U.S. Championships

This booket is free.
Just ask your club USLBA rep.

It contains a copy of the complete world bowls rules as well as the US Domestic regulations.

Men & Women Rules and Regulations
Playdowns & Championships As amended to 2006

(A) REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH ENTRY

1 Lawn bowlers desiring to enter the United States Championships Competitions must be:

(a) Bona fide members of an affiliated USLBA club within, or members at large of the division, and USLBA members in the year of the playdowns and for 90 days prior to the Championships and are fully paid up in membership dues, as well as green fees and other fees if any.
(b) Citizens of the United States and if a member of more than one division, able to certify that their home club is in the division where they have entered the Playdowns.
(c) Willing and able to attend any US Championships Playoffs in which they have entered at the announced location and dates. Each division should make all playdown entrants aware before their playdowns that a qualifier or qualifiers who do not fulfill the above requirement and who have no reasonable excuse will be subject to a possible suspension to be determined by their Division Executive Board.
(d) Able to certify that they have not entered the Pairs or Singles from any other division in the same year.

2 Proof that any of the above requirements have not been fully met can be considered as due cause for disqualification at any level of play.

(B) SELECTION and REPORTING of DIVISION ENTRIES

1 Each Division shall endeavor to run competitive playdowns to establish the Division Singles and Pairs entries to these events, using any method of play consistent within these Rules

2 Each Division shall certify their official Singles and Pairs entries to the Chairperson of the US Championships Tournament Committee not later than 30 days prior to the opening day of the respective Championship Playoffs for that year.

(C) SUBSTITUTIONS (Division Level)

1 Substitution of a Singles entry or one or both members of a Pairs team shall not be permitted once play has commenced.

SUBSTITUTIONS (Championship Level)

2 Substitution permitted only under conditions specified in Articles C3, C4 and C5 of these rules.

3 In the event illness, death or other acceptable excuse prevents a Singles entry or one or both members of a Pairs team from continuing competition at the Championship site, substitution will be permitted only as listed in the following items.

3(a) SINGLES - The substitute shall be the next player in the order in the preceding event. i.e. The runner-up or second place, third place, etc.

(b) PAIRS - The substitute shall be the next complete team ( both players intact as originally entered ) in the order of winning in the preceding event. i.e. The runner-up or second place, third place, etc. Since winning in Pairs events depends on team effort, the combining of players into a new team cannot be permitted, except as an emergency measure under control of the Championships Tournament Committee as outlined in Article C 4 of these Rules.

4 In order to prevent the possibility of default by one of the Divisions at the US Championships Playoffs at the Championship site, the US Championship Tournament Committee have the option and the authority to appoint a replacement for a missing Singles entrant or for one or both of the members of a Pairs team providing the substitute (s) meets the following parameters.

(a) is a current USLBA member.
(b) must be from the same division as the defaulting player and the appropriate gender.
(c) and have not entered in the Pairs or Singles playdowns from any other division in the same year.

5 In the event that a Singles player or one or both members of a Pairs team cannot be replaced the match results of the Bye Team and the forfeiting Team will be recorded as follows:

(a) When a match has been forfeited in one or two rounds of the Round Robin format the team receiving the bye will receive 2 match points for the win and given the average winning score of the matches played in that particular round and the team forfeiting will receive 0 match points and the average losing score of the matches played in the same round.
(b) When a match has been forfeited in more than two rounds of the Round Robin format any and all matches previously played will be null and void and no results recorded.

6 If it appears that the above Rules on substitutions do not apply to a particular situation which arises during the Division Playdowns or at the Championship site, the following actions should be taken.

(a) Division Playdowns Immediately notify the USLBA Chairperson of the Rules Committee with all the pertinent facts and the ruling of the Chairperson shall be final.
(b) United States Championships Immediately notify the Chairperson of the US Championships with all the pertinent facts and the ruling of the Chairperson shall be final.

7 The council shall appoint a specific Councilor from the host division to be Tournament Director for the US Championships. The Councilor appointed may delegate this authority.

(D) GENERAL RULES

1 No Member may play in both the Singles and Pairs in the United States Championships.

2 All bowls in any US Championships event must carry the official ALBA, WBB or WB stamp or must have a certification from an official Bowls Tester. Date and serial number must be legible.

3 All matters concerning the US Championships (except financial) shall be referred to the US Championship Tournament Committee Chairperson rather than the USLBA National Secretary.

4 All play at the National level shall be Round Robin. For Singles play all games shall be 21 points. For Pairs play all games shall be 21 ends. All games must be completed. Tied games will remain tied.

5 The winner of each game at the National level shall be awarded 2 match points. In the event of a tie game in Pairs, each team will be awarded 1 match point. A loss is awarded zero points.

6 No more than two scheduled games will be played on any given day at the Championship site unless playoffs are required. More than two games per day can be scheduled at division level.

7 PLAYOFFS At the end of Round Robin play, those games, if any, tied in Match Points for first place, will playoff as required by the Championship Rules.

DRESS CODE

1 The dress for all US Men's Championships Competition shall be white, cream or matching colored shirts with sleeves and collars and white or cream long trousers.

2 The dress for all US Women's Championships Competition shall be white or cream attire with the exception that team matching colored shirts with sleeves and collars shall be acceptable when worn by all team members, Pairs & Singles. .

3 A blazer of the Division color to complete the uniform is optional but preferable when worn by all representatives of a Division team. ( male and female ).

4 Footwear for the Championships must be flat soled and heel-less for both genders. With the permission of the Tournament Chairperson, medically approved footwear can be used. Note: Sandals or open toed shoes are permitted only when worn with socks.

5 The dress code can be waived or amended at the discretion of the Tournament Director providing the changes meet the following parameters. (

a) For the men, white shorts can be worn providing that they be no shorter that 3 inches above the knee and worn by all the team members, Pair & Singles
(b) For the women, slacks, shorts or culottes providing that they are no shorter than 3 inches above the knee and are worn by all the team members, Pairs and Singles.
(c) Shorts with stripes can be permitted providing all three Division male members are dressed alike or all three Division female members are dressed alike.
(d) White, cream or colored crew necked shirts with sleeves can be worn provided all three Division male members are dressed alike or all three Division female members are dressed alike.
(e) Advertising on shirts is not permitted unless it is lawn bowling related or approved by the USLBA Council or the Chairperson of the Rules Committee, 30 or more days before the Championships.

DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS

Penalties for violation of the dress code will be administered by the Tournament Committee or a designee ( Head Division Umpire or substitute). 1st offense - warning. 2nd offense - loss of game.

NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS

1 White or cream slacks, shorts or culottes to be no shorter than three ( 3 ) inches above the knee and in good taste.
2 White, cream or matching colored team shirts with collars and sleeves
3 Footwear must be per Appendix A.2 Penalties for violation of the dress code to be administered by the Controlling Tournament Committee or a designee e.g. Event Head Umpire or substitute. 1st offense - warning. 2nd offense - loss of game.

ADVERTISING

1 Bowl manufacturers markings or trade marks on clothing, shirts hats, etc, and Lawn Bowling Club names and logos permitted as follows:

(a) Trademarks, names or logos must be dignified.
(b) No limit on number or size.

2 Sponsor trademarks, names or logos on clothing, shirts, hats, etc., permitted as follows:

(a) Trademarks, names or logos must be dignified.
(b) Max.size for each marking 100sq. centimeters. (4" x 4") approx.
(c) No limit on number.

3 Non-sponsored trademarks, names, or logos on clothing, shirts, hats, etc., permitted as follows:

(a) Trademarks must be dignified.
(b) Max.size for each marking 50sq. centimeters. (2" x 2") approx.
(c) Total of two per garment.

 

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