Whitstable YBC

Youth Bowling Club

Rules

SECTION A

RULE 1 - BTBA SANCTIONED LEAGUE

The League will be sanctioned by the BTBA through the Kent Tenpin Bowling Association.

HANDICAP LEAGUE

The League will bowl three team games each week on a handicap basis. The handicap for each bowler will be calculated as 75% of the difference in the player’s league average and 190.

AVERAGES

The bowler’s entering average (from previous season) will be used in his/her first three games for handicap purposes. Thereafter his/her current average will be used.

TEAMS

League teams shall consist of four players of any gender, age or ability.

SCORING

Team points shall be awarded on a basis of one point for the highest handicapped pinfall per game and one point for the highest three game handicap series.

BLIND SCORES

A team which is required to bowl with less than the numbers of players required for a full line-up, i.e. two or more players, shall be permitted to use a ‘Blind Score’ for each absentee. The blind score shall be based on the absent bowler’s average - less 10%. Blind scores will not be used in the absent bowler’s records to determine his/her average. Blind scores will be used to determine team points for that week. When a Team bowls against a ‘Blind Team’ i.e. a team with less than two players they will be required to bowl their own blind score (average less 10%) to win the points. EXCEPTIONS - any bowler who is absent from the league because they are training or  competing for his/her Club, County or Country, shall have his/her average entered NOT a blind score so as not to penalise his/her status.

RULE 2 - TEAM CAPTAIN

The Team Captain shall be responsible for the conduct of the team members. He/she shall serve as a representative to the Board of Directors. The Captain is responsible for the correctness and neatness of the score sheet. He/she shall sign his own team’s scores after auditing all the teams’ scores with the opposing team captain. 

RULE 3 - PRIZES / AWARDS

A prize list shall be approved by the Board of Directors and this shall be updated with weekly scores and made available to all bowlers. To qualify for Bowler of the Year or Young Bowler of the Year a player must have bowled a minimum of 75% of league games. Any prize awarded for improvement in average over the YBC year, a player must have started and finished the league. A player must have played 9 games before he/she is entitled to BTBA / NAYBC achievement awards.

RULE 4 - SUBSTITUTES

Substitute bowlers are not permitted in the Team League, only the blind scores of absent bowlers will accepted in the team scores.

RULE 5 - TIE SCORES

When a tie game occurs, each of the two teams involved shall be credited in the standings with having won ½ point. There will not be a roll off for the point.

RULE 6 - TARDY PLAYERS

A player who arrives after his /her team has started bowling shall be allowed to enter the competition providing that the team has not completed the 5th frame. A player who arrives late and is allowed to bowl shall have his/her scores counted for individual and team scores. The score bowled by a late arriving player shall not qualify for BTBA high score recognition. The team of which that player is a member forfeits the right to claim BTBA high score consideration in the game.

RULE 7 - PROTESTS

Any protest affecting eligibility or general playing rules must be confirmed in writing to a league official or to the BTBA within 15 days of the infraction occurred being bowled. 

RULE 8 - OBVIOUS ERRORS

Upon discovery of any errors in scoring or calculation of league play they must be corrected by the Secretary immediately. Questionable errors must be decided upon by the Board of directors.

RULE 9 - DISABILITY, INJURY AND EMERGENCY

When a player is unable to complete a game because of disability, injury or emergency, his/her blind score will be allocated for the remaining frames of the game. Frame(s) bowled shall not be used to determining the bowler’s average. Monies will not be refunded after 5 frames of a game have been bowled, but a refund will be made for any subsequent unbowed games.

RULE 10 - FORFEITURE

Games shall be forfeited when a team fails to appear / declines to bowl when scheduled.

 

SECTION B

RULE 11 - STARTING TIME

The YBC will meet on Saturday mornings; the Club meeting for news and presentations etc. will take place at 9.15am and league bowling will commence at 9.30am.

RULE 12 - AGE CRITERIA

The bowling age for the members shall be less than 18 years on 1st September of the current year in which the season begins.

RULE 13 - OFFICIAL GAME

An official game constitutes the bowling of 10 complete frames on a pair of lanes on which the game began. An Officer may authorize the completion of a game and series on another pair of certified lanes when equipment failure would delay normal progress of the series. An interrupted game and series which can not be completed on the same date must be resumed from the point of interruption. Two lanes immediately adjoining each other shall be used in each game. Teams scheduled to bowl against each other must be in direct competition on adjacent lanes, and shall then and there oppose each other except when a forfeit is declared. No bowler is permitted to bowl off games in advance of play at the scheduled time.

RULE 14 - ORDER OF BOWLING

Members of the contesting teams shall be successively and in regular order bowl a frame on one lane and for the next frame bowl on the alternate lane.

RULE 15 - BEHAVIOUR OF MEMBERS

League players are expected to be sportsmanlike and to support and encourage his/her team members and also to be respectful of the opposing team. They must not make undue noise or create a disturbance which would in any way distract another league player while bowling is in progress, this includes the playing of games like yoyos and wrestling! Bowler(s) causing undue delay in the progression of the game will be answerable to the Board of Directors and may jeopardize their Club membership.

RULE 16 - DRESS CODE

Girls must wear black trousers, skirts or skorts. Boys must wear black trousers or track suit bottoms. League play - all bowlers must wear YBC shirts. Tournament play - YBC shirts must be worn unless otherwise advised by the League secretary. Under no circumstances is the wearing of any denim or hats permitted. Bowlers should refrain from wearing key / wallet chains which could get caught in the bowling action.

Rule 17 - MOBILE PHONES

All mobile phones should be switched off on the lanes while the league is in progress.