Winter League
Yesterday we reported on the decisions of the Management Committee regarding the bids from teams to decline promotion or avoid relegation but there was a lot of other business conducted as well. That included discussing several proposed new rules for the 2025-26 season. League Rules can only be added, deleted or amended by a vote among all the League's teams which is usally held at the August Annual General Meeting. The prurpose of the discussions at this stage is for the Management Committee to identify any such changes that they want to support which will be put forward at the next AGM.
One proposal looked at reducing the number of representatives on the League's Management Committee. Currently this body is comprised of the League's three elected officials - Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer - plus 6 elected members and a representative from each of the eight host green clubs. A total of 17 members. The proposal looked to losing all six of the elected members.
There was strong representation against the proposal after learning that the League's bankers insist on only elected personnel being signatories with access to League's bank account. There was also concern about producing an inbalance of representatives which would lead to a strong leaning in favour of host clubs. in additon there was also a worry that a lot of Winter League experience would be lost by the change. A vote revealed only one vote in favour of the change.
The major change proposal was about General Rule 15 which has caused so much confusion and discussion among teams and bowlers. This is the rule which opened up the opportunity for teams to bid to decline promotion or avoid relegation. After strong opinions were shared it was agreed to delete Rule 15 in its entirity.
League Rule 14 is to be beefed up to give the responsibility to the Management Committee in deciding the make-up of the divisions and the number and identity of teams in each division. The Management Committee will become responsible for introducing a process that they want to use to reach this end result. That may include using the method introduced this year by inviting teams who finish the season in promotion or relegation places to bid to avoid those outcomes. Or it may not. It is up to the Management Committee how they want to handle that process.
Another change approved at the Management Committee was the abolition of the Guest Bowler status. Should this change be approved at the AGM it would mean that from next season no Guest Bowlers will be allowed. The feeling being that Guest Bowlers have served their purpose in expanding the scope of the League but are no longer of any real benefit. Bowlers who have held Guest Bowler status in the 2024-25 season will become bona fide members of that club after serving the previous season as a Guest Bowler so they will not be lost to the League or their teams.
Correspondence from a Rastrick bowler highlighted a missing rule from the League. This would cover the time allowed before a bowler could claim the game due to a late/non-arrival of their opponent. The correspondence suggested some time limits that could be applied. There was general agreement that there is a requirment for such a rule to be added to the rule book. Some time is to be taken at looking at options before a solution is put before the Management Committee with a view to putting a new proposal before teams at the AGM next August
It should be stressed that any rule change can only be made at a General Meeting of all teams in the League. The changes approved at the Management Committee meeting this week will now be put before teams at the August Annual General Meeting. So this is the first stage in the process but it is up to the teams whether the changes go any further or not.
Coming up soon is the report on the rest of the business conducted at the meeting including
potential sponsorship of the Winter Cup and Pairs KO competitions to provide cash prizes for the winners
possible rotation of Greens and Divisions
End-of-Season Party arrangements
Winter Cup Finals Day
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