General

These byelaws must read in conjunction with the current Bowls England Regulations
 

1. All competitions shall be confined to those clubs which are affiliated to the Norfolk Bowls Association and Bowls England in accordance with rule 4 of the general rules. No competitor shall allow his name to be submitted for entry in the Junior Singles, Junior Pairs, 2 Bowl Singles, Four Bowls Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours or Senior Fours competitions for more than one club in any one year but subject to the Competition Regulation for the Junior Pairs.
    
2. The County to which his one club is affiliated is the only County for which a competitor may compete in the National Championships or Inter-County Championships but subject to the Competition Regulation for the Junior Pairs.
    
3. No Club affiliated to the Norfolk Bowls Association shall play a person in a National Championship who has already played in a National Championship in any other County affiliated to Bowls England  in the same season or if they have entered another United Kingdom country’s championship in the same season
    
4. All Competitions shall be played in accordance with the Laws of World Bowls including the Bowls England domestic regulations and in accordance with the Competition byelaws and regulations of the Norfolk Bowls Association.
    
5. The dress code for all matches will be in accordance with Bowls England Regulations
    
6. All competitions must be played on greens that are properly banked and ditched as laid down in the Laws of the game in accordance with byelaw 4
    
7. The draw for all Competitions shall be made by a sub-committee consisting of the Hon. Secretary, Hon. Competition Secretary and one member of the Management Committee
    
8. All Rounds of the Two bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples & Fours  Competitions together with the Jermy Cup, Bales Cup and Lord Fermoy Cup shall be played on fixed dates as notified by the Hon. Competition Secretary or Competition Group Secretary and games shall commence at 6:30pm on the date fixed unless otherwise notified.
   
   Games may, however, be played at an earlier date by mutual agreement with the exception of the fixed date for other competitions unless the participants are not in any other competition.
    
9. One trial end each way may be played at the start of the game with the appropriate number of bowls
    
10. In the Two bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours & Senior Fours the first named player(s) in the draw shall be the ‘home’ draw and for all rounds up to but not including the quarter final the match will be played on the green of the home drawn player.
    
    In the Junior Singles & Junior Pairs, the first named player(s) in the draw shall be the ‘home’ draw and for all rounds up to and including the quarter finals the match will be played on the green of the home drawn player. The date & venues for the semi-finals & final will be determined by the Hon. Competition Secretary
     
11. In the event of a club having more competitions to play at home than rinks available, they shall allocate those rinks in descending order from the first named player. The lower competitors who cannot be allocated a rink shall play on their opponents green other than if an alternative date has been determined by the Competition Secretary.
     
12. If the Green of the first drawn competitor or one of the contestants in the Lord Fermoy Cup competition should be unfit for play due to inclement weather or other circumstances, the game shall be played, if practicable, on the green of the opponent if that green is fit for play. If both greens are unfit, the game may be played by mutual agreement on a neutral green.
     
13. The Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Finals of the Bales Cup and Jermy Cup and the final of the Lord Fermoy Cup shall be played on a green selected by the Competition Secretary.
     
14. No competition shall be played on an indoor green.
     
15. There is nothing, at present constituted, which stipulates that games may not be played on a surface other than grass. It is, however a condition that ties are played outdoors.
     
16. If any Competitor(s) fail to appear or not be ready to play within 30 minutes of the commencement time, the opponent(s) may claim a 'walkover’. Each Competitor in the Junior Singles, Junior Pairs, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours & Senior Fours must telephone or email the result immediately after the match to the Competition Group Secretary and retain the scorecard for future reference if so required. For the, Bales Cup, Jermy Cup and Lord Fermoy Cup, competitor(s) must telephone or email the result immediately after the match to the Competition Secretary and retain the scorecards for future reference if so required.
     
17. Match details for the Junior Singles, Junior Pairs, 2 Bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours & Senior Fours up to the Quarter Finals will be forwarded to the Competitors by the Competition Group Secretary. The Competition Secretary will forward match details for the aforementioned from the quarter finals onwards and all rounds of the Bales Cup, Lord Fermoy Cup & Jermy Cup
     
18. For the purposes of the Competitions the County may be divided into Groups, Zones or Sections to be decided upon from time to time by the Competition Secretary according to entries received during the current year.
     
19. At the Annual General Meeting, a Competition Group Secretary shall be appointed from amongst the members thereof for each group or section who shall run the Junior Singles, Junior Pairs, 2 Bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours & Senior Fours Competitions up to but not including the Quarter Finals. The Competition Secretary shall arrange all rounds of the Bales Cup, Lord Fermoy Cup & Jermy Cup and the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals of the Junior Singles, Junior Pairs, 2 Bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours & Senior Fours  The two skips shall be the judges of all disputed points and when they agree their decision shall be final. If they fail to agree the point, it shall be decided by an umpire if appointed, otherwise by a neutral person mutually chosen. In all competitions in which no official umpire has been appointed the respective skips shall have the right to inspect their opponent’s bowls before commencement of the first end to ensure that they comply with the requirements of ' the laws of the game'
     
20. The rounds in all competitions shall be played on or before dates determined by the Competition Secretary (subject to byelaw 9). No extension will be allowed under any circumstances except when players are representing their Country, participating in the County Tour or in the event of a game not starting due to exceptional weather conditions. No Semi-Finals or Finals shall be played on the date arranged for the Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals or Final of the Middleton Cup.
     
21. In the event of a game not starting or starting but no decision being reached owing to exceptional weather conditions in a Competition game, excluding Bales Cup and Lord Fermoy Cup games, it shall be resumed within three days of the fixed date and allowed to take precedence over any other game. Under no circumstances must a fixed date of another Competition be used. The Competition Group Secretary should be notified immediately in respect of Competition games and the Competition Secretary should be notified immediately in respect of Bales Cup, Lord Fermoy Cup & Jermy Cup games. Bales Cup, Lord Fermoy Cup ­& Jermy Cup games must be completed within 7 days. The first named side must contact their opponents within 24 hours to arrange a new date and the Competition Secretary notified of the result immediately after the match. Where games have started, they shall be resumed with the scores, as they were when the game was stopped.
     
22. In the event of the scores being equal at the completion of a Pairs, Triples or Fours game, an extra end or ends shall be played until a decision has been reached. The leads shall toss a coin and the­ winner shall have the right to decide who shall play first.
     
23. For the purpose of considering and determining all disputes and protests there shall be established a special sub-committee consisting of the Hon. Competition Secretary and two members of the Executive Committee as delegated. All protests appertaining to the green etc. must be intimated before the commencement of the sixth end and all protests against a player within three days after the game. Notwithstanding the intention to lodge a protest the game must be completed. Protests appertaining to the green shall be notified on completion of the game and confirmed in writing to the Competition Secretary within one day of the game. The Secretary of the club concerned will be notified of an inspection by the greens inspection committee who will report to the sub-committee whose decision will be conveyed to the competitors and to the Club Secretary. Protests appertaining to a player shall be notified in writing to the Hon. Competition Secretary within three days of the game, referred to the sub-committee and a decision conveyed to the protester.
     
24. Entries in the Junior Singles, Junior Pairs, 2 bowl Singles, 4 bowl Singles, Pairs, Triples Fours & Senior Fours Competitions are accepted on the understanding that those that are eligible under Bowls England Regulations shall be entered for and compete in the Bowls England National Championships.
     
25. In the 2 Bowl Singles, Singles and Junior Singles Competition, those Competitors who do not represent the County in the National Championships shall be banned from entering the National Championships under the jurisdiction of the Norfolk Bowls Association for up to three years.
     
26. Where there is no representation at the National Championships by a Pair, Triple or Four and who are unable to satisfy the Executive Committee they had good reason for not ­competing will also be banned for up to three years.
     
27. Any competitor becoming aware that he is unable to represent his County in the National Championships must withdraw from the Competition immediately.
     
28. All trophies shall be presented to the winners at the Annual Luncheon or other event which might be arranged
     
29. The winners shall hold the trophies for one year and shall return them to the Competition Secretary by 1st September.
     
30. The holder will be responsible for their safe custody other than insurance.
     
31. The winning clubs in the 2 Bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours, Junior Singles, Junior Pairs & Senior Fours, Club Championship (Bales Cup), Jermy Cup and Double Fours Competition (Lord Fermoy Cup) shall be presented with a County Pennant showing the year and name of the event.
     
32. Entries for all competitions shall be made on the forms provided. Club Secretaries which must be returned to the Hon. Competition Secretary by the date specified thereon. Entry Fees and the cost of any Competition Supplement will be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee and approved by the Annual General Meeting of the Association.
     
33. Mobile phones or other electronic devices shall not be used on the green during any matches.