WRINGTON VALE SKITTLE LEAGUE RULES     -     Rule Changes for the 2024/25 Season are shown in blue

 

1.      a) The League shall be called the Wrington Vale Skittle League.

         b) All re-applications to be sent to the Secretary by the 30th of April.

         c) All new teams must send applications to join the League by the 30th of April accompanied by a list of at least 12 players.

 

2.    The League shall consist of a President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, League Secretary, Competitions Secretary, Treasurer (defined as the Officers), Life Members, and ordinary members.

 

3.    The League shall be managed by a Committee of a maximum of fourteen members, consisting of the Officers and ordinary        Committee members, all to be elected at the A.G.M. or subsequently co-opted in the event of a shortfall.  A quorum for committee meetings shall be 5 members.

 

4.    The annual meeting shall be held after the end of the season at a date to be decided by the Committee to receive the secretaries and treasurers reports and to elect the officers and committee for the following year.  Special general meetings may be called by the order of one third of the affiliated teams, or at the instigation of the league committee.  Fourteen days notice shall be given of all general meetings.  Teams not represented at the A.G.M. will be fined as per the league charges.

 

5.    Voting at the A.G.M. and special general meetings shall be restricted to two votes for each registered team, and one vote each for life members.  Proposals for rule changes to be circulated to all teams at least 21 days prior to the A.G.M., and these to be the only rule changes to be voted on at the A. G. M.

 

6.    All players shall be registered members of the Club they represent and shall not be eligible to play in any two teams or clubs of the League.  Any member wishing to transfer must obtain the permission of his club and then apply through his Club Secretary to the League Secretary.

 

7.    The players registration form must be with the League Secretary by the date notified subject to a fine for late receipt.  Additional players must be registered before their first match and the registration will be deemed applicable from that match onwards.

 

8.    Players may be signed on at any time during the season by telephoning the League Secretary (or, if unavailable, any Officer) by 7.30pm on the day of the match.

 

9.    Any Team playing an ineligible player shall have the ineligible players' score removed from the card.  A fine will be imposed as per the League charges.

 

10.    The home team is responsible for sending the results of league matches together with the names of the players in the teams and their individual scores and spares to the League Secretary by post or e-mail after agreeing them with the Captain of the visiting team.  RESULTS NOT ARRIVING BY 12 NOON ON THE SATURDAY AFTER THE MATCH WILL BE SUBJECT TO A FINE AS PER THE LEAGUE CHARGES. 

 

11.   Unless there are exceptional circumstances (approved by the Committee), no postponements will be allowed. Otherwise, any team wishing to postpone a match will cede the 10 points to their opponents and the match will not be played. There will be two open nights during the season when approved re-arranged matches may be played.  Matches can be played before the scheduled date but no postponed game may be played after the last scheduled game of the season.

 

12.  Any Team failing to turn up for a League match or failing to give at least 24 hours notice to the opposing team AND the League Secretary when postponing a match will be responsible for re-arranging the match and will be penalised as follows:-

 

1 . They will be responsible for alley charges for the postponed match.

2.    They will be fined £25.00.

3.    They will be responsible for alley charges for the re-arranged match.  Teams may appeal against the fine as detailed in rule 13.

 

13.  Written protests or appeals from Teams in connection with League business must be in the hands of the League Secretary within 7 days of the incident in question.  The protest must come from an official of the Club or member of the League Committee.  Written protests from Organisations or Individuals outside the League will not be subject to the 7 day limit.  The Committee will hear from all parties involved before making their decision, which shall be binding.

 

14.  Teams shall consist of 10 players a side.

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15.  The game to be played in three sets. The first and second set having three players each and the third set having four players each.  Each player shall bowl one hand down of three balls and the game to be six hands per player.

 

16.  A player must stand on the alley behind the line to deliver the ball.  A no-ball shall be called if the ball, when delivered, does not first touch the alley behind the line, or a player stands on or over the line after delivering the ball.  Any pins knocked down by a no-ball shall not be reset.  If a spare is obtained with a no-ball the down will be considered finished and only the pins scored with the fair ball shall count.  If any pin knocked over by a fair ball subsequently rolls over and stands up again, it shall be considered to count and be removed from the alley.

 

17.  All League and cup matches to commence not later than 8,00pm.  Practising on an opponents alley before the game is not allowed.

 

18.  The maximum interval between the first and second sets is 5 minutes.  The maximum interval between the second and third sets is 10 minutes.

 

19.  All Trophies are perpetual and the property of the League.

 

20.  Winners of all Trophies shall be responsible to the League for the safe custody of the Trophy, and shall return them clean to the Secretary when requested.

 

21.  The home club must pay sticker-up and alley charges for league matches.

 

22.  Scoring - 2 points per set, 4 points per win.  In drawn sets teams get 1 point each, in drawn games teams get 2 points each.  This to apply to all League games and League play-offs.  In the event of a game being abandoned, all points gained shall stand and the game, when re­arranged, shall continue from the last completed set.

 

 22a. In the event of two or more teams finishing with the same number of points for a championship, runner-up or relegation place, the team with the most wins shall be placed higher.  In the event that teams are still equal the team gaining the most points in the matches between the teams tying shall be placed higher. In the event that teams are still equal the team scoring the most pins in the matches between the teams tying shall be placed higher. Should matters still be undecided a play off/s will take place.

 

23.  The no-ball line shall be 14 feet from the heel strip.

 

24. The front pin to be distinguished by a contrasting band round its centre, front quarter pins a contrasting band top and bottom.  The distance between pin centres to be 15", and pin positions to be clearly marked on the alley.

 

25.  Pins and balls:- Pins maximum height 10" minimum height 91/2" Maximum diameter 5" minimum diameter 41/2".  Balls maximum diameter 5", minimum diameter 41/2" Balls must be rubber or rubber composition.  Pins and Balls to be of serviceable quality as adjudged by League Committee.

 

26.  The committee has the power to deal with any matter not provided for in these rules and will penalise any team or individual as they may decide.

 

 

ADDITIONAL CUP RULES

 

27.  The Captains Wills and Services knock-out cups are to be played under front first rules.

 

28.  In front pin games, no score shall count until the front pin has been knocked down by the players ball before striking other pins.  If the front pin is knocked down by another pin or by the ball after the ball has touched another pin first, only the front pin must be reset.  In the event of a spare, only those pins standing when the front pin was hit shall be reset.  Should the front pin be knocked down by a no-ball, the hand shall be considered finished with no score.

 

29.  All matches to be drawn and played on neutral alleys.

 

30.  In the case of a tie the last set shall bowl one hand per man.

 

31.  No postponements will be allowed.  The team postponing will concede  the match to the opponents.

 

32.  All cup matches to be decided by total pinfall.

 

33.  The first named team will be the home team and will be responsible for sending the result to the Competitions Secretary.

 

34.    If any player represents more than one team in any cup competition he/ she shall be deemed an ineligible player and his/her score removed from the total.

 

 

INDIVIDUAL AND PAIRS RULES

 

35.  The individual and pairs competitions shall be open to all registered players.

 

36.  Entries for these competitions must be received by the Secretary by the date notified.

 

37.  Any player not on the alley by 8.15 p.m. for pairs and individual competitions will be eliminated.

 

38.  Teams will be responsible for alley charges of players who do not attend, or arrive late for any round of these competitions.

 

39.  In the event of a tie in pairs and individuals rounds each player shall bowl one hand until a result is achieved.

 

40.  Each pair must belong to the same team.

 

41.  Individuals and Pairs Competitions to be played throughout with the highest scores on each alley to go through.

 

42.  A permanent change of player may only be made in the first round.

 

ADDITIONAL COMPETITION RULES

 

1. Highest away spares competition - in the event of a tie in the number of away spares scored in league matches, the competition shall be decided by the total spares pinfall.

 

  44. Any team responsible for not fulfilling a cup game will be fined £25.

 

LEAGUE CHARGES

 

 

Annual Subscription           £5.00 per team

League match fees             £5.00 per match

Cup match fees                   £5.00 per match

Individuals entry fee           50p per player

Pairs entry fee                    £1.00 per pair

Late scorecard fine            £2.50 per week (Rule 10)

Failing to play                     £25.00 (Rule 12 and 44)

Protest fee                          £1.00 (Rule 13)

Ineligible player                 £5.00 (Rule 9)

Non-attendance at A.G.M. £12.00

Late Pairs/Individuals entry form £5.00

 

The sticker-up fee will be determined by each alley

 

(In cup matches each team pay half sticker-up fee).

 

All accounts are to be paid within 14 days. Failure to do

so will incur a fine of £5.00 for each week they are unpaid.

 

  

Notes for the smooth running of the Competitions

 

 Pairs & Individuals

 

1. Return the Entry form - even if there are no entrants.

            There is a £5.00 fine for non-return.

2. Do not forget to enter your team’s name.

 

3. Please print names clearly.

 

4. Mark groups that wish to travel together in early rounds.

 

5. Start time is 8.00pm. Cut-off time is 8.15pm. Late or non-attendance will still be charged.

 

6. The Playing order will be as listed. This may be changed for a valid reason providing the Competition Secretary is advised 24 hours in advance.

 

7. If your alley is being used and your club needs a list of names, please pass on the relevant section of the list to the club.

 

Cup Matches

 

1.  The first named team is responsible for sending the scorecard, and will be fined for a late card.

 

2. Send the card to the Competitions Secretary - NOT the League Secretary.

 

3. Teams share the sticker-up fee.

 

4. Don't forget a list of players if the alley requires it.

 

5. Toss a coin to decide the playing order.

 

6. If your alley is not being used for a Wednesday round, please inform your landlord.