LEAGUE RULES - 2008
1. The organisation shall be known as the MERMAID BOWLS LEAGUE
2. The management of the League shall be conducted by the OFFICERS and TEAM CAPTAINS or team member nominated by that Captain. A majority of member Clubs will constitute a quorum. Voting shall be one vote per club, in the event of a tie the Chairman will have the casting vote. Voting will be by a show of hands but any club has a right to a secret ballot.
3. The League shall elect a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The Offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined.
4. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the League’s account at an approved bank. The Chairman and Treasurer will sign all withdrawals.
5. Vacancies occurring in office shall be filled at the Committee’s discretion and any such person appointed shall hold office to the end of season.
6. The League shall hold an A.G.M. every year and as many committee meetings comprising Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer as may be necessary to run the League efficiently.
7. League fees shall consist of a registration fee of £10.00 payable to the League Treasurer before the commencement of each season.
8. The League shall consist of mixed teams, a minimum of three ladies or a mixture of ladies and juniors under sixteen (juniors may be male or female), playing matches of four triples to represent each team.
9. The member teams will play two matches against each other in the League on a home and away basis. THE AWAY CAPTAIN WILL NOMINATE THE RINKS. In the case where the green has more than four rinks, the Home Captain will indicate to the Away Captain the rinks available for play and the Away Captain will then nominate the rinks from those four made available. Home Captains may not write rink numbers on the cards prior to the Away Captain’s nominations.
10. Those playing must have been a member of the club they represent for at least one month prior to playing.
11. Under no circumstances may a player play for more than one club within the course of the schedule. If a team does not have a full complement of players ten minutes after the scheduled start of play they will forfeit the two rink points and five shots will be added to the overall score of their opponents. In the event of inclement weather or impending poor light, Captains may take a mutual decision to dispense with Trial Ends and/or agree to count one shot only on the first two ends. If either Captain was not in agreement, then the normal practice of Trial Ends would apply.
12. Position standings shall be determined on the basis of games won and lost. There will be TWO points per rink won and ONE point for each rink tied. A further TWO points will be awarded to the team with the most shots: a maximum often TEN points per match. Each match shall be contested over EIGHTEEN ends unless each of the opposing competing Captains agree to fewer ends due to unsuitable conditions. TEN ends shall be the MINIMUM played for the match to be valid. If less than TEN ends are played the match shall count as a cancelled match and the points shared. All rink scoreboards will be left in position at the end of the rink showing the final score of that rink until all rinks are finished playing and the match is completed. Skips will keep the score card.
13. In the event of a match having to be cancelled because of bad weather the Captain of the home team shall notify the Captain of the opposing team and the League Secretary at their earliest opportunity and in any case within seven days. Failure to do so may incur a penalty deduction of two League points from the Home Team. The match must be rearranged on a suitable date agreeable to both teams and the rearranged date to be made known to the League Secretary before the match takes place. Should any dispute arise between the opposing teams, it must be referred to the League Secretary for a decision. If a subsequent arrangement to play a rearranged match can not be put into effect then only with the agreement with the League Secretary the points will be shared – FIVE to each team. If a cancellation occurs for any other reason the Captain of the team unable to attend shall notify the Captain of the opposing team and the League Secretary who will decide the distribution of points.
14. In the event of a player not being able to continue due to a disability, injury or emergency then, provided TEN ends or more have been played the game on that rink shall cease at the standing score. Should the emergency arise before TEN ends have been played the game shall become null and void on that rink only and the TWO rink points for that rink shall be awarded to the opponents.
15. A member may be dismissed from the League or an Officer removed from the League for conduct derogatory to the best interest of the League, deliberate action which can be proven to be detrimental to the best interests of the team or for violation of any League rule. Any complaint against a League member must be in writing and the case will be considered by the officers at a meeting the date of which must be within 7 days of the receipt of the complaint.
16. If at the end of the season more than one team shares the lead, the winner will be the team with the greater of number of shots for. If these are equal, the team with the least shots against shall be adjudged to be the winners. The winning club/team will be presented with the MERMAID BOWLS LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP to be held for one year. The Winning club/team will also receive a cheque for £50.00 (Fifty Pounds).
17. The usual dress shall be white above the waist and grey below except that teams may wear coloured shirts providing they are of the same style and shade of colour and every player wears such coloured shirt. Any host club not agreeing to this form of dress may request that the visiting club play in white tops to which request the visitors must comply. Players are permitted to wear knee-length tailored shorts in hot weather.
Rules Last modified at AGM 2007 (amendments thus)