Rules

Updated 1st April 2026

1. The League will be known as the Staffordshire Premier Bowls League unless at the discretion of the executive committee a Sponsors name is to be included in the title. The league headquarters will be Woodfield Sports & Social, Woodfield Avenue, Penn, Wolverhampton, WV4 4AF.
2. The League aims to:

• Organise and promote competitive Crown Green Bowling between member clubs.
• Promote participation across the whole community, regardless of age, background, or ability.
• Ensure a duty of care and a safe playing environment for all participants.
• Enforce consistent safeguarding, disciplinary, and membership standards in line with BCGBA guidance.
• Support member clubs with governance, welfare, and dispute resolution.

3. The league officers to consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, Records Secretary, Treasurer, Webmaster and Safeguarding Officer. The executive committee to consist of the officers plus one representatives voted at the A.G.M. There must be at least 5 representatives on the Executive Committee. Voting will be one vote for each member of the executive committee plus one vote per club.
4. The league will be directly affiliated to Staffordshire County Bowling Association.
5. The Annual General Meeting will take place on the last Monday in January, followed by the Prize Presentation. This meeting will include any proposed alterations to rules. Any clubs wishing to propose rule amendments must place their proposals in writing to the secretary by the 1st January. The Half Yearly Meeting will take place on the second Monday in November on zoom. The Agenda for each meeting will be sent out at least 7 days prior. Clubs not represented at either meeting will be fined £30. No apologies accepted. The prize money for the forthcoming season will be decided at the AGM. However, if teams withdraw after this meeting, the Executive Committee have the right to change any prize money if income will be less than expected.
6. The Secretary can call an emergency general meeting provided at least two members of the executive committee feel the reason for an unscheduled meeting is justified. A minimum of 7 days notice must be provided with an agenda sent out at least 5 days before the meeting.
7. League funds shall be held in a dedicated back account with two signatories. All income and expenditure will be recorded annually and audited by the league auditor before the AGM. An audited statement of accounts of the Leagues financial position will be presented at the AGM along with a report.
8. Annual membership fee for the League is £90 for each team to be paid by 1st April. Match fees will be £1 per player per game to be paid by 1st October. If either of these fees are late, the club will be fined £20.
9. Any club wishing to join the league must have their bowling green postcode within a 29-mile radius as the crow flies of league HQ (Woodfield Sports and Social Club postcode being WV4 4AF). The leagues approved website being – http://www.sloomedia.com/distancesbetweenpostcodes.php.
10. Clubs applying to join the league must do so in writing to the secretary by 1st January enclosing a cheque of £90. The league is limited to 30 teams. No ‘B’ teams are allowed to enter. Any clubs wishing to join the league must be able to accommodate four jacks minimum. No three ended greens will be accepted into the league. If the application is successful, the £90 will be the entry fee for the season and will only be refunded if the application is rejected. Any club wishing to resign must do so by the AGM or will have to pay the £90 membership fee for the coming season. The executive committee shall have the power to accept late applications to join the league if extenuating circumstances occur. NOTE: Cheques must be made payable to “Staffordshire Premier Bowls League”. In the event of a team withdrawing after 1st March they must pay all match fees for that forthcoming season. In the event of the team resigning during the season their results will be removed from the league.
11. Games to be played under B.C.G.B.A rules & the B.C.G.B.A dress code to apply in all games. (including the wearing of black tailored shorts or black trousers with a collared shirt). Any player not conforming to dress code unless previously agreed shall not be allowed to play and match rule 11 will apply.
12. Teams to consist of eight players. All games 21up. League Open to male & female bowlers.
13. Games to be played on a total aggregate scoring system. Points shall be awarded as follows. Two points home win – One point home draw – Four points away win – Two points away draw. In addition, each player that records a win will contribute one point to their team. The total points for each winner will be aggregated along with the points for a win, draw or loss. In matches between two teams who use the same home green, both teams shall be awarded points as if they were the home team. In the event of team’s level on points the league places will be decided by the team with the superior aggregate. Promotion & Relegation will be two down and two up from each division, unless the number of teams is different the next season, which allows the executive committee to propose a suitable league structure at the AGM.
14. At the commencement of the game captains will make the draw by numbering their team one to eight. Games to be played in that order with the away player having first cast of the jack. Any player not present when called to the green will be allowed ten minutes after such time a substitute must take his/her place. If no reserve is available, then the game shall be awarded to the opposition 21-0, with the team fined £5 for each player not present. The player receiving the 21-0 win shall be awarded a 21-11 win in their Averages. Teams must use official league scorecards in all games.
15. At the end of each game the score sheet to be agreed by both captains. The home team is responsible for entering the results on the MB results service on the league website. Each club will have a password for entering results which must be updated within 24 hours of the game. A £5 fine will be imposed for any late entered results. The home team must retain the match cards for 7 days in case of a query by either the visiting team or records secretary. A home and away player of the match (MVP) to be selected by the respective captains. A tick to be entered on the website in the MVP column next to the player’s name.
16. Member teams to register separate squads online by the Sunday prior to the first game of the season in that division. All players must be affiliated to the BCGBA. Anyone joining a team after the Sunday prior to the first game of the season in that division shall be eligible to play providing they are registered by 7.00 on the Monday prior to their first game for the team. No players can be registered after 31st July. Players can only play for one registered team in any season unless transferred. Transfers between member teams will be allowed during the season providing the player concerned has fulfilled their financial obligations to their first team. They will not be allowed to play against their first registered team that season at their green. Transfers will not be allowed after 30th June. A player may only transfer once during a season. Anyone playing an unregistered player shall forfeit the game 0-21 and be fined £5. The player who receives the game 21-0 will be awarded this win in his/her averages if it is below a 21-11 win, otherwise it will go down as a 21-11 win.
17. Fixture dates to be agreed at the AGM. Matches to be played on Monday evening unless a game has been brought forward before 1st April. Any club wishing to move a game must inform the Fixture Secretary before this date. Any game that is to be moved must have a date set by 1st May that is no more than 28 days after the original fixture date and before the 2nd to last game of the season. Games to commence at 7.00pm. Clubs can mutually an earlier or later start time if they wish. All matches must be played on the agreed fixture dates unless BCGBA, WWCBA, SCGBA, DCGBA, NMCBA or SCBA fixtures or bereavement or inclement weather or COVID reasons cause a postponement. If the home greenkeeper decides the green is unfit before or at any stage during the game his/her decision is final. Games cannot be postponed before 7.30pm due to weather conditions unless by mutual agreement between the two captains. Postponed matches to be completed within 40 days, and before the last fixture date of the season, or both teams will be fined £20 and deducted 8 points, with a new date set by the executive committee. If a game from the last night of fixtures is postponed, this must be rearranged within 10 days.  Interrupted games shall be restarted at the same stage they finished, with the away player allowed to play 10 minutes prior to the recommencement of their game. Any team failing to arrive for a fixture will be docked EIGHT points and fined £50. The home team will be awarded the game 10-0 with an aggregate score of 21-11 per player (168-88). A team who turn up without eight players lose each game 0-21. If a home team fails to arrive, then the away team shall be awarded the game 12-0 with an aggregate score of 21-16 per player. The home team would lose each game 0-21.
18. League Averages will be based on most wins then aggregate.
19. The League will collect and store data in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Personal data will only be used for league administration, safeguarding, and governance. Clubs must inform the League of any changes to contact details and confirm their contact details for that year before 1st April.
20. All clubs must have a named Club Safeguarding Officer and follow the BCGBA Safeguarding Policy. Any safeguarding concerns must be sent to the League Safeguarding Officer who shall inform the County Safeguarding Officer. The League is responsible for recording safeguarding declarations from member clubs. League officers must complete a self-declaration safeguarding form and undergo DBS checks if their role requires it. Each member club must submit the name and contact details of their Club Safeguarding Officer, along with a current club email address, before the start of every season, otherwise a fine of £25 will be incurred.
21. The League will publish images on their website and social media unless consent has not been given by clubs or individuals. The League will not publish any images of juniors without prior parental consent.
22. Complaints/Discipline Procedure

1. A formal complaint is received to the Secretary or Records Secretary from a club or individual within 14 days of the incident through email to summitgaragebowls@gmail.com or by post through recorded delivery.
2. The Secretary/Records Secretary shall organise a committee of between 3 and 5 persons who are neutral and have no connection with the persons/clubs involved in the hearing. The Secretary, or another designated person if required, shall record the hearing. This to be done within 7 days of receiving the complaint.
3. The hearing date shall be set within 28 days of the committee being set up.
4. The Secretary/Records Secretary shall contact the complainant and the alleged offender to allow them to attend the hearing personally or submit a written statement 14 days before the hearing date. This should be emailed to summitgaragebowls@gmail.com or posted through recorded delivery.
5. The complainant and alleged offender shall be afforded the opportunity to call witnesses to support their case and character. The committee may also call independent witnesses should they consider this appropriate. Any written statements from witnesses should be emailed to summitgaragebowls@gmail.com or posted through recorded delivery within 14 days of the hearing date being set.
6. Any documents or statements shall be given to the committee before the hearing starts to allow them to read through and any notes made before any witnesses or the complainant or the alleged offender is called for questioning. An order of witnesses should be made and given to the minutes secretary of the meeting, who calls the witnesses in one at a time.
7. Any witnesses to be called individually to provide evidence and be cross-examined. A short period of time should be allowed between each one so the committee can interchange notes and views.
8. After all witnesses have appeared before the committee, the committee shall interchange notes and views and may recall witnesses if required to cross-examine.
9. Once the committee have made a decision, a written statement should be made that can be relayed to the alleged offender and complainant on the night.
10. The written statement shall be forwarded to the complainant and alleged offender within 7 days of the hearing.
11. Both the complainant and alleged offender shall have the rights to appeal within 21 days of the hearing to the SCGBA.

23. In the event of League dissolution, any remaining funds shall be transferred to the SCGBA or a recognised bowls development body. A resolution to dissolve the League requires a three-quarters majority of all member clubs.
24. Any matters not provided for in the league rules will be dealt with by the executive committee.