ALTON SOCIAL BOWLS CLUB
BYE- LAWS

The BYE- LAWS OF THE CLUB

These rules made under Paragraph 10.2 of The Constitution are created and can be amended by the Club Committee. The rules and any changes to them will be displayed in the club house.

1. THE GREEN

The Green will be opened for the season during April each year and close approximately mid-September at dates confirmed by the Club Committee. All play shall be subject to Bowls England rules.
The green will be available for play when not otherwise booked for matches or other bowls activity unless the green is unsuitable for play in which case a notice will be displayed to that effect.
Matches and external competitions will have priority over practice and internal competitions. Members will pay a green fee (agreed at AGM) per visiting player for external competitions played at home…
Members wishing to organise a match or otherwise play cannot do so if work is required to be done on the green.
Before the green is used for play members should ensure that rink markers accord with the displayed colours for the day and that they are playing in the correct direction.

2. CLUB OPENING

The Club will be open during the year the times of which will be subject to the discretion of the Club Committee.

3. THE BAR AND PERMITTED HOURS OF OPENING

The Club is a members’ club and will be always operated as such in good faith.

The permitted opening hours during which intoxicating liquors may be supplied to members for consumption on the premises shall be in accordance with the licensing laws prevailing at the time. The bar will be open during home match fixtures and for such other events as the Club Committee shall specify or permit.
Alcohol purchased and supplied by The Club must be done by members who are over 18 years of age.
No person at the expense of The Club may receive any commission, percentage or other similar payment regarding the purchase of alcohol by The Club.
There must be no arrangements for anyone to receive a financial benefit from supplying alcohol to The Club apart from any benefit to The Club or to any person indirectly from the supply giving a gain from running The Club.

4. PERSONAL POSSESSIONS

The Management Committee accept no responsibility for the loss of or damage to any property left on Club premises or its surrounds, including the adjacent Car Park.

5. APPOINTMENT OF CLUB COACH

The Club Committee may appoint a Club Coach(s) who shall coach members and advise on the interpretation of the rules of the game and green etiquette.

6 DRESS ON THE GREEN

Members playing club representative matches, competitions or friendlies should wear agreed club
Uniform i.e. tops, trousers or skirts,

Bowls shoes or flat soled trainers only, may be worn on the green and not used for travelling to the green.

7. BOOKING OF RINKS

SET DATE National and County Competitions take priority (These dates will be avoided by the Fixtures Secretary)
All league matches, gala days, finals and occasions when the Green is made available with the consent of the Club Committee to other clubs or Associations e.g. Basingstoke and District Bowling Association.
All rinks will be reserved provided rinks are available after first accommodating SET DATE County Competitions.
At all other times, acceptable to the Green Keeper and / or the Green Committee, rinks may be booked by members on a first come first served basis. Priority may only be claimed if the rinks are already fully booked and a rink is required for a County competition. In this case the member must raise the matter with his or her Captain who shall allocate a rink in a fair manner and in consultation with the other Captain if necessary.

Rinks may not be booked for “Roll – Ups”. Double booking is not allowed.

8. ROLL – UPS

Provided a rink is available one or more players may enter the green and commence play. If there is no vacant rink available additional players may join others using rinks for roll- ups until such rinks are complete.

9. VISITORS

Visitors who are competent bowlers may “roll up” on the Green up to four times per year on payment of a green fee. The green fee will be determined by the Club Committee.

10. SELECTION FOR TEAMS AND MATCHES

All teams will be selected as per the club selection policy. Members selected shall confirm their availability by ticking the list on the notice board. Anyone travelling direct to an away match should indicate this on the selection sheet.

11. REPORTING FOR MATCHES

Members selected to play but who are unable to play shall notify the team Captain of the day as soon as possible. Members selected for matches shall report their presence to the team Captain of the day not less than fifteen minutes before the scheduled starting time.
In the event of a team member failing to report and without contacting the Club with a legitimate reason, the reporting reserve will be invited to play.

12. CLUB COMPETITIONS

Members entering Club Competitions must ensure that they are available to play on Finals Day should they progress that far. Members who find that their situation has changed since entering must withdraw from competitions immediately. Extenuating circumstances must be presented to the relevant Competitions Organiser for their decision.
Competitions will be run under rules laid down by the Club Committee and displayed in the club house.

13. SMOKING

Smoking, including e cigarettes, is banned on the green, club house and the immediate surrounds.
Smoking & vaping will only be permitted in the designated and signed smoking area.

14. MISCONDUCT OF MEMBERS

A member shall be reprimanded, suspended or expelled from the Club if the Club Committee by majority hold him/her to have contravened the rules or conducted themself in an unacceptable manner. In the event of the Committee deciding that the membership shall be withdrawn or suspended the offender may appeal to the full membership of the Club Committee against the decision. The right of appeal applies in the event of an applicant for membership who considers he/she has been unfairly refused.
The decision by the majority Club Committee shall be notified to the member in writing within seven days of the decision. For fourteen days thereafter the recipient has the right to have a meeting with the full Club Committee. At any such meeting the recipient shall be entitled to answer the allegations and call witnesses. A request for adjournment may not be unreasonably refused. After hearing the evidence, the full Club Committee shall retire to consider further action and shall vote thereon.
Any disciplinary matters will be dealt with in accordance with Bowls England Disciplinary Regulations.
Pending any final decision the member may not enter The Club’s premises unless otherwise informed in writing by the Club Committee.

15. SECURITY

It is important that the building and gate(s) are properly locked and alarmed when vacated. This responsibility rests with every member, and it is erroneous to assume that nothing will happen if the building is left unlocked. When the building is open, ensure that you are able to lock secure and set the alarm when leaving the building.

If you find the building unlocked when you believe it should not be so please contact a club committee member so that the situation can be rectified. If a stranger enters the building challenge them, don’t assume they have a legitimate reason for being there. If you are in the club house by yourself, it is sensible to lock the door from the inside.

16. NOTICES

Members should read the notice boards regularly. We try to keep everyone up to date but this does rely on members reading the information provided. There are also various notices of a more permanent nature around the Club which are there to assist Club members. Kitchen hygiene, Fire notices and Security all fall in this category for members’ attention.

17. CLUB EQUIPMENT

Club equipment should be returned to its correct place after use. Currently 2m sticks, scoreboards, jacks, red and white bowl and jack indicators, mats and bowls gatherers are kept in the storage building. Club bowls should be returned to the location from which they were borrowed. Club equipment must not be removed from the premises unless this is agreed by a committee member.

18. GENERAL

Notwithstanding any of the provisions in the Rules (above) the Club follows the Bowls England Regulations for the following items of legislation:

Anti-doping
Children and Vulnerable Adults
Discrimination, Equal Opportunities and Human Rights
Health and Safety
Insurance and Identification
Misconduct, Suspension and Exclusion of Members.

19. CHILD PROTECTION

The Club encourages children to participate in the game of bowls. When dealing with children we will always put their welfare first and ensure that they are treated fairly, with respect and dignity. We recognise the needs and abilities of each child and avoid too much training or competition. We must gain the agreement of the child before any physical contact. We will ensure that the child is not alone with an adult and that when travelling to away matches, there is at least one male and female chaperone. We will not tolerate any acts of aggression within the club and will ensure that adults behave responsibly and set an example to our child members. The club has an appointed Child Protection Officer and if you are in doubt about any matters relating to child protection then you should consult him/her.

 20. HELP

There are many ways that members can help in the day-to-day activities of the Club. On match days the rinks must be dressed e.g. mats put out, 2m sticks etc and put away after play. Changing Rooms should be kept tidy.

Cleaning is another obligation on Club members. It is not necessary to attend every day, but the pavilion should be presentable prior to all matches. Cleaning should not be carried out when matches or other activities are in progress or in a manner that would disturb players.
The green surrounds are maintained by members and regular working parties attend to the numerous tasks which arise throughout the year. The list of matters which members execute for the Club is too long to itemise here, but all help is gratefully received.

21. LAWS OF THE SPORT

It is not proposed that the Laws of the Sport are repeated here, however one or two reminders may not go amiss. The minimum jack length is 23 metres. This does not just mean that the jack has only to pass the side markers – the position of the mat is relevant. The side markers are 25 metres from the rear ditch so if the jack is up to the side markers the mat must be at minimum position i.e. 2 metres from the ditch. If the jack has to be measured make sure it is centred before measuring. Players should not play on the same rink on the same day that they will be using the rink for competition. It is permissible for a bowl to enter an adjoining rink provided that it will return to its original rink. Markers should not offer comment on any bowl played and should stand still to one side and behind the head while players are bowling. Bowls or jack should not be moved until the score for the end has been agreed.

22. CLUB COMMITTEE – Duties and terms of reference

Membership: All as referred to in Paragraph 10 of the Constitution

Terms of Reference:
• Manage all aspects of club’s affairs according to club constitution including:
• Keep financial accounts and agree expenditure.
• To keep accurate accounts of the finances of the Club through the Treasurer and to recommend subscription rates and other fees to the Annual General Meeting. The Accounts shall be available for reasonable inspection by Members and should be examined by the appointed accounts examiners before every Annual General Meeting
• Manage all disciplinary matters
• Manage all aspects pertaining to the lease and other legal matters
• Maintain a register of members
• Seek new members through publicity or other means
• Receive and act upon reports from Playing, Facilities, Bar and Social Committees and issue instructions
• Appoint other committees as and when required
• Appoint Bar Manager
• Meet monthly during the season and at other times as required
• To co-opt additional members of the Committee as the Committee feels necessary. Co-opted members shall be entitled to vote.
• To appoint a Child and Vulnerable Persons Protection Officer.