All MBVC club competitions will be played to Bowls England rules with local additions/clarifications as stated below.

Rule 1 (draws)
All competitions will be drawn by two unrelated Committee Members and overseen by the Competition Secretary.

Rule 2 (finals)
The club competitions finals dates will be published in the fixture booklet. 

All members entering competitions are undertaking an obligation to be available for these days.

Should a competitor be unavailable on finals days due to illness, or any other unforeseen circumstance, the Competition Secretary will make a decision as to how the situation can be resolved amicably for all parties concerned.

Rule 3 (arranging matches – excluding finals)
When the competition draw has been displayed, it is up to the first named player/team (‘The Challenger’) to contact the opposition in good time to arrange a day/time for the match and book a rink. They should normally offer three dates and at least one of these should be in the evening.

It is up to all players to ensure the round is completed by the published date/s and failure to do so may result in players being scratched.

In the event of difficulties to complete the round the Competition Secretary should be notified as soon as possible before the completion date to try to resolve the problem.

Rule 4 (arranging markers)
For all singles matches except the final, the challenger should organise a marker.

Rule 5 (dress code)
Other than appropriate footwear there is no dress code for matches until finals day(s). For these the dress code is ‘greys’, with a white top/club shirt.

Rule 6 (toss)
The challenger will call the toss and the winner of the toss has the choice of taking the jack (mat) or giving it to the opponent. The challenger goes on top of the scoreboard (‘home’).

For the two set singles the choice of jack (mat) is swapped for the start of the second set. Should the three-end tie break be required for this competition, then the toss is repeated. The winner decides who has control of the jack (mat) for the first and third ends and the loser decides who has control for the second end, irrespective of who wins the ends. Should any additional end(s) be required, then a toss is made for each end.

Rule 7 (trial ends)
Normally two trial ends are played with up to as many bowls as are to be used in the match.

Rule 8 (player handicaps)
The handicap of each player will be decided by the Competition Secretary at the time of the draw using rules that have been approved previously. Handicap is applied to the drawn pairs and the handicap singles only.

In drawn pairs at the completion of the first end, the team with the lowest combined handicap have their score credited with the difference of the two teams’ handicap.

For the handicap singles, the player with the higher handicap has to make 21 shots plus the difference in handicaps.

Rule 9 (extra ends)
Should a match be all square when the prescribed number of ends have been completed, an extra end or ends will be played until there is a result. For each extra end (irrespective of whether they are dead or tied) rule 6 applies.

Rule 10 (scorecards)
For singles, the marker and the losing player must sign the scorecard. For pairs, both skips should keep their own scorecard and sign both at the end of match. Completed scorecards, which must include the name of the competition, should be placed in the box by the competition noticeboard.

Rule 11 (exceptional circumstances, adverse traffic and weather conditions)
If accident(s), roadworks or other situations beyond the competitor’s ability to control, result in traffic gridlock over an area beyond the immediate neighbourhood, i.e. precluding alternative routes, every effort shall be made by all competitors concerned to allow the game to take place, irrespective of the original starting time arranged. Should these efforts be frustrated, neither side may claim the game and it should be rearranged.

For unfinished matches where five ends or more have been played, and where it is impossible to re-arrange a match, the score will stand as the result. If the score is a tie or fewer than five ends have been completed, then the result shall be decided on the toss of a coin, or by mutual agreement.

Where the match can be re-arranged the game shall be played from where it was left off; trial ends can be played.

It is hoped that every game can be played but it is recognised there are some instances where a player is excessively late in arriving.  The non-offending player may claim the game after waiting 30 minutes from the agreed start time.  However, we would like to think the non-offending player would give consideration to the circumstances.

Rule 12 (disputes)
Any dispute will be referred to a sub committee consisting of the Competition Secretary and two other unrelated committee members.