Bowls News


Bowls News items appearing on this page are aimed to assist with locating matters that may be interest.

2023 / 2024 Metropolitan Pennant Conditions of Play

The Metropolitan Bowls Association (MBA) has released the Conditions of Play for the 2023 / 2024 Season.  A copy of the Conditions of Play may be found here.



2023/2024 Conditions of Play
For this season, there has been a significant change to pre-game procedures for all Divisions,
changes to the Saturday Premier League Calendar and game length, the removal of
“replays” for the Thursday competition, plus a few other relatively minor changes as listed
rule by rule later in this Circular.

We took the opportunity to do some further re organising of the placement of some rules,
added a few extra sentences to the Conditions of Play to act as references regarding bowlers
“playing with permission” (i.e., a game permit) and re wrote some clauses, as well as
including some new rules relating to Saturday Premier League Rounds played different times
to other Divisions.

A Summary of changes

  1. Changes to pre-game procedures (practice/ card draw/ trial ends/ game start times), with
    appropriate adjustment to mid-game break and game finish times.
  2. Opposite Gender (eligibility reference for Rounds 1 to 3/ Finals series).
    Opposite Gender restrictions (now generally Saturday Division 6).
  3. Thursday competition. No resumed games.
    Thursday Premier League. No mid game break.
  4. Finals selection (consecutive sides restriction/ one game played/ removal of permit
    player position restriction).
  5. Saturday Premier League – games now 21 ends; ends to be played not reduced for early
    start; some programmed Friday/Sunday games, so selection management will be needed;
    resumed games take precedence over scheduled Friday games; opportunities for
    promotion/guest players.
  6. Game permit players need to be declared at the draw of cards/ carry permit.
  7. BowlsLink management of substitute player names.
  8. Consideration for Minor Premiers in the promotion process.
  9. Sides will be numbered to indicate their ranking within a club.
  10. Side Coach declaration.
  11. Carer support

    A list of amendments and additions to the Conditions of Play are listed below.

Saturday Premier League

Our Saturday Premier League clubs have all expressed an interest in promoting Premier
League bowls games at different times to the rest of the competition so that members and
visitors alike can come along and view some of our Premier League bowlers in action, with
opportunities to include “guest” players.

Some amendments to the Conditions of Play have been included specifically to
accommodate some games for the Saturday Premier League that will be played on Friday
nights and some that will be played on a Sunday.

Club Officials (Umpire of the Day, Side Manager)

Version 4 of the “Laws of the Sport of Bowls” is now current. There are also several changes
to the Conditions of Play that are relevant to the duties of officials.
Club administrators are encouraged to organise a meeting for their club officials prior to the
start of the Pennant season to review the relevant sections of the Conditions of Play and
Laws of the Sport.
If there are any questions or further clarification required, please contact MBA Match &
Program committee (MBAmatchcommittee@metrobowls.com.au)

2023 / 2024 Metro Pennant Calendar

PENNANT CALENDAR FOR SEASON 2023-24     

Notes on the attached calendar

The MBA has scheduled our Pennant calendar to be almost completed by Easter, within the busy match programs of Bowls Australia and Bowls SA.

One of the main objectives, for the past few years, has been to livestream and, therefore to promote all of our Premier Division grand finals to the many bowls supporters that wish to view those matches. 

Last season we had nearly 8,000 hits for our live streaming of the Saturday Premier Division grand final between Grange and Somerton and over 250 spectators came along to view the game as well.

Our Premier Division Clubs have all expressed an interest in promoting Premier Divisionbowls matches at different times to the rest of the competition, such that members and visitors alike can come along and view some of our Premier Division bowlers in action. 

You will see that the calendar, we have put together for season 2023-24, includes some matches for the Saturday Premier Division that will be played on Friday nights and some that will be played on a Sunday. The programming of these matches at different times will enable the Premier Division Clubs to promote our Premier Division bowls, throughout the season for their members and visitors to come along and view them.

Good luck to all Clubs with their pre-season planning. Before we know it, October will be here and season 2023-24 will be underway. Soon we will be distributing a new set of Conditions of Play, for the new season, that will contain some very positive changes, that will further improve playing conditions.   

Kind regards

Ron Mulliner

MBA Secretary

Should there be any alterations to the calendar members will be advised as soon as practicable.


NIGHT OWLS – IT WILL SOON BE HERE AGAIN

The Night Owls competition for the 2023/2024 bowls season will commence again at the Para Hills Bowling Club with the night for the registration of teams being Tuesday 17th October 2023 Registration Fee will be $10.00 and a niightly fee of $5 thereafter. Be at the club at about 6.30 pm. Games start at  7.00 pm.

This very popular community activity is not to be missed. Not only does Night Owls Bowls give family and friends of all ages the chance to play semi competitively in a fun filled social atmosphere, but it is also a cheap and affordable source of exercise and entertainment that ultimately benefits all participants. It is also a great way to start your lawn bowling activity prior to becoming a pennant bowler if you so desire.

This season there individual registration cost is $10.00 As stated, the official registration date is Tuesday 17th October 2023 at about 6.30 pm unless otherwise advised.  After registration, bowls will start at 7.00 pm. Cost for participation (after registration) is $5 per person per night.  Its never to late to join in the Night Owl competition, so if you and / or your team, are considering coming to the Para Hills Bowling Club for a game you will be most welcomed.

A club uniform is NOT required. Casual clothing is fineHowever flat soled shoes are essential (no treads and no heels) or you can play in bare feet, or just socks if you wish, weather permitting. If you do not own a set of bowls then we will provide them for you to use on the night. You can make up a team of four (4), or register as a single entry and we will place you in a team.

The Bar will be open for business. You will be sure to enjoy this social event. SO PLAN EARLY,  Make up a team and come along with your family and friends.  Soak up the friendly atmosphere of the Para Hills Bowling Club.

Please contact the Club on 8285 6744 if you require further information, or contact Daryl on 0417 806 601.  Alternatively, email the Para Hills Bowling Club on parahillsbowls@bigpond.com.  Its never to early to get a team together.  Everyone is welcome.


LAWS OF THE SPORT OF BOWLS – LATEST VERSION

Bowls Australia (BA), in consultation with the National Officiating Advisory Group (NOAG) and World Bowls (WB), has launched the latest edition of the Laws of the Sport (Crystal Mark Version 3.1). Further information, including when the Laws of the Sport of Bowls are reviewed and a link to enable the downloading of the latest version (Crystal Mark Fourth Edition) can be found here.

The new edition, that can be purchased in Australia from Bowls Australia and the Metropolitan Bowls Association, includes updates to the Domestic Regulations (DRs) in particular DR 2; Bowls Australia Policies and; changes to the Index.

DR 2 has been rewritten to make the requirements for substitutes and replacement players simpler and more easily understood as well as some changes to maintain participation after withdrawal of players.

The new DR allows for Controlling Bodies to approve changes to the players nominated to form teams before the first round has been played.

This change will reduce the need for teams to forfeit in the first round when players who have nominated are no longer able to play.

Domestic regulations must follow the WB – Laws of the Sport and member nations are given permission to apply local domestic regulations according to Law 57.1.

Further information provided by Bowls Australia on this topic can be found here.
A copy of the updated version of “The Laws of the Sport of Bowls” (version 3.1 April 2019) can be obtained from the Para Hills Bowling Club when available.

The Metropolitan Bowls Association (MBA) have provided a completely unofficial summary of the changes made to the Laws & the Domestic Regulations. This can be found here.  The MBA also advise that no decision has yet been finalised regarding the adoption of Bowls SA Policy on Instantaneous Penalties for Pennant bowls games.


POLICIES

Bowls SA advise “Within the sport of Bowls, there is a policy and procedure hierarchy that sets out the documentation that defines and governs the sport, the organisations affiliated, and the people involved.  This hierarchy is as follows: Bowls Australia, State and Territory Associations (ie Bowls SA), Associations and Clubs.

In many cases, policies and procedures of the “higher” organisation will apply to all groups that fall under that organisation.”

The various governance policies that relate to our sport may be viewed here.


HEAT AND INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY 

Bowls SA is conscious of its responsibility to provide direction to its Member Clubs and Associations in relation to the conduct of the game of bowls under extreme weather conditions such as heat and humidity, rain, hail, high winds and squalls, lightning and prolonged heat.  As such Bowls SA has produced the Head and Inclement Weather Policy that applies to all clubs within the Metropolitan Area. A copy of the Heat and Inclement Weather Policy which was approved ond on the 29 August 2022 can be found here.