IOMIBA Leagues 2024-25 – Conditions of Play
Download a copy of the Conditions of Play
| 1. | The Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition will apply unless otherwise stated in these Conditions of Play. |
| 2. | The leagues shall consist of a number of teams composed of a minimum of three (3) players or more for Triples & Team Leagues and two (2) or more for Pairs Leagues. The Singles League shall consist of single individuals. All teams / individuals must register their squad / themselves with IOMIBA prior to the first game of the season. Once a player has played five times for a Team they are restricted to that Team, however they may change to another Team if they have played less than five games in the Team with which they are registered. Players may only change Teams once per seaso |
| 3. | Start times Morning league matches will commence at 10.00am. Afternoon league matches will commence at 2.00pm. Evening league matches shall commence at 6.30pm. |
| 4. | The names of the players in the squad must be registered by the captain of each team. League players must be fully paid-up members of the IOM Indoor Bowling Association. |
| 5. | All participating players must be listed before the start of the match with their names entered on the score sheet for each game. A listed player may be changed up until the start of their game if the player has been delayed by events beyond their control. |
| 6. | Team Matches (Tuesday morning) Matches will consist of three games played in the following order:- One game of Triples (duration 8 ends). Three woods each player. One game of Singles (duration 10 ends). Four woods each. One game of Pairs (duration 8 ends). Four woods each player. The winners of each game shall be awarded two points, with one point each for a draw. Each team match has six points at stake. The order in which the games are played may be changed in exceptional circumstances but only by mutual consent of both Team Captains and there must be a minimum of two players with the Team at all times. The Home team is responsible for providing a marker at the scoreboard end for Singles Games and the Away Team for the placement of the Jack etc at the entrance end. If no players from a team are present by 10 minutes after the scheduled start time of a match then the opposing team will be awarded a match win, gaining 2 points and 10 shots for each unplayed game (total 6 points / 30 shots). Unless a prior agreement has been made to change the order of play, if a team is present with only two registered players by 10 minutes after the scheduled start of a match, that team is deemed to have lost the triples game and the opposing team will be awarded the game win, gaining 2 points and 10 shots. However, the players present can play the singles / pairs games. If a team is present with only one registered player within 10 minutes after the scheduled start of a match, that team is deemed to have lost the triples and pairs games and the opposing team will be awarded the game wins, gaining 2 points and 10 shots for each unplayed game (4 points / 20 shots). However, the player present can play the singles game using a volunteer marker. Team Matches (Wednesday Evening) Matches will consist of three games played in the following order:- One game of Triples (duration 8 ends). Two woods each player. One game of Singles (duration 10 ends). Three woods each player. One game of Pairs (duration 8 ends). Three woods each player. The winners of each game shall be awarded two points, with one point each for a draw. Each team match has six points at stake. The order in which the games are played may be changed in exceptional circumstances but only by mutual consent of both Team Captains and there must be a minimum of two players with the Team at all times. The Home team is responsible for providing a marker at the scoreboard end for Singles Games and the Away Team for the placement of the Jack etc at the entrance end. If no players from a team are present within 10 minutes after the scheduled start time of a match, then the opposing team will be awarded a match win, gaining 2 points and 10 shots for each unplayed game (total 6 points / 30 shots). Unless a prior agreement has been made to change the order of play, if a team is present with only two registered players within 10 minutes after the scheduled start of a match, that team is deemed to have lost the triples game and the opposing team will be awarded the game win, gaining 2 points and 10 shots. However, the players present can play the singles / pairs games. If a team is present with only one registered player within 10 minutes after the scheduled start of a match, that team is deemed to have lost the triples and pairs games and the opposing team will be awarded the game wins, gaining 2 points and 10 shots for each unplayed game (4 points / 20 shots). However, the player present can play the singles game using a volunteer marker. |
| 7. | Pairs Matches Each match shall be played over two sets, each set consisting of 7 ends. Four woods each player. The winner of a set will be the pair with the highest number of shots when the seventh end is completed. If the shot scores are tied after the seventh end of a set, the set will be a draw. The winners of each set shall be awarded two points, with one point each for a draw. Each pairs match has 4 points at stake. If a team is absent, or with only one registered player present, within 10 minutes after the scheduled start time of a match, that team will be deemed to have lost the match and the opposing team will be awarded the match win, gaining 4 points and 14 shots. *Friday afternoon pairs only: leads must change places with their skips for the second set. |
| 8. | Triples Matches Each match shall be played over two sets, each set consisting of 7 ends. Three woods each player. The winner of a set will be the team with the highest number of shots when the seventh end is completed. If the shot scores are tied after the seventh end of a set, the set will be a draw. The winners of each set shall be awarded two points, with one point each for a draw. Each triples match has 4 points at stake. If a team is absent, or with fewer than three registered players present, within 10 minutes after the scheduled start time of a match, that team will be deemed to have lost the match and the opposing team will be awarded the match win, gaining 4 points and 14 shots. |
| 9. | Singles Matches Each match will consist of 14 ends. Four woods each player. The winner will be the player who has scored the highest number of shots over the 14 ends. If both players have scored the same number of shots, the match will be a draw. Three points will be awarded for a win, one point each for a draw. If a player is not present within 10 minutes after the scheduled start time of a match, they will be deemed to have lost that match and their opponent will be awarded the match win, gaining 3 points and 14 shots. |
| 10. | Substitutes A Member, once having played five times for a team, is restricted to that team in the same league. However, players may act as substitute for a team in a Higher league, subject to normal subs rules. Players may not substitute for another team in the same league and may not play at any time as substitute for a team in a Lower league. Players may only act as Substitute for any one Team on a maximum of four occasions. Any paid up IOMIBA Member may play as a substitute subject to the above, but any Player acting as a Substitute may not play the Singles game of a Team Fixture. If a player in the Team/Triples/Pairs league has to leave the green during the course of a game due to illness or some other reasonable cause and both skips are in agreement, an eligible substitute may be introduced. Where the skips cannot agree, a qualified umpire or member of the Committee can approve the introduction of a substitute. The said substitute may be drawn from any registered member of the same team who is present at time of the incident, or from other players satisfying the normal criteria for substitutes as mentioned above. Once substituted, the original player may not return to the game. In the event that no substitute is available, the relevant set / section of the match will be awarded to the opponents. In the case of the Singles league, the match will be awarded to the opponent in full. |
| 11. | Result sheets are to be signed by both Skips and placed in the results folder in the middle drawer of the desk at the end of matches. |
| 12. | Rinks used for matches shall be as indicated on the League Fixtures List. |
| 13. | Jack At the start of a match the away team to have the Jack. In two set matches the home team will have the jack at the start of the second set. |
| 14. | Inspecting the head: The skip / singles player may visit the head once per end before the delivery of the last wood. |
| 15. | Re-spotting the jack: If a jack in motion passes completely outside the boundaries of the rink of play, or rebounds to a distance of less than 20 metres from the mat line, the end should not be declared dead. Instead, the jack should be placed with the nearest point of the jack to the mat line at the appropriate spot described as follows and play should continue: i) If the jack passes outside the side boundary on the right of the rink, it should be placed on the appropriate spot marked on the right hand side of the rink, which is level with the “T” ii) If the jack passes outside the side boundary on the left of the rink, it should be placed on the appropriate spot marked on the left hand side of the rink, level with the “T” iii) If the jack passes over the face of the bank (over the ditch) that is within the side boundaries of the rink of play, it should be placed on the central “T” marking. If the appropriate spot is partly or completely covered by a bowl, the jack should be placed as close as possible to the covered spot, in line with that spot and the corresponding spot at the opposite end of the rink, without touching a bowl. |
| 16. | Prompt play: Slow play should be avoided. Notwithstanding that team discussions are sometimes necessary if a head is complex and the game close, lengthy team discussions should be avoided and play should recommence promptly. Attention is also drawn to Crystal Mark fourth edition, law 13 with regard to possession of the rink. Please note that the Hall is booked by IOMIBA for fixed periods which cannot be exceeded. |
| 17. | Practice Same day practice is not permitted on the match rink or on any rink within 30 minutes of match time. Practice outside of club-booked times is subject to NSC rules regarding payment / booking. |
| 18. | Disputes If a dispute arises in a game, the Skips will make a decision in accordance with The Laws of the Sport, Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, a copy of which is available in the bowls hall. If a decision cannot be agreed and a qualified umpire is present, he or she will decide, in which case the decision of the umpire shall be final. If no umpire is present the end shall be played again. A letter may be sent to the Committee by either Skip within three days of the dispute arising providing details of the incident for their consideration. |
| 19. | Match Schedules All matches will be played in accordance with the fixture list on the date and rink specified thereon. Exceptions to the above rule are as follows: a) Should a player(s) be travelling to play in any type of bowls competition, then that player may apply to the committee for permission to rearrange any team, triples or pairs league match(es) which is / are scheduled during the time the player(s) is off island at the designated competition. In the event of the player representing the island in an U25s event, this exception will extend to his/her travelling companion should that person also play in the same team with which the representative is registered. b) Bearing in mind the recent situation regarding Covid 19, if a team member is unable to play due to illness or the sudden need to isolate and a substitute cannot be acquired (subs should be used wherever possible), matches may be considered for rearrangement in consultation with the opposing team captain and the Committee. Please do not come if you are unwell. c) It will remain the responsibility of the Captain of the team requesting the rearrangement to inform the opposing team captain and Competition Secretary promptly if a match cannot go ahead and to agree a rescheduled date in conjunction with the Competition Secretary. Rescheduled matches will be played on a Friday evening within 4 weeks of the original scheduled date on a rink allocated by the Competition Secretary. d) Friday Singles League matches may be rearranged by the mutual agreement of the players by informing the Competition Secretary and requesting a replacement fixture date and rink. Rearranged matches will be played within 4 weeks of the original scheduled date on either a Monday or Thursday evening on a rink allocated by the Competition Secretary. NOTE: It is the responsibility of the players to arrange a marker for setting the jack and answering any queries during the course of play to ensure that players in scheduled matches being played at the same time are not disturbed by requests to undertake these functions. |
| 20. | Promotion and Relegation Monday Pairs – Premier Division – Bottom pair relegated to 1 Division (unless fewer than 10 teams in the division) Tuesday Pairs – 1st Division – Top pair promoted to Premier Division |
| 21. | All electronic devices (i.e. mobile phones, pagers, cameras etc.) must be either switched off or on “silent” mode. Players are not permitted to receive or make calls or texts whilst playing a game. |
| 22. | Each team captain will receive a list of all League Captains showing their contact details on request via the Secretary. |
| 23. | In accordance with Clause 45.3 of Laws of the Sport of Bowls – Crystal Mark Fourth Edition governing the role of spectators, those not directly taking part in a game shall not disturb or advise the players in any way |
Members are reminded that the NSC is a totally NO SMOKING facility and that this ban extends to the use of e-cigarettes/vapes.
Gary Lenton
Competition Secretary E-mail: gtlenton@manx.net Tel: 262282
August 2024
Revision 1 – 8th November 2023: Addition of Clause 23 governing the role of spectators during a game.
Revision 2 – 22nd November 2023: Addition to Clause 19 d) regarding markers for rearranged singles games.