COMPETITION BYE LAWS

KENT COUNTY BOWLING ASSOCIATION
COMPETITION BY-LAWS
(Men’s Section)
Amended as necessary by the Council of the Association as detailed in
relevant Council minutes.
SINGLES, JUNIOR SINGLES, PAIRS, TRIPLES AND FOURS
UNBADGED SINGLES, TWO WOOD SINGLES and BERT COX
MEMORIAL (GILL) CUP.
1. The Competitions are open to all affiliated male members of Clubs
affiliated to the Kent County Bowling Association. Entry to these
competitions constitutes agreement to play in the quarter and semifinals
on a weekday before 6pm.
The SINGLES, TWO WOOD SINGLES, JUNIOR SINGLES,
PAIRS, TRIPL ES and FOURS Competitions constitute preliminary
rounds of the Bowls England National Championships. All
Competitions shall be played in accordance with Bowls England
Rules. Play arrangements shall be:
SINGLES - 4 bowls each - 21 up
JUNIOR SINGLES - 4 bowls each - 21 up
(Note: There is no minimum age limit for players)
TWO WOOD SINGLES - 2 bowls each - 21 ends
PAIRS - 4 bowls each - 21 ends
JUNIOR PAIRS - 4 bowls each - 18 ends
TRIPLES - 3 bowls each - 18 ends
FOURS - 2 bowls each - 21 ends
OVER 55 FOURS - 2 bowls each - 18 ends

Competitors must play with bowls bearing the official stamping of
the International Bowling Board. Composition bowls must bear a
legible stamp of 1985 or later. Bowls other than composition must
be re-stamped every 10 years, the date stamp indicating year of
expiry. In the case of new bowls, they should bear the new World
Bowls stamp. Where no umpire is present, the onus of checking that
bowls comply with Bowls England Laws rests with the players
concerned before commencement of the first end.

2. The official entry form, which includes specific instructions for its
completion, must be used for making all entries to the competitions.
No person may allow his name to be submitted, or play for more
than one Club or County in any one year, in ANY of the County
Competitions. Each Pair, Triple or Four shall consist of playing
members of the same Club. Entry fees must accompany the entry
form.

3. In the Pairs, Triples and Fours Competitions, the players named on
the score-card of the initial match shall constitute the official entry.
The initial or any subsequent round match is constituted by the
completion of ‘one end’, and if then stopped for a valid reason and
resumed at a later date, Law 50 of Laws of the Sport of Bowls
(Crystal Mark Edition), shall apply. One additional (and 'same')
player from the same Club may be used as a substitute provided he
has not already played in the competition. The named entrant to a
competition may not play in another entry of the same competition.

4. There are four administrative divisions of the Association and for
competition purposes each of these shall be divided into four
sections with such sub-sections as necessary at the discretion of the
Honorary Divisional Secretaries and based on the number of entries
received for each event. Endeavour shall be made to minimise
travelling and to balance the numbers in each section of each
competition. After the allotment of entries to the various sections,
one open draw shall be made for the order of play up to the Divisional
Semi-final stage.The sectional finalists shall play on selected greens
for the final Divisional matches. The winners of the Divisional Finals
proceed to the County Quarter-Finals under arrangements made by
the Honorary County Competition and Match Secretary in liaison
with the appropriate Divisional Secretary. In all matches, other than
those played on selected greens, a choice of rinks by draw shall be
given on the green of the Challenger to his opponent.

5. GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLAY
a)Competitions shall be played on a 'fixed date' basis in accordance
with details shown in the draw-sheet addendum to the Associations
Diary. If players concerned wish to play before the fixed date, they
may do so by mutual consent. Divisional Officers will not entertain
appeals from players unable to make mutual arrangements.
b)On receipt of the WHITE score-card or other suitable
communication from the divisional secretariat , the HOME player,
i.e. the CHALLENGER, shall make arrangements for the
match to be played on his green and shall PAY ALL FEES and
arrange for an umpire and a marker, if for a singles match.
c)The receiver of the GREEN score-card or other suitable
communication from the divisional secretariat, the AWAY
player, i.e. The CHALLENGEE, shall deem the match arrangements
to be as shown thereon unless otherwise advised by the challenger
d) In the event of extreme wet conditions, the use of ground sheets
fixed with pins, is permitted. Where the green of a challenger is
declared unfit for play any non-accommodated tie shall be played
on the opponents green. Where the green of a challenger is
unavailable for play due to excess of entries, and an earlier date
cannot be mutually agreed, then the challenger shall arrange for the
tie to take place on the fixed date on a neutral green of his choice
within the section, or if mutually agreed on the opponents green.”
e) Where the greens of both competitors are declared unfit for play,
or are unavailable, any non-accommodated tie shall be played on a
neutral green approved by the Honorary Divisional Secretary or his
Assistant.
f) In all these competitions, both challenger and challengee will
receive a score-card of instructions or other suitable communication
from the Honorary Divisional Secretary or his Assistant.
g) For the purpose of these competitions the season commences on
May 1st and no earlier date may be offered. It must be generally
understood that all fixed dates and all dates offered imply
evening play to commence at 6.00 p.m.unless otherwise
previously mutually agreed. Failure of any player to appear and
play after a maximum waiting period of thirty minutes from the
time mutually agreed for the start of the match, or the
introduction of an ineligible player, could cause the defaulter to
forfeit the match.
h) The above arrangements cease to apply when the Divisional Semi
finals and Finals are reached. The Divisional Semi-Finals and Finals
shall be played on greens selected and on dates and at times fixed by
the Honorary Divisional Secretaries. Competitors failing to assemble
on the green within 30 minutes of the times stated could be
disqualified. As suitable greens have to be found and arrangements
made with Clubs well before Divisional stages are reached, some
competitors may play on their own green. The County Quarter-
Finals, Semi-Finals, Finals and 3/4 place play-offs shall be arranged
by the Honorary County Competition and Match Secretary in liaison
with the appropriate Divisional Secretary. The choice of greens
therefore shall be his responsibility after receiving recommendation
and advice from the Honorary Divisional Secretaries. Each Division
shall stage one County Quarter and Semi-Finals day per year, the
competitions rotating on a four year cycle between the Divisions.
Each shall stage the County Finals day and 3/4 play offs in annual
rotation. In the event of a green, chosen to stage a County Quarter
and Semi-Finals day or the County Finals day, becoming unavailable
or deemed to be below the acceptable standard, Council have
delegated discretionary powers to the Hon. Competition & Match
Secretary to make alternative emergency arrangements. The draw for
the County Quarter and Semi-finals shall ensure that successful
players from the same Division meet only in the County Final,
excluding the Junior Singles competition, which due to the number
of entries, will be run outside of the scope of the four Divisions.
Competitors failing to assemble on the green within 15 minutes of
the times stated could be disqualified. Players reaching the quarter
finals of the competition and later stages will be required to conform
to the dress code requirements in order to avoid being removed from
the competition. (See Regulations 6d 1 & 2)
i) The Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours, Competitions constitute the
qualifying rounds of the Bowls England National Championships
and the winners, runners-up and third place qualifiers (subject to the
County achieving the number of entries qualification) in all four
events are expected to play in these National events. When the
draw for any of the National Championships dictates that one
representative will be required to play a preliminary round, the 3rd
place winner will automatically acquire this tie and the two County
finalists will draw for the other places in the first round proper. When
all three Kent sides are drawn in the first round proper then an open
draw will take place to determine Kent A, Band C. The Winner and
Runner-up of the Junior Singles (U25) will also be expected to play
in the National Championships (subject to the County achieving the
number of entries qualification). Only the Winners of the Under 25
pairs and the over 55s. Qualify for entry into the National
Championships.
j) The final of the Over 55 fours and Under 25 pairs will be held in each
of the Divisions in rotation with the winners to go forward to the
National finals.
k) K.C.B.A. OFFICIAL SCORE-CARDS must be used for all County
Competitions. Score-cards must be completed legibly, showing the
names and initials of all the players taking part and results. They must
be signed by the winners and their opponents. Immediately after a
match, the winner's score-card must be sent by first class post to the
Divisional Officer whose name and address appears on the scorecard.
A telephone call to that Officer, giving the result, will assist.
Failure to return the winners’ scorecard to the Divisional Officer
promptly may lead to the defaulter being scratched from the
competition.
l) As an alternative to official scorecards, the divisional secretariat may
communicate with competitors by email, or other suitable
communication, provided that the competitors return the final score
and surnames of team players within 24 hours.

6. UNBADGED SINGLES COMPETITION This competition is
open to any affiliated member of an Affiliated Club who is not
eligible to play for the Association in a County Match. The last eight
of this competition will qualify for consideration for a County Badge.
Competitors will also be eligible to compete in the Singles
Championship. Finalists in this competition do not qualify for the
Bowls England National Championships.

7. TWO WOOD SINGLES COMPETITION This competition is
open to any member of an Affiliated Club. The finalists of this
competition will qualify for consideration for a County Badge.
Finalists in this competition do qualify for the Bowls England
National Championships.

8. BERT COX MEMORIAL (GILL) CUP COMPETITION
This is an inter-Club competition open to all affiliated clubs and
there shall be no limit to the number of sides a Club may enter. A
Club side shall consist of two teams of 4 players for each match and
may include any eight bona fide members of the Club making the
entry, but players must play for the same Club through which they
enter any other County competition. No player may play for more
than one side entered by his Club in the competition in the same
season. Details of the draw for play are published each year in the
Draw Sheet Addendum to the Associations’ Diary and scorecards
are sentdirect to the appropriate Club Secretaries. Email may
be used, provided the club sends surnames of each player together
with the final score for each rink. Arrangements shall be made by the
clubs as for other competitions, except that the match shall be played
by one of the Fours on each of the Home and Away greens, playing
at the same time. The result shall be based on the aggregate score
and an extra end must be played on the CHALLENGERS green. The
score on this additional end will be used only in the case of a tie
resultingon the completion of 21 ends by each team. Responsibility
for seeing that this is done will rest on both sides. Where two clubs
using the same green for play are drawn to play each other in this
competition, the challenging club will indicate before the match
commences which of the clubs two fours will play the extra end. In
the event of a tie resulting on completion of 21 ends by each team at
all the selected Green Stages of the competition, Extra end will be
played by one Four only. The Challenger Clubs receive two WHITE
Score-cards or communication by e mail of arrangements for play.
The Challengee Clubs receive two GREEN Score-cards or
communication by e mail of arrangements for play. Extra end will
be played by one four only, to be decided by the toss of a coin prior
to commencement of the game.

9. GENERAL RULES No extension of time beyond the 'fixed’ date
can be allowed except
(a) in the case of players selected for international games or
(b) where exceptional circumstances have rendered it impossible for
play to take place. In such circumstances the alternative date fixed
by the Honorary Divisional Secretary or his Assistant, or the
Honorary County Competition and Match Secretary as the
case may be, must be accepted by all parties.

10. Any protest by a competitor(s) as to the green being unfit for play
must be made at the completion of the fourth end and the match
stopped. Such protest must be submitted at once, in writing, to the
Honorary Divisional Secretary, accompanied by a deposit of £20 per
player. The green will be inspected and if the protest is not upheld
the match shall be recommenced on the same green, on a date fixed
by the Honorary Divisional Secretary, from the point at which it was
stopped and the deposit forfeited and passed to the Benevolent Fund.
If the protest is upheld, the match will be re-arranged and played on
a neutral green, on a date fixed by the Honorary Divisional Secretary
and the deposit returned.

11.When a match is stopped either by mutual arrangement or by the
Umpire, after appeal to him on account of darkness or the condition
of the weather or any other valid reason, it shall be resumed on a
date nominated by the Honorary Divisional Secretary or his
Assistant with the scores as they were when the match was stopped.
A head commenced but not completed shall be declared void.

12. In the event of any dispute arising in the interpretation of the rules,
the decision made by the Honorary Divisional Secretary or his
Assistant on behalf of the Council of the Association must be
accepted as final.

13. Challenge Cups shall be presented on Finals Day and returned to
County headquarters for safe keeping.

14. The use of mobile phones by players and officials during the course
of a match is ‘strongly discouraged’.

15. RECOGNISED DRESS In all competitions, the dress SHALL be
white above the waist, grey Trousers or Tailored Shorts and regulation
bowls shoes up to the Divisional Semi-Finals and thereafter in whites
and regulation shoes. Approved club shirts are acceptable as detailed
in the published procedure (see Association Regulations 6d and 6e).

16. PENALTIES
A SINGLES competitor, knowing that he will be unavailable for the
CountyFinal, should withdraw the round prior to the Divisional
Semi-Final. A SINGLES competitor reaching the Divisional Semi-
Finals or later rounds, failing to be available for the next round
without a valid reason, shall bepenalised in accordance with the rules
set out below: Any member or members of a successful PAIRS,
TRIPLES or FOURS team who causes the team to fail to be
available for the Divisional Semi-Finals or later rounds without a
valid reason, shall be penalised in accordance with the rules set out
below.
(a) If unbadged, the consideration for a County Badge shall be
cancelled in that year: and
(b) be disqualified from entering/playing in all competitions for the
next season.
VALID REASONS for absence from a round:
(a) Sickness or injury (Doctors certificate required)
(b) Family bereavement
(c) Excused under Rule 9 (a) There is nothing that can be laid down
in any set of rules to cover every interpretation, incident or
circumstance. It is therefore expected that true sportsmanship
and common sense will prevail.