June 24, 2006



To all Gold Coast Representatives:

    Attached is a revised draft of our Gold Coast By-Laws for your review.   The changes are minor and are shown in bold print. This incorporates the changes we agreed on at the start of the season, namely, up to two substitutes are permitted on a team and the role of League Secretary rotates each year to the Representative of the host Club for the opening match of the season.
    Guidelines for the League Secretary are also included for your comment.
    

                            Kenneth E. Gould
                            Gold Coast League Secretary
                            (805) 681-9860
                            KenEGould@msn.com

GOLD COAST BY-LAWS
  Draft Revision - June 2006    Revisions are in bold print.

I.    ORGANIZATION AND AUTHORITY

1.    The Gold Coast League shall be comprised of the lawn bowling clubs of Mackenzie Park, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria.  Each club shall select a Club Representative.  The Representative, or his delegate, of the host club for the first league match of the season becomes the Gold Coast League Secretary for that season. Guidelines for the role of League Secretary are attached to these by-laws. The four Club Representatives will comprise a Protest Committee that will rule on any protests presented by the League Secretary.   A meeting of the Representatives may be called at any time upon request by the League Secretary or any two Representatives.  

2.    Any suggested changes to these By-Laws must be provided by the League Secretary to each Club Representative for review. One month will be allowed for Representatives to discuss the changes with their teams and respond to the League Secretary. To be incorporated in the By-Laws, changes must be approved by a majority of the Club Representatives.

3.    After completion of a season's play, the League Secretary shall call an annual meeting of Club Representatives, or review the season with each Representative by phone or e-mail.  Within a month, an annual report shall be sent to each Club Representative, along with an updated copy of the By-Laws if any changes have been made.

II.    PLAY

1.    Many aspects of the Gold Coast matches cannot be codified in these By-Laws, but rather must be decided each season in response to circumstances.  The current methodology of scheduling and playing the matches is given in the attachment to these by-laws.  

2.    If a League game cannot be played as scheduled, it will be the responsibility of the Club Representatives and the League Secretary to schedule a later play date.

3.    If one or more members of a team fail to show up to bowl at the scheduled time of play, play will be delayed a maximum of thirty (30) minutes, during which time substitution make take place.  A delay in excess of thirty (30) minutes will cause the game to be forfeited.

4.    At the conclusion of each day of League play, the League Secretary will collect the score cards.   The results will indicate the games won, lost, or tied.  The League Secretary shall forward the current League standings monthly to the Representatives of each club.

 5.    The League championship will be determined on the basis of the total number of points won during the season.  Each win earns two points, and a tie one point. In the event two clubs have the same number of points, the championship shall be decided by having a playoff on a later date at a neutral green, with each club fielding two triples teams, who will each bowl one 14-end game. The winner will be decided by total plus-points.  If, after 14 ends there is still a tie (zero plus points) additional ends will be played until one club has achieved plus points.

7.    Play shall be according to USLBA Rules.  If, during the course of a scheduled game, an infraction of these By-Laws, or the USLBA Rules is alleged to have occurred, and the matter cannot be immediately resolved between the two Club Representatives, play will be continued and completed for the day.  A protest to include all the facts surrounding the cause of protest will be submitted to the League Secretary, who will call a meeting of the Protest Committee.

III.    THE PLAYERS

1.    Gold Coast bowlers  must be members of the club they represent, which is considered their “Home Club” for that season.  Bowlers with membership in more than one club may choose which club to play for, but once they have bowled in League competition, they may not play for any other team in the Gold Coast League for the rest of that season.

2.     Substitution is according to ALBA rules, with one exception. A maximum of two substitutes are allowed to a constituted team, although a substitute may not skip.  The following notes are intended to provide a basis for interpreting USLBA Rules, and to provide for Gold Coast requirements as the controlling body.

3.  The Home Club may provide substitutes for an Away Club, but in all cases substitutes must belong to one of the two clubs playing.  The League Secretary, if present, or the two Club Representatives will decide on eligibility of a substitute if necessary.

4.    Constituted Teams. Names of the team members must be placed on the score cards and announced to the opposing Team Captain at the beginning of a day’s play.  Even if a substitute is being used in the first game, the name of the player being substituted for must be the name on the card.  Once the first bowl of the first game of the competition is rolled the teams are constituted (practice bowls do not count).  Players must retain their positions throughout a game, but may change positions between games, or during a game if a skip requires a substitute.

5.    A member of a Constituted Team may not substitute on another team.

6.    If substitutes cannot be found to complete a team, the game must be forfeited.  If the game being forfeited is the first game of the day, any member of the forfeiting team who meets the qualifications may play as a substitute.

7.    A substitute may not skip.  The substitute may play any other position, but a member of the Constituted Team must skip.  If the skip returns, the substitute leaves, and other members of the team revert to their regular positions.

8.    A regular player for whom a substitute is used may return to his/her position at any time after an end is completed.

9.    A substitute may substitute on more than one team, but not in the same game.  (This is a local rule; it does not conflict with USLBA rules which are moot on this topic.)

IV.    FEES AND AWARDS
 
1.    Each club shall pay an entry fee (currently $60 per club) as agreed by the four Club Representatives, to be held by the League Secretary for later disbursement.  Funds to pay League expenses shall not exceed $25.00 for the year, and will be deducted from the entry fees.  After expenses, the remainder of the entry fees will be divided 50% for first place, 30% for second place, and 20% for third place.

2.    The first place winner becomes the custodian of the Gold Coast Trophy until the end of the following season , and also is the Gold Coast representative to the Waterbury All-League Tournament. If the winning club declines to participate, its Club Representative shall notify the League Secretary, who will notify the second place club, which then shall become the Gold Coast League Representative. In this case, the winning club is to give the difference between the first and second place prize amounts, or the entry for the Waterbury All League Championship, whichever is smaller, to the second place club.
 
2.    If the Gold Coast champion wins the Waterbury All-League Championship, that team will receive and hold the Waterbury Trophy at their home club until the end of the following Gold Coast season.  They will then pass it, and also the Gold Coast Trophy, on to the new Gold Coast champion, which will compete in the new Waterbury tournament.

GOLD COAST BY-LAWS

ATTACHMENT

1.    Many aspects of the Gold Coast matches cannot be codified in by-laws, but rather arise each season in response to the current circumstances.  This section describes the current methodology of scheduling and playing the matches (in effect for the 2006 season) , and is subject to change as agreed upon by the individual teams.

2.    The Gold Coast season begins in early April and ends in early August.  During this period nine matches are played , rotating to play at the four clubs.  Play is on either Wednesday or Thursday, at the choice of the club hosting the match. Currently matches are played on Wednesdays at all Clubs except Santa Maria, where matches are played on Thursdays. All four clubs compete on the same green on any play date.  Matches are scheduled mostly every other week, but with a couple of three-week gaps, to work around District tournaments.  The 2006 schedule is as follows:

GOLD COAST LEAGUE 2006 SCHEDULE

    Wednesday, April 5 at MacKenzie Park
        Santa Barbara vs. MacKenzie Park        Santa Maria vs. Oxnard
        
    Thursday, April 20 at Santa Maria
        Santa Barbara vs. Oxnard                        Santa Maria vs. MacKenzie Park
    
    Wednesday, May 10 at Oxnard
        Santa Barbara vs. Santa Maria                Oxnard vs. MacKenzie Park

    Wednesday, May 24 at Santa Barbara
        Santa Barbara vs. MacKenzie Park        Santa Maria vs. Oxnard

    Wednesday, June 7 at MacKenzie Park
        Santa Barbara vs. Oxnard                        Santa Maria vs. MacKenzie Park

    Thursday, June 22 at Santa Maria
        Santa Barbara vs. Santa Maria               Oxnard vs. MacKenzie Park

    Wednesday, July 12 at Oxnard
        Santa Barbara vs. MacKenzie Park        Santa Maria vs. Oxnard

    Wednesday, July 26 at Santa Barbara
        Santa Barbara vs. Oxnard                        Santa Maria vs. MacKenzie Park

    Wednesday, August 9 at MacKenzie Park
        Santa Barbara vs. Santa Maria               Oxnard vs. MacKenzie Park

3.    The League Secretary shall prepare a new schedule for each upcoming season, using this schedule as a basic template but rotating the home club that opens the season so that all clubs have a turn at being the home club three times in a season, i.e, Santa Maria opens the 2007 season, Oxnard opens the 2008 season, etc.  The schedule should be developed before January of the new year so it can be coordinated with other planned events at the individual clubs.

4.    Each match is comprised of two triples teams from each club playing two 14-end games, with play beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Burnt ends are replayed.  The home club Representative selects the rinks for play and provides the score cards.