LIMAVADY AND DISTRICT INDOOR BOWLING LEAGUE (instituted 1967)

CONSTITUTION AND RULES

A - CONSTITUTION

A1. NAME The name of the League shall be Limavady and District Indoor Bowling League.

A2. OBJECT The object of the League shall be to promote, foster and regulate the game of bowls within Limavady and District.

A3. AFFILIATION The League shall be affiliated to the Irish Indoor Bowling Association.

A4. OFFICE- BEARERS The Office-bearers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

A5. LEAGUE COMMITTEE The league shall be managed by a League Committee composed of the Office-bearers, the Zone Convenor and six delegates from clubs participating in the League. The six delegates shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

A6. MEMBERSHIP Application by a club in the N.W- Zone for admission to the league in the following year must be made in writing to the League secretary accompanied by a list of at least 20 players, names on or before the last day of March. The League Secretary shall place the application before the Annual General Meeting. The League Committee shall have the right to inspect the Club's premises and equipment prior to granting affiliation.

A7. AFFILIATION FEE The Affiliation fee of £20.00 per team must be paid within one month of the official notification of acceptance. (Rule amended at A.G.M. 27/4/2004)

A8. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION The Annual subscription for each club shall be fixed at the A.G.M. and must be paid on or before 31st October in each year. Clubs whose subscription is outstanding at 20th October will be advised and if at 31st October is still outstanding no further points will be awarded until the fee is paid.

A9. FINANCIAL YEAR The Financial year shall terminate on the 31st day of March.                                                                                      

A10. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of the league shall be held not later than the month of April each year for the following purposes:-
(1) To receive the Secretary's Report.
(2) To receive the Treasurer's Report.
(3) To fix the annual subscription.
(4) To receive and discuss any notice of motion complying with Rule B19.
(5) To provisionally affiliate any new clubs.
(6) To decide next year's composition of the Sections.
(7) To elect Office-bearers for the ensuing year.
(8) To appoint a League Committee and any other Sub-committees that may be required.

A11. MEETINGS Seven days notice (in writing) of a League Committee Meeting shall be sent by the League Secretary to each member of the League Committee (except in the case of an Emergency Meeting when shorter notice shall be permissible). Five members shall form a quorum.

A12. VOTING AT A.G.M. Each Club which has a paid-up member present shall have one vote. Zone Convenor shall have one vote and the majority will carry (except in Rule B19). The Chairman shall have a deliberate vote and shall have a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes. If any of the members wish any question under discussion to be put to a vote by ballot, that method of voting shall be adopted.

B - RULES

B1.  All games shall be played under current IIBA rules.

B2.  Points shall be awarded for matches as follows: 2 for a team win and 1 for a rink win. B3.  Bowling shoes MUST be worn during play in all league games.

B3 (1) Each time a club is reported for playing a member or members not wearing correct footwear the rink or rinks in which that player or players participated may forfeit the point or points gained at the discretion of the League Committee.

B4.   Each team shall consist of four rinks and each rink shall have four players. In any two rinks there shall be at least one lady. Trial ends are disallowed and eleven ends shall be played by each rink. In special circumstances, however, teams may mutually agree, prior to the commencement of the match, to limit the number of ends to be played, subject to the minimum of seven ends being played by each rink.

B4 (1)      If there is not at least one lady in any two rinks (i.e. four men) then these rinks shall lose the point and the team shall lose a further two points for overall win.
                ** This rule will be addressed also by Rule B4 (1a).**

B4 (1a)     If any club cannot field 2 ladies, then BEFORE the game can commence the offending club MUST contact the League Secretary with the reason as to why, otherwise Rule B4(1) will be applied. If this is acceptable, then the club must then inform the opposing club that only 1 lady is available to play BEFORE the game starts. ONLY with the consent of the League Secretary as agreed by the AGM members that attended can this rule be allowed to stand. To remove the lady to strengthen a team WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. (Rule added at A.G.M. 21/04/2009). 

B4 (2)
      Absentee players: If a single male player is absent from one or more rinks on either team of league game, the game shall proceed. In the defaulting fours, the number of bowls shall be made up by the Lead and Second players playing three bowls each, but one quarter of the total shots scored by each fours playing three players shall be deducted from their score at the end of the game. Fraction shall be taken into account.

B5.
   Two dead ends are allowed by each rink and are replayed. For third and subsequent dead ends the offending side will be penalised by the award of three shots to their opponents and the ends shall be counted as ends played.

B6.
   When a game is stopped on account of light failure or any other valid reason, it shall be resumed with the scores as they were when the game was stopped.

B7.
      All players participating in the Limavady and District League must he members of a club in the N.W. Zone. A player cannot represent two clubs playing short mat bowls in the Zone. A player who lives and plays for a club outside the N.W. Zone must have the committee’s permission to play in the League. Permission must also be obtained if a player wishes to change clubs during the bowling season.

B7(1)
As from 2011-2012 season there shall be a maximum of 5 players from outside the North West Zone allowed to play for any Club (i.e. Players who play their IIBA’s in another Zone or play for another Zone team). Clubs who already have more than 5 players registered from outside the North West Zone will be allowed to continue using these players but if anyone of these players leave they cannot be replaced by other players outside the North West Zone until the new maximum number is reached.  (Rule added A.G.M. 03/05/2011)

B7 (2)
If a player decides to move clubs during the season then the club that they intend to play for MUST inform the League Secretary. From the date of contact to the League Secretary the player involved must wait until the date that they are allowed to commence with their new club. From contact with the League Sec, 4 matches must pass (this includes all byes and shield matches) before the player is allowed to play. Failure to comply with the above will incur points deduction/s in games that offence has occurred inline with rule B8 (1). (Amended at AGM 15/04/ 2008)

B8. 
     Clubs with two teams taking part in the League shall, before the commencement of the competition, furnish the League Committee with a list of their eight best players. The list shall be the thirds and skips for the current season and none of the eight will be eligible to play in the lower grade team. Skips in the lower grade team will not be eligible to play as skips in the senior team. There will be no restrictions on the remainder of the club members to play in either grade. (Rule Amended at A.G.M. of 27/4/2010)

B8 (1) Each time it is proved that a club has played an ineligible player, then that Club shall lose all points gained in that match and points will be awarded to the non-offending Club at the discretion of the League Committee.

B8 (2) Any club playing players twice and clubs allowing the opposing team to play players twice in any league game will only receive the points gained in the legally  Played Rinks.  All other points including the overall score points will not be awarded.  Anyone found putting a false name on a league result sheet may have their club suspended at the discretion of the league Committee.

(Rule added A.G.M. 03/05/2011)

B9.
      A rota of matches shall be drawn up by the League Committee and adhered to by all the entrants.

B10.    All matches shall be arranged to start at 7.30 p.m. sharp.

B11.
    All matches should be played on the date shown on the fixture list. (Club secretaries do not need to confirm matches). If this date is totally unsuitable then the secretaries of the Clubs involved may arrange an alternative date prior to the one shown on the fixture list and the secretary of the home team advise the League secretary accordingly.

B11 (1)
If a league match has to be postponed, the reason must be given to the League Secretary by the Secretary of the team requesting the postponement on or before the arranged date on the fixture list. (Full details in writing must be posted to the League Secretary within 24 hours of the arranged date on the fixture list).

If the reason is B11 (1)
(a) Acceptable by the League Secretary (e.g. death, roads impassable, light failure, Inter-Zone game) then permission will be given to play the match within 21 days.

(b) Not acceptable by the League secretary (shortage of players, etc.) or if the League Secretary is not informed as requested above, the offending team shall have two points deducted from their league total and shall play the match for all six points within the next 21 days.

(c) It will be the duty of the home team where matches are postponed to give the visiting team two free dates (club nights) within 7 days of the original fixture date on which the game can be played.

(d) It will not be accepted as a valid reason that:
(a) the club is running a tournament as that Club must play the League games listed before the tournament starts or (b) members of the Club are playing in another tournament and cannot field a team.

(e) If a team fails to turn up for a league fixture without prior notification then two points shall be deducted from their league total and Rule B11 (1) b & c will apply.

(f) If a league match is not played within a period of 21 days then the offending club shall have 4 points deducted from their current league total or if the committee decide that both clubs are equally to blame for the delay then 4 points shall be deducted from each of their current league totals and the match must still be played. If a fixture is not played it shall be at the discretion of the League Committee as to whether or not the offending team or teams shall be allowed to compete in the League in the following season.

g) If a club withdraws from the League at any period during the bowling season then all points gained by teams who have played against that club shall be deducted from their overall scores.

B12.
    All clubs must provide a list of members of their club to the league Secretary before 31st October and new members must have their names submitted to the League Secretary two weeks prior to playing for the club.

B13.
   Any club that brings the game into disrepute will be suspended or have points deducted at the discretion of the League Committee. Any player who brings the game into disrepute will be suspended for a number of matches at the discretion of the League committee.

B14.
    Two teams shall be promoted or two relegated from each section each year. The management Committee may disregard this rule in the interest of the league.

B15. 
   Within two days from the completion of the match, the home team shall forward the completed Result sheet to the League Secretary.

B15(1) The completed Result sheet must be received by the League Secretary within four days of the match date . If any team violates the above rule more than once in either half of the league, 2 points will be deducted from the offending team on each occasion. (First Class mail with the inclusion  of the post code are strongly advised.)

B16.
    The visiting team Secretary or Captain should not be asked to sign the Result sheet until it has been fully completed.

B17.
   On the Result sheet, ladies must be designated 'Mrs' or 'Miss'.

B18.
    Protests and Appeals accompanied by £1.00 (which will be refunded if the Protest or Appeal is upheld) must be sent in writing by the Club Secretary to the League Secretary by recorded delivery within 7 days of the cause of the complaint.

B19.
    Notice in writing of any proposed alterations or additions must be submitted to the League Secretary by the League Committee or by the Secretaries of at least three affiliated clubs on or before 31st Match in each year. No new rule, or alteration of these rules, shall be made except by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at an A.G.M.

B20.
    Full power shall be vested in the League Committee to deal with any dispute which may arise out of these rules or upon any matters whatsoever not covered by them and the League Committee's interpretation of these rules shall be final and binding.

B21.
    Any Club or Team failing to comply with any of the above rules may be expelled from the League at the discretion of the League Committee.

C
Where two of more teams or skips in any section end the League Season with the same number of points and are in Contention for a trophy, or where the teams in the relegation zone end the season with the same number of points, the following formula shall apply to identify the respective positions of the teams.

(a)          Those which gain the most points in away games shall be considered the top skip or team.

(b)          If this fails to identify the respective positions of the skips or teams, then those with the largest shot difference shall be considered the top skip or team.

(c)          If this fails to identify the respective positions of the skips or teams, then those with the most shots scored shall be considered the top skip or team.

C1.
      The team with the greatest number of points in the 'A' Section of the League shall be awarded THE EDGAR ACHESON PERPETUAL TROPHY.

C2.
      The team finishing in 2nd place in the 'A' Section of the League shall be awarded THE LECK PERPETUAL TROPHY.

C3.
      The team with the greatest number of points in the 'B' Section of the League shall be awarded THE HENRY LOVE PERPETUAL TROPHY.

C4. 
     The team finishing in 2nd place in the 'B' Section of the League shall be awarded THE JAMES SHANNON PERPETUAL TROPHY.

C5. 
     The team with the greatest number of points in the 'C' Section of the league shall be awarded THE ALEXANDER SMYTH PERPETUAL TROPHY.

C6. 
    The team finishing in 2nd place in the 'C' Section of the league shall be awarded THE ROGER O'KANE PERPETUAL TROPHY.

C7.
      The team with the greatest number of points in the 'D' Section of the league shall be awarded THE LIMAVADY SPORTS ADVISORY COUNCIL TROPHY.

C8. 
     The team finishing in 2nd place in the 'D' Section of the league shall be awarded THE STEWART ROBINSON PERPETUAL TROPHY.

C11.
    The most successful skip in the 'A' section of the League shall be awarded          THE W. CLARKE  PERPETUAL CUP.

C12.
    The most successful skip in the 'B' Section of the League shall be awarded         THE MAURICE PIERCE PERPETUAL CUP.

C13.
    The most successful skip in the 'C' Section of the league shall be awarded                  THE V.H. McILMOYLE PERPETUAL CUP.

C14.    The most successful skip in the 'D' section of the League shall be awarded         THE THOMAS ROBINSON PERPETUAL CUP.

 

• AMENDMENTS
  Rule A7                      Amended at A.G.M. 27-04-2004
  Rule B7 (1)                 Amended at A.G.M. 15-04-2008
  Rule B4 (1a)               Added at A.G.M. 21-04-2009
  Rule B8                      Amended at A.G.M. 27-04-2010
  Rule B7 (1)                 Added at A.G.M. 03-05-2011
  Existing Rule B7 (1)  Changed to read B7 (2) at A.G.M. 03-05-2011
  Rule B8 (2)                 Added at A.G.M. 03-05-2011
  Paragraph C9              Deleted at A.G.M. 03-05-2011
  Paragraph C10            Deleted at A.G.M. 03-05-2011
  Paragraph C15            Deleted at A.G.M. 03-05-2011