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Competition Rules

Competition Rules 2023-2024

  1. Competitions will be played in accordance with current laws of the sport published by the world Indoor Bowls Council. Domestic variations as detailed hereunder will apply. Only registered members of the Club will be eligible to compete in the competitions. Members who belong to another Indoor Bowls Club will not be eligible to play in the Handy Cross I.B.C. competitions if they enter the competitions of the other Club. Failure to observe this rule will result in the offending player/team being disqualified from the competition.
  2. All composition bowls must bear a legible stamp for 1985 or later.
  3. Entrance fees for competitions will be fixed by the Committee and paid for before the first game is played. All players must be named when registered on entry.
  4. Rinks will be drawn when both players for a singles match or a representative of each team are present. 
  5. An end will not be started after 1 hour and 55 minutes from the commencement time of the session or the bell, except games resulting in a draw of both shots and ends. If the jack has been delivered the end will be deemed to have commenced and will be finished save that if a 'no end' results the game will be over and the jack will not be re-delivered.
  6. Games to be decided as follows: -

    SINGLES - The first player to score 21 shots or the score after two hours
    PAIRS – TRIPLES – FOURS – AUSTRALIAN PAIRS    . The highest score after a two hour session wins.

    If the game is tied: -

    1. If the shots are equal the team having won most ends will be declared the winner.
    2. If equality still exists an extra end shall be played.
    3. If the extra end is made a 'No end' by a player, the end and game Is automatically awarded to the opponent.
    4. Except In the Semi-finals and Finals there shall be no trial ends
  7. 101 Competitions. Singles will be played with 4 woods. Pairs will be played with 2 woods, (any combination of players). Scoring – 1st wood – 4 points, 2nd wood – 3 points, 3rd wood – 2 points, 4th wood – 1 point. Tied woods score equal points. A player making a no end gives 10 points away. The wood nearest the jack takes the mat. The winner/s is/are the player/s reaching 101 first when the end has been completed. If the game is not completed in 2 hours then the winner/s is/are the player/s with the highest score at the end of the 2 hour session.
  8. SETS SINGLES – Two Sets of Nine ends each will be played, a coin toss to decide who starts the first set. Loser of the toss starts the second set. If the game is drawn at one set each, there will be a best of three ends tie break. One shot to decide each end. Toss to see who starts the first end of the tie break. The loser of the toss starts the second end, if the game is still tied, the winner of a final toss decides who starts the final end.
  9. TWO WOODS SINGLES WITH YARD STICK – 21 ends will be played. Only woods within the yard stick to count at each end. All ends to count regardless of whether there is a score or not.
  10. In all Semi-finals and Finals there will be no time limit on play and there will be trial ends.  In the Pairs and the Fours Competitions the game will be played over 18 ends and the Triples will be over 16 ends. In the event of a tie, ends to be counted.  If still a tie, an extra end must be played.
  11. All “No ends” taking place within the 1 hour 55 minutes time limit will be replayed except as provided in Rules 5 and 6c.
  12. The Jack shall be rolled in all competitions.
  13. SUBSTITUTES

    Only one substitute will be allowed, by permission of the Competition Secretary In Pairs, Triples and Fours. In the Mixed Fours (2 men and 2 ladies) and Mixed Triples one substitute of each sex will be allowed. Substitutes may be allowed in the Semi-Finals or Finals if agreed by the Disputes Committee. In the Pairs Triples and Fours prior to the first game registered- players may only transfer to another team with the permission of the Competition Secretary. After the first game (Pairs, Triples and Fours) the named players shall constitute the playing team. Substitutes must not have already played in the competition in which he/she has been invited to substitute.

  14. All competitions shall be played on fixed dates except when mutually agreed by both teams and the Competition Secretary. They may be played in advance of the fixed date at any time if rink space is available otherwise the original fixed date must stand. The Competition Secretary may alter a competition date if the rink is required for a National Competition, or a player in the Singles or Pairs is required to play in a Handy Cross Club or Bucks County Representative Match or Semi/Finals of a National Competitions. The new date will be by mutual agreement, where possible, but the Competition Secretary's agreement is necessary and his decision shall be final.
  15. Singles. The first named player in each pairing must appoint a marker who must be a member of the Club. No game shall be played without a marker. The first named player shall forfeit the game if they do not supply a marker.
  16. Any entrant not on the green ready to play their competition by the second siren (or 5 minutes after the session time commencement) will forfeit the game.
  17. Competition scorecards recording all players' names, signed by both skips, must be placed in Bowls Office letterbox. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF THE DEFAULTING TEAM'S.
  18. The Disputes Committee will handle matters not covered by these rules. Their decision shall be final and binding. A dispute must be submitted in writing to the Competition Secretary who will refer it to the Disputes Committee.
  19. Preventing displacement by a bowl from an adjoining rink
    1. A bowl at rest on the rink, if in danger of being moved by a bowl from an adjoining rink, may be lifted by any player at the head to allow the neutral bowl to pass, and then be replaced, provided such action would not influence the outcome of the head so moved.
    2. Alternatively, any player at the head may stop a bowl from an adjoining rink which is in danger of colliding with a bowl in the head, however, he shall stop a bowl which appears likely to collide with the jack. If the bowl that has been stopped was in its original course it shall be replayed, provided it was delivered on a bias which would have resulted in it re-entering its own rink.
    3. The marker shall stop any bowl from an adjoining rink which is likely to displace the jack or any bowl at rest on the rink on which the marker is officiating.
  20. Dress Code for Club Finals. See Rule 14 of the clubs Constitution