12 minute read
Post COVID return to play
from October 2020
Development with Lesley, Wade and Micheal
Post Covid-19 Return to Play
Lesley Wade Micheal
By Wade Mutzelburg
As we make our way back into regular competitions, State Championships and Pennant playoffs etc. It is timely to keep abreast of recent changes to competition and support available.
With the recent announcement of the Club Pine Rivers BPL event in November being postponed to next year. It means that the BPL Cup National Finals will shift from the Club Pine Rivers BPL event to the Moama BPL event. The 16 national finalists from this year now earning their trips to compete in the BPL Cup National Finals during BPL12 at Moama from February 23-26, 2021.
With the movement of the National Finals this allows Bowls Australia to extend the 2020 BPL Cup season dates as such: • Preliminary Rounds – to be completed by early
December (6/12/20) • Regional Finals – to be held between early
December (5/12/20) and completed by early Jan (10/1/21) • State/Territory Finals – to be completed by 24th
Jan (24/1/21)
At present we have completed 49 events with another 48 events confirmed throughout the country and 486 entries to date. At present we are still looking for BPL Cup Host venues for Preliminary round. If your club would be interested in host an event please get in touch with your local RBM to register your interest and plan for the event.
Recently the successful recipients were released for the Queensland Governments COVID SAFE Active Clubs Kickstart program. The program supports the sport and active recreation community to restart activities as COVID-19 restrictions ease. The program is part of the Sport and Recreation COVID SAFE Restart Plan.
COVID SAFE Active Clubs Kickstart provides funding of $2,000 to assist not-for-profit local and regional sport and active recreation organisations re-establish their operations in a COVID-safe environment. Funding is available for equipment, training and operational expenses.
Over 3800 sport and active recreation organisations have received $7.6 million in funding to support their activities and encourage Queenslanders to return to play. In Queensland our bowls clubs were successful in obtaining a total of $446,000 in funding being 223 grants for 207 individual bowls clubs. This means that just over 67% of our 307 Bowls Clubs were successful and received this grant. Well done and keep up the good work.
As always if you have any questions regarding BPL Cup or grants feel free to get in touch with your local RBM.
RBM - NORTH QLD
Lesley Bates 0429 213 207 lbates@bowls.com.au
RBM - CENTRAL QLD
Wade Mutzelburg 0429 442 818 wmutzelburg@bowls.com.au
RBM - SOUTH EAST QLD
Micheal Sorrensen 0447 507 040 msorrensen@bowls.com.au
Basic laws for new bowlers
A number of years ago, my District Umpire Committee were asked if they would put together some basic laws for new bowlers. I am sure that these laws will be of assistance to all bowlers, particularly our new players as we return to bowls. It may be useful to have a brush-up on the rules used in every game as it is important that we all know the basic laws.
Law 40: Players’ duties
40.3: The Lead: The Lead of the team to play first in an end must: • 40.3.1: Place the mat as described in Law 6.1.1 and • 40.3.2: Deliver the jack and make sure that it is centred before delivering the first bowl of the end.
Law 6: Placing the Mat
6.1 At the start of each end: • 6.1.1 Before the start of play in each end, the player to play first must place the centre line of the mat lengthwise along the centre line of the rink, with the mat line at least 2 metres from the rear ditch and at least 23 metres from the front ditch or 21 metres from the “T”. • 6.2.3 If the mat is off the centre line, it must be moved to that line.
Law 10: Improper delivery of the jack
• 10.3: If the jack is improperly delivered once by each player in any end, it must not be delivered again in that end. Instead, it must be centred with the nearest point of the jack to the mat line being 2 metres from the front ditch and the mat must be placed as described in law 6.1.1 by the first player to play. (Please note that the mat may be moved by the Lead when replaying the jack). • 9.7: After the first player to play has delivered the first bowl, no-one has the right to challenge the legality of the original position of the jack.
Law 7: Position on the mat
• 7.1: Before delivery a player must be standing on the mat with all or part of at least one foot on the mat. At the moment they deliver the jack or a bowl, the player must have all or part of one foot on or above the mat.
Law 13: Possession of the Rink • 13.1: Possession of the rink will belong to the player or team whose bowl is being played. • 13.2: As soon as each bowl comes to rest, possession of the rink will transfer to the opposing player or team after allowing time for marking a toucher as soon as it comes to rest.
Law 19: Dead Jack:
• 19.1: If the jack is moved by a bowl in play, it is a dead jack if it: 19.1.1: Passes above the face of the bank. 19.1.2: Passes completely outside a side boundary of the rink of play. 19.1.3: Comes to rest in any hollow in the face of the bank. 19.1.4: Comes to rest at a distance of less than 18 metres, as measured in a straight line, from the centre of the mat line to the nearest point of the jack.
Law 14: Touchers
• 14.1: A bowl in its original course which touches the jack, even though it comes to rest in the ditch within the boundaries of the rink of play, is a live bowl and is called a toucher. • 14.2: A bowl is also a toucher if, after having come to rest: • 14.2.1: It falls and touches the jack before the next bowl is delivered.
Law 15: Marking a Toucher:
• 15.1: A toucher must be marked with chalk by a member of the team that delivered the bowl or by the marker as soon as it comes to rest.
Law 20: Dead Ends
• 20.1: A dead end is not counted as a completed end even if all the bowls required to be played have been played. • 20.3: If the skips or opponents in Singles or the
Umpire declare an end dead, the first to play in that end must also play first when the end is replayed.
Law 22: Result of an end - The shot
• 22.2: A bowl must not be moved until the opponents have agreed whether it is a shot or not, except where a bowl has to be moved so that another bowl can be measured. • 22.3: As the shots are agreed, each shot bowl can be removed from the head (by hand not foot).
Note: When the result of the end is finalised – all players at the head end are to help kick all bowls back to a position behind the mat).
Law 29.1: Playing out of turn
• 29.1.1: If a player plays out of turn, the opposing skip can stop the bowl and return it to the player to play it in the proper order.
Law 29.2: Playing another player’s bowl
• 29.2.1: If a player plays another player’s bowl instead of their own, the other player’s bowl must be replaced with the player’s own bowl.
Law 33: Leaving the green during the course of play
• 33.1: A player must not delay play by leaving the rink of play or their team unless their opponent agrees, and then only for no more than 10 minutes.
Law 12: Position of players
• 12.1.1: Players at the mat end of the rink who are not delivering a bowl must stand at least 1 metre behind the mat. • 12.1.2: Players at the head end of the rink and who are not controlling the play must stand: • 12.1.2.1: Behind the jack if they are members of the team which is in possession of the rink. • 12.1.2.2: Behind the jack and away from the head if they are members of the team not in possession of the rink. • 12.1.2.3: On the surrounds of the green if the jack is in the ditch.
DR.3.2: Duties relating to scorecards
• 3.2.1: In singles, the marker is responsible for keeping, completing and dealing with the card. • 3.2.2: In pairs, the skip of each team. • 3.2.3: In triples, the skip of each team. • 3.2.4: In fours, the second of each team.
Definitions:
• C.15: Jack or bowl in its original course: A jack or bowl from its delivery until it comes to rest, no matter how many times (for a bowl) it comes into contact with the jack or other bowls before it comes to rest or becomes dead. • C.16: Jack or bowl in motion: A jack or bowl which is moving during play after it has been at rest as part of the head. • C.20 Mat Line: The edge of the mat nearest the front ditch. All measurements involving the mat and a jack or a bowl will be taken from the centre of the mat line.
Types of Games: Law 1: Play arrangements
• 1.1: Singles game • 1.2: Team game • 1.3: Side game • 1.4: Series of singles games, team games or side games or • 1.5: Tournament of games.
Distances in the direction of play:
• A. 2 metres – minimum distance of a delivered jack from the front ditch. • B. 14 metres – minimum distance of a live bowl from the mat line. • C. 18 metres – minimum distance of a rebounding jack from the mat line. • D. 21 metres – minimum distance of a delivered jack from the mat line.
New bowlers at Victoria Point
Spot the Jack
WIN A SET OF HENSELITE BOWLS! Simply put an X where you think the missing jack was located in this picture, fill in your details below and send this page to: Queensland Bowler Spot the Jack PO Box 476, Alderley QLD 4051 The first correct entry drawn will receive a free set of Henselite bowls. Winners can choose from a selection of models, colours and sizes. Name
Address
State
*email Postcode Daytime telephone
Entries must be received by 31 October 2020. Winner will be announced in the December/January 2020/21 issue. One entry per household. Original entry forms only, no photocopies. Conditions of entry: This is a game of skill and the judge’s decision is final. By entering this competition, you will be signed up to receive news from Henselite and from Bowls Queensland. You can automatically unsubscribe at any time.
Low admin fees Strong long-term returns More super for you
Hostplus. We go with you.
In the August 2019 edition of Queensland Bowler, we outlined the importance of assessing your club’s solvency and, if necessary, how to reduce future risk. Of course, given everything that has transpired in 2020, these considerations are more pertinent than ever. The structure of your club will vary the application of the relevant legislative provisions and the corresponding protections. Since our previous update, further legislative reform has occurred in this area, specifically: (a) An amendment to the Associations Incorporation Act, due to commence in June 2021, where specific duties are imposed on committee members. These duties relate to conflicts of interest, care and diligence, acting in good faith and most relevantly, a duty to prevent insolvent trading. While there are defences against these duties, including making informed business judgments in reliance upon reasonable and informed advice, a breach will attract a financial penalty of up to $8,000; and (b) An amendment to the Associations Incorporation Act, currently in effect, to enable the appointment of an administrator to place the association into voluntary administration if they are experiencing financial distress. However, the operation of this amendment incorporates relevant provisions of the Corporations Act
which potentially provides scope for liquidators to pursue voidable transaction claims, such as unfair preference claims and unreasonable director related transactions. Relevant to those clubs structured as companies limited by guarantee, the temporary amendments to the insolvency and corporations laws have been extended to assist organisations with navigating the ongoing challenges COVID-19 presents. In effect, these changes (extended until 31 December 2020) operate to avoid unnecessary insolvencies and bankruptcies by allowing businesses (and their directors) to continue to trade through a temporary period of liquidity, rather than enter voluntary administration or liquidation as would ordinarily be the case. These amendments relieve directors of the risk of personal liability for debts incurred while the business is insolvent and lift the minimum threshold at which creditors are able to issue a statutory demand (and in turn, the timeframe for response). These protections operate in addition to the ‘safe harbour’ reforms introduced in 2018, which protect directors from the insolvent trading provisions in circumstances where, upon suspecting that a business is or may become insolvent, a specific course of action is developed in order for the business to recover. The operation and protection of these provisions depends on the structure of your club. In any event, it is imperative to closely monitor your club’s financial position, particularly in this season of extraordinary uncertainty. Please keep in mind that the above protections have only been extended until the end of the calendar year. It is also important to note that the Job Keeper Payment Scheme has been extended to 28 March 2021, and the Associations Incorporation Act amendments will come into effect in June 2021. The ever-evolving nature of COVID-19 highlights how important it is to keep abreast of the protections and assistance packages that are available to your club and to continually monitor your club’s finances – both of which are key to navigating these uncharted waters. Matters of insolvency and bankruptcy are complex and require careful consideration and advice. If you have any questions about your club’s solvency and risk, or would like advice on other legal matters please call me at 07 3224 0353.
AUTHOR
Matthew Bradford PARTNER
