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Leagues

League Passes 2026/27

  • Flower, Bird £12
  • Pub, Football, Cricket, Tree & Copeland £16
  • Fruit & Nuts Summer Leagues £10/League

Without the additional small charge for league passes, we would have been looking at a higher annual membership fee.
The league passes allow a lower annual membership for all bowlers, whilst maintaining club income by recognising that league players are more likely to be benefitting from personal practice sessions, playing in county, national and league trophy matches at no extra cost.

Last Edit 27/04/2026

Indoor Bowls Section League Rules

 ( Quick Links > Bird, Flower, Football, Cricket, Pub and Tree ):

EFFECTIVE FROM START OF SEASON 2026/2027

 

All games to be played to Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition rules, the only exceptions being the club rules which apply to individual League Games.

  1. No trial ends.  
  2. In the interest of safety, when a player is intending to FIRE it is the player’s responsibility to ensure that other players and spectators are aware of the intention to so do. The other bowlers on the rink must be alert and be prepared to protect adjoining rinks from the moving bowls and jack. If the jack goes beyond the bank it must be re-spotted on the T.
  3. All games must start on time (or may commence earlier, by agreement, subject to the rink being available, if not a timed game) even if a player is late. The late player may join in up to 30 minutes after the scheduled time but not as skip. Timed games MUST start and finish on the bell.
  4. Games cannot be re-arranged other than when the rinks are required for National or County games. The only exceptions to this rule will be if two or more members of the team are representing the Risbygate Sports Club in a National or County Competitions such as the Yetton, Masons, JTB, in the case of extreme inclement weather or exceptional circumstances (which should be rare). In each case permission must be sought from the League Secretary giving as much notice as possible and in order to have consistency across all Leagues the final decision will be made by the Indoor Bowls Committee.
  5. If a team plays an ineligible player, the penalty will be the same as the penalty for failing to fulfill a game.
  6. If a game is cancelled for any reason it is the responsibility of the captain of the defaulting team to contact the opposing team captain and the League Secretary and must cancel the rink booking at least 48 hours prior to the booking time.
  7. All League players must be registered with a team and cannot play for more than one team in any League in any one season. In cases of the long-term disability of a registered player (and the full quota of players have been registered), a new player can be introduced to the team during the season but he/she may not play in a game until registered with the League Secretary.
  8. All League players must have a league pass for each league they play in.
  9. If, during the course of a game, a player has to leave the rinks due to illness, his/her place may be taken by another member of the team if both skips agree, but the substitute may not skip. If no substitute is available the game will continue to be played in accordance with the rules for that particular League. Notwithstanding any substitute must be a registered player (even if joining on the day).
  10. If a game has to be stopped for a valid reason it must be resumed as soon as possible with completed ends and scores as they were when the game was stopped. Any end started but not completed will be declared null and void.
  11. The score card must be completed with all players names, detailed scores, and must be signed by both teams. In the unlikely event of any objection or protest this must be recorded on the card before signature. 
  12. For triples leagues (Bird, Trees, Pub and Cricket) teams should play with 2 players if they cannot raise a full team. For fours leagues (Flower and Football) teams should play with 3 players if they cannot raise a full team. Other than in 4 above any match not played will results in all of the points being awarded to the non-offending team and +15 shots with – 15 shots against the offending team.
  13.  All indoor leagues/competitions and including all National and County competitions will be played using side re-spots. This means that there will be no dead ends. If the jack passes completely outside the side boundaries of the rink of play, or rebounds to a distance of less than 20 metres from the mat line, the jack must be re-spotted. If a bowl is on a re-spot, the jack will be placed as near as possible to the bowl without touching it, between the spot and the centre of the rink. If any other bowls are in the way the jack will be placed as near to that without touching it and the centre of the rink. New rule for season 2026/2027 as instructed by EIBA.

 

PRIORITY OF USE OF RINKS:

All National and County games take priority over internal leagues and other internal games. The member requiring the rink already booked is required to inform the relevant League Secretary and if not a League the person who had made the original booking.

Any re-arranged matches should be played within 21 days other than in exceptional circumstances agreed by the Indoor Bowls Committee.

 

 

Last Edit: 19/09/2026

Bird League (3 bowl triples, 2 sets of 6 ends) starting at 2.30pm on Thursdays:

  1. A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 8 players must be registered. The number of players registered can be of either sex however a maximum of 1 man may play in any one match. 
  2. A team playing one player short will play 7 bowls, i.e. one additional bowl for the lead player. The bowls will be played in the following order: The lead plays 2 bowls with the opposing lead and two with the opposing number two. The team which wins the end will cast the jack as normal but the team with the three players always bowls first. The skip plays 3 bowls as usual.
  3. A player arriving within 30 minutes of the starting time may join in but not play as skip in the first set.
  4. Each match will comprise 2 sets each of 6 ends.
  5. The winners of the first set will deliver the jack at the start of the second set unless the first set is drawn in which case the winner of the last end in the first set will cast the jack.
  6. At the start of the second game team players may change position.
  7. Teams are only required to enter shots won at the end of each set on the scorecard. The points will be awarded as follows: Game 1 = 2 points. Game 2 = 2 points. Drawn game = 1 point each. Overall shots score = 1 point for a win or ½ point each for an equal number.
  8. If a team is unable to fulfill a fixture, the points awarded to the non-offending team will be 5 plus 15 shots. The offending team will lose 15 shots.
  9. No visits to the head.

Flower League (timed game - 2 bowl fours) starting at 2.30pm on Tuesdays:

  1. A minimum of 5 and maximum of 9 players must be registered. The number of players registered can be of either sex however a maximum of 2 men may play in any one match.
  2. A team playing one player short shall play with 6 bowls in the following order: Lead v Lead, Lead, 2 v lead, 2, skip v skip, skip v skip.
  3. A player arriving within 30 minutes of the starting time may join in but not play as skip.
  4. Playing threes-up is optional however if adopted must be for ALL ends.
  5. If a team is unable to fulfill a fixture, the points awarded to the non-offending team will be 2 plus 15 shots. The offending team will lose 15 shots.
  6. No visits to the head.
  7. 2 points will be awarded for a win and 1 point for a draw.

Football League (2 bowl fours, 18 ends) starting at 6.30pm on Wednesdays:

  1. A minimum of 5 and maximum of 9 players must be registered. The number of players registered can be of either sex however a maximum of 2 ladies may play in any one match.
  2. A team playing one player short: The lead and No 2 of the depleted team will bowl three bowls each, but they lose 25% of score, any fractions to be rounded down.
    1. For example, if the depleted team scored 17 shots minus 4.25 leaving 12.75 which would then be rounded down 12.
  3. A player arriving late may join the match within 30 minutes of the scheduled start but not as skip. The match must start at the scheduled time.
  4. A team with less than three players will forfeit the game after a waiting time of 30 minutes has expired. The points awarded to the non-offending team will be 2 plus 15 shots. The offending team will lose 15 shots.
  5. Matches will be played over 18 ends and must be played to a finish irrespective of the score.
  6. Each skip may visit the head on one occasion in each end. The skip bowling second, MAY remain at the head when the opposing skip bowls their first bowl and this will not count as a visit to the head.
  7. No threes up.
  8. 2 points will be awarded for a win and 1 point for a draw

Pub League: 3 bowl triples starting at 6.30pm Monday’s and Tuesday’s per schedule.

 

  1. Group Stage Format: Fixtures will be played on Mondays and Tuesdays up to 24th November and from 7th December the top 6 teams will enter the Top Group and the bottom 6 teams will enter the Bottom Group.
  2. Games will be played as 2 sets of 7 ends, with a one end tie break to decide the games winner and earn an additional point. Players may change positions at the end of the second set however if a tie break is necessary the order of play at the end of the second set shall remain.
  3. Scoring:  2 points will be awarded for a set win and 1 point each for a drawn set. An additional  point will be won for any tie break victory in the event of games ending level on sets. The  groups will be split in the event of level points based on sets won, and then shots scored if still level.

Scenario                                                                      Points Result

A team wins both sets                                                 4 - 0

Each team wins a set each and a tie break occurs     3 - 2

A team wins one set and the other is drawn                3 - 1

Both sets are drawn and a tie break occurs                 3 - 2

 

  1. Knockout Phase: Games will be played as games of 2 sets of 7 ends, with a one end tie break to decide the  game’s winner. Details to be advised.
  2. Set games to be played in accordance with the Crystal Mark 4 laws of bowls.  All games will begin with a coin toss for the jack to start the first set.
  3. For the second set, the winner of the first set will start with the jack.
  4. In the event the first set is drawn, the winner of the final end of the first set will start with jack for  the second.
  5. In the event of a tiebreak end being needed, a fresh coin toss will take place to decide who starts the  end.

Cricket League (3 bowl triples, 2 sets of 7 ends) starting at 6.30pm on Fridays:

  1. A minimum of 5 and maximum of 8 players must be registered. A minimum of 2 of each sex.
  2. A minimum of one player of each sex in each triple however if a player short two from the same sex may play.
  3. If any team is one player short they will play in the following order: Lead to play 2 bowls against opposing lead, 2 bowls against opposing number two. Skips play 3 bowls as normal. A player arriving late for the first set may join their team but not as skip.
  4. Each match will comprise 2 sets each of 7 ends.
  5. All matches must be played to completion.
  6. No visits to the head.
  7. At the start of the second set team players may change positions.
  8. The winners of the first set will deliver the jack at the start of the second set unless the first set is drawn in which case the winner of the last end in the first set will cast the jack.
  9.  Teams are only required to enter shots won at the end of each set on the scorecard. The points will be awarded as follows: Game 1 = 2 points. Game 2 = 2 points, drawn game = 1 point each. Overall shots score = 1 point for a win or ½ point each for an equal number.
  10. If a team is unable to fulfill a fixture, the points awarded to the non-offending team will be 5 plus 15 shots. The offending team will lose 15 shots.

Tree League (3 bowl triples, 2 sets of 7 ends) starting at 11am on Mondays. :

  1. A minimum of 5 and maximum of 8 players must be registered.
  2. Any combination of men and ladies may play in each match.
  3. If any team is one player short they will play in the following order: Lead to play 2 bowls against opposing lead, 2 bowls against opposing number two. Skips play 3 bowls as normal. A player arriving late for the first game may join their team but not as skip.
  4. Each match will comprise 2 sets each of 7 ends.
  5. All matches must be played to completion.
  6. No visits to the head.
  7. At the start of the second set team players may change position.
  8. Winners of the first set bowls the jack at the start of the second set. If the set is a drawn the winner of the last end of the first set will bowl the jack at the start of the second set.
  9. Teams are only required to enter shots won at the end of each game on the scorecard. The points will be awarded as follows: Game 1 = 2 points. Game 2 = 2 points. Drawn game = 1 point each. Overall shots score = 1 point for a win or ½ point each for an equal number.
  10. If a team is unable to fulfill a fixture the points awarded to the non-offending team will be 5 plus 15 shots. The offending team will lose 15 shots.