County Regulations

KENT COUNTY BOWLING ASSOCIATION REGULATIONS

(Men’s Section)

Updated: 29/03/2025

ORGANISATION

The association shall be divided into four divisions. Each division shall hold an Annual General Meeting between the 1st and 30th September each year. The business of the meeting shall be:

1a) To elect a chairman for the meeting

1b) To elect an Honorary Divisional Secretary and an Honorary Assistant Divisional
Secretary.

1c) To elect clubs to serve on the council of the association.

1d) To receive the annual report of the Honorary Divisional Secretary.

1e) To receive submissions for any council office for submission to council

1f) To transact any other competent business and notices of motion.

Each affiliated club within the division has the right to send a voting delegate to the Divisional Annual General Meeting. Other members may attend but not vote. A voting delegate shall represent only one club and proxy votes shall not be acceptable.

Affiliated clubs may submit nominations for representation on council, nominations for any Council Office and notices of motion to their Hon. Divisional Secretary. Submissions shall reach him no later than 1st August. He shall notify nominations for Council Office to the Hon Secretary no later than 10th August. The Hon Secretary shall in turn submit all nominations for council office to the council meeting following the divisional AGM. If by 30th September the Hon Secretary has not received nominations for all offices he may seek to call an Emergency Committee meeting.

Notice of the Divisional Annual General Meeting, an agenda, names of nominated clubs, notices of motion and names of nominations for Council Office shall be sent to each club no later than 14 days prior to the meeting.

Representation on the council shall be 15 clubs per division. If there are more nominations than places available representation shall be determined by ballot. The ballot paper will be sent with notice of the AGM. Votes must be cast for all 15 places and the completed ballot paper handed to the chairman by the attending delegate.

The clubs receiving the highest number of votes shall be deemed to be elected. In the event of 2 or more clubs receiving an equal number of votes for the final place or places an additional ballot of the delegates present shall be taken to determine which club or clubs shall be elected. If the election is not decided by ballot, then the chairman shall have a casting vote. Each elected club shall notify the Hon. Divisional Secretary of the contact details of its representative at the AGM.

Elected council members will assume office at the first council meeting following the Divisional AGM and will constitute the Divisional Committee. They shall elect from amongst themselves a chairman and meet at such times as is necessary to conduct the business of the division. The committee shall have power to fill any vacancy arising during the year and to co-opt.

Delegates should attend all Divisional committee and Divisional AGM: attend council meetings and represent the views of their club at all meetings. They should feedback relevant information to their clubs and put their names forward for at least 3 P&C Matches.

Any notices of motion supported by the divisional AGM shall be forwarded to the KCBA Secretary for discussion at council.

All proposed changes to regulations or competition bye laws shall be referred to the Admin Sub Committee.

2 DUTIES OF COUNTY MALE OFFICERS

It is the duty of all retiring officers to hand the property, monies and information belonging to the association to their successors.

2a) COUNTY PRESIDENT

To serve as figurehead for the KCBA men’s section and make speeches and presentations as required.

Attend all meetings of the association except Admin Sub and u24 committee.

Attend all Middleton Cup matches

Attend all KCBA competitions from the quarter finals onwards

Play in all KCBA friendly matches

Play in all P & C matches

Should endeavour to attend and support KCBA representatives in the national finals. The incumbent is responsible for their own accommodation arrangements. This responsibility may be shared with the senior Vice President by mutual agreement.

Act as vice chairman of the KCPPBA in the year following your year of office and as chairman the year after.

Badges and chain of office are presented at the KCBA AGM. Some financial support is available for mileage and presentations, but personal gifts are the President’s responsibility.

2b) SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

Co-ordinate with the President to support him in his duties

Some financial support is available for mileage

2c) HONORARY CHAIRMAN

The chairman has a strategic role to play in representing the vision and purpose of the association.

The Hon Chairman shall

Submit a report for the previous year at the final council meeting of each year

Attend all meetings of the council and its sub committees.

Bring impartiality and objectivity to meetings and decision making

Ensure that each meeting is planned effectively, conducted according to the constitution, and that matters are dealt with in an orderly and efficient manner

Be aware of current issues which may affect the association

Sit on appointment and final appeal panels as appropriate

2d) HONORARY SECRETARY

The Hon secretary shall

Convene and prepare all meetings of the council and sub committees.

Conduct the correspondence of the male section of the association and pass on to the Match and Competitions Secretary, Team Manager, Webmaster and Divisional Secretaries any correspondence relating to their duties.

Submit to the October council meeting all candidates nominated by the divisions for council office.

Submit a report for the previous year at the last council meeting of the year.

Act otherwise under the general direction of the council

2e) HONORARY COMPETITION AND MATCH SECRETARY

The Hon Competition and Match Secretary shall

Organise and administer the match arrangements for all men’s association games including President and Council

confirm venues for all matches/competitions in conjunction with Divisional Secretaries and Senior Team Manager

Construct yearly programme and send to Webmaster

Receive Divisional Secretaries selections for county friendly games

Confirm individual selection for county friendly matches and collect fees from players and visitors

Arrange for replacement players in liaison with Divisional Secretary

Confirm meal requirements with the host club

Publish programmes for the final stages of county competitions

Arrange umpires and markers as required

Manage the supply of relevant clothing and badges

Annually send a record of income and expenditure to the KCBA Treasurer

Annually send a record of stock to the KCBA Treasurer.

2f) HONORARY TREASURER

The Hon Treasurer shall

Take responsibility for monies belonging to the men’s section of the association.

Incur and pay only such financial liabilities as directed by council.

Maintain an income and expenditure account and prepare an annual statement of accounts and balance sheet at the end of September for submission to the Hon Financial Officer

Keep the funds of the men’s section in a bank account approved by the Hon Financial Officer

On retirement hand to his successor or the Hon Chairman all books papers and cash belonging to the association.

2g) HONORARY MINUTE SECRETARY

The Hon Minute Secretary shall

Attend and minute the proceedings of all meeting of the council

Furnish the Hon Secretary with copies of the minutes as soon after the meeting as is reasonable.

2h) HONORARY UNDER 24s TEAM MANAGER

The Hon Under 24s Team Manager shall

Arrange the under 24s match programme and copy the Webmaster and Hon Competition and Match Secretary.

Maintain a register of under 24s in liaison with the Divisional Secretaries.

Notify players of their selection.

Inform the Webmaster of all match details and results

Keep detailed accounts and annually provide the Hon Treasurer with these accounts

2i) HONORARY P&C MATCH OFFICER

The Hon P&C Match Officer shall

Using the list of matches from the Hon Competition and Match Secretary send an availability sheet to all council members during early January

Meet the President to select teams for notification of council members before the spring council meeting.

Contact replacement players in the event of selected players dropping out

Co-ordinate with the host to ensure the match and after match formalities proceed smoothly

Notify the Webmaster of all results.

Annually send a record of stock held to the KCBA Treasurer.

2j) SENIOR TEAM MANAGER

Attend inter divisional matches and in discussion with Divisional Secretaries establish players worthy of selection for KCBA representative matches.

Check player availability, make selections and advise players of their selection.

Notify the Webmaster of team selection.

Confirm venue and arrangement with the Hon Competitions and Match Secretary

Report results to BE, press and Webmaster

Provide BE with nominations for international trial.

2k) HONORARY DIVISIONAL SECRETARIES

Each Divisional Secretary shall

Prepare convene and attend the AGM of his division in accordance with regulation 1

Ensure that club delegates elected to council at the AGM are updated on the website.

Prepare convene and attend all meetings of the divisional committee

Conduct the correspondence of the division.

Advise the Hon Secretary of any decisions by the divisional committee which relate to council

Ensure that the affairs of the division are conducted in accordance with KCBA rules and regulations.

Maintain a list of badged players within the division

Arrange for players selected for county friendly matches to be forwarded to the Hon Competition and Match Secretary by week 12.

Notify the Hon Under25 secretary of any known eligible players within the division.

Ensure that the divisional rounds of the KCBA competitions are organised, conducted and completed in accordance with rules and regulations

Annually manage and collate the receipt of affiliations and competition entries.

2l) HONORARY ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL SECRETARIES

Each Hon Assistant Divisional Secretary shall

Assist the Hon Divisional Secretary as required by him

2m) HONORARY WEBMASTER

The Webmaster shall

Input information given to him by various officers in a timely fashion so that the website is always up to date.

Maintain the website and continually develop it so that it remains user friendly and attractive to users.

Ensure that the Association website complies with current data protection legislation.

3 COMMITTEES

3a) EMERGENCY

COMPOSITION: The President, Senior Vice President, Chairman of Council, Hon Secretary, Hon Competition and Match Secretary, Hon Treasurer, Hon Minute Secretary, and the four Divisional secretaries or their Assistants.

QUORUM: Five to include the Chairman or his deputy

TERMS OF REFERENCE: To make emergency decisions on behalf of council and to report them to the next council meeting.

3b) UNDER 24 ADMINISTRATION

The under 24 administration will be carried out by the team manager who will be elected at the Autumn council meeting from nominations coming from the divisional AGMs

The terms of reference are as follows

To arrange under 24 fixtures in conjunction with the Hon Competitions and Match Secretary.

To select teams for friendly matches

To select KCBA representative teams

To nominate players for Junior International Trial and notify the Hon Competitions and Match Secretary.

To advise the senior Team Manager of any players for consideration in the Middleton Cup

3c) ADMINSTRATION SUB

COMPOSITION: Chairman or his deputy, Hon Secretary, Hon Divisional Secretaries, Hon Assistant Divisional Secretaries Hon Treasurer and Hon Competitions and Match Secretary. The committee has the power to co-opt

TERMS OF REFERENCE: To be responsible for reviewing the work and organisation of the association and making recommendations for change to the council.

QUORUM: Five including the Chairman or his deputy.

3d) COUNCIL

COMPOSITION: Chairman or his deputy, President, Senior Vice President, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer, Hon Match and Competitions Secretary, Hon Divisional Secretaries, Hon Assistant Divisional Secretaries, Hon Minutes Secretary, Webmaster, U24 Secretary, P&C Officer, Team Manager, Past Presidents, Life Members, Greens Advisor, all elected council members from all four divisions.

TERMS OF REFERENCE: To conduct all relevant business of the men’s section of the KCBA

QUORUM: 30 including the Chairman or his deputy

4. COUNTY FRIENDLY MATCHES

4.1) SELECTION

After ascertaining player availability each divisional committee will select the number of players required by the Hon Competitions and Match Secretary. Each divisions selections shall be sent to the Hon Competitions and Match Secretary by week 12 and he shall have the power to find replacements preferably in consultation with the relevant Divisional Secretary.

4.2) QUALIFICATION FOR SELECTION

a) Previously badged players.

b) Non badged players who during the previous season in all county competitions excluding the 2 wood singles and Cox Cup, having won in at least 4 rounds up to and including the divisional final and having played in the quarter finals. The exception is the fours when only 3 rounds up to and including the divisional final are required plus participation in the quarter finals.

c) Other unbadged players of known merit whose past performances in county competitions prove them worthy of selection.

d) Unbadged players who, after 4 years continuous service in certain elected offices may be recommended for their badge by council. These offices are Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer, Hon Competition and Match Secretary, Hon Divisional Secretary, and Hon Assistant Divisional Secretary.

5. MIDDLETON CUP

The team manager may consider players other than those nominated by the divisional committees. He may take appropriate action in the case of failure to honour selection commitments without reasonable explanation. The Team Manager or his assistant cannot be selected to play.

6. COUNTY BADGES

A county badge shall be awarded to

A player who has been selected meeting the above qualification criteria and plays for the county for the first time. Playing as a substitute does not qualify. The badge shall be presented irrespective of any play commencing.

A member elected as an Honorary Life Member and the Senior Vice President on his election to office.

A member recommended as in regulation 5.2 d

A finalist who satisfies the conditions in 5.2.b. The badge shall be awarded at the completion of the final.

A winner of the o55 fours competition

7. UNDER 24 COUNTY BADGES

An under 24 county badge shall be awarded to

A player who has played in the u24 two fours competition in one season. This excludes a full county badge holder.

Winner of the u24 singles and winners of the pairs to be awarded an u24 county badge and a flash.

8. FLASHES

A flash shall be awarded to

A player who has played in three Middleton Cup games

The Hon Secretary, Hon Competitions and Match Secretary, Hon Minute Secretary, Hon Divisional Secretaries, Hon P&C Match Officer.

Winners of county championships.

9. DRESS CODE

Players representing the County association at all levels including the quarter, semi and finals of the county competitions are required to report to the responsible match officer having changed and ready for play. For county representative and county friendly games the official county shirt will be worn together with approved BE white shorts or white trousers.

For the final stages of the county competitions club shirts or white shirts with collars can be worn together with approved BE shorts or trousers. In team games all players must wear the same style of clothing. Approved bowling shoes must be worn on all occasions. Any team not appearing in the same style of clothing will be disqualified from the relevant competition.

10. COLOURED CLOTHING

All club colours shall comply with current Bowls England regulations.

11 MERIT CERTIFICATES

A certificate of merit will be awarded by the Association to a person who has given a minimum of 15 years’ service to their club in any capacity. Applications containing a brief citation and signed by two club officers, must be submitted to the appropriate section Hon Secretary by 1st July. No more than two submissions per club per year will be permitted. A maximum of 30 certificates will be awarded annually. Each section will scrutinise their applications and submit an agreed list of recipients to the Management Committee for ratification. Presentations will be made at the Annual General Meeting of the Association.

12 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS

The council shall have such powers as may be appropriate to govern County Championships and other competitions.

13 GREEN MAINTENANCE

The council shall appoint annually a Greens Maintenance Coordinator who shall be an ex officio member of the council and will be required to report annually.