Club rules for 2023 season
LYNDHURST BOWLING CLUB (1905)
RULE BOOK 2022
As agreed at AGM on 17th October 2022
1. NAME
The name of the club shall be the Lyndhurst Bowling Club (1905) Limited without Guarantee trading as a Community Amateur Sports Club hereinafter referred to as the “Club”.
2. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be limited to: –
(a) Full Members who must be fully paid up members of the Lyndhurst Bowling Club (1905) Limited, hereinafter referred to as the “Company”.
(b) Associate Members without playing rights.
(c) Junior Members (under 18 or up to 25 if in full time education).
NB. Only Full Members have voting rights
Applicants for full or associate membership must be proposed by two full members. The name and address of each applicant and their proposers shall be dated and posted up in the pavilion for a period of not less than fourteen days. Admission to membership shall be by ballot in the order in which applicants are listed. Two thirds of the voting must be in favour of the applicant to secure admission. The voting panel is the committee although all members can make a submission to the committee if they oppose a membership application. This will be considered by the committee when voting.
(d) Temporary Membership: – Temporary Members introduced by full members may, at the discretion of the Committee, be granted playing and social privileges of the Club for a period not exceeding one month, at a fee to be fixed by the Directors.
3. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The Management Committee will determine members’ annual subscriptions. They become due on 1st May each year, payment to be made within one month of that date. Members who have not paid their subscriptions in the time allowed shall be liable, at the discretion of the Committee, to forfeit the privileges of membership. Lifetime members are exempt from paying fees but have voting rights.
4. VISITORS AND GUESTS
A full member may introduce a visitor or guest, but such visitor or guest usually may not play on more than four occasions in one season. Should the full member wish to introduce more than one visitor or guest to play at any one time, then the Committee must give permission. The names of all playing visitors or guests shall be entered in the Visitors Book and the general rules of rink booking shall apply.
5. OFFICERS
(a) The Club will continue to operate in two sections, a Ladies’ Section and a Men’s Section. Each Section will be managed on a day to day basis by a Secretary and other appointed officers.
In the Ladies’ Section, there will be a Ladies Captain, Ladies Secretary and Match Secretary
The Gentlemen’s Section will be similarly managed with the same positions.
(b) The Management Committee, who will have a Secretary appointed by the fully paid members will now keep the Minute Book of the Club, conduct all correspondence, issue notice of meetings, record the result of matches, report the proceedings of the year at the Annual General Meeting of the Club and conduct any other administrative business as required by the Management Committee. The club chairman, club treasurer and club secretary will be elected for a period of three years. The remaining six officers for the Management Committee will be elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. The existing officers may stand for re-election.
(c) The Club will now have a Management Committee now made up of the following positions: –
6. MANAGEMENT
(a) Management Committee: – hereinafter referred to as the Committee. All committee members must be full members. The Club shall be managed by the Committee comprising the nine elected Club Officers. The Management Committee may occasionally co-opt further Full Member(s) to the Committee for a period of time.
Nomination sheets for the next year’s Officers and Committee shall be posted in the clubhouse and locker rooms, as appropriate, at least one month before the end of the season. The closing date for nominations shall be decided by the Committee. Where voting is necessary, ballot papers shall be issued with the agenda for the Annual General Meeting. The committee may opt for a show of hands in certain circumstances.
(b) Selection Committees: – The selection of teams for club matches shall be made by Selection Committees, one for each Section. These will normally consist of five Full Members, including the Match Secretary in each section, elected at the Annual General Meeting by the same procedure as for election of Officers and Management Committee. A minimum of two members of the Selection Committee must always be available in the selection of teams for all club matches.
7. CLUB MEETINGS
(a) An Annual General Meeting of the full members shall be held in the month of October on a date to be fixed by the Committee for the purpose of receiving the Secretary’s report, electing officers and committees and conducting any other relevant business. Not less than fourteen days’ notice shall be given of the Annual General Meeting. Associate Members shall be permitted to attend the Annual General Meeting and take part in the discussions but shall not be allowed to vote.
(b) An Extraordinary General Meeting of full members may be called by the Secretary at the request of the Committee or on a requisition signed by twelve full members. The Secretary shall give seven days’ notice of such meeting and shall state the purpose of the meeting.
8. COMPETITIONS AND MATCHES
All the games shall be played under the Laws of the English Bowling Association (EBA) or English Bowling Federation (EBF) rules and the Committee shall control the running of all competitions in accordance with the following regulations.
(i) Entry lists for all competitions shall be posted in the appropriate locker-rooms. The closing dates for entries and the dates for draws shall be fixed by the Competitions Committees and shown on entry lists.
(ii) Entry fees shall be paid in accordance with the instructions of the Management Committee and before the agreed closing date. If fees are not paid the member will be unable to play in the competitions.
(iii) Members shall agree with their opponents the date and time of playing their ties within the period set by the Committee, and the competitor drawn first in each tie has the right to select the rink, and to select the marker for the game. If a competitor fails to present himself/herself within thirty minutes of the agreed time, the arrangement may be regarded as broken, and the aggrieved party may refer the matter to the Committee for a decision. Any ties not played by the due date shall be referred to the Committee for a decision.
(iv) The Handicap and Nominated Fours Competitions shall be subject to handicaps, and these handicaps shall be reviewed annually by the Competitions Committees.
(v) In all club competitions other than singles, the players taking part in the first game shall constitute the team and shall normally play together throughout the competition. One additional and the same player may be used as a substitute at any time, providing he or she has not already played in the competition. The substitute may play in any position and shall be approved by the Committee in attendance.
(vi) In the Championship, Handicap, the winner of a tie shall be the first competitor to reach 21 shots. The two bowl singles will be 21 ends in all Pairs Competition from 2023 season will be over 18ends.
From the 2023 Season any other changes will be guided by Bowls England and amended at the earliest opportunity.
(vii) In all club competitions other than singles, the number of ends to be played in each round shall be decided by the Committee and published on entry lists.
(viii) In all club competitions, other than singles, the playing positions of the players shall be decided by mutual agreement of each player.
(ix) In the Mixed Pairs, Mixed Triples and Mixed Fours Competitions those on reserve lists each year shall be guaranteed a place in those competitions the following year to the extent that this is numerically possible and providing their names have been entered for the current year.
(x) Booking of rinks shall be entered in the appropriate diary giving the number of the rink and time of play. The entry shall be endorsed with the time and date of booking by one of the competitors.
(xi) After 12 noon on Mondays and Fridays and after 10am on all other days of the week any vacant rink may be used for the playing of competition heats and general play, subject always to rinks required for the playing of Club Pairs, Mixed Pairs, Triples and Mixed Triples Competitions, official Club Jumbles, Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s, and other special tournaments having priority over all other play.
(xii) If a booking has been made and for any reason there is to be no play, the entry must be cancelled immediately and endorsed with initials and time of cancellation.
(xiii) Bookings for EBA, EBF and EWBA domestic and non-domestic ties shall follow the general rules. These may be played on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday afternoons or Tuesday evenings following application to either the Club Secretary or Match Secretary.
(xiv) In all finals blue and red stickers will be placed on competitors’ woods to coincide with the scores on the scoreboard. Failure to place the appropriate stickers on woods could lead to the disqualification of the offending competitors.
(xv) In all competitions any member withdrawing must notify the appointed Competitions Committee Member for that competition, and he or she will arrange any necessary replacement.
(xvi) Unresolved disputes between competitors should be referred to the Competitions Committee by the members concerned. Any appeal against that Committee’s decision will be heard by the Management Committee (excluding any Competitions Committee members). The Management Committee’s decision will be final.
9. CLUB DRESS
(a) The Club colours are dark blue, light blue and gold.
MEN
Club Dress.
This comprises Club Polo Shirts. These must be accompanied by grey trousers. Blue or white pullover, cardigan, fleece and/or wet jacket may accompany this. Headwear when worn will be predominantly white. Footwear must be of the regulation type as per rule 9(c) below. For some competitions WHITES (white below the waist) may also be required. This will be noted on the match sheet. ON FINALS WEEKEND Members have the option of wearing white below the waist or normal Club Dress from 2023 season.
Club Dress will be worn for external matches and all other internal formal occasions. Such occasions will include President’s Day, Finals Day, Bank Holiday Tournaments, Pairs, Triples and Fours Competitions, including Mixed Competitions and any other occasion decided by the management/selection committee. Club Dress will also be worn for Saturday jumbles.
NOTE:
1. Where new members are awaiting delivery of Club Shirts, white tops may be worn temporarily.
2. In extenuating circumstances, where a member has particular reason, e.g., illness, not to wear Club Dress, the Committee will consider such request and give a decision.
Informal dress. Players may wear informal dress for Jumbles other than Saturday Jumbles, for early stages of competitions and for roll ups.
LADIES
Club dress. This comprises Club polo shirts along with grey trousers/skirt/three-quarter trousers. Blue or white pullover, cardigan, fleece and/or wet jacket may accompany this. Headwear when worn will be predominantly white. Footwear must be of the regulation type as per rule 9(c) below. For some competitions WHITES (white below the waist) may also be required. This will be noted on the match sheet. WHITES will be worn by players and markers on finals’ day.
Club Dress will be worn for external matches and all other internal formal occasions. Such occasions will include President’s Day, Finals Day, Bank Holiday Tournaments, Pairs, Triples and Fours Competitions, including Mixed Competitions and any other occasion decided by the management/selection committee. Club Dress will also be worn for Saturday jumbles.
NOTE:
1. Where new members are awaiting delivery of Club Shirts, white tops may be worn temporarily.
2. In extenuating circumstances, where a member has particular reason, e.g., illness, not to wear Club Dress, the Committee will consider such request and give a decision.
Informal dress. Players may wear informal dress for Jumbles, for early stages of competitions and for roll ups.
(b) Shorts
Shorts may be worn as part of club dress. These must be grey tailored shorts or authorised Bowls England shorts.
It is important to note, however, that, where these are worn during a league or competition match under the auspices of Bowls England, they must be authorised Bowls England shorts.
Where Whites are required, white shorts as above may be worn.
(c) With the exception of authorised persons engaged in inspection and/or maintenance of the green or changing heads, any person going on the green shall wear regulation footwear which is current to the rules of Bowls England and which must be changed on the Club premises upon entering or leaving the Club. This rule must be strictly enforced by officers of the Club.
10. GENERAL
(a) Members must ensure that after play, all playing equipment is returned to the locker room.
(b) The last member leaving the Club premises must ensure that all doors of the pavilion, locker rooms, toilets and doors leading to the street are securely locked, that all lights are switched off by the master switch and that all heating and cooking appliances are turned off.
(c) The Committee may expel any member or visitor whose conduct is detrimental to, or liable to endanger, the welfare or discipline of the Club. (See also section 12 on Misconduct)
(d) No dogs shall be allowed on the premises except on a leash and other than guide dogs, never allowed on the green.
(e) The green shall be open for play from 12 noon each Monday and Friday, and from 10am on every other day and Bank Holidays during the playing season unless the Green Rangers direct otherwise.
(f) No alteration or addition to these rules shall be made except at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose.
(g) Any matter not otherwise provided for in these rules shall be referred to and dealt with by the Committee.
11. YOUTH SECTION (under 18)
Children or youths under 18 fall into five different categories: –
(a) Those who are not playing.
These children must be under the effective control of an adult at all times in the club and its environs.
(b) Those who are visiting from schools to play bowls.
These children must be under the effective control of an accompanying adult, usually a teacher, at all times in the club and its environs. In order to play, a club coach and/or DBS police checked adult must also be present. Two adults must always therefore be present.
(c) Those who are visiting on their own account to play or practise playing bowls on open or arranged youth days.
These children must be under the effective control of two adults at all times in the club and its environs. In order to play, at least one of the adults should be a club coach and/or DBS police checked adult.
(d) Those who are accompanying Full Members who are related to them.
These children must be under the effective control of the accompanying adult, usually a parent/grandparent/guardian, at all times in the club and its environs. In such cases, a club coach or DBS police checked adult may not necessarily be present, although desirable. However, the accompanying adult must ensure that the Club Rules are adhered to at all times.
(e) Junior Members of the Club who are under 18.
These children must be under the effective control of adults with whom they are playing at all times in the club and its environs. In such cases, a club coach or DBS police checked adult may not necessarily be present, although desirable. However, the Junior Member must, like adult Members, ensure that the Club Rules are adhered to at all times.
NB. Adults supervising children should reflect the gender of the children that they supervise. If both genders of youngsters are present, then supervising adults should consist of at least one of each gender.
A Child Protection Policy is available in the Main Clubhouse for inspection at all times.
There is also a Child Welfare Officer available, details again in the Main Clubhouse. He or she will be available to resolve any issues or disputes.
12. MISCONDUCT
Occasionally, matters may arise of a disciplinary nature where it is suggested that misconduct of a member has occurred in relation to some aspect of the rules or other issue.
Such incidents should be reported to the Club Secretary in writing.
On receipt of such a letter the Club has agreed, in cases of misconduct, to adopt Bowls England Regulation 9 (Misconduct) in essence and will normally follow its provisions. However, the final decision on aspects of this process will always be with the agreement of the Management Committee.
13. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
Occasionally, matters may arise where a grievance has been raised by a member.
Such a grievance should be reported, in confidence, to the Club Secretary in writing.
On receipt of such a letter, the club will consider the grievance and give judgement thereof.
The grievance will be investigated by the Club Secretary, The Bowls Officer, both Club Captains and one other member from the Management Committee.
The Chairman, Club Treasurer and three members of the Management Committee will be the Grievance Committee which considers the grievance and gives judgement thereof.
A second group, comprising the club secretary and those committee members not on the original panel will consider any appeals. This will be the Appeals Committee and will adjudicate on any appeal against the original decision of the Grievance Committee.
A minimum of four members will constitute a quorum in either group.
The decision of the Club’s Appeals committee will be final.