A.B.M. SKITTLES CLUB - WINTER LEAGUE AND KNOCKOUT CUP RULES 1. THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME Please refer to Appendix A 2. REGISTRATION The entry fee for each player is £35. If a player only plays two games in the season they are not required to pay a subscription - however, if they wish to continue playing after those two games, they must pay £35. For those under 18, or 18 and over and still in full time education, there is no fee to pay. 3. PLAYERS There is no minimum age. However, there is a minimum age suggestion of 10, based on the requirement to propel a large, heavy wooden ball 21 metres to knock down a total of 9 skittles. The decision to allow any child under the age of 16 to play in a team in the Winter League is entirely the decision of the Team Captain in consultation with the parents/guardians of said child. Substitutions - Players, who are members of the emergency services, or an essential utility, can be substituted during a match, without penalty, if they are called away. The Team Captain of any team including any of the above must make his/her presence known to the opposing captain prior to the commencement of play. The name of the substitute player must also be made known at this time. In the event of a substitution no points will be entered into the individual’s averages. If a team can only raise 5 players for a game, the game can proceed thus: the “missing player” is placed at number 6 (anchor) and recorded in the score sheet as A.N. Other. The throws of A.N. Other are taken in turn by the other five members of the team in strict order (player one takes the first throw, player two is second etc.) and the scores count towards the leg and final totals. Individual averages are not affected by this arrangement. If a team can only raise a total of 4 players they can ask anyone else at the club if they would play as “Guest”. “Guest” should play at number 5. This arrangement is preferable to cancellation. “Guest” does not need to pay a subscription but should, ideally, have paid a subscription through his/her actual team. Players can change teams during the season if it is agreed by their current captain or, in cases where there is a dispute, by the committee. 4. POSTPONEMENTS, CANCELLATIONS AND FORFEITURE OF GAMES The Committee uphold the belief that a game of skittles should always be contested between two teams of 6 (or 5 (or, even, 4)) players if at all possible (see above). However, it is realised that, on occasions, teams are let down by players (maybe through sickness, family situations etc.) and it is then up to the captain of that team to contact the captain of the opposing team as soon as possible (but certainly no later than 12 noon on the day of the game) to inform him/her of the situation. Alan Pointer should also be informed (he will arrange a new date for the match) as should the sticker upper. If the sticker upper is not informed and turns up for the match, he or she is entitled to the full fee due. If a team fails to turn up for their match the game will deem to have been cancelled. The game will be awarded to the non-cancelling team, with a score of 7-0. Both teams will be awarded their current average (minimum 10 games) and the team that fails to turn up must also pay the sticker upper the full fee due. 5. RECORDING THE SCORES It is the responsibility of both teams to ensure that the result sheet is filled in correctly and comprehensively. All players names must be filled in in full (i.e. given name and family name), and all scores and totals should be legible and accurate. The “away” team is responsible for filling in the result sheet. The “home” team is responsible for writing the scores on the scoreboard. Both Team Captains must check the scores at the end of the game before signing the sheet. The completed, signed result sheet must be handed over the bar by the home Team Captain along with the board marker (unless they have handed the board marker to the home Team Captain of the next game). The home Team Captain must take a photo of the completed scoreboard and attach it to a WhatsApp message to Alan Pointer. 6. THE STICKER-UP The sticker-up should be 12 years or older if possible. If the sticker-upper is struggling or having problems keeping the game running on time (i.e. approximately 12 minutes per leg) it is the responsibility of the home team to help him/her. The first-named (or “home”) team must provide a sticker-up and, if necessary, assist him/her (as above). The sticker-up will be paid £6 by each team (£12 in total). 7. MATCH PINS AND BALLS Four balls will be used for each game. The Team Captain of the home team playing in the final game of the night, must ensure that the match pins and balls are placed in the box provided, immediately after the game, and that the box is locked. 8. TOP TABLE AND ALLEY-SIDE TABLES The table at the top end of the alley (by the scoreboard) is reserved for members of the “home” team. Anyone not associated with the “home” team should vacate the table on request. No chairs should be placed at the front of the table (nearest the alley). Tables and chairs are placed alongside the alley for the away team and spectators. No table or chair should be placed closer to the ball release line than the second line on the alley. 9. THE MATCH The Match will be played over five legs, with each team consisting of six players. The toss of a coin will decide the bowling order. Each team will bowl alternately. The order of bowling for each team will be written on the scoreboard, prior to the game, by the relevant team captain. No player will be allowed to bowl out of order, or to bowl all his/her turns in one go. All balls must be bowled underarm from behind the rear line, and must land on the alley before the next line. The player must not follow through onto the alley. Failure to comply with either of the two preceding guidelines could, following ample warnings from the opposition Team Captain, result in a “no ball” being declared by the opposing Team Captain (with all pins knocked over by that ball being re-set) and that ball being lost to the player. Two points will be awarded for a leg win, one point for a draw and no points for a lost leg. Games must start at the appointed time (as specified on the fixture list) provided that the alley is available. 10. CHAMPIONS The team that wins the most points will be declared the Champion. In the event of a tie, the team with the highest pin average will decide the champion. If the championship is still undecided a bowl-off (to the above rules) will decide the winner. 11. AVERAGES 15 games are the minimum required to qualify for the Highest Average trophy (i.e. 50% of the games each team will play). 12. CAPTAINS’ CUP Only the team captains are permitted to play in the Captains’ Cup Knockout Competition unless the team captain is physically unable to attend on the appointed evening. 13. CAPTAINS’ MEETING AND AGM A Meeting will be held prior to the start of each season, preferably four weeks before the first fixture. Any suggestions that arise from this meeting will be discussed by the Committee, who will decide whether or not to implement any of them. Any rule changes that result from this meeting will be circulated to each team captain. A full copy of the rules will be displayed on the skittles notice boards. On any matters concerning the Winter or Summer Leagues, or knockout competitions, the Committee’s decision is final. Appendix A Skittles is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Rules but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the Team Captains. 1. Responsibility of captains The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Rules. 2. The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for Your opponents: Your own captain and team: The role of the Organiser and Committee members: The game's traditional values 3. It is against the Spirit of the Game To direct abusive language towards an opponent or Committee member or To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance, to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own side 4. Violence and swearing There is no place for any act of, or threat of, violence or excessive swearing on or around the skittle alley 5. Players Captains should set the tone for the conduct of a skittles match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this. Any event that is thought to be against the Spirit of the Game should be brought to the attention of the Committee who will deal with the matter as they see fit. The decision of the Committee is final.