l.THE LEAGUE
(i) The League shall be known as the WORCESTER FRIENDLY SKITTLE LEAGUE, henceforth referred to as WSFL.
(ii) The League shall be govemed by a Management Committee, which shall compromise a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, League Secretary, Treasurer, Results Secretary and Competition Secretary. Other general committee members may be co-opted at the management committees discretion.
(iii) All elected officers to swe for two years and where possible be re-elected in alternate years to maintain continuity. General committee members to be elected on an annual basis. Vice Presidents to be elected annually.
ALL ELECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE AT THE ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING
2. LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP
(i) Re-entry application be made annually in writing to the League Secretary a minimum of four weeks before the Annual General Meeting accompanied by the applicable subscription fee.
(ii) New team applications to be made in writing to the League Secretary not less than one week before the Annual General Meeting accompanied by the applicable subscription fee.
(iii) The annual subscription fee of £50 shall cover the cost of team and player registrations plus all other attendant paperwork.
(iv) Should a team fail to fulfil its obligations after entry/re-entry has been accepted all monies paid shall be forfeit.
(v) Any team unable to complete its obligations during the season and withdrawing from the League shall be asked to explain in writing to the management committee their reasons for doing so.
(vi) Any team which has a change of secretary or address shall inform the League Secretary promptly.
3. PLAYING MEMBERSHIP
(i) All players shall be male and registered with the League Secretary a minimum of 7 (seven) days before the start of a new season. Teams failing to register on time will have all necessary paperwork withheld until such time as they submit their registration card.
(ii) To register a new player during the season a correctly completed registration form must be with the LEAGUE SECRETARY 24 hours before qualifying to play in a match.
(iii) Latest date for new player registration is March I”, this date can be extended under exceptional circumstances and on approval of the management committee.
(iv) A player may play on both MON & WEDS concurrently, but MUST complete a DUAL REGISTRATION CARD. This will show which team the player wishes to play for in K.O. competitions. NO PLAYER CAN PLAY K.O.S FOR MORE THAN ONE TEAM IN THE SAME SEASON. Any player found to be playing for more than one team without a dual registration card will be in breach of Rule 5.
(v) A player may play for a team in the WORCESTER & DISTRICT LEAGUE concurrently but a DUAL REGISTRATION CARD must be filled out correctly and a copy sent to both League Secretaries.
(vi) Any player who registers with both leagues must on the dual registration card state their primary and secondary team.
(vii) The minimum age of a player is set at 16 years and one player of 15 years.
4. PLAYER TRANSFERS
(i) Players are allowed to transfer from one team to another within the WFSL on completion of a transfer card being filled out correctly and sent to the League Secretary. Transferred players are entitled to play 24 hours abler the League Secretary has received a completed transfer card.
(ii) Transferred players automatically becomecup tied for their new team.
(iii) There are to be no inter team transfers after December 31st.
5. INELIGIBLE PLAYER
(i) The definition of an ineligible player is one who has not correctly filled out the correct registration form or plays under an assumed name or who plays for two teams in the WFSL.
(ii) In the event of a team playing an ineligible player that team shall be held responsible for the player. The team found to be in breach of this rule shall be summoned to a management disciplinary committee and asked to explain their actions. The management disciplinary committee shall be empowered to impose any punishment it deems necessary on both team and player and this decision shall be final.
6. ALLEY, LINE, PINS AND BALLS
(i) Alleys are to be clean and well lit particularly over the pin frame.
(ii) The bowling line is to be painted white to a width of 3 inches across the entire alley and approximately 10 metres (33 feet) from the Kingpin.
(iii) A kit shall compromise of a minimum of nine pins of uniform size with one pin clearly marked as the kingpin and one set of three balls which are to be round made of wood or a composite material and no larger than 5.25 inches in diameter.
(iv) The pins shall be set squarely on the plates at the start of each bowlers set of three balls.
7. THE MATCH
(i) That the alley must be open and pins and balls available to visiting teams, but this must not delay the start of the match.
(ii) All league matches shall be between two teams of 12 players with each player bowling five legs and three balls per leg.
(iii) All matches shall start no later than 8.30pm.
(iv) Any team commencing a match with less than 12 players shall fill in the vacant positions BEFORE the start of the third leg or continue with a depleted team.
(v) All players must bowl in order for legs 3,4 and 5.
(vi) A player may only bowl off with permission from the opposing team captain.
(vii) PIN OFF PLATE – any pin that is stack by a ball or another pin and is moved clear of its original plate shall be deemed to be down and removed from the alley.
(viii) POSTPONED AND ABANDONED LEAGUE MATCH If in the event of unforeseen circumstances (inclement weather, power failure, double booked alley) a match may be postponed. The postponement of league matches is permitted but application must be made in writing to the League Secretary at least 7 days before the match is due to be played. Postponement will only be authorised upon consultation with the Management Committee and dependant on a valid reason being given for the postponement. The HOME team secretary will be responsible for re-arranging postponed and abandoned matches within 28 days or before the end of the season, whichever is the shorter. The results secretary must be notified of all rearranged dates for postponed or abandoned league matches as soon as possible.
8. LINESMAN
(i) All league and competition matches must have linesmen who are to be appointed by the captains at the start of the match. The linesman shall be responsible for calling all over and cush balls during the match.
(ii) Where a team is bowling two consecutive legs the opposing team shall provide continuous linesman cover, the match shall continue without delay or interruption at ALL times.
(iii) An over ball is deemed to be a ball that has not made contact with the alley before the white line.
(iv) Acusp ball is deemed to be a ball that strikes the sides of the alley before making contact with the pins.
(v) All over and cush balls shall be forfeit.
ALL PINS FLOORED BY OVER OR CUSH BALLS SHALL BE RESET.
9. STICKER UP
(i) Teams shall provide a sticker up for home and away matches and both shall be on the alley for the duration of the match.
(ii) The sticker up shall be responsible for calling the correct score. In the event of a disputed score the linesman and both captains must be consulted.
(iii) The league recommend the minimum age for a sticker up to be14 years.
10A. RESULTS (LEAGUE)
(i) All results are to be sent to the League Results Secretary and to be received no more than 72 hours after the completion of the match.
(ii) The home team shall be responsible for supplying a result sheet for all home league games.
(ii) Results can be emailed or sent via SMS (text) or MMS (picture) message but the top (white) copy MUST periodically be sent to the League Results Secretary.
(iii) In the case of an incorrectly tilled in result sheet either team will have the right to request a correction for a period of 24 hours after the completion of the match. Where a correction is requested the League Results Secretary MUST be notified within 24 hours with the exact details of the correction and have the top(white) copy to hand to verify the correction.
(iv) In all cases the League Results Secretary must be notified of the match result no more than 72 hours after the match has been completed!
(v) Any team submitting a result after the 72 hour deadline may be liable to a 5 point penalty deduction.
10B. RESULTS ( KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS)
(i) All results are to be sent to the League Competition Secretary and to be received no more than 72 hours after the completion of the match.
(ii) The first named team on the draw sheet shall be responsible for supplying a result sheet for all knockout games.
(iii) In the event of a result sheet not being received with 72 hours the League Competition Secretary is empowered to remove from the next round the winning team without reference to the League Management Committee.
11. LEAGUE POSITION
(i) 10 points shall be awarded for a win but in the event of a tied game 5 points to be awarded to each team.
(ii) 2 points shall be awarded to the team achieving the highest score on each leg but in the event of a tied leg l point to be awarded to each team.
(iii) IN THE EVENT OF TWO TEAMS FINISHING THE SEASON ON EQUAL POINTS A BOWL OFF SHALL TAKE PLACE TO DECIDE THE FINAL POSITIONS.
12. KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS
(i) In all competitions the start of the match shall be decided by the toss of a coin.
(ii) Should there be a tie after 5 legs additional legs will be bowled to decide the winner.
(iii) Bowling off is allowed with the permission of the opposition captain but a player bowling off may only bowl 5 legs. In the event of a tie any team who has had players bowl off will continue with a depleted side for the remainder of the match.
(iv) Postponement of knockout matches is not permitted under any circumstances. A team that cannot fulfil an obligation shall concede the match.
(v) Any team that is unable to fulfil a knockout obligation shall inform the League Competition Secretary and the alley that is hosting the match of the cancellation at least 72 hours before the scheduled date.
(vi) TRANSFERS – Any player who has played in a previous round of any team competition may not play in the same competition for his new team and is deemed to be CUP – TIED.
(vii) Results – Rule 10B applies.
13. SINGLES AND PAIRS
(i) All matches in the singles and pairs shall be organised by theLeague Competition Secretary.
(ii) All singles and pairs matches shall have linesmen who shall be appointed by the alley officials (Management committee suggest that the winning single or pair sit the line for the next game).
(iii) All teams as and when required shall provide officials and a sticker up to run an alley.
(iv) Any team failing to provide officials for the mining of an alley shall be required to provide a full explanation in writing to the League Secretary and may be asked to attend a disciplinary hearing.
(v) RESULTS – All result sheets must be returned to the League Competition Secretary within 72 hours.
(vi) Sticker up fees for the singles and doubles shall be paid by the league and be an amount decided by the management committee.
14. KINGPIN
(i) The King (front) Pin to be floored by a direct delivery by a ball before any scoring. If the Kingpin is floored by any other means it is to be reset.
(ii) Any pins floored before the Kingpin shall be deemed lost to the player.
(iii) Once the Kingpin has been struck by a ball and all the pins floored (spare) the appropriate number of pins shall be reset and further balls need not strike the Kingpin.
15. COMPETITION NOTES
(i) Notification of competition draws to be in the hands of the competing teams secretary/captain no less than 7 days before the date of the match.
(ii) The Competition Secretary is empowered to omit from any further rounds of a knockout competition any team who does NOT submit the result within 72 hours without recourse to the management committee.
16. PRESENTATION NIGHT
Any team winning a trophy shall be represented by at least 6 players. Any team failing to do so, will forfeit any and all trophies due. Individual winners will also be governed by this rule.
17. COMPLAINTS
(i) ALL COMPLAINTS TO BE MADE IN WRITING TO THE LEAGUE SECRETARY WITHIN 5 DAYS OF THE CAUSE FOR THE COMPLAINT.
(ii) All written complaints shall be referred to the Management Committee.
(iii) Ifrequired a Management Disciplinary Committee shall be formed and it shall have the power to call before it any player, team or representative to assist with its enquiries.
(iv) The Management Disciplinary Committee is empowered to impose any fine, suspension, disqualification or other punishment deemed appropriate and this decision shall be final.
18. MISCELLANEOUS
Anything not specifically covered by these mies shall be referred to the Management Committee which is empowered to make any decision it deems necessary for the well being and running of the WFSL.
19. RULE CHANGES
ALL RULE CHANGES MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AT LEAST 14 DAYS BEFORE THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
ANY DECISION MADE BY THE MANAGEMENT OR MANAGEMENT DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE SHALL BE FINAL AND BINDING.