Club Constitution

ABERDEEN INDOOR BOWLING CLUB

 

Summerhill Road,

Aberdeen,

AB15 6EE

Tel: 01224 313961

 

e-mail: [email protected]

CONSTITUTION

BYE-LAWS

RULES & REGULATIONS

STANDING ORDERS

Updated and reprinted by order of the

Committee of Management

May 2026

 

 

Aberdeen Indoor Bowling Club,

Summerhill Road Aberdeen, AB15 6EE

 

CLUB CONSTITUTION

Notice of any motion for alteration of or addition to the Rules and Bye-laws and all other notices of motion (except Bye-Laws made by the committee in the terms thereof and motions submitted by the Committee) must be lodged with the Secretary in writing not less than 14 days before the date of annual AGM.

 

  1. NAME

The Club shall be called “Aberdeen Indoor Bowling Club”.

 

  1. AIM

 

The objectives of the Club are to promote, foster and encourage the game of indoor bowling and other indoor games and activities.

 

  1. PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS

 

The Club will adopt the Scottish Indoor Bowling Association policy and procedure with regards to the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

 

 

 

  1. MEMBERSHIP 

 

Membership is open to all without discrimination.  The membership shall consist of Ordinary Members, Junior members, Social Members and such Honorary members as may from time to time be elected or admitted under the Rules.

No persons shall be allowed to become Honorary or Temporary Members of the Club or be relieved of the payment of the regular entrance fee or subscription except those possessing certain qualifications defined in the Rules and subject to the conditions and regulations prescribed therein.

On the admission of an Ordinary Member and Junior Member the Secretary shall notify them of their election and furnish them with a copy of the Club Constitution and Rules & Bye-Laws of the Club.  Intimation shall at the same time be given that until the annual subscription or applicable part thereof for the current year is paid the member cannot enjoy the privileges of the Club.

 

  1. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

 

On a recommendation to that effect from the Committee it shall be competent for two-thirds of the members present at a General Meeting to confer upon anyone the distinction of Honorary Member in recognition for services rendered to the Club or to the game of bowling.

 

 

  1. TEMPORARY MEMBERSHIP

 

The Committee may admit as Temporary Members parties whose permanent residence is out with the City of Aberdeen and who are visiting for holidays or other purposes.

 

The Committee may also admit as Temporary members, spectators at International and National Bowling Championships being held in the premises but only for the duration of such Championships and that on the issue of a non-transferable admission ticket or on such other conditions as may be decided by the Management Committee.

 

Temporary members shall be subject to the Rules and Bye-Laws of the Club and shall have no voice in the management of the affairs of the Club, nor shall they be permitted to introduce visitors or guests.

 

 

  1.  JUNIOR MEMBERS

The Committee may at their discretion invite persons up to 18 years old to become Junior Members.

Junior Members shall pay £10 annual fee provided they are under 18 years of age on the date fixed by the Committee for payment of annual subscriptions.

Junior Members shall have no voting rights.

Junior Members may progress to full membership on attaining the age of 18 and shall pay the full membership or the relevant part thereof.

 

 

  1. SOCIAL MEMBERS

 

The Committee may, at their discretion, allow New Members and existing Members to become “Social Members”.  Such Members shall not be able to bowl, have no voting rights and shall be subject to the Rules and Bye-Laws of the club.  Social Members shall have access to the Catering and Licensed facilities.

The annual fee for Social Membership shall be agreed at the Annual General Meeting.

 

 

  1. SUBSCRIPTIONS

 

The annual subscriptions shall be such as the Club may at the Annual General Meeting determine from time to time and the same shall be payable on a date fixed by the Committee each year.

Candidates can be admitted to membership at any time during the year.

Full subscription has to be paid by 31st August if joining between 1st September and 31st March of the current year

50% of the annual subscription will be charged between 1st April and 31st August of the current year.

Concessionary Membership for members over 80 years old and having been a full member for 30 years will be 50% of the full subscription.

No member shall be admitted to any of the privileges of the Club until the subscription has been paid.

 

  1. RESIGNATION FROM MEMBERSHIP

 

Any Members who fail to pay their subscription within one month from the due date will automatically be deemed as having resigned from the Club.

 

Any Member who ceases to be a Member of the Club will forfeit all rights to or claims upon the Club, its property or its funds.

 

 

  1. GUESTS

 

Every Ordinary Member shall have the privilege of introducing to the Club premises visitors or guests.  The Member exercising such privilege shall be responsible to the Committee for the conduct of the visitors or guest, who may only remain on the premises whilst the Member introducing them is present.

 

Upon admission of such visitors or guests to the Club the Member shall enter their own name, membership number and the names and address of the visitors or guests, into the visitor’s book which shall also show the date of such visit.

 

From 1st September to 30th April any game authorised by the Committee shall be reckoned as an “occasion” for visitors and guest to play.

 

The supply of excisable liquor to the Club shall be under the control of the Committee.

 

The permitted hours for the sale of excisable liquor shall be in accordance with the Operating Plan in the Premises License issued under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

 

No member of the Committee or governing body or employee of the Club shall have any personal interest in the sale of excisable liquor therein or in the profits arising from such sales.

 

 

  1. DESCRIPTION OF THE CLUB

As contained in The Licensing (Clubs) (Scotland) Regulations 2007.

 

In these regulations “the Act” means the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

 

Clubs prescribed for the purposes of section 125 (1)

 

The description of the club prescribed for the purposes of section 125 (1) of the Act.

 

Is a club:

 

  1. Which is not conducted for the purposes of making a profit:

 

And

 

  1. Which has a written constitution and rules which make provision to the effect specified in paragraph (2).

 

 

 

That provision is that;

 

  1. The business of the club is to be under the management of a committee.

 

  1. No member of the committee and no person employed by the club is to have any personal interest in the sale of alcohol on the club premises or in the profits arising from such sale;

 

  1. Other than when an occasional license has effect, no person is to be supplied with alcohol on the club premises unless that person is;

 

  1. A member of the club

 

  1. A person who is on the premises on the invitation of a member of the club and is accompanied by that member.

 

  1. A member of another club.

 

 

 

  1. CONDUCT OF MEMBERS

If the conduct of any member either in or out of the premises occupied or used by the Club shall, in the opinion of the Committee, be injurious to the character or interest of the Club it shall be in the power of the Committee to censure the member verbally or in writing, impose a period of suspension, recommend such member to resign or expel the member.

Any member suspended or expelled from the club has the right to appeal, the decision of the Committee, within 3 weeks from the date the decision having been made.

The member shall be called upon to attend a meeting with general committee to ask for the decision to be revoked.  If the committee feel that the decision should remain as is then the member has the right to a second appeal where they shall be asked to attend a meeting of the executive committee whose decision shall be final.

A suspended or expelled member will not be allowed in any circumstances to enter the premises occupied or used by the Club.

Any member ceasing to be a member of the club under the terms of this section will forfeit all rights to or claims upon the Club, its property and funds.

 

  1. MANAGEMENT

The whole business and affairs of the Club shall be under the management of a Committee of Management (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”) which shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, the immediate Past President and 12 members elected to hold office for not less than one year by the general body of members.

Seven members of the Committee shall form a quorum.

No member shall continue to hold office if already holding office in or registered with any other Indoor Bowling Club.

The President shall be the Chairman of the Committee.

Should a vacancy arise in the Committee during the year, the Committee may co-opt a member to fill the vacancy.

Nominations for Office-Bearers and membership of the committee with the names of the Proposer and Seconder should be lodged with the Secretary in writing not less than fourteen days before the day of the Annual General Meeting.  Such nominees will not be eligible for election if already holding office in or registered with any other Indoor Bowling Club.

Any former Office-Bearer or member of the Committee whose membership was suspended under the terms of paragraph 13 of this Constitution will not be eligible to stand for election or be co-opted as a member of the Committee.

In the event of a ballot to elect Member (s) to the Committee the number of votes cast on each ballot paper shall equal the number of vacancies required to be filled.  Any lesser or greater number of votes cast shall render the ballot paper void.

Subject to the provisions contained in these Rules the Committee shall have the power to make, alter or amend the Bye-Laws of the Club and make new Bye-Laws which shall be binding on the members until revoked or otherwise determined by the Club.

The Committee shall hold a meeting at least once every month during the Indoor Bowling season and during the remainder of the year as often as may be necessary.

 

          15.     EXECUTIVE

The President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be the Executive and are empowered to make management decisions between Committee meetings if required.

In emergency situations they may authorise expenditure of up to £10,000 without reference to the Committee but shall, in such situations, call a meeting of the Committee within 3 days of such occurrence.

The Executive are empowered to make management decisions authorising expenditure on any single item of up to £2,000 in any period between Committee meetings.

Any two Office-Bearers shall form a quorum.

All expenditure authorised by the Executive and any Management decisions made by the Executive shall be reported to the Committee at the Committee meeting held immediately following the date of such decisions.

The Committee may at any time, by a majority decision, suspend or revoke the powers of the Executive.

 

         

 

16.     SUB-COMMITTEES

The Committee may form Sub-Committees from among their number from the general membership whenever the need arises.

Such Sub-Committees shall make recommendations to the Committee but shall have no power to implement such recommendations unless specifically empowered to do so by the Committee.

 

17.     SECRETARY DUTIES

It will be the duty of the Secretary to conduct the correspondence, to give notice of all meetings, to keep a Minute file in which they will enter all Minutes and submit the same for approval to the next meeting.  They shall also keep a list or register of the members of the club.

 

18.     TREASURER DUTIES

The Treasurer will supervise the receipt and disbursement of monies belonging to the Club and may authorise the expenditure of any single payment not exceeding £200.  An exact account of these shall be kept in a cash book or such other books as necessary to show the financial affairs of the Club for submission to an Auditor and to the Committee at each meeting.

 

19.     S.I.B.A. DELEGATES

The Club shall appoint one male and one female delegate to the S.I.B.A. Council in accordance with the S.I.B.A. Constitution.  These delegates do not require to be members of the Committee of Management.

If either or both delegates are not members of the Committee they will be invited to submit their report in time for the next Committee Meeting.

 

20.     CONDUCT OF MEETINGS

The conduct of all Committee, General and Special General Meetings will be in accordance with Standing Orders.

 

21.     NOTICES OF MOTION

The foregoing Rules shall come into operation on the day on which these rules are enacted and shall not be altered or added to except on a Resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of those members present and voting at a General Meeting or a Special General Meeting of the Club.

 

22.     NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS

Notice of Ordinary or Special General Meetings of all members shall be deemed to be sufficiently given if a notice convening the meeting is published in a newspaper circulating in the City and neighbourhood of Aberdeen and a copy of such notice posted on the Club’s Notice Board.

23.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Committee shall have the power to begin or defend any proceedings taken by or against the Club.

As soon as possible after proceedings are commenced, the Committee shall call a General Meeting of the Club to consider the matter, at which meeting the President or Vice-President shall be present, and such meeting with those present and consenting and also dissenting shall be expressly minuted.

In any litigation in which it is considered that serious expenditure may be incurred the Committee shall, when the proceedings are settled, call a General Meeting of the Club, with the attendance of the Solicitor of the Club to explain and consider the situation with a view to whether the litigation should be continued.

 

24.     PROCEDURE FOR WINDING UP

                    The Club is a non-profit making organisation.

                  All profits and surpluses will be used to improve the Club’s facilities.     

On winding up or dissolution of the Club all assets will be distributed amongst local indoor bowling clubs registered with CASC.

 

 

 

BYE LAWS

  1. The Club shall be opened and closed at times decided by the Committee of Management.

 

  1. The Club will undertake no responsibility for any article taken into or left in the premises or car park occupied by the Club.

 

  1. All complaints shall be made in writing to the Secretary for the consideration of either the Executive Committee or Committee of Management depending upon the seriousness or urgency of the situation. 

 

  1. All members shall pay their bills before leaving the premises occupied by the Club, under no circumstances will credit be given.

 

  1. Unless otherwise provided for in the Club’s Competition Rules all competitions shall be played under the laws of the game as adopted by the Scottish Indoor bowling Association.

 

  1. No persons under the age of 18 shall be supplied with alcoholic liquor nor shall they be permitted to play the Lottery Card machine.

 

  1. Trays must be used to carry all refreshments from either the catering or bar areas. In order to keep the Club tidy Members are requested to returned their glasses etc. to the Coffee Shop or bar.

 

  1. All rinks can be booked 4 weeks in advance by members.

 

  1. When the club is busy members may be asked to allow others to join them when playing bounce games.

 

  1. In all competitions and league matches regulation dress must be worn:

 

For Ladies: either Grey, Black or Navy Skirts, Trousers or Shorts and a predominantly white top or a bowling top from an approved bowling manufacturer.

For Gents; either Grey, Black, Navy Trousers or Shorts and a predominantly white top or a bowling top from an approved bowling manufacturer.

For bounce games the dress code is smart but casual. The wearing of denim jeans will be allowed. No wearing of workwear will be permitted.

Flat soled shoes or shoes from an approved bowling manufacture must be worn. 

  1. All clothing, bowling bags etc. must be left on the appropriate racks or in the locker rooms.  Bowls carriers and ladies’ handbags must be left at the far end of the respective rinks.

 

  1. No food or drink to be consumed on the rink.

 

  1. The (5) named spaces and the next 5 spaces are reserved for Committee Members at all times.  The remaining spaces within the white line shall be kept free for the Committee when there is a committee meeting being held.

 

  1. Only food and drink purchased on the Club premises may be consumed on the Club premises unless required for special dietary requirements.

 

  1. No Dogs except guide dogs shall be allowed in the stadium.

 

  1. Mobile phones should be on silent or vibration mode when in the stadium and calls made or taken in the cloakroom areas to avoid distracting players and other members.  Spectators should also avoid distracting players or markers while a match is being played.

The foregoing Bye-laws may be altered by the Committee from time to time.  Notice of such alteration being given to the members of the Club by being posted on the Club notice board.

 

 

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR COMPETITIONS

  1. GENERAL

All players taking part must be members of the Aberdeen Indoor Bowling Club.

It is a condition of entry that every league fixture must be fulfilled.  The person who enters the team is responsible for the rink fees of each member of the team.  It is also their responsibility to ensure that no non-eligible member plays in the team.  A team which includes a non-eligible player in a game will forfeit the points and the shots scored in that game and the team is liable to be disqualified.

 

In all competitions and league matches a full team complement must be played and regulation dress worn.

Trial ends are not permitted in any competitions.

All burnt ends (where the jack leaves the confinement of the rink) will have the jack re-spotted.  The jack will be placed on the marker spots either side of the “T” depending on which side it left the rink.

An end will deem to have started when the mat is properly laid and the jack delivered from the lead players’ hand.

In Seniors Competitions all players must be 60 years of age or over.

In all games, the Manager, their Deputy, a Member of the Committee or any other member mutually agreeable to both Skips shall act as Umpire.

 

  1. DATES AND DURATION OF PLAY

Timetables shall be issued for all League and Knockout Competitions and these shall be the only notification for matches to be played.

Knockout Competitions shall be exhibited on the Notice board.  A date and session having been specified; the contesting sides are responsible for the rink charges.

The first stage sessions will consist of two hours or 21 shots for Singles and will be times by a chronometer which will automatically sound the buzzer thirteen minutes from the end of the session when the end of play will be completed and one further end will be played.

In the second stage the number of ends will be agreed by the Committee and clearly shown on the Draw Sheet, before commencement of the Competition.

 

  1. POINTS SYSTEM

In League Competitions two points will be awarded for a win and one point for a draw.  In the event of equality in points, shot difference will determine the winner.

In League Completions the non-defaulting team will be awarded two points and eight shots and the defaulting team penalised eight shots.

 

  1. DISPUTES

Any question, dispute or protest arising in the course of, or in connection with, the game may be referred to the Committee provided such is intimated in writing to the Club Secretary with 48 hours of the termination of a game.  The decision of the Committee shall be final.  The Committee may delegate this duty to a Sub-Committee.

 

  1. PLAYERS

New players can be introduced at any time during the League competitions with a pool maximum of Pairs (4), Triples (6) and Fours (8).

 

New players can be introduced at any time during the Knockout Competitions (Except in two bowl pairs) with a pool maxima of Pairs (3), Triples (5) and Fours (6)

 

In two bowl pairs where 2 rounds scheduled for the same evening no Substitutes will be allowed unless authorised by the Committee.

 

 

  1. DELAYED START

A period of grace of 15 minutes will be allowed for a competitor(s) delayed by weather or other cause.  If, after that period has elapsed and the competitor(s) is/are not on the rink ready to play, their opponents will be declared the winners. Please note the 15 MINUTES period of grace allowed for delayed start to matches will be taken from the Stadium clock at the Main Scoreboard.

 

  1. POSTPONEMENTS & DISPENSATION

All games must be played on the date and at the time specified in the Competition timetable.  Postponements and Dispensations shall be allowed under the following circumstances:

DISPENSATION (WHEN REPRESENTING THE CLUB)

When representing the Club in various competitions such as League Matches and National Competitions or as authorised by the Committee, two dates will be offered for the rearranged match.  If these dates are unsuitable the Manager will then allocate an independent third date when the match will take place.

Dispensation will only be considered if the following number of members are unable to play due to representing the club elsewhere. Pairs (1) Triples (2) Fours (2).  Otherwise, the pool of team players must be used or the match scratched.

 

  1. DISPENSATION (FOR A FUNERAL OF A TEAM MEMBER OR THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY)

 

    After the death of a team member or their immediate family the team shall get dispensation if they wish to attend the funeral.  Two dates will be offered for the rearranged match. If these dates are unsuitable the Manager will then allocate an independent third date when the match will take place.

 

 

 

  1. BREAVEMENT

 

In ALL cases apart from the (a) above NO dispensation is allowed as the team pool can be used.  If there is an insufficient pool of players then the team affected should scratch the match.

 

         

  1. POSTPONEMENT (ADVERSE WEATHER OR OTHER CAUSE)

 

If any team is unable to fulfil a fixture due to adverse weather conditions or other cause the following procedure must be adhered to if a re-arranged game is to be considered.

 

  1. The sponsor of the team unable to fulfil the fixture must contact both the office and the opposing sponsor advising them of the situation as soon as possible.

 

  1. A written request for a re-arranged game must be submitted to the Office by the sponsor of the team unable to fulfil the fixture within three (3) days stating the reasons for such a request.

 

  1. The Competitions Committee will consider the request and inform the sponsor of their decision at the earliest opportunity.

 

  1. If the weather is extremely severe (Amber or Red warnings),   or the other cause is of a serious nature the Competitions Committee may refer requests to the Committee of Management for their consideration and action.  The Office will notify sponsors as soon as possible of any cancelled sessions.

 

  1. If postponement is approved a date will be offered for the re-arranged match.  If this is unsuitable the Manager will then allocate an independent date when the match will take place.

 

  1. If postponement is not approved the team unable to fulfil the fixture shall be deemed to have scratched from the fixture.

 

     

8)       RESERVES

          A team member may be called upon to replace a player on the rink at any time in the event of illness or injury.

 

                   

 

 

9)       NEW SHARED 50/50 GAME

          As a large number of the Club membership are now struggling to play for 2 hours the 50/50 Rule has been introduced where two (2) team members can share a match.  The rules are as follows:

  1. The opposition must be informed that the 50/50 rule is being used before the start of the match.
  2. The Players MUST change over at the commencement of the 7th end.
  3. Replacement players have to keep the same position in the team as the player coming off.
  4. If the player has decided to use the 50/50 rule at the start of the match, then it has to be adhered to.  The decision cannot be reversed once the match has started.

 

10)     KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS ONLY

a)  If a player/team member is unable to fulfil the fixture on the      stipulated date (for a valid reason e.g. holidays wedding etc) they may arrange to play the game before the next round.

b) The office must be informed in advance of the match being played to allow for the required rink to be booked. Where possible the original rink will be used, where this is not possible the office will allocate a new rink.

c) If the opponent cannot agree to the change of date, then the game will be treated as a scratch with the opponent going forward to the next round.

d) All Knockout Competition Finals will be played during FINALS WEEK in APRIL each year and members are reminded to take this into account when entering any knockout competitions.  The date of FINALS WEEK for the coming season will be determined at the AGM.

 

Except for the above regulations the rules adopted by the Scottish Indoor   Bowling Association shall apply.

 

 

STANDING ORDERS FOR USE AT ANNUAL, SPECIAL, GENERAL & COMMITTEE MEETINGS

 

1.       QUORUM

                    The Quorum at a General Meeting shall be twelve (12) members who are entitled to vote and at a Committee Meeting shall be seven (7) members.  Any member may, unless when a member is addressing the meeting, request the Chairman to count those present with voting rights, and if there are not the required number of members with voting rights present, then the Meeting shall there upon terminate.

                   

2.       CHAIRMAN

a)       The President or in their absence the Vice-President or a Committee Member in order of seniority, shall take the chair; if all of the foregoing are absent the meeting shall appoint a Chairman.

b)       The Chairman may vary the order of business in order to give precedence to business of special urgency.

c)       Deference shall at all times be paid to the authority of the Chairman.  When the Chairman rises to speak, the member, if any, who is addressing the Meeting, shall resume their seat.  It shall be the duty of the Chairman to preserve order and to ensure that members obtain a fair hearing.  They shall be entitled, with the approval of the majority in attendance, to adjourn the meeting to a time they may fix, and their leaving the chair shall be the signal that the Meeting has been adjourned.  The Chairman

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