Rules

Bridgwater Skittles - League Rules

1. That the league shall be called 'The Bridgwater Skittle League'

2. That the General Committee shall consist on the President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Fixture Secretary, Publicity Officer, Competition Secretary, and a Management Committee of six.

3. That the Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall take place at a suitable venue on a date to be agreed. Motions/recommendations must be in writing to the League Secretary 14 days prior to the AGM. Teams eligible to be represented at this meeting shall comprise those who have submitted the appropriate league registration card to the secretary from 14 days prior to the AGM bearing the genuine signatures and addresses of at least 10 registered players, 5 of whom were registered players with that team the previous season, together with appropriate subscription. Teams not registering on the correct night shall be fined £5.00. Non attendance at the AGM will incur a three point deduction at the start of the next season.

4. Players whose names have not been included on the league registration cards, shall submit separate registration forms, such forms to be in the league secretary's hands at least three days before such player takes part in a league fixture. The closing date for registering further players for league matches or competitions shall be four weeks prior to the date of the last match. Clubs with A and B teams shall be permitted to loan a player from one team to the other for the purpose of full filling a fixture which would otherwise be void. Licensees of such clubs shall be permitted to play home or away matches for either side.

5. That a team winning a home matches shall secure two points. Away matches, three points and in the event of a tie each of the competing teams shall score one point. Any team unable to keep a fixture must give 48 hours notice to their opponents. Failing this, points shall be awarded to the opposing side, who must enter the names of eight members present on a score card, and submit it in the usual way. All teams who have given the correct notice shall give their opponents the choice of 3 dates, for the match to be played on, no later than 2 weeks after the original fixture date. If no date is suitable within this time the League Secretary shall be informed and he will issue a new fixture date which must be adhered to. All matches must be played by the last fixture date of the season. Any games not played by the last date of the season will result in 5 points being deducted from both sides.

6. That any team playing an ineligible player/players to be reprimanded by the management committee and their decision will be final.

7. That all protests to be made in writing and submitted to the League Secretary within 48 hours of the conclusion of the match.

8. That if the points of two or more teams in the league table are equal at the conclusion of the season, any deciding game or games necessary shall be played on a neutral affiliated alley to be fixed by the secretary.

9. That the challenge cups be held by the clubs securing the most points in home and away matches. All trophies to be returned to the league headquarters no later than the league registration date. Failure to do so will result in a £10.00 fine to be paid by the AGM.

10. That the game shall consist of eight players in each team, each player to throw seven hands of three balls. Games shall commence no later than 8:15 pm and no players(s) arriving late shall be permitted to skittle after both sides have completed two hands. Any player unable to complete his seven hands shall have a score of 0 for the remaining hands.

11. That the winning team report all matches played giving names and scores of the players. The result card shall be signed by the losing Captain and submitted to the address printed on the card on the night of the match.

12. That the Captain of any team may demand proof of registration of any member of the opposing team by submitting a protest in accordance to rule 7.

13. That no player shall deliver a ball off the board or against the cush. Any pins knocked down from such balls shall be re-set and the ball to be void.

14. That only male persons shall be eligible for membership and all players to be aged 17 years or over. Stickers-up shall be at least 14 years of age, subject to sanction by the licensee regarding their presence and code of behavior.

15. That the front pin shall be chosen by the visiting captain and be plainly marked. The game shall be commenced by the home team. Should the visiting captain decline to select the front pin the home captain has the option.

16. That if, after a ball has contacted the pins, a pin or pins should be leaning against other pins, or against the side of the alley, such pins shall be re-set. Any pins moved off their marks, but not off the plate, shall remain untouched until the player has completed his remaining throws and that all teams in the A division and all finals shall be played with Lignum Vitae balls.

17. That if any club drops out of the league in the first half of the season, any points gained or lost will be deleted from the records of the league. Should a club play more than half its matches and then drop out, points shall be awarded to the remaining teams they are due to meet.

18. That the balls, pins and alleys in the league shall at all time meet with the approval of the committee.

19. That meetings to be held at a venue to be decided by the management committee.

20. That all clubs commencing at a licence house etc, must complete the season there except for extenuating circumstances. Also that all registered members of each club must complete the season with the club they register for.

21. That members of teams resigning from the league before the end of the season shall not be eligible to sign for another club for that season until approval is obtained from the management committee (min 4 weeks).

22. That teams may change alleys without penalty so long as they inform the landlord and league secretary before the last game of the season.

23. That at the end of each season the top three teams will be promoted and the bottom three teams will be relegated from each Division as appropriate.

24. That the president and or life members should be ex officers of the Bridgwater Skittle League or a long term supporter of the League.

25. That sponsors to decide the venue for the final of the competition they sponsor.

26. That in a semi final the highest loser should be entitled to play in the final if there is an absentee.

27. The committee's decision on all matters shall be final.

ALL PREVIOUS RULES RESCINDED - 18^th JUNE 2012

Click here for a printable copy of the League Rules

Bridgwater Skittles - Pairs Championship Rules

1. Not more than eight couples shall be permitted to play on any one alley at the same time.

2. All competitors to be present at 8:00 pm. to draw for places on the scoreboard. Eight new beer mats or playing cards numbered 1 to 8 shall be placed face downwards on a table, each couple to draw their own mat/card. Those who draw numbers 1 to 4 shall play on the left side of the scoreboard and numbers 5 to 8 to play on the right side of the scoreboard. Late-comers mat/card to be drawn for them if they are not present at the time the draw is made.

3. When a League Officer. Management Committee Member or Team Secretary is present, he or they shall take charge of the score card (to be obtained from the licensee in a sealed envelope along with a copy of these rules) and see that the names are correctly chalked up on the scoreboard, mark the front pin and make sure that stickers-up dues are paid and recorded as such on the scoreboard as couples throw their third hand. Competitors to elect their own acting official when no League Official is present.

4. The first couple drawn must have commenced skittling by 8:15 pm. Skittling to proceed in the same sequences as for league matches. No late-comers shall be allowed to take part after two complete hands have been skittled by those present.

5. The recommended contribution for sticking up duties shall be £2.50 per player unless a higher amount has been advised and agreed on before skittling commences. Under no circumstances should the contestants allow a sticker-up to dominate proceedings either by seeking payment in excess of the agreed contribution or by offering an opinion on any disputable issue before being asked by those contestants present, furthermore he must keep the same pin in front throughout play.

6. Skittling off before or at commencement of play is no longer permitted, but if a man is on night shift, he may throw off providing five hands have been thrown by the remaining contestants. In the event of a tie after seven hands, those who remain shall have priority over others who have left. Any skittling off to be done in the ‘follow-back’ order to decide who goes through.

7. The top four couples on each alley will move forward to the next round conditional on that one of the four making sure that the result card is delivered to the address on the card by noon on the following day. Any couple not finishing in the top four are automatically eliminated from playing in the next round even if another couple who may have qualified to skittle are not available.

8. Once a couple have played together, no substitution shall be permitted. Only registered league members whose names correspond with the code letters and alleys which appear on the draw sheet shall be allowed to skittle. Other contestants must refuse to allow them to take part unless they are covered by the provisions laid down in rule no 9.

9. No player whose name appears as having been drawn to play on one alley shall be allowed to pair up as a substitute for another player drawn to play on a different alley. Substitution is only permitted in instances where a fresh partner is known to be a fully registered league member who will not be playing on his own home alley at any stage of the draw.

10. All alleys have been drawn in accordance with availability listed by team secretaries on their entry forms and reserved by telephone with the licensed house before publication of the draw sheet. Should a difficulty therefore arise, those who turn up to skittle should protest strongly to the Licensee, then resolve the situation between themselves regarding who plays in the subsequent round, even if this means tossing a coin to do so. Team secretaries of sides whose home alley has been drawn are responsible for liaising with their licensee in making sure that adequate sticking up facilities have been arranged, that the proper ‘league match’ balls and pins are available for use and that the envelope containing a copy of these rules is made available when requested from the bar staff by the players taking part. The envelope should not be opened in advance, but further copies of these rules and draw sheets can be obtained from the league web site.

ALL PREVIOUS RULES RESCINDED - 18^th JUNE 2012

Click here for a printable copy of the Pairs Championship Rules

Bridgwater Skittles - Singles Championship Rules

1. Not more than sixteen competitors shall be permitted to play on any one alley at the same time.

2. All competitors to be present at 8:00 pm. to draw for places on the scoreboard. Sixteen playing cards numbered 1 to 8 blacks and 1 to 8 reds shall be placed face downwards on a table, each competitor to draw their own card. Those who draw numbers black shall play on the left side of the scoreboard and those who draw red numbers to play on the right side of the scoreboard. New and identical beer mats may be substituted for playing cards. Late-comers cards to be drawn for them if they are not present at the time the draw is made.

3. When a League Officer, Management Committee Member or Team Secretary is present, he or they shall take charge of the score card to be obtained from the Licensee along with a copy of these rules in a sealed envelope, and see that the names are correctly chalked up on the scoreboard, mark the front pin and make sure that stickers-up dues are paid and recorded as such on the scoreboard as couples throw their third hand. Couples to elect their own acting official when no League Official is present.

4. The first player drawn must have commenced skittling by 8:15 pm. Skittling to proceed in the same sequences as for league matches. No late-comers shall be allowed to take part after two complete hands have been skittled by those present.

6. Other that for ‘Tidball Cup’ clashes, skittling off before or at commencement of play is no longer permitted, but if a man is on night shift, he may throw off providing five hands have been thrown by the remaining contestants. In the event of a tie after seven hands, those who remain shall have priority over others who have left. Any skittling off to be done in the ‘follow-back’ order to decide who goes through.

7. The top eight players on each alley will move forward to the next round conditional on that one of the four making sure that the result card is delivered to the address on the card by noon on the following day. Any player not finishing in the top eight is automatically eliminated from taking part in the next round even if another player who may have qualified is not able to skittle.

8. No substitution shall be permitted. Only registered league members whose names correspond with the code letters and alleys which appear on the draw sheet shall be allowed to skittle. Other contestants must refuse to allow them to take part unless they are covered by the provisions laid down in rule no 9.

9. No player shall be drawn to play on his own home alley, neither shall he be permitted to skittle on the same neutral alley more than once except in the very last stages of the contest where the possibility of him reaching his own alley proves unavoidable.

10. All alleys have been drawn in accordance with availability listed by team secretaries on their entry forms and reserved by telephone with the licensed house before publication of the draw sheet. Should a difficulty therefore arise, those who turn up to skittle should protest strongly to the Licensee, then resolve the situation between themselves regarding who plays in the subsequent round, even if this means tossing a coin to do so. Team secretaries of sides whose home alley has been drawn are responsible for liaising with their licensee in making sure that adequate sticking up facilities have been arranged, that the proper league match balls and pins are available for use and that the envelope containing a copy of these rules is made available when requested from the bar staff by the players taking part. The envelope should not be opened in advance. Further copies of these rules and draw sheets can be obtained from the league web site.

ALL PREVIOUS RULES RESCINDED - 18^th JUNE 2012

Click here for a printable copy of the Singles Championship Rules