Indoor Rules

LONDON & SOUTHERN COUNTIES BOWLING ASSOCIATION

INDOOR COMPETITION RULES (Revised April 2023)

GENERAL

The Competitions are restricted to the playing members of the Indoor Clubs affiliated to London &Southern Counties Bowing Association (hereinafter referred to as L&SCBA). No Player shall represent more than one Club in any one season
A player being a member of more than one club must elect to play for one club only in all L & S C BA competitions. A male player may take part in the Challenge Shield, one other male competition and one mixed competition. Ladies may play in the Challenge Shield, one other female competition and one mixed competition.
Games will be played on approved greens of Member Clubs of the L&SCBA, unless the specific approval of the Hon Competition Secretary (Indoor) (hereinafter referred to as Hon Comp Sec) is given
The competitions will be played on the ‘Knockout Principal’ and conform to the latest Edition of the “Laws of the Sport” for Indoor Bowls, as published by the World Indoor Bowls Council (English Indoor Bowling Association Ltd version) together with rules/byelaws laid down by the L&SCBA
The L&SCBA Byelaw “No running on the green” will be enforced. The appointed umpire is authorised to issue a warning in any game, where he judges a player to be running. If the player repeats the offence the appointed umpire shall have the authority to deduct one shot from the team in which the player is a member
All games shall be of 4 hours duration (excluding Trial Ends) or 18 ends, whichever is the sooner.
All questions and disputes shall be referred to the Hon Comp Sec who will make such decisions as deemed appropriate; or if considered necessary, will refer the matter to the Emergency Sub-Committee (See Constitution) or Executive whose decision shall be Final.
Any objections must be made in writing, within 24 hours of the completion of the game and forwarded to the Hon Comp Sec, by post, email or text
The Finals of all competitions will be held on the same date, upon a green arranged by the L&SCBA, who will pay all green fees and also arrange for the appointment of an umpire or umpires. There will be two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. If possible, the Challenge Shield will be played in the afternoon session and the other competitions played in the morning session.
All Trophies remain the property of the L&SCBA. If the Club/Team wishes to retain the Trophy for the year they may do so but it their responsibility to return same to the L&SCBA before 31st January in the following year
If a game is unable to be played by the due or latest date, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Hon Comp Sec may, on request, grant an extension. No extension will be allowed unless granted by the Hon Comp Sec. If a game is not played, or a result is not given in due time, one or both of the Clubs/Teams may be disqualified

VENUES and RINKS

The draw for the competitions shall be geographically grouped, as far as possible, in order to minimise travelling; or on such other convenient lines as may be determined by the Hon Comp Sec, if the number of entrants necessitates such a course.
The Club/Team drawn first will be the Challengers and ‘Home’ team and should make all necessary arrangements for the match.
The home team shall have the right to choose the rink/s to be used
Each team will be responsible for their own rink fees where appropriate
Where Clubs/Teams are drawn to play and the Clubs venues are more than 50 miles or 2 hours driving time apart, either Club/Team may request the Hon Comp Sec to declare that the game be played on a ‘Neutral Green’
If the game is played on a ‘Neutral Green’ the Clubs/Teams involved will arrange the venue, get the Hon Comp Sec’s approval to the venue and share the cost of all charges and green fees etc. incurred

DRESS

Challenge Shield
The dress for all rounds including the Finals will be white below the waist. Registered club shirts and/or trousers /regulation bowls shorts may be worn. All players must wear the same type of shirt.
All other Competitions
The dress for all rounds up to the Finals will be grey below the waist. Registered club shirts and/or trousers/regulation bowls shorts may be worn. Where men and ladies have different registered shirts, all men should wear the same design and all ladies should wear the same shirt design. Ladies may wear trousers,/regulation bowls shorts, cropped trousers, or regulation skirts
The dress for the Finals will be as 2.2 except that white (or registered colour) will be worn below the waist
Shoes
Regulation bowls shoes will be worn at all times.

ENTRIES and CONTACTS

Once all competitions have been entered using our on-line system (by the advised closing date) and the remittance form completed and “update” clicked, our Treasurer and Indoor Comp Sec will be notified by email and will be able to print a copy of the remittance form.
It is the responsibility of each club to enter their contact and players for each competition entered on our on-line system, to ensure that each club can find the correct person to arrange matches
If the contact is changed or amended after the entry is made, each club is responsible for ensuring this change is shown on our on-line system
It is recommended that clubs have at least two registered representatives to allow for holidays etc
The online software is designed for each club to “click” on the names of the club they are playing against to obtain the contact details for their competitor. This should be done at least 3 weeks prior to play by date.

INDOOR CHALLENGE SHIELD (OPEN)

Clubs shall be entitled to enter ONE entry into this competition
Matches will be played on the same day at the same time, two Fours home and two fours away. Green fees are a matter between competing players and also for appointing an umpire (an EBUA qualified umpire should be appointed if possible)
All rounds to be played on the play-on weekend by agreement between the clubs at a time that is mutually acceptable to both.
The Challenger will nominate one home rink, by stating the rink number, to play any extra end before the draw is made for rinks and opponents. This nomination must be made in the presence of the appointed umpire. The umpire should make the draw
The extra end is to be played at the completion of 4 hours or 18 ends, whichever is the sooner. In the Final, where the scores are level at the completion of 4 hours or 18 ends, all Fours will play extra ends until a result is achieved
Club “stickers” will be used in all matches. If both sides have the same coloured “stickers” the non-challengers shall remove or change their “stickers”
If within a period of 30 minutes from the time fixed for the game a single player is absent from one or more teams, the game shall proceed in accordance with the Laws of the Sport
The winning Team shall add the RESULT to the online competition package within 48 hours of completion of the game. Failure to add the Result could lead to disqualification
The cards are NOT required to be sent to the Hon Comp Sec. but should be retained by each Club in case any enquires need to be made

INDOOR FOURS ( MEN) MIXED FOURS and MIXED PAIRS

Clubs shall be entitled to enter up to THREE entries, in these competitions
The Indoor Fours shall consist of Four Men, the Mixed Fours shall consist of two men and two ladies, the Mixed Pairs shall consist of one man and one lady
The players taking part in the first game shall constitute the Team and should normally play together throughout the competition. In the Indoor Fours one additional player and the same player may be used as a substitute at any time. In the mixed competitions one additional male and one additional female may be used as a substitute at any time, but an even number of men and ladies must be kept at all times. Substitutes may play in any position. In exceptional circumstances the Hon Comp Sec, may, on request, allow ONE additional substitute in any Team in any competition
The Challenger will play at home (unless Rule 1.5 is invoked) and must not later than 10 days before the latest date for the Round offer their opponents the choice of two dates, one of which shall be a Saturday or Sunday (but not two Saturdays or two Sundays). The opponent within three days after receiving a challenge must accept one of the dates offered.
Failure to offer two dates within the prescribed period shall result in the Opponent taking the rights of the Challenger and the Opponent will offer a similar choice of dates for the game to be played on the Opponents green
Where the Challenger has been unable to contact the Opponent within the prescribed period they shall immediately inform the Hon Comp Sec. If no action is taken by either competitor then both may be ‘scratched’ from the competition
An umpire is not required for these competitions
Club “stickers” will be used in all matches. If both sides have the same coloured “stickers” the non-challengers shall remove or change their “stickers”
If within a period of 30 minutes from the time fixed for the game a player or players is absent (except in exceptional circumstances) from one of the teams, the game shall be forfeited by the by that Team
The winning Team shall add the RESULT to the on line competition package within 48 hours of completion of the game. Failure to add the Result could lead to disqualification
The cards are NOT required to be sent to the Hon Comp Sec. but should be retained by each Club in case any enquires need to be made

AWARDS

In addition to the various Shields or Cups presented to the winners or Runner-ups there will be a cash prize
Cash prizes will be in such amounts that shall be decided by the Executive Committee each year and will be paid to the Club
The L&SCBA may at is sole discretion award such other items as it sees fit.