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General Competition Rules

(applying to League Championships, Midweek League, Challenge Cups and Championships)

1. All competitions shall be played under the code of Laws of the Game as formulated by the World Bowls Board, with amendments approved by the Irish Bowling Association for use in domestic competitions.

All competitions, with the exception of the Championships, shall be open to male and female players. Entry to the Championships shall be restricted to male players.

To be eligible to play for a club a female player must be a member of that club and, during the current season, not have played for any other club in a league or cup competition run under the auspices of a body which is affiliated to the Irish Womens Bowling Association.

2. All competitions shall be confined to the members of Clubs comprising the Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League. A player can only represent one Club in the Leagues, Challenge Cups and Championships in any one year.

3. A player who takes part in any competitive match or tie in any other league affiliated to the Irish Bowling Association shall not be eligible to play during the season in competitive matches or ties under the jurisdiction of the Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League. It shall not be permissible for a club or any member of a club to enter or take part in a competitive match or tie in Ireland promoted by a league or association of clubs not affiliated to the Irish Bowling Association except with the approval of the General Purposes Committee. The eligibility of female players shall not be impacted by playing in an event run under the auspices of the Irish Women’s Bowling Association or one of its constituent bodies. This rule does not apply to players who play in a league or cup competition where participation is restricted to veteran bowlers.

4. In all games or ties in the League Championships, the Senior and Junior Challenge Cups and the semi-finals and finals of Championships, competing players must wear white, cream or approved coloured trousers/shorts/skirts. Players may wear either white or approved coloured shirts (with collar) with sponsor’s logo. Pullovers, cardigans, jackets, rainwear and headgear, if worn, must be white or cream or of the same colour and design as approved shirts. All players on teams or sides must wear trousers/shorts/skirts of the same colour and shirts of the same colour and design. Regulation bowling shoes must be worn for all matches.

The colour of trousers/shorts/skirts and the colour/design of shirts and any proposed logo must be approved by the General Purposes Committee.

For Midweek League matches, Midweek Cup Matches and earlier rounds of Championships, substitute grey trousers/shorts/skirts for white or cream trousers/shorts/skirts.

5. Bowls discs must be used in all competitions. Where discs in club colours are not being used, red discs must be used by the home team and blue discs by the away team. The discs to be used in semi-finals and finals shall be decided by the Honorary Competitions Secretary or the Honorary League Secretary.

6. Match and ties shall commence not later than the following times:

(a) Saturdays: 2pm or in the case of a second match on the same green, 6pm.
(b) Evenings: 6.30pm
Semi-finals and finals may be arranged by the General Purposes Committee for an earlier time.

These times must be adhered to within a limit of 15 minutes otherwise the match or tie may be claimed by the side or competitors ready to commence play.

7. When a match or tie is to be played, the rinks to be played on shall be drawn at the green by the visiting player or their representatives

8. Umpires – if considered necessary, qualified umpires/markers may be appointed by the General Purposes Committee for matches or ties. It shall be their duty to settle disputes that may arise between the competitors, and in the case of inclement weather, to decide in consultation with the green keeper or club official whether the green, at the time, is in a condition to play, their decisions to be final.

9. Protests shall be made in writing to the Honorary General Secretary and shall be dealt with in accordance with the rules of the relevant competition.

10. All competitions under the direct control of the Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League shall be played on flat outdoor greens. The General Purposes Committee may arrange for floodlights to be used during semi-finals and finals.

Midweek League Rules

1. (i) The main purpose of the Mid-Week League is to give the opportunity of competitive play to club members who do not play in the League Championships.

(ii) Any player named in a panel as required under League Championships is not permitted to play in any Midweek League match.

(iii) When it is proved that a club played an ineligible player, including a player on a named panel (“starred” player), the club shall forfeit the match and the points shall be awarded to their opponents.

(iv) Where a club has two teams playing in the Midweek Leagues a player may only play for one of the teams during the course of a season. Should this rule be contravened the match in which an ineligible player takes part shall be declared void and seven points shall be awarded to the opposing team.

2. The League will be divided into 2 divisions.

A system of promotion and relegation will operate. The two bottom teams in Division 1 will be relegated to Division 2. The two top teams in Division 2 will be promoted to Division 1.

New entrants will play in Division 2

3. Midweek League matches shall consist of 4 fours and 18 ends shall be played. Teams may mutually arrange prior to the commencement of a match to limit the number of ends to be played. Not less than 15 ends shall be played.

Teams may play no trial ends, 1 trial end or 2 trial ends. An agreement to do otherwise e.g. to play for 1 shot on the first two ends may result in both clubs being subject to sanctions.

4. The winners in each division shall receive 18 badges. Additional badges not exceeding 6 may be purchased for competitors from the Honorary Treasurer.

5. Games postponed because of the unavailability of a green or because the green of the home team is unplayable will be played at the earliest possible date by arrangement between the clubs concerned.

The Honorary League Secretary must be informed in writing (letter or email will be acceptable, text message is not) of the date agreed by both clubs concerned not later than 10 working days after the original fixture date. Failure to contact the Honorary League Secretary by either team within this period will result in forfeit of the fixture and the award of 7 points to the opposition.

In the event that neither team contacts the Honorary League Secretary then the match shall be declared void. Should the home club not offer dates within 10 working days, the visiting team is still required to contact the Honorary League Secretary to advise him of the situation or it too will forfeit the fixture and no points will be awarded to either team.