1.ESMBA official Entry Forms for all disciplines of the National Championships are issued each year to counties - for distribution to all clubs/teams within their county in sufficient time for players to fully consider their entry before the local closing date.
2.Counties shall fully publicise each event within their county and must organise local qualifying heats of the Championship, on behalf of the ESMBA, which are open to all players registered via their county, in order to determine representatives to compete in disciplines at the National Finals.Counties may be asked to incorporate players from another adjacent county which has less than the minimum required number of entries.
3.Counties shall not organise local qualifying heats on weekends that are designated in the ESMBA Calendar as weekends when the England team is competing nor on days that are designated for ESMBA Committee Meetings
4.The National Championships of the English Short Mat Bowling Association are open to all players registered up to the closing date of the local county heats OR the final closing date set by the ESMBA - whichever is the earlier.
5.Only fully registered players may play in the Championships and only in the County with which they are registered as per the ESMBA Information Pack section 4 – Registered Players.Registration only takes effect when the ESMBA Membership Secretary has been notified in writing and the appropriate registration fee has been paid.
6.It goes to the root of acceptance that counties who wish to have representatives attending at the National Championships must have followed the procedures as detailed above.
7.Only the correct coloured ESMBA entry forms will be accepted as the official entry form for each event.These entry forms must have been fully completed, and must clearly show all dates and venues of the local heats together with ALL other required details.Incomplete entry forms or photocopies on white paper will be rejected.
8.Heats must be properly organised on a competitive basis, with a minimum of four teams in any one discipline (except for the Under 18’s) and in accordance with the full ESMBA Rules.(NOTE: In particular the ESMBA Rules concerning the jack off the mat and players visiting the head shall be observed).These heats may be run in conjunction with a county’s own county championships.If a county is unable to raise the minimum number of required teams in any one discipline (other than the Under 18s), entry forms should still be submitted – as early as possible – to the Nationals Organiser who will attempt, where possible, to arrange for these players to play against either another county who have less than the minimum number of entries or to fit them in with a local county that is prepared to accept the entries.
9.Players entering the local heats must do so with the express intention of attending the National Finals if they qualify.Players who qualify and do not attend the finals may be subject to disciplinary action.If a player does not attend in such circumstances he or she may be barred from entering the Nationals the following year.Authority to take similar action is delegated to CountyAssociations if players having entered their qualifiers fail to turn up to play.
10.Counties shall forward fully completed entry forms, together with a cheque for the appropriate amount, in sufficient time to ensure that they are received by the ESMBA Nationals Organiser BEFORE play commences at the earliest stage of the local heats, or prior to the ESMBA closing date - whichever is the sooner.No entry will be complete unless the appropriate entry fee is enclosed with the entry form.
11.Once an entry has been received by the local county, players may not change places with other players in the same event.
12.The names of players in the first four places in each qualifying event held within a county must be sent to the ESMBA Nationals Organiser within seven days of the completion of the local heats for each event and in all cases no later than the ESMBA closing date.These players will be eligible to play in the National Finals - but may not necessarily all be allocated places.
13.Championship qualifiers must attend the Championship finals at the due date and time for their event.They must be correctly dressed in accordance with the published code of championship dress (see Appendix).
14.The ESMBA reserve the absolute right to reject or exclude any entry it deems to be either inappropriate or unacceptable.
15.Substitutes may be used at any stage of the local heats/finals, provided it is prior to the commencement of play, the relevant county committee/national heats organiseris satisfied with the reason for substitution and the ESMBA Nationals Organiser has been notified either in writing or by telephone - before play commences.In instances of late substitutions that are notified by telephone, such notification must be followed up in writing to arrive within three days of the heat being played.
16.Once a substitute has played the original player(s) may take no further part in the event.However if a substitute has not yet played then the original player(s) may return to play.
17.A substituted player or one who has already played in the event cannot subsequently act as a substitute in the same event.
18.Substitutes in the National Finals are only allowed under very exceptional circumstances and then only with the express written permission of both the ESMBA and the relevant county committee.The circumstances and reasons for substitution must be clearly and fully explained.Players giving reasons which are deemed to be unacceptable may be subject to disciplinary action as set out above.
19.Substitutes in the National Finals must not have previously played in the same event.
20.Each event/discipline of the Championships is deemed to be a completely separate event and the above rules must be applied accordingly.
21.It is the duty of all players to attend the finals at the published time and date.Should a player or players arrive after play commences they may only join play at the start of their next scheduled game.
22.The ESMBA reserve the absolute right to interpret the rules and/or take action as is deemed appropriate for the running of the Championships at every level of play.
23.The National Championships comprise of separate events/disciplines all of which are equally open to members of both sexes with the exception of the Mixed Fours Competition, which is restricted to an entry of a team comprising of two male and two female members.
24.The ESMBA National Organiser will determine the allocation of places at the National Finals, in each event/discipline in accordance with the laid down procedures i.e.
Each County that has held qualifying heats with a minimum of four teams in any one discipline (except for the Under 18’s)and submitted the relevant results within the prescribed timescale, will be allocated places in that event/discipline, with places being allocated in accordance with a computer formula which takes into account the number of entrants from that county who took place in the qualifying heats of the event/discipline - as a proportion of the total number of entrants in that particular event/discipline.
PLAYING GUIDELINES
County organisers are reminded that the following are the requirements of the local qualifying rounds of the National Championships:
ØAll qualifying competitions should start on a ‘Round robin’ basis, with round robin groups being arrived at by an open draw, i.e. an out of the hat style draw.This must be followed by a knockout stage.
ØHowever where less than eight teams are entered the competition may be organised on a league basis, provided every team plays every other team and not just a number of random games.Competitions shall not be played on a basis where teams simply play a set number of games against random opponents with the winners being determined as the team with the most points, shots etc.
Ø‘Round robin’ groups should consist of three, four or five teams depending on overall numbers.
ØGroups of three should be played as follows;
§Game 11 v 2;
§Game 2Loser Game 1 v 3;
§Game 3Winner Game 1 v 3.
§One qualifier only should progress from each group, unless runners up are required to make the correct number for the knockout stage draw.
ØGroups of four should be played as follows;
§Game 11 v 3;
§Game 22 v 4;
§Game 3Winner Game 1 v Loser Game 2;
§Game 4Winner Game 2 v Loser Game 1;
§Game 5Loser Game 1 v Loser Game 2;
§Game 6Winner Game 1 v Winner Game 2;
§Two qualifiers should progress from each group.
Ø‘Round robin’ groups should be decided on a points league basis, the winner of each game to be awarded 2 points, with one point each for a draw.
ØThe minimum number of ends to be played in National qualifying heats are:
§Singles9
§Pairs8
§Triples7
§Fours7
SPECIFIC RULES APPLICABLE TO THE FINAL STAGES
a)Round One of each discipline will be conducted as a ”Round Robin” with each team playing against all other teams in the Group.
b)Scoring for the “Round Robin Stage” shall be 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.The final group table shall be formulated with the team with the highest number of points at the top.In the event of two or more teams within the group being equal on points, shot difference shall be used to decide which team is placed higher in the group.In the event of two teams still be equal on both points and shot difference the result of the game between the two teams shall decide who is placed highest and if that game should have resulted in a draw the number of ends won shall be the deciding factor.
c)Round Two onwards shall be a Knockout Competition.
d)All players/team captains are required to report to the Organisation Desk to ‘sign in’, at least 30 minutes before the time scheduled for the commencement of their first game.
e)All competitors are responsible for ensuring that they are aware of the scheduled start time of each game that they are due to take part in and should be aware that listed timings are only approximate and that after the first run of the mats games are expected to commence as soon as the mat becomes available.THE ORGANISERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ALTER THE PLAYING TIMES IN THE PROGRAMME AND IT IS ADVISED THAT PLAYERS DO NOT LEAVE THE VENUE AT ANY TIME UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.Players who intend to leave the arena for any period MUST ensure that the Organisers are aware of their whereabouts.
f)All players are required to be on the allocated mat and ready to play either at the time stated for the commencement of their game or whenever the mat becomes available for use - (N.B. - unless a player is still playing in a game on another mat).
g)If a teamdoes not take the mat within 10 minutes of being called to the mat, unless exceptional circumstances prevail of which the Organisers are aware (and see N.B. above), then the game will be forfeitedand the following action will be taken:
ØDURING ROUND ONE
§the 2 points for the game will be awarded to the opposition- and
§1 shot per end will be awarded to the opposition- and
§1 additional point will be deducted from the team’s points tally.
ØDURING ROUND TWO ONWARDS
§The opponent(s) will progress to the next round.
h)If players are missing from a teamthen the following will apply;
ØSingles- if the player is missing the game will be forfeited and the above will apply;
ØPairs- if a player is missing the game will be forfeited and the above will apply;
ØTriples & Fours- if one player is missing the standard ESMBA Rules will apply;
ØTriples and Fours - if two players are missing the game will be forfeited and the above will apply.
i)The dress code for the Nationals is quite clear and is detailed in the Appendix that follows - please do not turn up in greys that are almost black or white.Shoes must also conform to the requirements of the dress code.Only white or club/league/county tops or sweaters may be worn and players must come prepared for possible cold conditions.
APPENDIX – ESMBA Dress Code
The ESMBA Dress Code is in force at all stages of the National Championships.
Gentlemen
·White shirt with collar or polo shirt – no self patterns or stripes
·Only MID GREY trousers will be permitted
Ladies
·White blouse with collar or polo shirt – no self patterns, stripes or broderie anglaise
·Only MID GREY skirts not split above the knee, culottes or tailored trousers will be permitted
Footwear
·Bowling shoes or bowling sandals must be worn whilst playing on the rink mat.
·They may be black, brown, white or grey
Club Colours
·Shirts, blouses and polo shirts may be in club, league or county colours – England shirts may not be worn.
·No names, initials or logos will be permitted on the back of any garment
·Any names, initials or logos must be in keeping with the size of the ESMBA logo and no bigger than the breast pocket on a shirt
·In disciplines with more than one player, ALL players must be dressed in the same colours
Please be aware that non-compliance with the Dress Code will result in the offending player being asked to leave the bowling mat
NOTE:White or club, league or county colours above the waist
