Newport Skittle League
Rules 2025/26
1. TITLE AND MANAGEMENT
1.1 The league will be known as Newport Skittle League.
1.2 The headquarters of the league will be at British Legion, Queen Street, Newport.
1.3 The league will be managed by an Executive Committee of nine, comprising Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer (Officers) plus five team representative members.
1.4 The Chairman shall have a second and casting vote in the event of a tied vote in committee
1.5 A Special general meeting to be called in the event of new officers needing to be elected during the season.
1.6 A quorum of the committee shall be three members.
1.7 All officers and committee members to be elected at the league AGM and may be re-elected.
1.8 Executive meetings will be held on the last Thursday of each month and the teams meeting will be held on the first Thursday of each month, July to April commencing at 7:30 pm.
1.9 The league Annual General Meeting will be held on the first Thursday in July. Notices of motion must reach the Secretary fourteen days prior to the AGM.
1.10 Rules can only be changed or at an AGM and any new by-laws must be verified at an AGM.
The Executive Committee shall have the power to introduce rules during the season to cover matters not covered in the existing rules.
1.10 The Executive Committee must act within the rules.
2. TEAM MEETINGS
2.1 Each team must send a representative to all monthly meetings between July and April (no May and June meetings). That representative must sign the attendance sheet.
Failure to attend and sign the sheet will incur a fine (See Appendix).
2.2 Additionally, if a team misses three or more meetings between July and April they will be fined £25 and have 5 points deducted for every missed meeting.
3. TITLE AND MANAGEMENT
1.11 The league will be known as Newport Skittle League.
1.12 The headquarters of the league will be at British Legion, Queen Street, Newport.
1.13 The league will be managed by an Executive Committee of nine, comprising Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer (Officers) plus five team representative members.
1.14 The Chairman shall have a second and casting vote in the event of a tied vote in committee
1.15 A Special general meeting to be called in the event of new officers needing to be elected during the season.
1.16 A quorum of the committee shall be three members.
1.17 All officers and committee members to be elected at the league AGM and may be re-elected.
1.18 Executive meetings will be held on the last Thursday of each month and the teams meeting will be held on the first Thursday of each month, July to May commencing at 7:30 pm.
1.19 The league Annual General Meeting will be held on the first Thursday in August. Notices of motion must reach the Secretary fourteen days prior to the AGM.
Rules can only be changed or at an AGM and any new by-laws must be verified at an AGM.
The Executive Committee shall have the power to introduce rules during the season to cover matters not covered in
the existing rules.
1.10 The Executive Committee must act within the rules.
4. TEAM MEETINGS
2.1 Each team must send a representative to all monthly meetings between July and May (no June meeting). That
representative must sign the attendance sheet. Failure to attend and sign the sheet will incur a fine (See Appendix).
2.2 Additionally, if a team misses three or more meetings between July and May
they will be fined £25 and have 5 points deducted for every missed meeting.
3. TEAM AND PLAYER REGISTRATION.
3.1 T3.1 The annual registration fee will be determined by the Executive Committee and will include entrance to all competitions. The registration fee to be paid in full by the July meeting.
3.2 Team application forms, player registration sheets and cup entry forms will be issued to team representatives by the Secretary at the April meeting.
Team registration and cup entry forms to be returned at July Meeting.
Players registration forms at the August meeting
3.3 Teams must only play registered players, infringements will be dealt with by a fine (See Appendix), deduction of the illegal player’s score and deduction of game point(s), if necessary.
4. PLAYING SEASON
4.1 The Executive Committee will determine the duration of the season.
4.2 All points to be played for, home and away, 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw, plus 1 point for each leg won.
4.3 Any re-arrangement requested must be made in writing, with 6 days notice, to the Secretary.
4.4 Where a game is postponed, it can be played before the fixture date. If not
played by the fixture date the innocent team must give the opposition 3 dates
within 4 weeks, one of which must be accepted. Secretary must be informed of rearranged date.
Where the innocent party is the away team it is up to the home team to ensure the alley is available. If the alley is unavailable on all 3 dates the game must be played on a neutral alley. Failure to do so will result in teams being brought before committee.
4.5 When a postponement cannot be avoided during the last four fixture dates, the chairman and secretary will determine a date for the fixture to be played.
4.6 No games to be played after the last fixture date of the season. Failure to do so will result in the guilty team being fined £25. All points must be played for. There will be no appeal.
4.7 At the end of the season the top 2 teams in each division will be awarded
trophies and promoted to the next division (where possible). The bottom 2
teams will be relegated to the next division (where possible).
4.8 Any game not played on a date given by committee will result in team originally cancelling being deducted 5 points and other team deducted 3 points. Both teams fined £10
he annual registration fee will be determined by the Executive Committee and will include entrance to all competitions. The registration fee to be paid in full by the July meeting.
3.2 Team application forms, player registration sheets and cup entry forms will be issued to team representatives by the Secretary at the May meeting. Team registration and cup entry forms to be returned at July Meeting. Players registration forms at the August meeting
3.3 Teams must only play registered players, infringements will be dealt with by a fine (See Appendix), deduction of the illegal player’s score and deduction of game point(s), if necessary.
5. COMPETITIONS
45.1 Awards will be made for winners and runners up in all competitions.
5.2 All trophies must be returned in a clean condition to the league by the March meeting. Offenders face a fine (See Appendix) and will pay for replacement or repair.
5.3 All cup competitions will be 8 a side. Games will be played as a straight 8 and not two legs. Teams having less than 8 players cannot carry any score(s).
5.4 Where a team plays second and reaches the winning score with less than eight or twelve players having bowled and are then found to have played an illegible player(s) the match will be awarded to the opposing team.
All players must complete their bowling even if a winning score is reached before all have bowled.
5.5 In cups, in the event of a draw all players will bowl again to achieve a result.
5.6 Semi finals, and finals will be refereed by league officials when available.
5.7 In singles competitions there will be no reserve If a player is unable to play in 2nd or subsequent rounds they will forfeit the game and will not be fined.
In the pairs 3 players (1 reserve) are allowed and in four a side any four from six nominated players.
In singles and pairs when played on 1 alley the top 4 scores progress to a semi final. In the event of a tie for 4th place tying players to bowl 3 extra balls each until a result is achieved.
5.8 In front pin competitions the front pin must be knocked down for the score to be valid. If the front pin is missed and the ball or another pin comes back and knocks down the front pin, then only the front pin is replaced.
5.9 Any pins knocked down before the front pin is knocked down become invalid and do not count unless knocked down by a no-ball when they all go back up.
5.10 If a spare is made after missing the front pin with the first ball and knocking down remaining pins with the second ball, only pins knocked down by the second ball go back up. The front pin does not have to be knocked down again.
5.11 If a team fails to turn up for a cup competition they will forfeit the match and pay £1 per man for the sticker up.
5.12 In all refereed games players will pay £1 each for the sticker up.
5.13 All semi finals and finals of cup competitions to be played on a neutral alley, if possible.
5.14 In the event of a draw in champion of champions, any 4 players from each team may bowl again to achieve a result.
5.15 No games to be conceded (Fine as per failing to turn up)
6. FIXTURES
6.16.1 Where a team drops out before the completion of the first half of fixtures, all points gained to be deducted. Where a team drops out during the second
half, only second half points to be deducted if all other teams have played them once.
6.2 Where a team drops out each team member must pay any monies due to the league before registering with another Team.
6.3 Teams failing to turn up will be fined (See Appendix).
6.4 Home teams to send both match result sheets (either by hand or emailed with 2 scanned / photographed copies) to the Secretary by the following Sunday. Failure to do so will result in a fine (See Appendix).
6.5 All competition winners must send in all result sheets to the Secretary (except when refereed by league officials). Failure to do so will result in a fine.
(See appendix).
6.6 All league matches must be played in three legs of four players from each team, nine balls each, three at a time.
6.7 Matches must commence at 8:00pm. Play can commence with only four players ie the first leg. Where, and only where a team is short of players for the last leg, then one or two of the lowest scores from the first two legs can be used in the final leg. Those player(s) will not bowl again. Players may bowl again but their score will not count
6.8 All matches must be refereed either by the captains or suitable team members. Referees will sit at the bowling line to keep order.
6.9 Any ball that first touches the alley on or over the no-ball line or on or outside the sidelines will be called a no-ball.
6.10 Any ball delivered when there are dead pins or the sticker up on the alley will be called a no-ball.
6.11 If a player has a foot on the sideline or steps on or over the marked box lines whilst addressing the pins they will be no-balled. The ball must be delivered within the box sidelines.
6.12 All pins knocked down by a no-ball will be put back up.
6.13 Players are not allowed to support themselves in any way, by kneeling, resting on the chute or the alley with their hand. Referees to use discretion where a disability is apparent.
6.14 Referees will be the deciding factor in any dispute.
6.15 In the event of a team walking off the alley before game completion, both captains will be brought before committee who will give a date for the match to be completed from the cessation point. Offenders will be fined
(See Appendix).
6.16 In the event of a protest this must be sent to the Secretary, within three days of the match, with the fee (See Appendix).
7. PLAYERS
7.1 Each team shall endeavour to enhance the game of skittles by their efforts at league and cup matches and to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner.
7.2 Male and female members, 16 years and over are eligible to play.
7.3 Any player wishing to transfer must clear their commitments to their previous team and the league by paying one twelfth of outstanding fines.
Confirmation must be given by the losing team to the gaining team.
Transfers are only permitted up to the turn round of the fixtures. Fees for
transfers are shown in the Appendix.
7.4 All applications for extra player registrations must be made by text on the night of the match.
New players may play at any time during the match and names texted to the
Secretary. Extra registrations will be allowed throughout the playing season.
7.5 A player who has played in a cup match will be unable to play for a new team in any cup competition during the current season.
8. FINANCE
8.1 The Treasurer will present to teams, each month, a monthly report detailing the ncome and expenditure and current balances. The report will show teams liable for fines and fees. Fines and fees will increase for each month unpaid, (See Appendix). Where fines and/or fees are outstanding for three months offenders will be brought before committee.
8.2 All outstanding fines and fees must be paid by the April meeting.
Failure to clear outstanding fines and fees by the April meeting offending teams will be excluded from the following season
9. ALLEYS
.1 Alleys must measure 34ft from front of no-ball line to the front of the front pin, be a minimum of 52ins wide, be a maximum of 58ins wide and the bowling box a minimum of 8ft. Sidelines and no-ball line to be 2ins wide.
9.2 On a flat square back alley, a line should be marked 6ins behind the back FIVE pins in a VEE formation.
9.3 Balls must be between 4¼ to 4½ins in diameter. Pins must be 9ins high, 4ins at the girth and 2½ins wide top and bottom. Pins may be soaked but not tampered with.
9.4 Alleys, match balls and pins must be available to visiting teams 15 minutes
before all league and cup matches.
9.5 Where a match is refereed by league officials the alley is not available to either team prior to the match.
9.6 All balls and pins used for matches must be purchased from a supplier approved by the League prior to purchase.
9.7 The position of the sideline where a ball is deemed to be off the alley must be agreed by both captains before the start of the game
10. GENERAL
10.1 A copy of the league rules will be provided to all team secretaries and the
contents should be made available to all team members, in particular those who referee games.
10.2 Any matter arising which is not provided for within these rules shall be dealt with at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
10.3 The Executive Committee will be solely responsible for all matters to do with the management of the league. Any team being dissatisfied with any decision of the Executive Committee shall have the right to appeal
10.4 The league secretary is not to be contacted on Fridays except by text and any requests will not be granted until you receive confirmation.
APPENDIX
Fines and Fees
Fees
£
Annual registration fee- per team
42.00
Extra registrations- per player
2.00
Protest fee
5.00
Sticking up in refereed games -per player
1.00
Transfers -per player
2.00
Fines
Failure to attend 8 out of 10 meetings (where relegation is not possible)
25.00
Failure to notify secretary of rearranged date for cancelled game
10.00
Failure to play 4’s
8.00
Failure to play before last fixture date of season (Guilty Party)
25.00
Failure to play on a date given by committee (per team)
10.00
Failure to play pairs £2 each player plus £1 each for sticker up
6.00
Failure to play singles £2 plus £1 for sticker up
3.00
Failure to send competition result
2.00
Failure to sign attendance sheet at teams meeting
3.00
Failure to turn up for cup competitions- per team
8.00
Failure to turn up for league fixtures-per team
10.00
Forms not submitted by date given by league (per form)
10.00
Non return of trophy by announced date (per trophy)
10.00
Result sheets received late by Secretary (after Sunday following match played)
2.00
Teams not paying fines when notified at teams meeting (per month unpaid)
1.00
Teams walking off alley. (At committees discretion)
10.00
Unregistered players (for each occasion)
5.00