HAVANT LADIES BOWLS LEAGUE
	CONSTITUTION & RULES
	Reviewed: 2020 Amended 2024
	1		TITLE
			The name of the Association shall be Havant Ladies Bowls League (HLBL).
	2		AFFILIATION
			Not applicable
	3		OBJECTIVE
			3.1 The objective of the Havant Ladies Bowls League shall be to affiliate all Womens Bowling Clubs
			within Havant and District subject to the approval of the HLBL
			3.2	The HLBL will comply with Bowls England`s Data Protection, Safeguarding and Transgender
				Policies.
	4		OFFICERS
			The Committee will consist of the following officers who, apart from the Co-ordinator, shall be elected
			by their clubs
			4.1	Co-ordinator - shall chair the Annual General Meeting; maintain a financial record of the HLBL;
				receive registrations from affiliated clubs for entry in the League; produce match schedules;
				record match results; produce a monthly result statement; ensure the HLBL rules are
				complied with; arbitrate in any dispute, and present the winners trophy.
			4.2	Club Representatives - to be elected by their clubs to organise their team
	5		ADMINISTRATION
			5.1	The affairs of the HLBL shall be conducted by the Officers of the Committee (See Rule 4).
			5.4	The Committee shall meet in February of each year.
			5.5	If the usual delegate is unable to attend the Committee meeting a substitute shall be sent to
				represent their club.
			5.6	The Committee shall have the power to make or amend a rule if necessary.
			5.7	If deemed necessary a Special General Meeting may be convened by the Committee by at least
				50% attendance.
	6		ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
			6.1	The Annual General Meeting of the HLBL shall be held in February.
			6.2	Proposals for amendment of the HLBL rules shall be discussed and submitted to the
				Annual General Meeting.
			6.3	All propositions, including additions and alterations to the Rules of the HLBL, shall be
				forwarded to the Co-ordinator no later than 1st January each year.
			6.4	Propositions shall be voted on by the representative from each affiliated club.
			6.5	Any alterations or additions to the Rules of the Association shall be made only at the Annual
				General Meeting.
			6.6	The co-ordinator shall present a Revenue Account up to the 1st January.
	7		FEES
			7.1	The annual Affiliation fees (payable at the AGM) will be determined at the Annual General
				Meeting.
	8		LEAGUE
			8.1	FORMAT
			8.1.1	There shall be one Triples League comprising of eight teams.
			8.1.2	The teams will consist of six players playing threes on two rinks.
			8.1.3	The teams shall play each other twice during the season one match at home and the
				other away.
			8.1.4	The first named Club on the match schedule is the home team.
			8.1.5	Matches will commence at a mutually agreed time.
			8.1.6	All matches will be played under the current Joint Laws of the Game.
			8.1.7	Portsmouth & District League takes precedence over the Havant Ladies Bowls League.
			8.1.8	HLBL matches must not be scheduled on a Tuesday, which is the P&D WBA league day.
			8.1.9	League dates may only be rearranged if home greens are too congested to accommodate
				a match.
			8.1.10	If a Captain is aware fourteen days in advance that she is unable to field 6 players on a
				specified league date she should seek the agreement of the Co-ordinator to change
				the date.
			8.1.11	Club stickers must be used on both sides of each bowl. No additional stickers are allowed.
	9		PLAYER SHORTAGE
			9.1	If a team arrives and only has two players a wait of half an hour shall be allowed for the third
				player to arrive.
			9.2	If a player becomes ill during the game and leaves the green she may be replaced by a reserve.
				If there is no substitute available 25% of the affected rink`s score will be deducted from the
				total score of the number of ends played with two players.
			9.3	A substitute may play in any position apart from Skip.
	10		SCORING
			10.1	The Club with the greatest number of points shall be the winner of the league.
			19.2	Two points are awarded for winning rinks, one point for drawn rinks, four points for an overall
				win, two points for an overall draw.
			10.3	In the event of a tie between two or more clubs, shot difference will be taken into account to
				decide the winner.
			10.4	The score card signed by both team captains must be emailed to the Co-ordinator
				immediately following the match.
	11		THE GREEN
			11.1	Matches called off because the Greenkeeper declares the green unfit for play should, if
				possible, be played on the same day at the opponent s green. If this is not possible the game
				must be played within two weeks and the League Secretary informed of the new date.
			11.2	Weather mats should not be used for league matches. If the Greenkeeper declares they are
				needed then the green should be deemed unplayable.
			11.3	The home club has SOLE responsibility for cancelling a match if the Club Greenkeeper declares
				the green unplayable, and the Captain of the day should inform their opponents at least two
				hours before the start of the match.
			11.4	If the home green is fit for play in rainy conditions under no circumstances should the travelling
				club cancel a match.
			11.5	If the travelling club has not been advised by the home club that the green is unfit for play they
				should travel to the club expecting to play the match.
	12		GAME STOPPAGE
			12.1	If a match is rained off or stopped for any other valid reason the game should be continued
				either on the same day or on a different day. The scores will be as they were when the game
				was stopped irrespective of the number of ends played.
			12.2	If an end has started but all the required bowls have not been played when the game is
				stopped the end should be declared dead. The end should be declared dead even if one or
				more players choose to remain on the green during the stoppage. The dead end must be
				replayed.
			12.3	If all the required bowls in an end have been played the number of shots scored must be
				ascertained before the game is stopped.
			12.4	The original team should remain the same in the rescheduled match.
			12.5	If any of the original players in a team is unavailable one substitute will be allowed on each rink.
				A substitute may play in any position apart from Skip.
			12.6	A rescheduled game should start from the appropriate end of the rink and if possible played on
				the same rinks.
			12.7	If at least fourteen ends have been played by one rink and rain prevents the full game being
				continued, providing both match captains agree, the match can officially be taken as played and
				the points stand. It will not be necessary to reschedule the game to play the remaining ends.
	13		REFRESHMENTS
				Provision of refreshments is optional and decided between the two clubs prior to matches.
	14		DISPUTES
			14.1	For all disputes in the League the Co-ordinator`s decision is final.
			14.2	If the dispute has not been resolved the matter will be referred to the Disputes Committee.
			14.3	The Disputes Committee will consist of four volunteers from four clubs.
	15		UNIFORM
			15.1	Dress will be grey skirt/tailored trousers, culottes, cropped trousers or shorts of regulation
				style - with a registered club shirt or white shirt with collar and sleeves.
			15.2	The skirt must be of regulation style, having four inverted pleats two at the front and two
				at the back - and long enough to fall below the knee at the front and below the crease of the
				knee at the back.
			15.3	Track suits and shell suits are unacceptable and should not be worn.
			15.4	If club shirts are worn the whole team must be so dressed when playing league matches and
				competitions.
			15.5	Plain white socks may only be worn with trousers, but `footies` must not be visible.
			15.6	Brown, white or grey heel-less shoes regulation sandals may be worn at the players own risk,
				providing the host club does not have any restrictions.
			15.7	In inclement weather appropriate bowls waterproofs may be worn.
			15.8	Hats are optional, but a plain white style must be worn. Plain visors may be worn.
	16		HEALTH & SAFETY
			16.1	The use of plain umbrellas is allowed in extreme weather; e.g. heavy rain or very hot sun.
				They may be `up` when the player is standing at either end of the rink, but `folded down` when
				walking down the rink to avoid accidental injury to other players.
			16.2	Umbrellas shall be used at the player`s own risk.
			16.3	If the temperature is 30 degrees and above league matches should NOT be played.
			16.4	If the temperature is in the very high 20s then agreement must be sought between the two
				match captains to ensure their players are happy to play in the heat.
			16.5	If the game is played in extreme heat players are permitted to leave the green half way
				through the match for 15 minutes to sit in the shade and partake of cold drinks.
			16.6	Every consideration must be given to players experiencing health problems who may be
				adversely affected by the heat.
			16.7	If the game is started and later abandoned due to the heat rules 12.6 and 12.7 will apply.
			16.8	Smoking and smoking substitutes are not permitted during P&D leagues and competitions.
	17		DATA PROTECTION
			Addendum `A` Refers
	18		SAFEGUARDING
			Addendum `B` Refers
	19		TRANSGENDER POLICY
			Addendum `C` Refers