Byelaws of the Association

1. The Association shall be known as the “Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association”, (hereinafter to be referred to as the SCGBA), and be open to all bona-fide Bowling Organisations in the County.

2. The object of the SCGBA shall be to promote, organise and govern Crown Green Bowling in the County of Shropshire. This to include all clubs affiliated from outside the County taking part in competitions organised by affiliated bodies from within the SCGBA.

3. The SCGBA shall be affiliated to the British Crown Green Bowling Association (hereinafter referred to BCGBA), and shall agree to conform to the Byelaws of that body and to observe the laws of the game as registered by the same body.

4. MEMBERSHIP

4a. To comply with current government legislation all clubs/leagues who affiliate to S.C.G.B.A. must appoint a Safeguarding Officer. Any club /league failing to appoint a Safeguarding Officer will have its affiliation to S.C.G.B.A. suspended until a Safeguarding Officer is in place.

The Club/League Safeguarding Officer along with all SCGBA coaches, Referees and Junior Selectors should present their DBS Certificate to the County Safeguarding Officer/Checker within 28 days of its issue from the BCGBA.

Failure will result in a fine of £25 per week of non-compliance. 

Any bowling club within the SCGBA area shall be eligible to membership, also every bowling league and all members of clubs accepted for affiliation shall be considered to be affiliated players of the SCGBA and eligible to compete in competitions promoted by the SCGBA or in any competition sanctioned by the SCGBA or BCGBA.

The Annual Subscription for each club or league shall be payable by 31st May of each year. Clubs and Leagues will be invoiced and defaulters will have an immediate fine of £25, payable within 7 days, and each week the annual subscription remains unpaid further £25 fines will be implemented.

SCGBA collect various fees and registrations on behalf of the BCGBA annually. These include County Association Fees. League Registration Fees, Club Registration Fees and Players Fees.

All these fees are set and agreed at the BCGBA AGM and are reviewed annually.

All clubs, leagues and associations affiliated to the SCGBA will abide by the SCGBA code of conduct.

4b. Honorary Life Members

The annual general meeting shall on the recommendation of the executive committee be empowered to award honorary life membership of the SCGBA to recognise outstanding service to crown green bowling in Shropshire.

4c. All Clubs shall pay £10.00 per club per year. This to be reviewed annually by the Executive.

All Leagues and Associations shall pay £50.00 per League or Association per year. This to be reviewed annually by the Executive.

Individual members, both male and female, who register to play in an affiliated League or Association, shall pay £3.00 per year for each Club they are registered to play for.

Clubs who enter the County/Shropshire cup will be invoiced and this must be paid by May 31st, no reminders will be given. This to be reviewed annually by the Executive.

5. No affiliated club shall take part in contests on the green of an unaffiliated club or invite any unaffiliated club to take part in contests on their own green. No member of an affiliated club shall take part in any contest organised by an unaffiliated club or body.  Any contravention to this rule may lead to disciplinary action the County Executive.

6. OFFICERS

The Officers of the Executive Committee of the SCGBA shall consist of Honorary Chairman (who will serve for a minimum of three years) Vice-Chairman, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Competitions Secretary and Honorary Safeguarding Officer, Honorary Registrar, Honorary Minutes Secretary (if required), Honorary Development Officer, Honorary Press Relations Officer, Honorary Referees Delegate and DBS Checker all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

In the absence of the chairman, the Vice Chairman a nominated member of the executive may take the chair.
Honorarium will be discussed at the October Executive meeting to agree a proposal to go to the AGM which must be a minimum of the CPI at the time of the meeting and given to the below officers:

• Chairman
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Competition secretary
• Referee’s delegate
• Safeguarding Officer
• DBS Checker
• Development Officer
• Registrar
• Minutes Secretary (if required)
• Press Relations Officer

A President shall act for one year with the Deputy President succeeding to the office of President automatically. The Executive Committee shall submit nominations for the position of Deputy President to the Annual General Meeting, having invited all affiliated leagues to nominate suitable candidates by the Executive’s October meeting but, if no Nominations are received the County Executive will put forward their own nomination.  A President may serve for two years if they so desire and approved by the Executive.

7. VOTING PROCEDURE

In order for individual Clubs and Leagues to exercise their voting rights at an AGM or Extra Ordinary Meeting each Club/League must attend the appropriate meeting to record their vote.

8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1 vote each. Past Presidents prior to 2022. Officers: Chairman Vice Chairman, President, Deputy President, Treasurer, Secretary, Minutes Secretary, Competition Secretary, County Development Officer, County Safeguarding Officer, County Registrar, County Press Relations Officer, DBS Checker and Referees Delegate 1 vote. All Affiliated Leagues and Clubs.

The Chairman has the casting vote.

9. MANAGEMENT

The Management Committee consisting of the Ten Principal Officers, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Minutes Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, Competitions Secretary, Development Officer, Safeguarding Officer, Press Relations Officer.

And the Finance Committee shall conduct the business of the SCGBA.

The Finance Committee shall consist of the Treasurer plus others elected at the AGM meeting each year.

All Sub-Committees will be elected at the March Executive meeting.

10. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of:

The Management Committee

County Development Officer

Past President prior to 2022

2 nominees from any league affiliated to the SCGBA.

1. The Executive Committee shall meet at specified dates in October, January, March, May with the AGM on first Saturday in February.
2. All Sub Committees will meet as and when required.

11. The Management Committee shall meet as and when necessary, The Executive committee shall have the power to delegate any of its duties to Sub Committees who will meet as required. The Sub-Committees shall make all draws for competitions, cups, etc, select greens, and deal with protests and all other business of the SCGBA.

12. The annual General meeting shall be held on the first Saturday in February for the election of officers and to conduct the business from the ensuing season. Any club or leagues failing to send a representative to the AGM with be fined £20 this does not apply to clubs who do not play in any leagues. All relevant documents and minutes of the last AGM will be circulated 21 days prior to the AGM. 

The voting at the AGM and executive committee meetings shall be that for alterations to byelaws or rules, A majority vote will be required to carry a motion. Any abstentions shall not be counted. For anything other than alterations to byelaws then any resolution duly proposed, seconded and excepted by the chairman shall be carried by a clear majority of the members present and voting. At the AGM any affiliated league or club is entitled to 1 vote each. At Executive committee meetings any elected delegate is entitled to 1 vote each.

a)            A quorum for the AGM is no fewer than 30% of  clubs affiliated.

b)            A quorum for an Executive meeting is no fewer than 10 members.

c)            The choice of venue for Executive Meetings and AGM to be decided by the Management Committee.

13. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

The Secretary shall convene a special General Meeting within 14 days of receiving a request to that effect signed by the Secretaries of not less than five affiliated clubs, such requests to state clearly the object for which the meeting is to be convened and only that business shall be discussed.

14. ACCOUNTS

The accounts shall be closed on the 31st October each year and shall be audited and presented at the January Executive Meeting. A copy of such should be sent to each Club/League affiliated to the SCGBA together with the notice of convening the meeting 21 days before the date of the AGM.

15. ASSOCIATIONS & BOWLING LEAGUES

Each affiliated bowling league shall submit a copy of its programme including competitions, for the coming season to the County Secretary by 31^st March each year, together with the names and email addresses of all Secretaries and League delegates for the SCGBA Executive Committee. Failure to comply will result in a £25 fine payable within 7 days.

16. No event or competition organised by a League shall be sanctioned which clashes with an event organised by the SCGBA, unless with prior consent from the Management Committee.  First consideration must be given by all affiliated clubs and players to the Association’s requirements both as to the use of greens and services of players engaged in any Association fixture, and the Association shall have first claim on any green selected for use in their competitions, providing seven days’ notice is given to the Secretary of any Club whose green has been chosen by the Management Committee.

17. INTER-COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS – SENIOR, JUNIOR & VETERAN

17 a  SENIORS

At intervals of 3 years the AGM shall appoint a Selection Committee consisting of 4 Selectors. Details of selector’s duties can be obtained from the County Secretary.

17 b JUNIORS

A selection subcommittee, which shall be appointed by the AGM each year, will consist of the following League’s representatives (number of representatives in brackets) all on the sub-committee must be DBS checked.

Wem (1)   Tanners (1)   Ludlow (1) North Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association (1) Premier (1) Mid Shropshire (1)

The County Safeguarding Officer or a nominated DBS checked adult must attend the home leg of all junior county matches.

Details of selector’s duties can be obtained from the County Secretary.

17 c VETERANS

Annually the AGM shall appoint a selection sub-committee consisting of 3 selectors and three others (one from the Mid Shropshire League area, one from the Tanners League area and one from the North Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association area) to select the veteran’s team for that year. As appropriate, these three selectors may liaise with the Senior Sub-Committee (see 17a)

18. PROMOTION OF COMPETITIONS

18a. No individual Club or Organisation affiliated to the SCGBA shall promote any open competition in which bowlers from any Club affiliated to the SCGBA takes part, without the consent of the SCGBA.

This consent may be given provided the applications is made to the Secretary at least 42 days before the competition and must be accompanied with a non-refundable fee of £10.00 at which time a ‘Certificate of Authorisation’ will be issued.  Any advertisements must state clearly ‘Authorised by Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association’.  Only SCGBA affiliated players shall be permitted to take part in these contests.

18b. Requests for a BCGBA Open Contest Certificate must, in the first instance, be made via the County Secretary.

18c. Once approved by the County Secretary, advertisement and payment can be arranged.

19. No affiliated player shall take part in any competition, which has not been approved. Any Club or player doing so is liable to a £50 fine.

19a. County competitions other than County and Shropshire Cup and inter league competitions shall be open to all SCGBA affiliated bowlers unless stated male bowlers only.

19b. Returning County Trophies.

All County trophies must be returned at the County AGM (first Saturday in February) this includes all trophies both individual and team and player of the match trophy awarded at the county cup final and the novice cup at the Handicap.

Cups must be returned cleaned and engraved.

Failure to comply will result in a £10 fine.

20. INFRINGEMENTS

Every Club and League has access to view the Bye-Laws and Rules via the website and be bound thereby. In case of infringement of any one or more of the said Byelaws by any Club or League then such Club or League shall be dealt with by the Management Committee or Sub-Committee, which shall have power to fine or expel offenders. A member or members of the Management Committee or Sub-committee who is a member of the offending Club or League or connected in any way with the infringement shall not sit on the Committee during the hearing of the complaint. An Appeal against the Management or Sub-Committee decision can be made to the BCGBA in accordance with their Byelaws.

21. APPEALS

Any appeal or protest to the SCGBA shall be accompanied by a fee of £50.00, which may be forfeited in whole or in part to the SCGBA.  Decisions of the Executive Committee shall be subject only to the over-riding authority of the BCGBA.

22. INSURANCE

All Clubs affiliated to the Association must have current Public Liability Insurance cover of at least £5,000,000 each year.  If this cover is obtained through a source other than the BCGBA scheme, then evidence of the policy in the form of photo copies must be sent via email to the Treasurer each year. Failure to either insure through the BCGBA scheme or provide proof of alternative cover will deem the green(s) of the offending Club to be out of bounds to any bowler until such times as details of cover is provided and a fine of £25.00, payable within 7 days, will be imposed on clubs who fail to submit the correct documentation within 28 days of the date the policy becomes due.

23. ALTERATION TO BYELAWS OR RULES

Any directly affiliated Club, League or Association may give notice of any amendments or alteration to these Bye-Laws, such notice to be given in writing in expressed terms to the Secretary of the SCGBA no later than 30th November and all affiliated Clubs, Leagues or Associations shall be given notice of such amendments at least 21 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

24. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to deal with any matter not provided for in the foregoing Byelaws.

An Extraordinary meeting of Management Committee with representation of the Executive by three delegates can be called when matters arise that may need more in depth consideration for them to be decided in urgency.

25. These Bye-Laws and Rules and those of the BCGBA shall be read and construed together and if there shall be any inconsistency between them, then those of the BCGBA shall prevail.

26. In the event of any dispute, the interpretation of these rules shall be at the discretion of the Management Committee

Appendix: List of Affiliated Leagues

               1.  Market Drayton League

               2.  District Winter League

               3.  Shrewsbury seniors League

               4.  Oswestry League

               5.  Whitchurch O/60s League

               6.  Highley League

               7.  Malpas Seniors League

               8.  Ludlow & District League

               9.  Allscott Heath Winter League

               10. Mid-Shropshire League

               11. Whitchurch & District League

               12. Marches League (name change 2013: From Stretton League)

               13. Shropshire League

               14. Market Drayton Seniors League

               15. Shropshire Premier League

               16. Wem League

               17. Mid Shropshire Seniors League

               18. Oswestry Veterans

               19. Sir John Bayley Winter League.

Any new league to take their place at the end of the rota as it exists at that time, provided that they regularly attend Executive Committee meetings

Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association

CODE OF CONDUCT

EXPECTATIONS

Crown Green Bowling is a sport suitable for the widest range of individuals – young, old, male and female, able-bodied and disadvantaged. However, to maximize the benefits and opportunities available, Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association (SCGBA) expects the highest standards of conduct from all involved – players, spectators and officials.

This document sets out the expectations of the conduct of all involved parties and includes the responsible use of social media. This conduct is expected to be observed at all times and sanctions will be implemented for non-compliance.

PLAYERS & SPECTATORS

All participants and competitors should:

With exceptions to medical prescription, no one will render themselves unfit through alcohol or drugs, either on, around or away from the green whilst still under the jurisdiction of the County or League

Conduct themselves in a manner that takes all reasonable measures to protect their own and the safety of others

Adhere to the rules, byelaws and procedures of the BCGBA, SCGBA, leagues and clubs including prohibited Smoking and use of Mobile Phones on the green

Act in accordance with the rules of the competition or event inclusive of Players Dress Code, where applicable

Accept the decisions of officials of the event

Act in a sportsmanlike way at all times

Treat officials and others present with respect

Refrain from verbal & physical abuse including swearing, shouting and threatening behaviour.

Only alcohol which has been purchased at the venue of any county or league event may be consumed. Anyone found to be bringing in their own alcohol will be asked to leave.

Abide by the BCGBA Mission Statement on Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults

USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media provides a powerful forum for an exchange of views or constructive debate. The SCGBA expect all users to respect others by:

Being courteous, honest and fair whilst treating all people how they would like being treated

Acting in ways that supports the reputation of the sport

Maintaining appropriate confidentiality with regards to personal matters

Avoiding comments and behaviour which might reasonably be perceived as harassment, discrimination, bullying, intimidation, racist or threatening

Being genuine and not hide behind aliases or nicknames

Asking themselves, Is it true? Is it necessary? & is it relevant? before posting any comments

NON-COMPLIANCE

This Code of Conduct should be seen as a guide to best practice to allow enjoyment of the sport by all those involved. However, failures to comply will inevitably occur and in such breaches, it is essential that some judgement is provided and disciplinary action taken.

Any breach of the Code of Conduct may result in a fine, deduction of league points or suspension of players, teams or clubs.

Appeals will be heard on payment of £50, which will be refunded if the appeal is successful, by a disciplinary sub-committee

Any such breach will be reported within seven days of the alleged incident to the County Secretary who will arrange for a Disciplinary Sub-Committee to convene and consider the case.

Any player registered with the SCGBA who enters any competition whether in Shropshire, or any other Association and fails to pay the appropriate entry fee for that competition by the date stipulated by the competition organiser, will in the event of a non-payment, an immediate 12 month ban from all bowling within the county will be implemented, without exception or right of appeal, which will be at the discretion of the County Executive Committee.

Any allegation, concern, or any issue (including discrimination) which relates to the Safeguarding of Young persons (Minors) or Adults at Risk: The procedures and protocols/guidelines as agreed between the National Governing Bodies of Bowls shall take precedence over other codes of conduct or other procedures and shall be complied with. These procedures and protocols/guidelines can be found at the following web addresses:

http://www.safefuardingbowls.org/policies.html

http://www.safeguardingbowls.org/downloads.html