 2 to have the option to play either 4 rinks or 3 rinks of triples playing 18 ends but where a 4 rink team plays against a 3 rink team both teams have to play 3 rinks. Teams in League matches, if necessary, are allowed to play short in a 4 rink format with no less than eight players and in a 3 rink format with no less than 6 players. ALL COMPETING TEAMS IN THE CUP COMPETITIONS MUST PLAY A 4 RINK FORMAT AND PLAY SHORT IF NECESSARY WITH NO LESS THAN EIGHT PLAYERS. Where a club has more than one team playing in the league each player must be registered with only one of the club’s teams and can only play for that team during the season. The club to be held responsible for honestly managing the registration of players. Scorecards where club’s have more than one team shall have all the players names on them and must be kept by team captain’s for the duration of the season.

  8. In the event of a team being players short the triple with two players shall play four bowls each. The jack shall be delivered by the winners of the previous end or toss in case of the first end. The full triple shall bowl the first and last bowl. NO 25% PENALTY IMPOSED FOR A REDUCED RINK.

  9. All matches to be played under Bowls England rules except for any local domestic rules introduced by the league as agreed at the AGM. MUST play 4 rinks if players short NOT just 3 rinks except for the dispensation given to club’s in Division 2 who have elected to play a 3 rink format in league matches. Visitor jack in league matches, coin toss for jack in cup matches. Count one shot on the first two ends for ALL matches.

  10. Matches to be played on a Wednesday commencing at 2pm unless otherwise agreed by both captains or by League Official’s. League fixtures to be organised by the Fixture Secretary with Cup and League Competitions being organised by the Competition Secretary. Dates for all rounds of the Cup and League Competitions including Semi Finals and Finals to be determined by the Competition Secretary liaising as necessary with the Fixture Secretary and these dates must be observed unless there is interference by inclement weather conditions when the Competition Secretary shall be informed who will give directions in order for the cup and league competitions to proceed.

  11. Competitors who wish to play in the league competitions must play for a team in the league.

  12. Points for league matches to be awarded is 10 in total. For teams playing a 4 rink format the points awarded are 2 points for a winning rink and 2 points for the aggregate (1 point for a drawn rink and one point for a drawn aggregate). For teams playing a 3 rink format the points awarded are 2.5 points for a winning rink and 2.5 points for the aggregate (1.25 points for a drawn rink and 1.25 points for a drawn aggregate). If at the end of the season two or more teams have equal points the ratio of shot difference will be taken into account in determining the final league placings. Two teams are normally promoted or demoted from each Division unless a rebalancing of the Divisions is necessary as a result of clubs joining or leaving the league. CONCESSION of matches during the season with the awarding of all 10 points to opponents IS NOT ALLOWED as this could affect the league standings, the only exceptions would be if the league promotion and demotion standings would not be affected and this would need the approval of the Fixture Secretary. THE SHARING OF POINTS IS NOT ALLOWED.

  13. Substitutes are allowed if a player falls ill of is unable to continue for other reasons.

  14. All disputed matches to be reported to the Fixture or Competition Secretary, as appropriate, within 48 hours. Should the Executive Committee have to rule its decision will be final.

  15. Inclement weather interference – Bowls England rules apply in that when a match is disrupted or postponed it shall be resumed with the scores as they were when the match was stopped. An end commenced but not completed (ie shots not declared) shall be declared dead. A reduced number of ends may be agreed by both captain’s BUT THIS MUST BE BEFORE the match commences but at least 12 ends have to be completed on all rinks to constitute a match.

  16. Matches postponed due to inclement weather conditions or any other exceptional circumstance to be arranged as soon as possible by mutual agreement between the team captain’s (not necessarily a Wednesday) AND MUST be played no later than three weeks after the final league fixture of the season, EXCEPT for cup rounds any postponement MUST be played well before the next scheduled round.

  17. Results of League, Cup and Competition matches to be notified by the HOME TEAM to the Fixture/Competition Secretary ON THE SAME DAY AS THEY ARE PLAYED.

  18. Dress code to be Grey’s and Whites or Club shirts (worn by every member of the team) with regulation bowling shoes.

  19. Annual Luncheon with presentation of trophies to be held in October/November. Date and venue to be decided at the AGM.

  20. Annual General Meeting to be held in January/February in order to allow for clubs to hold their AGM’s beforehand. 14 days notice to be given to all clubs. Resolutions to be received by the League Secretary at least 3 weeks prior to the AGM. Any Extraordinary General Meeting to take place within 14 days of the date on which a request is received.

  21. The Semi Finals and Finals of the Cup Competitions to be played on a neutral green arranged by the Competition Secretary. Semi Finals of the Fred Dews Triples, Vivian Booth Pairs and Singles will be played as a normal round and mutually arranged by the participants. The Finals will be played on a neutral green (unless the finalists are from the same club). The time and date of the Finals to be arranged by the Competition Secretary liaising with both sets of finalists , as necessary.

  22. These are the rules as amended and adopted at the AGM held on 7th February 2025.