Competition Rules

2. General Rules

a. The Competitions shall be organised and controlled by the Competition Secretary (CS) on behalf of the EC of WLB.​
b. Entry to National competitions is open to all members of clubs affiliated to WLB whose subscription fees are fully paid by the required date each year.​
c. Entrants who qualify for the National Finals must be available to play at the date and time specified by WLB; failure to play may result in disciplinary action including a ban and/or a fine.​
d. The laws of the game as stipulated in Crystal Mark fourth edition apply together with any domestic arrangements in this document, for all qualification rounds and National Finals unless otherwise stated.​
e. Any player who is a member of more than one affiliated club must declare which club they will enter National competitions from and must enter all competitions from that club; any player who plays for more than one club in the same competition in the same season will be disqualified from all competitions entered in that year and may face disciplinary procedures.​
f. On petition, any green may be inspected by WLB representatives and, if deemed unplayable, the club shall be asked to make it playable or the competition will be moved to another green and date as agreed or decided by the CS.​
g. The draw for each competition shall be available on the WLB website (and for men’s individual qualification rounds on relevant County channels) and will be updated regularly; competitors are responsible for checking to ensure they know their next game and any schedule changes.
h. In men’s qualification rounds, the home player(s) are responsible for any green fees for both home and visiting players.
i. In qualification rounds without an appointed WLB umpire, any disputes shall be decided by a mutually agreed umpire; for National Finals a qualified umpire will always be appointed.
j. Where date/time is not specified, the game must be mutually agreed and played before the round closing date. The home player(s) must offer at least three dates (one in a different week) at least 10 days before the closing date, and the away player(s) must accept one within 24 hours; failure to agree must be referred to the CS, who will fix a date. Failure to play may result in elimination unless extenuating circumstances are accepted by the CS and/or EC.
k. In qualification rounds, if a singles player, a complete team in pairs/triples/fours, or a side fails to arrive within 20 minutes of the agreed start time, they shall be disqualified.
l. Dress code in qualifying rounds: grey skirts/shorts/trousers with white, club or county tops, or full club/county kit; all players in a side must be dressed identically.
m. Dress code at National Finals: full club or county kit, all players dressed identically (under-18 competitions may also wear white shorts/skirts and plain white tops).
n. Bowls must bear a legible hexagonal (bullet) stamp or World Bowls stamp.
o. Competitors may be subject to drug testing; refusal will result in immediate disciplinary action including disqualification and possible ban, in accordance with WLB Anti-doping policy.
p. In team knock-out events (Pairs, Triples, Fours), only one named substitute is allowed for the whole competition, from the same club and not having played in the same competition for another team or club; breaches result in disqualification and disciplinary proceedings.
q. For age-related competitions, the cut-off date is 1 April; e.g. under-18 competitors must be under 18 on 1 April of that year.
r. In singles, an entrant who changes club after entries close may compete from the new club if they inform the Assistant Secretary or CS (ladies) or County Secretary (men) before their first round.
s. In combination events (pairs, triples, fours), entrants changing club may compete from the new club only if all players remain together and notify the relevant officer before their first round; no substitutes in these circumstances.
t. In combination games, changes after the closing date are only allowed for death, long-term illness, or members leaving the club. Vacancies may be filled by players who have not entered that competition in that year, and changes must be notified before the first-round closing date and prior to the new combination’s first game. No change can be made to singles entries.
u. Names of all players entering National competitions must be included on entry forms.
v. A substitute in combination events need not be named on the original entry form.
w. A substitute may play in any position but must give way when the original player is available.
x. After completion of the first round, a completed scorecard with names of all participating players must be sent to the relevant officer before the next round; in combination events a new scorecard must be sent whenever a substitute plays for the first time.
y. In qualifying rounds, winners must notify the relevant officer as soon as possible and no later than midday on the closing date of each round.
z. Queries or disputes in qualifying rounds shall be dealt with by the CS; appeals must be made in writing immediately to the Assistant Secretary, who will refer matters to officers or a 3‑member EC sub-committee whose decision is final.

3. Play stoppages and abandoned games

a. If play is stopped suddenly (e.g. downpour), all ends in play must be completed before leaving the green; any uncompleted ends are declared dead and replayed when play recommences.
b. If a team match is abandoned before the minimum number of ends is completed, it must resume with scores as when stopped. For six-rink matches the minimum is 90 completed ends across all rinks; for four‑rink matches the minimum is 60 completed ends.

4. Men’s Carruthers Shield

a. Open to all member clubs of WLB; teams consist of four rinks of four male players. A player may only play for one club per season; playing for two clubs brings a ban and possible club disciplinary action including disqualification.
b. Nominated start time is 2:30pm unless mutually changed; games are 21 ends. Sides arriving more than 30 minutes late concede the game.
c. A side short of players may field four teams of three against four teams of four, with 25% deducted from each three‑player rink’s score.
d. Each County arranges local qualifying (knockout, round robin or mixed) to determine qualifiers for the last 32; qualifier allocations per county are as listed (e.g. West Glamorgan 5, Monmouthshire 7).
e. Counties must notify the CS of qualifying clubs by SMS or email by the stipulated closing date.
f. A live draw is broadcast for each knockout round. Ties should normally be played on the designated date; if an extenuating circumstance prevents this, the game may be played earlier by mutual agreement, or the CS will rule if no agreement.
g. If a Carruthers Shield match must be rearranged, it takes precedence over all other club league or cup games.
h. Tied knockout matches are decided by an extra end (Law 28).
i. Matches cancelled on the designated date due to weather/green closure must be rescheduled before the next round’s date; the CS will decide if clubs cannot agree.
j. Clubs must confirm results to the CS by SMS or email before midnight on match day.
k. A club failing to fulfil a fixture during knockouts will be banned from the competition the following year unless extenuating circumstances apply.
l. Semi‑finals and final are played during National Finals, with badges/medallions (max 20) to winners.
m. The winning club holds the Carruthers Shield for one year and is responsible for its safe return and any repair costs.

5. Men’s County Championship & Senior County Championship

Key points:

• Annual competitions for male county members; Senior players must be 60 before 1 April.

• Matches: six rinks of fours over 18 ends; county kit; start at 2pm on designated dates.

• Sections: two sections of five counties, home/away over two years (four games per year).

• Matches should be played on the designated date or earlier by agreement; reserve day only for weather postponements.

• Failure to play on/before designated date means conceding; opponents receive points and average positive shot difference, defaulters receive average negative.

• Win = 2 points; draw = 1 point; shot difference tracked.

• Top two in each section (by points, then shot difference, then head‑to‑head, then ends won) qualify for semi‑finals at National Finals; winners meet in the final.

6. Ladies Savegar Cup

Key points:

• Annual team competition for female county members, called the Savegar Cup.

• Matches: six rinks of fours, 18 ends, county kit.

• Two sections of four counties; home/away over two‑year cycle.

• Start time 1:30pm, players expected by 1pm.

• Same re‑arrangement and reserve‑day rules as men’s county events.

• If a county cannot play on/before the date, they concede and opponents receive points and average positive shot difference.

• Rink win = 2 points, drawn rink = 1 point; overall match win = 10 points, overall draw = 5 points (max 22 points).

• Section winners are decided by points, then shot difference, then head‑to‑head, then ends won.

• Section winners play the Final during National Finals.

7. National Competition Qualifying Rounds

a. National Ladies Competitions

Key structure:

• Annual events: 4‑bowl singles, under‑18 singles, under‑25 singles (21 shots), Pairs (4 bowls, 18 ends), Triples (3 bowls, 18 ends), Fours, over‑55 Fours (2 bowls, 18 ends), 2‑bowl singles (21 ends), under‑25 pairs (3 bowls, 18 ends), Double Rink (2 bowls, 18 ends).

• 2‑bowl singles run at county level; each county winner goes to National Finals.

• Other ladies competitions are run via open draws.

• Early rounds for main events are played at two neutral venues in one day (max two games; third by consent).

• Later qualifying rounds are on mutually agreed neutral greens by the closing date; home player (first in draw) arranges dates, books green, shares fees, and provides a marker in singles.

• Double Rink and over‑55 Fours are arranged by mutual consent at convenient greens.

• Double Rink: unlimited substitutes between rounds, but only one per rink once a match has started due to injury/illness.

• Over‑55 Fours entrants must be 55 before 1 April.

• Under‑18 singles and under‑25 pairs are played from start to finish at National Finals unless entry numbers require qualifying.

• Under‑25 pairs may be from different clubs.

• For all relevant competitions (except specified ones), qualifying is played to semi‑finals, with semi‑finals and finals at National Finals.

b. National Men’s Competitions

Key points:

• Annual events: Singles, Senior Singles, under‑18 singles, under‑25 singles (21 shots), Pairs, Senior Pairs (4 bowls, 18 ends), Triples, Senior Triples (3 bowls, 18 ends), Fours, over‑55 Fours (2 bowls, 18 ends), under‑25 pairs (3 bowls, 18 ends).

• Senior events: players must be 60 before 1 April; over‑55 Fours players must be 55 before 1 April.

• Under‑25 pairs can be made up of players from different clubs.

• Each County organises its own qualifying; allocation of qualifiers per county is specified (e.g. West Glamorgan 2, Carmarthen 2).

• Where dates are not fixed, dates must be arranged as per rule 2(h) unless the county has its own rules.

• Players who do not take part in county finals may be barred from National Finals, subject to CS/EC ruling.

• County Secretaries must supply full details of all qualifiers and reserves by the stipulated date.

c. National “Open” Competitions

Key points:

• National open singles (21 shots) and pairs (18 ends) each year.

• Open to all male and female members of affiliated clubs who pay entry fees.

• All entrants must be available for National Finals if they qualify.

• Pairs must be mixed gender (one male, one female) and may be from different clubs; pairs must nominate a home green on entry (one of their two clubs), changeable only before round 1.

• Knockout format, with entrants grouped geographically to reduce travel.

• Arranging games follows rule 2(g–l); eight qualifiers emerge for National Finals.

8. National Finals

Key points:

• National Finals dates are agreed by the EC and announced on the WLB website before the season.

• Entrants must ensure availability; failure to play may result in disciplinary action including ban and/or fine.

• Dress code: as per 2(m); shoes must have smooth soles; team tops must be identical, and players may be asked to change to match.

• Red and blue stickers and matching scoreboards will be used; scorecards must be signed by both players/skips and returned immediately after games.

• No alcohol, smoking, vaping, or mobile phone use on the greens during play; players may be drug‑tested.

• Bowls must bear a legible stamp of any date.

• Organisers may alter match times due to congestion or bad weather; players must be prepared to play when requested and under floodlights if necessary.

• Substitutes must either have been used previously or be club members not previously entered in the competition concerned.

• Trophies are held for one year and must be returned in good condition; holders bear repair costs.

• CS decisions on any queries or disputes, in consultation with officers and EC, are final and irrevocable.

9. Junior Team Competitions

The CS organises the following annual junior competitions for County Junior Academies.

a. Junior Super 9’s

• Mixed gender; players under 25 on 1 April.

• One team per County Academy: 9 players plus one reserve.

• Dress: whites or county/club kit.

• No alcohol, smoking, vaping or mobile phones on or around the green.

• Team consists of a pair, triples, and fours.

• Counties are drawn into sections “A” and “B”; all teams in each section play each other.

• Section games: 2 trial ends plus 9 ends; 1‑hour time limit; no dead ends (jack replaced on 2m mark).

• Visits to the head in section games: one per team per end by skips.

• Scoring: 2 points per rink win, 1 per drawn rink, 6 for overall win (max 12). Section winners decided by points, then shot difference, then ends won, then one‑end deciders.

• Final: 2 trial ends plus 13 ends, no visit restrictions.

• CS may alter format and rules as necessary; CS decision is final.

b. Junior Double Rink Competition

• Mixed gender; under 25 on 1 April.

• One team per County Academy.

• Dress and conduct rules as above (whites or county/club kit and no alcohol/smoking/vaping/phones).

• Each side: two rinks of four plus one reserve.

• Counties drawn into sections “A” and “B”; all teams in each section play each other.

• Normal fours regulations apply with additional conditions:

  • Section games: 2 trial ends plus 9 ends or 1 hour total.

  • One visit to the head per team per end (third or skip) in group games.

  • Uses bell/whistle system; any end with a legally cast jack must be completed after the bell.

  • No dead ends: jack placed on 2m mark.

• Section winners determined by points, then shot aggregate, then ends won, then one‑end deciders.

• Final: 2 trial ends plus 12 ends, no visit restrictions; tied games decided by repeated one‑end deciders.

• CS may amend schedule or rules; CS decision is final.

c. Under‑18 Three‑Bowl Pairs Competition

• Open to males and females under 18 on 1 April.

• Each County Academy may enter two pairs plus one reserve for each pair (6 players total).

• Pairs may be any gender combination; each player plays 3 bowls.

• Dress: whites or county/club kit; no alcohol, smoking, vaping or mobile phones.

• Qualifying: entrants drawn into sections “A” and “B”, with each pair playing up to 4 games; counties with two pairs have one in each section.

• Section games: 1 hour or 11 ends, whichever first; 2 trial ends before first game only. Bell/whistle used, and any end with a legally cast jack must be completed.

• No visits to the head except one visit per skip on the 11th end of each game.

• No dead ends; jack placed on 2m mark.

• Scoring: 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw. Section winners decided by points, then shot aggregate, then ends won, then one‑end play‑offs.

• Final: 2 trial ends plus 15 ends, no visit restrictions; tied games decided by repeated one‑end deciders.

• CS may amend schedule or rules; CS decision is final.

Edition: 1 – As approved by the WLB Executive Committee on 27/04/2025.