Rules of Play

1.1 Team Registration

• 1.1.1 Any team wishing to play in the forthcoming season must pay an annual team registration fee, set at the AGM, by the 31 July preceding the new season.
• 1.1.2 Registered teams may register an unlimited number of players (see Player Registration).
• 1.1.3 Teams wishing to change their name must notify the Committee before the AGM.

1.2 Player Registration

• 1.2.1 Players must register before playing in a match by completing the registration form found on the website.
• 1.2.2 Registration may occur on the night of a players first fixture, so long as it is submitted before the match.
• 1.2.3 Only registered players may play in the league and knockouts and may only play for one team during a season.
• 1.2.4 Any player not registered (in virtue of no form being completed) will be ineligible to score or contribute to a team’s total score.
• 1.2.5 Once a player is registered, their registration will remain active for a rolling period of 365 days from the last fixture they played in.
• 1.2.6 It is the Team Captains responsibility to ensure players are registered, by checking the Players Register (found on the website).

1.3 Other Competition Registration

• 1.3.1 To compete in any of the Pairs or Individual tournaments, a player must sign up for the tournament either online in advance of the tournament, or on the night if space is available (subject to committee discretion).
• 1.3.2 Players who are not registered with the club may compete in the tournaments but must complete a temporary registration form (either via sign up to the tournament or on the night).

2.1 Fixtures

• 2.1.1 Fixtures will be prepared by the Fixtures Secretary and circulated to the Captains and Players before the start of the season.
• 2.1.2 Every effort should be made to play fixtures on the days they are scheduled.
• 2.1.3 This could include the use of the 5 Player rule (see below).
• 2.1.4 Where a fixture cannot be played, it may be postponed, so long as the fixtures secretary is notified of the postponement from the postponing team.

2.2 Postponing Fixtures

• 2.2.1 The committee may postpone fixtures due to circumstances outside of its control for the safety of the clubs members.
• 2.2.2 Postponed games should be re-scheduled at the earliest opportunity and must be completed in sufficient time to allow competitions dependent on the results to go ahead:
  • 2.2.2.1 For any Knockout fixtures, fixtures must be re-scheduled and played before the next round of the competition, or the postponing team will forfeit.
  • 2.2.2.2 For any League fixtures, these must be re-scheduled and played no later than a week before the Champion of Champions is scheduled to occur.

2.3 Other Fixture Issues

• 2.3.1 Any team that does not show up to play a fixture, without notifying the opposing team will receive a walkover loss and be awarded no pins.
• 2.3.2 The non-offending team will receive a score deemed to be their average pins.
• 2.3.3 Any other fixtures issues will be resolved at the discretion of the committee.

3.1 Set Up

• 3.1.1 The 9 pins should be placed on the spots at the end of the alley.
• 3.1.2 The tallest pin (the “King Pin”) must be placed on the centre spot.
• 3.1.3 The 3 balls should be placed in the ball return.
• 3.1.4 Teams should determine who will bowl first, either by coin toss or by other, fair method of choosing.
• 3.1.5 All players from both teams should arrive with sufficient time for their match to start promptly and without any unreasonable delay as no allowance is made for late starts.

3.2 Game Format

• 3.2.1 The bowling team will commence the match.
• 3.2.2 A standard match consists of 2 teams with a maximum of 6 players each, playing 5 hands, per player, using 3 balls per hand.
• 3.2.3 The team determined as the bowling team will play the first hand. The teams then swap.
• 3.2.4 After the first hand, each team will take turns playing 2 hands until the bowling team has played all 5 hands, at which point the opponent will play the final hand.
• 3.2.5 During Knockout games where a winner is required, teams will continue to play additional hands (starting with the team that bowled last) until one team has scored more pins when both teams have played equal hands.
• 3.2.6 The team with the highest total score is the winner.

3.3 During the Match

• 3.3.1 A ball may only be bowled underarm.
• 3.3.2 The non-bowling team should ensure they have sufficient players to remove / restack the pins without unreasonable delay.
• 3.3.3 Any pins accidently knocked down during a game must be replaced to the nearest spot.
• 3.3.4 Teams may play out of order if one or more of the players is absent from the alley, however this should be reduced to a minimum wherever possible to avoid delay.
• 3.3.5 Any player arriving late may join the game from the current hand being played but cannot play any hands they have missed.
• 3.3.6 Substitutions for injured players may be made if the injury was sustained while playing and as a result of play.
• 3.3.7 The player substituted in must also be a registered player.
• 3.3.8 An injured player may not be reintroduced to the game once substituted.
• 3.3.9 If a player is substituted due to injury, the details of the injury and the replacement (including scores) must be included on the scorecard for the attention of the fixtures secretary.
• 3.3.10 Both the injured and substitute player’s scores will be ignored for the purpose of average score calculations.
• 3.3.11 If a ball or pin contacts the side wall after the pack has been hit initially, any pins felled from this contact will be legal and counted towards the player’s score.
• 3.3.12 The only exception is if a ball or pin is caused to bounce off the wall that intrudes onto the alley and in turn knocks down any further pins, these pins do not count towards the score and must be put back onto the spots they were knocked down from.

4.1 Scoring

• 4.1.1 Each player’s score is based on the number of pins they knock down, disregarding any pins knocked down by a No-Ball.
• 4.1.2 If 9 pins are knocked down and the player still has a ball(s) to bowl, the pins will be restacked, and the player will continue bowling.
• 4.1.3 A maximum score is therefore 27 over three balls.

4.2 The Scorecard

• 4.2.1 A scorecard must be completed for all league and knockout matches (including the 4-A-Side fixtures).
• 4.2.2 A scorecard must include: Team names; Date the fixture is played; Each players full name; Each players final score; The total score for the team; A signature from each team captain (or designated stand-in).
• 4.2.3 Any scorecard that is not complete in respect of player or team scores will be deemed to have scored the lowest total.
• 4.2.4 In respect of any score omission (either team or player), this will be Nil.
• 4.2.5 In respect of any unclear scores this will be interpreted as the lowest possible value (e.g a 7 that looks like a 1 will be deemed to be a 1).

5.1 League Results

• 5.1.1 Two points will be awarded for a team victory; 1 point per team will be awarded for a draw.
• 5.1.2 In the event of a points draw at the end of the season, the total pin count of each team will decide the team’s final position.
• 5.1.3 Should the pin count also be a draw, the positions will be determined by a playoff match should it determine the league champion, relegation or promotion.

5.2 Sarnia Skittles Club Cup

• 5.2.1 The Sarnia Skittles Club Cup will be based on a score handicap system, in order to try and create a level playing field for teams during the competition.
• 5.2.2 The handicap scores will be determined based on the previous two seasons averages.
• 5.2.3 Where a new team joins and does not have this history, a handicap score will be determined before their first game, based on recent results.
• 5.2.4 The handicap scores will be advised on the website / noticeboard and should be added to the teams final score.
• 5.2.5 The additional pins do not affect a player’s overall match score, and no inflation will occur as a result.
• 5.2.6 Where both teams score the same total (including the balancing score) the result will be a draw (within the group stage) and will require an additional hand to be played (in the knockout stage).
• 5.2.7 Balancing scores for additional hands will be advised on the website / noticeboard.

6.1 5 Player Rule

• 6.1.1 To avoid an overwhelming number of postponed fixtures towards the end of the season, teams may opt to play a match with 5 players (rather than 6).
• 6.1.2 When a team plays with five players, the score for the absent sixth player is compiled by each of the five present players bowling one extra hand. These five hands are totalled to create the score for the sixth 'player' on the scorecard.
• 6.1.3 No player will score additional pins for their personal score.
• 6.1.4 In all instances, it is encouraged that 6 players should play where available and any abuse of this allowance will be deliberated on by the Committee at their sole discretion with any outcome also being at the sole discretion of the Committee.

6.2 No-Ball Rule

• 6.2.1 In certain circumstances, a ball may be bowled for which it is deemed a No-Ball.
• 6.2.2 A No-Ball occurs when:
  • 6.2.2.1 the bowling players foot, hand or other body part touches the first red line at the beginning of the alley or any part after the line in the process of bowling;
  • 6.2.2.2 the ball touches the side walls of the alley before the pins have been hit by the ball;
  • 6.2.2.3 the ball does not contact the alley before the second red line.
• 6.2.3 A No-Ball should be called loudly when it occurs, with the Captain of the opposing team explaining the reasoning (after discussion with the team if they were not present to view it) with the opposing Captain should it be required.
• 6.2.4 Any pins knocked down by a no-ball do not count towards the player's score. These pins must remain down for the remainder of that player's hand and should not be re-stacked until the hand is complete.
• 6.2.5 Should a no ball knock down all the remaining pins, any further balls to be played in that hand will be forfeit.

• 7.1.1 Any team or player using foul, abusive or offensive language or causing damage to the alley or skittles shall be dealt with and at the Committee’s discretion.
• 7.1.2 All matches should be played in a spirit of friendly competition. Captains are responsible for their team's conduct and are expected to work together to resolve any minor disputes fairly and without delay.

• 8.1.1 To qualify for the individual average trophy, a player must have played in 50% or more of their team's league matches.
• 8.1.2 Knockout and Group Stage matches do not affect the league average calculations.
• 8.1.3 Any score by a player is eligible for the Highest Score of the Season award.
• 8.1.4 If a team is deemed to have scored no pins (by way of walkover or omission of team scores), their average will be calculated including any nil scores.

• Season: a period of 1 year from 1 July to 30 June the following year
• AGM: Annual General Meeting
• Registered Team: a team accepted into the league for a season by the Committee
• Registered Player: a player who has completed the official registration form (as found on the website and updated from time to time) and who has played a fixture within the last 365 days.
• League Match: a match for which the result affects a divisional competition for which a standings table is kept to ascertain positioning
• Knockout Match: a match that takes place as part of a tournament where a winner is required in order to advance to the next round
• Group Stage Match: a match which counts towards the group results and determines the teams that qualify for the next round of the Sarnia Skittles Club Cup
• Injury: a physical inability (that was not present before the commencement of the match) to continue playing the game caused as a result of participation in the fixture when present in the alley
• Alley: the wooden alley itself, the walkways either side, the spectating area and the seating area. This does not include anything beyond the door to the Skittles alley
• Website: sarniaskittles.com