South Manchester Veterans Bowling Association

Management

The Association shall be called the South Manchester Veterans Bowling Association and governed by a Council a) the association committee (President, Vice President, Administrator and up to five elected members). b) Up to 3 Delegates from each member Club. c) All member Clubs must be affiliated to Cheshire County Parks Bowling Association.

Council shall meet on the second Wednesday of March,. The Annual General Meeting of the association shall be held on or about the second Wednesday of November and shall be open to all bowlers registered by the association in addition to Council members.

All Clubs shall ensure that they are represented by at least 1 delegate at each Council Meeting and the AGM or pay a fine of £5.00 for each absence.

Any veterans’ clubs in the South Manchester District are eligible to apply to join the association, subject to payment of subscription, competition and match levies in accordance with the rates determined by the executive committee.

The financial year shall end on the 31st October. The accounts shall be audited by two none executive committee members. A balance sheet then presented at the AGM.

A notice of motion or proposed rule change must be sent in writing to the Secretary by the 30th September. The AGM agenda, including details of all motions shall be sent to club secretaries at least three weeks before the AGM.

Clubs shall register players aged 55 and over with the SMVBA annually by submitting the official registration form to the Match Secretary. Only players registered for a clear 3 days may participate in SMVBA matches and competitions. The last day for receipt of registrations is 30th June. Players shall be registered separately for the Monday and Friday leagues. (a player may represent one club on Mondays and a different club on Fridays.) The Match Secretary must be informed in writing of any additions or deletions. Playing an ineligible player shall incur a fine of £1.00. the opposing team shall be credited with 21 points to nil subject to ratification by the Council at its next meeting. Players can only play for one Club in each League per season.

Disputes, complaints and any matter not covered by these rules shall be referred to the association committee via the Secretary. In urgent cases the committee shall appoint a panel of 3 to 5 of their colleagues to adjudicate the matter. Panel members shall not be members of a club involved in the matter. The panel ruling and any appeal shall be heard at the next Council meeting

Conduct of League Matches ( Monday League Consists of 2 Divisions & Friday League 1 Division )

All matches shall be 8 a side and start at 1.00pm unless previously agreed by both clubs. Strike out shall be 30 minutes after the start time. Both teams are allowed 10 minutes practice, normally Home Team 12.35pm to 12.45pm. Away Team 12.45pm to 12.55pm.

All matches shall start with 4 Jacks, after the first four games there shall be a tea interval followed by the second half of the match. The Home Club shall provide free refreshments for the visiting team members. Away players shall lead the Jack. All matches and league positions shall be decided on aggregate chalks. All teams must have played all fixtures to claim Prize Money, Promotion or Demotion.

Play shall be governed by the ‘Laws of the Game as published by BCGBA with the following additions and amendments:

The length for a legal mark is between 19 to 38 metres.

Home teams shall be responsible for checking scores every 5 ends. If a dispute regarding the score, is not resolved, the advantage shall go to the away team.

Captains have joint charge of matches and ensure that all parties observe these rules.

Home team captains to submit a correctly completed match score sheet to the Match Secretary by first class post or email. Incorrect match sheets will be subject to £5 fine.

Any registered player may play for one of his Clubs teams in one league match on any day, except when rule 2.7 applies.

A Team failing to turn up for a match without due notice could forfeit the match. The defaulting team shall score no chalks and their opponents shall score their average points per match at the end of the season. Likewise, a Team cancelling a match could be fined 42 chalks if played at a later date. A Team refusing to play a match when requested by the Match Secretary will be fined 42 chalks. Clubs with 2 teams in one League cannot postpone ‘A’ team matches they must play ‘B’ team players and if needed postpone ‘B’ team matches, ‘A’ team players with a + average cannot play in the ‘B’ team in the same League.

Matches may be postponed only due to inclement weather or other exceptional circumstances. A shortage of Players is not an exceptional circumstance. Captains shall seek to agree a date for completing the match and ensure that the SMVBA match secretary is informed within 48 hours of the original match date as to the postponement and as soon as possible with the new match date. The scores in both completed and uncompleted games shall stand. If players involved in uncompleted games are unavailable for the new date a substitute may complete their games. If the substitute then plays in a second game Rule 2.7. shall apply.

Second Games. No more than one player may play twice in a league match when the following conditions apply:

If a player has to retire for any reason during the first (pre-tea) half of the match and his score is less than 10 chalks. His captain may introduce a substitute chosen from available reserve(s). If no reserve is available the substitute may be chosen by ballot of not less than three players scheduled to play in the second half. If the retiring player has scored 10 or more chalks, then his score shall stand with 21 chalks to his opponent. If the substitute plays in the second half of the match he shall be handicapped as in Rule 2.7

If a player has to retire for any reason during the second (post-tea) half of the match Rule 2.7 applies subject to the following modifications:

1. A reserve or a ballot shall be from not less than three players from the first half.
2. If less than 6 ends have been played, the game shall be restarted and the substitute shall be handicapped as in Rule 2.7
3. If 6-9 ends have been played the game shall continue and the handicap shall be reduced by 1 chalk for every end played above 5, (the opponent’s score being increased appropriately).
4. If 10 or more ends have been played the game shall continue without modification.

Average Prizes. The qualified player with the highest average in each Division 1.2 & F shall receive an appropriate prize. Qualification is to have played in at least 75% of their teams’ league matches including at least 2 of the last 4 matches. The Match Secretary shall identify the winning players from league records. All clubs are urged to keep full records of their player’s scores in league games to assist in resolving any disputes.

Conduct of Cup Matches

Teams shall complete in a handicap knock out cup competitions as listed on the fixture card. Matches must only be postponed for inclement weather and must be completed prior to the date of the next round of the cup. No second games are allowed in cup matches.

No practice allowed. All matches shall be 4 home 4 away up to the final and will start at 1.00pm. which will be played on a neutral green start at 1pm, strike out shall be 30 minutes after the start time.

To be eligible to play for any one team club members must have played in 4 of that teams’ league matches. Players can only play for one team in ether of the Monday Cups and one team in the Friday Cup.

Handicaps shall be based on team results in the current season up to two weeks before the published date of the preliminary round. The winner of the game shall be the first player to go 2 points clear of his opponent after a minimum of 3 ends ie 3-0, 3-1,4-2, 5-3 etc. The match is awarded to the team winning 2 tiebreak games.

The captain of the winning team shall be responsible for submitting a completed score sheet to the match secretary.

Host clubs may charge up to 20p for providing half time tea and biscuits.

Conduct of Singles and Pairs competitions

Play shall be governed by the BCGBA ‘Laws of the Game’ with the following additions and amendments:

To be eligible to play in the Merit or Pairs club members must have played in 4 SMVBA League Matches.

No practice is allowed on the competition green on the day, except for players receiving a bye in the first round who may have 10 minutes practice at a time decided by the competition referee.

The length for a legal mark is between 19 & 38 metres.

Executive Committee to appoint Referee and Measurers

Host clubs may charge up to 20p for providing tea & biscuits.