BOWLS OXFORDSHIRE
Affiliated To Bowls England	Mixed Section League - Rules Draft Policy Paper No: 8

Bowls Oxfordshire Mixed Section

League Playing Rules

1. Governance - Matches to be played to the laws approved by Bowls England where they apply to team games.

2. Entry Fee – Participation shall be confirmed through the payment of an entry fee of £10 each year, for covering all expenses associated with managing the league.

2. Match Dates - All clubs in each section/division to play each other in accordance with agreed dates and venues between each other and the League Secretary. Prior to 1 January each year clubs must agree a date, start time, and dress code. All participating clubs may provide refreshment at their own discretion.

3. Format - Each club shall be represented by four 3-wood triples teams. Each triple shall be mixed and each player shall be a bone fide member of the club. Non-conforming rinks shall be invalid and rule 5 shall apply.

4.Scoring – The winner of each triple will be awarded two points, tie one point each. The club with the highest score overall will be awarded four points, tie two points each.

5. Forfeiture - Where clubs fail to fulfil all rinks they will forfeit the points for the un-played rink with a shot difference of five.

6. Fixture - League matches may form part of a larger fixture: the rinks forming the league game to be decided before commencement of the match.

7. Duration - A game shall consist of 18 continuous ends with one shot on the first two ends. No break shall be allowed except for adverse weather conditions. No twos-up. Skips may only visit the head on the last wood.

8. Curtailment  -If elements outside the control of the captains curtail a game, and a minimum of twelve ends has been played, the score after the last completed end shall be taken as the result of the game.

9. Weather - If due to elements outside the control of the captains, a fixture does not take place, or the minimum of twelve ends is not completed, six points will be awarded to each club. Wherever possible the green keeper shall decide if the green is playable. If the green keeper is not available, the two opposing captains will decide.

10.Cancellation - All postponed fixtures should be rearranged wherever possible. The Secretary should be notified of the cancellation and rearranged date. In the event that a club is unable to field a minimum of at least three triples and a match has to be cancelled, then six points will be awarded to the club who were available to play together with a shot difference of 10, and minus 6 points to the team unable to play. A minimum of three days’ notice must be given by a club to their opponents for the postponement of a rink/match. If this three-day rule is not met, the team shall forfeit the match and the points and shot difference awarded to the opponent.

11. Ineligible players - Once a player has played a league game for a club (or Witney Town club team A or B) he/she shall become ineligible to play for any other league club (or team) for the remainder of the season. If the club plays an ineligible player, all twelve points will be awarded to the opposing team with a shot difference of ten, if the game was not already won by a greater shot difference. The player in question will be ineligible to play further league games for the remainder of the season.

12.Scorecards - Result cards to be completed by the home team captain and countersigned by the opposing captain. Card to be sent to the secretary to arrive within four days of the fixture. Results and tables will be displayed on the Bowls Oxfordshire website.

13.Dress code – Matches shall be greys or club colours for all games.

14. League Winners - The club with the most points when all the games have been completed shall be league champions. If two or more clubs are equal on points, shot difference will decide positions. The winners shall hold the trophy for a period of one year.

15.Disputes - All matters of dispute not covered by these rules must be referred to the League committee whose decision will be final.