B&DWBA League, Competition & Friendly Match Rules
(Revised January 2025)
League matches, Association Championships and Competitions, and Friendly Matches are played according to the Laws of the Game as laid down in the World Bowls Laws of the Sport Crystal Mark Latest Edition, Bowls England Regulations and Domestic Regulation for Bowls England. These regulations can be found on the Bowls England website.
1 Ladies’ League Entry Regulations
a There is one Bournemouth & District Ladies’ League played on Thursdays and it is divided into two sections: Rinks (8 players per team) and Triples (6 players per team).
b Each section is divided into sub-divisions depending on the number of teams submitted by each club. There cannot be more than 10 teams or less than 6 teams in each division.
c Each club must submit their team entries by the end of January prior to the start of the season. Any NEW club or additional team joining the league will start at the bottom of the lowest division of either the Rinks or Triples section as appropriate.
d A player may only play for one affiliated club during any one season. **HOWEVER, should a player decide to move clubs during the season they may still play in the league providing they have played no more than 3 games for their original club.
e Every player must be a fully paid-up member of an affiliated club.
f All players must be registered with the B&DWBA League Secretary, and their capitation fee paid, prior to the start of the season and by the end of March. Any player joining a club part way through a season MUST be registered 48 hours before the match they intend to play, or they will be considered ineligible. If a team is found to have fielded an ineligible player the club will be penalised (see attached Penalties table).
2 Ladies’ League Match Play Schedule
a The dates of all the league matches are set by the beginning of April and issued to all the clubs.
b All matches must be played on a Thursday, on the scheduled date and will start at 2.00pm. The default time is 2.30pm.
c All players must be at the home venue and be ready to play 15 minutes before the match is due to start.
d The match can be played at an alternative time on the scheduled date. This must be agreed by both teams and communicated to the League Secretary at least 48 hours prior to the original date and time of the match.
e Matches may need to be rearranged to accommodate weather conditions and teams playing in County or National Finals (see Sections 5 and 7).
f If the visiting teams has not arrived by the default time (2.30pm) then the home team will be awarded the 6 match points and 10 shots.
g If not all players (from either team) have arrived by the default time then a substitute can be used providing they are a fully paid up affiliated club member. If there is no substitute available, should the original player arrive after the 15 minutes lee-way time, it is at both Captains’ discretion, and by their mutual agreement, to allow them to play.
h If there are 2 teams from the same club in any division they will play against each other in the first match of the season, and the first match of the second half of the season.
3 Match Rules and Scoring a Each match must be 18 ends with 2 trial ends.
a The visiting team will have the mat on the first end.
b Score cards must be completed by the No 2 for Rinks games and by the Skip for Triples games. Both cards will be signed by both skips at the end of the match.
c The team scoring the most overall shots will be declared the winner. 2 points are awarded for each rink win and a further 2 points for the overall match winner. The maximum any team can score is therefore 6 points. Should the teams score an equal number of total shots, then each team will be awarded 3 points.
d Result cards must be completed and signed by both Captains, and the information sent by the HOME team captain to the League Secretary by 8pm on the day of the match. The information should be sent to BDWBALeagueSecretary@gmail.com. Failure to send the results to the League Secretary by 8pm will result in a penalty (see attached table).
e Results cards must be sent to the League Secretary on the dates specified in the Season Pack. These Packs are usually distributed at the annual pre-season Coffee Morning.
f Should a rinks team have to play one player short, the match will be played with 8 bowls against 6 with no shot deduction at the end of the game. (See attached Order of Play). If a triples team arrives with one player short, the match will be played with 9 bowls against 6 with no shot deduction at the end of the game. (See attached Order of Play).
g Should a player be taken ill or must leave the green for an emergency during a match, a substitute may be played providing they are a full member of the same club. The substitute may not play in the position of skip. Play may then continue in accordance with Rule 3f above.
h The final league positions will be determined using the following criteria:
1. Highest number of points
2. Overall shot difference
3. Number of games won
4. Total shots scored.
4 Movement of players between teams during the League season
a Players may NOT move:
• To a team in a lower division
• Between Rinks and Triples
• To a team in the same division in the last 4 weeks of their respective season. Any team violating this rule will incur a penalty (see attached table).
5 Postponement or rearrangement of League matches due to extreme weather (see attached Weather Protocol table)
a If, in the opinion of BOTH Captains, the weather is deemed to be extreme, or bad weather is forecast, then it can be agreed to shorten the game to 12 ends. This MUST be decided BEFORE START OF PLAY ON THE DAY OF THE MATCH. Once agreed, this cannot be changed if the weather improves. Should no arrangement have been made before the start of the match and conditions deteriorate, the game can be stopped at 13 ends and this will constitute a game. If the weather deteriorates very quickly, and play is dangerous or impossible, and MORE than 5 ends have been played, then the match must be rearranged. The rearranged game will start from the end and score where the original game stopped. The game will continue to its conclusion of 18 ends OR 12 ends if previously agreed.
b Both teams concerned shall play the sides originally selected, so far as this is practicable.
c If any of the original players is not available one substitute per rink will be permitted. The substitute cannot play as Skip. Players may not be transferred from one rink to another. Other members of the original rink may change position if necessary. d In the event of extreme weather the designated person of the Home team club is to advise the visiting club’s wet weather contact, no later than 12 noon, whether play will be allowed that day. Where it is deemed impossible for the match to be played, BOTH captains and/or the controlling authority, must agree to rearrange the match. A rearranged date must be agreed by the clubs concerned and played within 3 weeks (21 days including Saturdays and Sundays) of the original scheduled match date. If a match is postponed and an alternative date cannot be agreed between the teams, then the HOME team shall offer 3 dates (being different days of the week and excluding League days) to the opposing team. If a date cannot be agreed then the match points will be awarded and split between the teams. e If the very last match of the season is postponed, only 6 days (including Saturday and Sunday) shall be allowed to rearrange the 5 game. If the match is again rained off then each team shall receive 3 points and 5 shots. The League Secretary must be informed that the game cannot be played for this decision to be made. The home team is responsible for notifying the League Secretary of the rearranged date by ‘phone/email. HOWEVER, if the match involves promotion or demotion, then it is critical that the match is played. In this instance the League Secretary may allow an extension to the date. NO player, having played in a team on the day of the original match, may play in a rearranged match in any other section. Any team violating this rule shall forfeit the match and their opponents will receive 6 points and 10 shots.
6 Conceded matches
a Any team conceding a match will not receive any points or shots. Their opponents will be awarded 6 points and 10 shots.
b Any team conceding 2 matches in a season may be disqualified from the League. All games played will be considered null and void. Teams may re-apply to join the League or waiting list in the following season.
7 Rearranged matches due to County/National Finals
a Should any team reach a County or National Finals and the set play date fall on a Thursday League match date, they may approach the opposition, explain the situation and arrange a new date for the league match.
b The team requesting that the match be rearranged MUST approach the opposition as soon as possible and before the date of the league match.
c Any team obliged to give 3 dates to a County or National Finals opponent MUST NOT offer a League day before the League Secretary and their B&DWBA League opposition have been consulted. 6 8 B&DWBA Championships The competitions in the Championships shall be for Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours. Entry fees will be set as per Rule 4.
8
a Champion of Champions Singles
The entrant for this will be the club champion from the previous season. If this player is not available then the runner-up can be entered. The club champion cannot play in any other Championship team.
b Pairs Championship
The runner-up in the club championship may nominate a partner from her club to play in the Pairs. If the runner-up is not available, any pair of the club’s choice may enter.
c Triples and Fours Championships
The selection of the teams for the Triples and Fours Championships is the choice of each club.
d Substitutions
The players taking part in the first game of the Pairs, Triples and Fours shall constitute the original team and they should play together throughout the competition. One player may be substituted in any discipline, (except Singles) provided they have not already played in the Championships and that they are a full member of the club requiring the substitution. They may play in any position except Skip.
e Any player withdrawing from a team MAY NOT play in any other team or return to the original team.
f The format of each discipline is as follows:
• Singles – 21 shots with 4 bowls for each player
• Pairs – 18 ends with 4 bowls for each player
• Triples – 18 ends with 3 bowls for each player
• Fours – 18 ends with 2 bowls for each player
9 Competitions
a Lilian Lynex Two wood singles over 21 ends. The early rounds to be played on a set date, with the semi-finals and final played at the B&DWBA Championships or on a different date set by the Competition Secretary.
b Officers’ Cup Four wood singles; first to 21 shots. This competition is open to Club Secretaries and Captains. Officers and Committee Members of the B&DWBA may also enter. Players to arrange their matches in the early rounds, with the semi-finals and final played on a date set by the Competition Secretary.
c Trodd Trophy Four wood pairs over 18 ends. This is an open pairs competition; both players do not necessarily have to belong to the same club. The early rounds to be played on a set date, with the semi-finals and final played on a date set by the Competition Secretary.
d Any player absent 15 minutes after the arranged start time shall forfeit the game to their opponents. This will apply to all the above competitions.
10 Dress Code
a League, Championships and Competitions: Regulation white/coloured trousers, cropped trousers, tailored knee-length shorts or skirts must be worn. Team members must all wear the same colour clothing below the waist. All players in a team must wear either their club colour shirts or white shirts. Any wet weather clothing must be white or club colour. Any headwear must be white and regulation shoes must be worn.
b Friendly matches: White trousers, cropped trousers, tailored knee-length shorts or skirts. White collared shirt and Association cravat. Any headwear must be white and regulation shoes must be worn.
11 B&DWBA Badge
a An Association Badge is earned by playing in friendly matches over 3 years. Qualifying matches need not be played in consecutive years.
b B&DWBA Officers and Committee Members will receive a badge on election if they have not already qualified for one.
c Badges are to be worn on the Association’s cravat.
d The loyalty Friendship Badge will be awarded to players who have participated in 12 games since 2015.
12 General
These Rules and Regulations may be altered temporarily, as necessary, by the B&DWBA Committee to deal with any unforeseen circumstances which may occur during the season. Clubs will be advised of any alterations as soon as possible.
