IBBA and CBSA RULES
INTERNATIONAL BLIND BOWLS ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS & REGULATIONS
AS AMENDED ON 16/17 MAY 20031. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
1. Member Associations wishing to stage the World Championships shall make application to the Secretary, in writing, four (4) years prior to the staging of the Championships.
2. The Member Association granted the hosting of the World Championships shall advise all other affiliated National Associations of the details pertaining to the dates, venue and approximate cost of accommodation and meals two (2) years prior to the event.
3. All category B1 players shall wear occlusion glasses. In extreme circumstances, the Executive Committee may consider special application for exemption.
4. All entries shall be accompanied by current Sight Classification documentation for International events and shall be completed by an Opthalmologist.
2. ELIGIBILITY FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
To be eligible to participate in the World Championships, all players/directors/coaches must be residents of the Country that they are representing for a minimum period of three (3) months prior to the Championships.
CONDITIONS OF PLAY
As amended by the Executive and effective as of 1 March 1997 at Hamilton and on 22 August 1999 at Kilmarnock, Scotland and at Johannesburg , South Africa on 16/17 May 2003
GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. All competitions shall be played according to the Laws of the Game as recognized by World Bowls Limited , except where anomalies arise due to the exceptional circumstances of blind bowling.
2. All bowls utilised in play must bear distinctive identifying colours as supplied by the Tournament Committee.
3. Teams of competing countries shall be limited to twelve (12) playing members. In each category, B1/B2/B3, each country shall be permitted 1 men's singles Player, 1 women's singles Player and 1 mixed pair.
4. Nine separate championship events shall be staged, i.e. Men's Singles, Women's Singles and Mixed pairs in each of the sight categories - B1/B2/B3. The winners of each event shall be awarded a Gold Medal or Medals. The runners-up shall be awarded a Silver Medal or Medals and those in third place shall be awarded a Bronze Medal or Medals provided only that in the case of the Bronze Medals there shall be a minimum of four teams taking part.
5. All events shall be played on a Round Robin basis, i.e. each team playing against every other team, except in the following circumstances:
a. Should the number of entries be greater than the allocated periods for play of a Round Robin draw, the Tournament Committee may utilise the Sectional Play system, and based on results of previous World Championships, seeding will be done at the discretion of the IBBA Executive .
b. Where a programme cannot be completed due to inclement weather, the Tournament Committee may permit an event to be concluded upon a lesser number of matches without completing the remaining fixtures. Thereupon the event shall be decided upon the number of points (and, if necessary, shot differential) gained by each team (provided that each team plays the same number of matches).
6. Any point not provided for in the Conditions of Play in any of the competitions hereinafter referred to will be decided by the Tournament Committee.
REGULATIONS FOR ALL PLAY
1. DRESS
In all matches, competitors and coaches shall wear polo shirts of their National colour with white/cream clothing.
a. Shorts are permitted.
b. For Women's play - as per World Bowls regulations .
c. Footwear - as per World Bowls regulations .
d. Protective clothing - as per World Bowls regulations.
2. MATS
Mats must conform with WBL Regulations and must have square edges.
a. The mat shall be placed in accordance with WBL Regulations. or as directed by the Tournament Committee ,
b. When the jack is incorrectly delivered, the mat shall be placed in accordance with WBL Regulations.
c. When the jack is incorrectly delivered once by each Player, WBL Regulations shall apply.
Note: The exception to the rule would be when ground sheets are used, or when, in the opinion of the Tournament Committee, a dangerous condition could develop, then the mat will remain on the 6ft/2m mark.
3. COACH / DIRECTORThe sighted person assisting the blind bowler in play shall be referred to as the Coach/Director.
4. MARKER
The sighted person standing at the "jack" end shall be referred to as the Marker. 5. DISTANCE DISCS
Discs, indicating the distance of the "jack" from the mat, shall be situated on the bank for the assistance of the Marker. These discs shall be marked in feet and metres.
6. RINK CENTRE LINE
The "centre line" of each rink shall be defined by a fine white string, stretched tightly over the surface of the green in a direct line between the points indicated by rink number plates.
7. SCORE CARDS
In Singles play, the Marker shall record the score on both the scorecard and the scoreboard. In Pairs play, one Coach/Director shall record the score on the scorecard and the other Coach/Director shall record the score on the scoreboard.
a. Scores shall be recorded end-by-end on both the scorecard and the scoreboard.
b. The Marker shall hand the scorecards, signed by the two Coach/Directors, to the Recorder.
c. In the event of any dispute, the signed scorecard shall be the deciding proof as to the result of the match.
8. VISUAL OR MECHANICAL AIDS TO BE USED
a. B1 Players shall wear occlusive devices with such devices being issued by the Tournament Committee.
b. All other players shall be entitled to the use of a monocular only when not in possession of the mat.
9. COACHING/DIRECTING OR ORIENTATING FROM THE FRONT
B1, B2 B3 Players may be coached/directed, orientated from the front or back of the mat as per personal choice.
10. IMPEDED BOWL
A bowl impeded by touching a Coach's/Director's foot shall not be replayed .
11. DISPUTES
In the event of any dispute the decision of the tournament Committee shall be final. The Tournament Committee, however, reserves the right to refer any matter to the Executive Committee of IBBA.
12. SLOW PLAY
> In all the championships, slow play shall be discouraged.
Coaches/Directors are particularly requested not to waste time.
> 13. INSPECTION OF THE HEAD
(a) Where there is a time limit , each team may go up to the head once only during each end.
(b) A head commences with the correct delivery of the jack 14. SMOKING
> No smoking shall be allowed on the playing surface of the green
SINGLES COMPETITIONS
1. TROPHIESB1 Men's Singles for the Julius Sergay Trophy
B1 Women's Singles for the Bob Ferguson Trophy
B2 Men's Singles for the Tony Alcock Trophy
B2 Women's Singles for the English Women's Bowling Association Trophy
B3 Men's Singles for the Holroyd Council Trophy
B3 Women's Singles for the Holroyd Council Trophy
2. PLAYING CONDITIONS
a. In all matches, the player to achieve 21 shots or the player ahead after 3.5 hours shall be declared the winner. The time limit of 3.5 hours shall include trial ends.
b. There shall be a Marker at the jack-end and two Coaches/Directors at the mat-end.
c. A coin shall be tossed to establish the right as to who shall play first.
> d. The Coach/Director shall lay the mat in accordance with WBL Regulations and assist with the placement of bowls for each Blind Player. The players should place their bowls on the side according to the scoreboard and /or scorecards .
e. One "trial-end" each way shall be permitted , and included in the time limit .
f. After centering the jack, the Marker shall inform the Players the distance of the jack.
g. Each competitor shall play four bowls singly and alternately.
h. When each bowl comes to rest, the Marker shall indicate to the Coach/Director, either by hand signals or by stepping out, the distance of the bowl from the jack, if requested.
i. The Coach/Director "in possession" may enquire of the Marker the position at the head end. The Coach/Director may give any assistance required by the blind Player and assist with the strategy of play.
MIXED PAIRS COMPETITIONS
1. TROPHIESB1 Championship - The National Association for Blind Bowlers (South Africa) Executive Trophy
B1 Runners-up - The Christie Miller (Indoor) Trophy
B2 Championship - The Zimbabwe Shell Trophy
B3 Championship - The Holroyd Council Trophy
2. PLAYING CONDITIONS
a. The competition shall consist of two players (one man and one woman) per team in all sight classification categories, one to be lead and the other to skip.
b. A Player and Coach/Director from both teams may be positioned at the jack, 6ft/2m behind on the right and the left, while his/her partner delivers his/her bowls. On completion of these deliveries, Players and Coaches/Directors at the jack end will change ends and play will continue in the same manner. The Coach/Director at the jack end "in possession", is permitted to give instructions to his/her partner.
1.. One trial end, each way shall be permitted , and shall be included in the time limit.
2.. No Marker will be permitted in the Mixed Pairs and the Coaches/Directors of each team will keep the score. The Coaches'/Directors' duties shall be the same as in the Singles Competition.
3.. The players should place their bowls on the side according to the scoreboard and /or scorecard .
f. Matches shall be of 14 ends or 3.5 hours , with two points given for a win and one for a draw. The Tournament committee has the right, in exceptional circumstances, to reduce the number of ends or change the time limit.
g. As point's differential will be used to determine the Medal Winners, all matches must be completed.
SUBSTITUTES AND REPLACEMENTS
1.DEFINITIONS
a. Substitute means a Player temporarily filling a position until an absent team member is able to return to the team.
b. Replacement means an acquired team member who has taken the place of an original team member unable to return for subsequent play in the current competition and who shall have the same right as those of any original team member.
c. If one Player is absent because of illness or for any other valid reason acceptable to the Tournament Committee, either at the start of or in the course of a match or on resumption of a match stopped for any valid reason, a substitute/replacement approved by the Tournament committee and who is not already playing in the Mixed pairs Competition, shall be allowed to complete the Pair. If unable to obtain a substitute/replacement, the match will be forfeited. A substitute taking over after the start of the first match shall be deemed a replacement and shall be eligible for a prize.
DETERMINATION OF MEDAL WINNERS
1. SINGLES PLAY
In each match, two points will be awarded for a win or a "bye". The competitor gaining the highest number of points will be the winner of the championship and receive the Gold Medal. The Player with the second highest points scored will receive the Silver Medal and the third highest scorer will receive the Bronze Medal.
2. MIXED PAIRS PLAY
Two points will be awarded for a win or a "bye" , one point for a draw. The team gaining the highest number of points will be the winner of the Championship and members will receive a Gold Medal. The team with the second highest number of points will receive the Silver Medal and the team with the third highest number of points will receive the Bronze Medal.
3. WHERE EQUAL POINTS EXIST
Where points are equal, the plus and minus points differential system shall be used, and if equality still remains, then percentage and then ends won will determine the medal winners.
4. INCOMPLETE MATCHES
If a competitor or team is unable to complete a match already commenced or is unable to play in any other matches, the points for those particular matches will be awarded to his/her/their opponent/s. The competitor/s concerned shall retain points he/she/they has/have already scored. When points are awarded to any competitor in these circumstances, no shots for unplayed or unfinished matches shall be taken into account for shot differential.
5. DEFAULT OR WITHDRAWAL
In the event of a Player/team winning a match or matches by default or withdrawal, the Tournament committee shall allot to that Player/team the average winning differential for each of the unfinished rounds.
OVERALL TEAM WINNER
For the "Harry Atkinson Trophy"
The overall team winners will be declared as that country gaining the most points in the nine competitions and the "Harry Atkinson Trophy" will be awarded to the winner. In determining the overall winner, points shall be awarded as indicated above. Where the total points (i.e. the total points scored by each country in the nine events) are equal, then shot aggregate shall be used. If equality still exists , then the shots against shall be divided into the shots for , and the team with the highest result shall be declared the winner.
CANADIAN BLIND SPORTS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL RULES
LAWNBOWLS COMMISSION
IBBA rules shall be in effect unless otherwise stated.
1. Games shall be singles for all sight classifications.
2. Provincial teams are responsible for Providing directors for their bowlers.
3. Rinks shall be assigned by the Tournament Director and may not be appealed.
4. The use of a monocular is permitted only when the bowler is NOT in possession of the mat.
5. All B1 bowlers shall wear occlusion devices from the fixed start time of the game. Markers shall ensure that occlusion glasses are worn correctly.
6. Bowlers, Directors and Coaches shall wear a Provincial Team uniform; which must consist of white / cream pants, skirt or shorts and a white / cream or Provincial colored top.
7. A winner will be declared:
a) who first reaches 21 shots, or
b) who has the greatest number or shots at the end of the time limit. An end started before the end of the time limit will be completed.
8. There will be a 3.5 hour time limit.
9.A late start penalty of one point for each ten minutes will be assessed to all bowlers who are not on the green at the fixed start time of the game.
10.A bowler who is not on the green thirty minutes from the fixed start time of the game shall forfeit the game.
11. Further to Law 7 (e) the marker shall respond only to questions from the team in possession of the rink.
12. When counting shots, the director of the team, which did not score at that end, will remove shot bowls.
13. Bowlers shall not be in the head when bowls are being measured or counted.
14. Competition will proceed as scheduled, rain or shine, unless other wise notified by the Tournament Organizing Committee.
15. Directors must accompany the bowlers to check the head. And only once per end.
16. Umpires will have the final say in the measuring of closest shot and disputes if so called upon.
17. A break not exceeding 10 minutes may be taken, upon notification of your opponent. Law 57 (9), contravention of this Law shall, entitle the opponent to claim the match, or game.
18. One trial end, two bowls each way shall be permitted, and shall be included in the time limit.
19. All ties will be broken using the following method.
When points are equal, the aggregate shots scored against a player shall be divided into the aggregate shots scored. The player with the highest result shall be declared the winner.
By Authority of CBSA And Lawnbowls Commissioners
Sept 2004