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There were two rules changed at the AGM in rule 2 and 6.

MATCH RULES (Last updated 1/2/25 – changes in bold)

LAWS

1. All games shall be played in accordance with both the laws of the game approved by the British Crown Green Bowling Association and the rules of the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association

Standard jacks approved by the B C G B A, a 19 metre tape and a set of measures shall be provided by the home club for all games.

MATCHES

2. All matches to be played on the published fixture date unless BCGBA or SCGBA fixtures or inclement weather or bereavement cause a postponement, or if a County game is scheduled on that green within 7 days of the published fixture date. The game must be played within 28 days and before the last game of the season. Any game postponed on the last fixture date must be played within 5 days. Failure to rearrange the game within the time allowed will result in a 7 point deduction and a £50 fine, with a new date to be set by the Management Committee.

COMMENCEMENT

3. All matches will be played on a home and away basis and shall commence at 7 p.m. if the distance travelling between home green and away green is less than 30 miles. If the distance travelling between home green and away green is 30 miles or more then the match will commence at 7.15 p.m. (Subject to the above) or such other time that may reasonably be agreed between both team captains prior to the 7 p.m. commencement time. If both captains are unable to agree an alternative commencement time then the match will commence no later than 7 or 7.15 p.m. in accordance with distance travelled. 

REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS

4. No player shall be eligible to play in any league match organised by the Premier League unless he has been officially registered online. All clubs must ensure that they have entered their list of registered players online 24 hours prior to the first game. Following the first game any further registration of players must be notified to the Fixtures Secretary at least 24 hours prior to playing his first league game.

In the event of a club playing an unregistered player a fine of £25 will be payable to the league by the offending club. In addition the game in which the unregistered player took part shall be awarded to the opposing team 21-0 and two points deducted from the offending club. The player who was awarded the 21-0 win shall be awarded a 21-11 win in their aggregates, unless their win was below 21-11, which would mean his win stands.

No further registration of players shall be made after the 30 June.

No player shall be permitted to sign for more than one club playing in the league other than in the following situations:

a) A player who has signed for a club for which he has not played more than four games for in the Premier League, and has paid all his fees due to that club, may apply to the Management Committee for approval to transfer to another club but this application must be made by the 31 May.

b) A player who physically moves to another area within the Premier league, or moves to within the Shropshire or Telford and Wrekin Council boundary from outside those two boundaries, may apply to the Management Committee to transfer or register at any time before the 31 August provided that no more than 5 premier league games have been played for his previous club.

Any player wishing to transfer shall not be allowed to do so until such time as he has fulfilled all his financial obligations to the Premier League club from whom he wishes to transfer.

GAMES AND SCORING

5. All games will be 21 up and one point will be awarded for each individual winner. In addition each team will be awarded two points for a home win and four for an away win and no points for a defeat. In the case of an aggregate draw, one point would be earned by the home side and two points for the away side.

INCLEMENT WEATHER AND UNFIT GREEN

6. If the commencement of a match is delayed because of inclement weather a decision to postpone the match shall not be taken before 7.45 p.m. unless mutually agreed between both team captains.

If the groundsman of the home club decides that the green is unfit for play either before, during or at any stage of the match that decision shall be final and binding on both teams.

Games abandoned under this rule shall be played within 28 days, with interrupted games being re-started at the same stage at which they finished, with the away player allowed to play 10 minutes prior to the recommencement of the match.

If any players, who were due to start their game, are not available for the rearranged date, they can be replaced by a reserve who was registered in the Premier League for that club before the original date and has not already played in that match.

COMPOSITION OF TEAMS

7. Each team shall comprise twelve bowlers and the draw for each game shall be made by the captains exchanging the names of their players in playing order prior to the commencement of the match.

THE DRAW

8.  When the match is a 7 p.m. start: Once the draw has been made by the two captains and a player has been drawn out to play then, if that player for any reason is unable to commence his game within 10 minutes of being called upon to play, then he shall play no further part in the match and a reserve shall take his place.

If the match is a 7.15 p.m. start as under rule 3 of the Match rules and then the first four players must report to the green for play as soon as called and no 10-minute grace will be given.

If no reserve is available then the game shall be awarded to the opposing team 21-0 . The player or players awarded the 21-0 win would be recorded as a 21-11 win in their aggregate(s).

Teams failing to provide a full complement of players will be fined £25 and be deducted two points per absent player.

FAILURE TO PLAY SCHEDULED MATCH

9 (a) If a team fails to play in a scheduled league match (other than otherwise provided for in rule 2 above) then the Fixtures Secretary must be informed within 24 hours of the reason why the match did not take place.

(b) The home club must confirm the reasons for failure to play in writing to the Treasurer/Fixtures Secretary within 3 days and a copy shall be sent to the opposing club.

(c) The Management Committee will decide when the game will be played and depending upon the circumstances of the failure to play the match will consider whether it is appropriate for fines to be imposed upon one or both clubs and whether any of the clubs involved should be deducted seven points as a result of the match not being played.

OPPONENTS GREEN

10. No player shall play on an opponents green within 7 days prior to a league match unless such a match had been previously arranged (County Fixtures excepted)

PRACTICE

11. No practice shall be permitted for visiting teams immediately prior to the match. However visiting players shall have first throw of the jack at the commencement of the game.

Home bowlers will be permitted to practice at any time prior to the commencement of the match.

MATCH DAY RESULT CARD

12 (a) Home clubs shall ensure the result and score card details are entered on the website within 24 hours of the match being completed. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a fine of £5. The details should then be checked and approved by the away club within five days of the match being played. If the away club feels it has not been recorded correctly, they need to contact the Fixture Secretary within 7 days of the fixture date explaining why they think it is incorrect.

(b) Clubs shall retain score cards for their home fixtures until at least a week after the match was played. 

(c) Clubs must present score and results cards for verification within 72 hours of being called for by the league or a league officer.

(d) Where a dispute arises and a score card is not provided for verification, the complainant shall have their complaint upheld, with no right of appeal being given to the home team.

(e) The principles of these rules are to ensure clubs enter their home fixture results in a timely and accurate manner, which must be fair to both sides playing in the fixture. The league may take action against a club, or a member of a club, who – for whatever reason – fails to meet these principles.

REFEREES

13. Unless the league has appointed a referee for the match then the two team captains shall act jointly as referee.

NOMINATED GREEN

14. Every club must before the first match of each season nominate the green on which they will play at their own club and inform the Fixtures Secretary. Failure to nominate a green will result in a fine of £10 for that club.

Once nominated that green shall be used for that season.

Should the nominated green become unavailable as a result of vandalism/etc during the season then the Management Committee together with the affected club shall endeavour to make alternative arrangements.

ENDS TO BE PLAYED

15. No less than four ends shall be played at any one time during the match provided that there are no more games to go on.

CHAMPIONSHIP

16. League Positions shall be decided in order from the highest to the lowest number of points, with the team scoring the highest number of points being declared the winner of the league. If there is a tie on points, then it will be decided by the highest amount of games won and then, if still tied, by aggregate.

PROTESTS OR COMPLAINTS

17.

1. A formal complaint is received to the Secretary or Chairman from a club or individual within 14 days of the incident through email to spbl21up@gmail.com or by post through recorded delivery.
2. The Secretary/Chairman shall organise a committee of between 3 and 5 persons who are neutral and have no connection with the persons/clubs involved in the hearing. The Minutes Secretary, or another designated person if required, shall record the hearing. This to be done within 7 days of receiving the complaint.
3. The hearing date shall be set within 28 days of the committee being set up.
4. The Secretary/Chairman shall contact the complainant and the alleged offender to allow them to attend the hearing personally or submit a written statement 14 days before the hearing date. This should be emailed to spbl21up@gmail.com or posted through recorded delivery.
5. The complainant and alleged offender shall be afforded the opportunity to call witnesses to support their case and character. The committee may also call independent witnesses should they consider this appropriate. Any written statements from witnesses should be emailed to spbl21up@gmail.com or posted through recorded delivery within 14 days of the hearing date being set.
6. Any documents or statements shall be given to the committee before the hearing starts to allow them to read through and any notes made before any witnesses or the complainant or the alleged offender is called for questioning. An order of witnesses should be made and given to the minutes secretary of the meeting, who calls the witnesses in one at a time.
7. Any witnesses to be called individually to provide evidence and be cross-examined. A short period of time should be allowed between each one so the committee can interchange notes and views.
8. After all witnesses have appeared before the committee, the committee shall interchange notes and views and may recall witnesses if required to cross-examine.
9. Once the committee have made a decision, a written statement should be made that can be relayed to the alleged offender and complainant on the night.
10. The written statement shall be forwarded to the complainant and alleged offender within 7 days of the hearing.
11. Both the complainant and alleged offender shall have the rights to appeal within 21 days of the hearing to the SCGBA.

APPEALS

18. If a club or player fails to get satisfaction from the league over a decision then they can follow the BCGBA procedure for an appeal.

DRESS AND SPONSORSHIP

19. The league will follow the BCGBA dress code at all times apart from any qualifying individual league competitions. Any players not conforming to these rules will not be allowed to play.

MOST CONSECUTIVE WINS

20. The award for the “Most Consecutive wins” shall go the player with the highest number of consecutive wins with no breaks allowed for missed matches. A missed match for whatever reason, holidays sickness etc shall count as a “loss” and break the run of wins.

MOST IMPROVED TEAM

21. There will be a prize of Most Improved Team awarded to the team who has scored the most points in the current season compared to the previous season. Only teams who played in the League the season before are eligible for this award. The amount given to the winners will be decided at the March Executive Committee Meeting.

OTHER

22. Any matters not provided for in the above rules, and not covered in our Competition or Management