Three member clubs will have rule change proposals discussed at the League’s December management meeting next week.
Proposals from Sinclair, Charlton and Trench are shown below, with their explanations – and all will require seconding before going forward to the 2025 AGM on 28th January.
Rule Change proposals for the 2025 AGM – from clubs
Proposed by Sinclair:
League Rules – 1 Laws
Current Rule:
2. (a) Each Friday division team shall consist of 10 bowlers, male or female, and shall play home and away matches with all other teams in the same division. Each game shall be 21 up.
Proposed Rule:
2. (a) Each Friday division 1 team shall consist of 11 bowlers, all other Friday divisions teams to consist of 10 bowlers, male or female, and shall play home and away matches with all other teams in the same division. Each game shall be 21 up.
Proposed by Charlton:
League Rules – Named Players
Proposed Rule, new 21 (j):
21. (j) Junior players (ie under-18 by BCGBA definition) are not included in the registered 6.
EXPLANATION: By registering junior bowlers – who are after all, the future of crown green bowls – from participating in lower teams seems unfair for several reasons.
It restricts young players’ opportunities to develop their skills and gain experience; it stifles the future of the sport by not nurturing emerging talent and limiting their social interactions and growth within the community of bowls.
Additionally, it undermines the inclusiveness and diversity that should be promoted in all
sports, many bowlers have the option of playing in other leagues, ladies, seniors etc.
Registration of a player can in some instances be highly subjective, especially when considering position played, bowlers played, green conditions et al. By having them in the registered 6, reduces their opportunities and growth of the sport.
Proposed by Charlton for the Monday night divisions:
League Rules – 3 Method of Scoring
Current Rule:
3. (a) 3. (a) One point shall be awarded for each individual win, three points for the team with the highest aggregate total at home, and four points for the team with the highest aggregate total away. If the aggregate totals are level, one point is awarded to the home team and two to the away team.
Proposed Rule (for Monday night divisions):
3. (a) The points scoring system will be: A bowler who scores 5 chalks will earn their team 1 point; scoring 10 will earn 2 points; scoring 15 will earn 3 points; scoring 20 will get a bowler 4 points; and getting to 21 to win the individual game will earn a player 5 points. (Therefore, the most points a team can win from each fixture is 50 – ie 10 wins worth 5 points each). The team with the most points at the end of the season will be declared the champions.
EXPLANATION: The proposed scoring system aims to reward the bowlers for their performance and consistency throughout the game, rather than just for winning. By giving a point for each 5 chalks score, the system encourages the bowlers to play with skill and strategy, and to avoid conceding easy points to their opponents. The system also creates more excitement and competition among the teams, as every point counts towards the final standings. The aggregate score has not played a part in the final positions results. The system also reduces the chances of ties. The system is fair and transparent, as it reflects the true quality and effort of the bowlers and the teams.
It also potentially encourages more bowlers who may feel they have no chance of winning or being beaten to low figures to still have an opportunity to gain points for their team, say when a novice bowler plays against a higher standard bowler.
The scoring system has worked well on the Thursday Night and Saturday Afternoon, with all members feeling that they can contribute to the final result. The scoring system helps with making it a team rather that an individual event and encourages all standards of player to participate.
Proposed by Trench:
League Rules – Thursday Division:
Proposed Rule – to be added to Rule 1:
The Thursday Division should be limited to a maximum of 12 teams. If any more than that number takes part, then it should be split into 2 divisions, with an equal number of teams (as near as possible), in each division and the introduction of promotion and relegation.
EXPLANATION: We appreciate that it is good to compete against the stronger teams in the division, where our players can gain valuable experience from playing against better bowlers. However, it can also be disheartening getting beat by big margins.
By splitting the Thursday division into two, it would give the lower teams in the league more incentive, and something to play for. And our suggestion would be that any free weeks could be used to run other competitions against the teams in the division in which each club is playing – or against teams in the other division on a neutral green.