WSBL 2024 temporary rule change

We are adopting the Bowlsresults.co.uk system for collating match results and formatting league tables this coming season.

One potential problem is if rule 15. C. is invoked-

15. c. If a player has to leave the green due to illness a substitute can be used. Where no substitute is available or where a full team is not fielded a team may play with one player short on up to 2 rinks. However, with only 2 players present in one team each side will play 6 bowls per end. The team of 2 players will incur a penalty of one third of their shots scored.

The automated system, in common with other automated systems, North Petherton’s for example, does not allow the input of fractions.

We would need to debate and vote on any permanent rule changes at the September AGM. However, the league executive has agreed that we introduce a temporary rule for the 2024 season.

New (temporary until voted on at next AGM) rule 15 .c

15.c. If a player must leave the green due to illness a substitute can be used. Where no substitute is available or where a full team is not fielded a team may play with one player short on up to 2 rinks. However, with only 2 players present in one team each side will play 6 bowls per end. The team of 2 players will incur a penalty of one third of their shots scored which will be rounded up/down as below. The first numbers are total shots gained with two players; the second numbers are the total shots that will be entered as the final score.

1/2=1, 3=2, 4/5=3, 6=4, 7/8=5, 9=6, 10/11=7, 12=8, 13/14=9, 15=10, 16/17=11, 18=12, 19/20=13, 21=14 22/23=15, 24=16, 25/26=17, 27=18, 28/29=19, 30=20, 31/32=21, 33=22, 34/35=23, 36=24, 37/38=25, 39=26, 40/41=27.

So, for example, if a team are playing with two players and their total score is 20 shots, then 13 shots will be entered on the scorecard as their final shot total for that rink.

Another example would be a team starting with three players, but a player leaves the green after, say 9 ends, due to illness. If no substitute is available, the remaining shots gained by the team of two will be reduced as above and then added to the total number gained before their player left the green. So, if for example after 9 ends 12 shots have been won, and in the remaining 9 ends a further 16 shots are won, the 16 shots are reduced to 11, giving a total number of shots for that team of 23. This is broadly in line with current practice, just we are not using fractions.

Thanks, and apologies to North Petherton, I have plagiarised this from their indoor rules (but tweaked it for triples rather than rinks).

It should be noted that I have looked back at our league tables through to 2012 and cannot find one example of a fraction being used in the shots total at the end of the season.

WSBL Executive Committee