Commencement of bowling 2021.
The government has confirmed that we'll move to Step 2 on Monday 12 April.
The major changes from this date for our clubs and members are highlighted below:
• Outdoor hospitality can open in accordance with the government guidance on hospitality settings
• Changing rooms can be opened, but participants should be encouraged to avoid or minimize
use where possible. Participants should socially distance themselves whilst in changing rooms. Subject to
available space, more than one household can use changing facilities at one time but they
must not mix and must adhere to capacity limits set by the club
• Travel should be minimized but can take place for the purpose of sport and physical activity.
Car sharing, however, isn't permitted
• Spectators are only allowed on public land, where they must adhere to a social gathering
limits either in groups of six or two households
• Further flexibility has been provided with regard to playing formats and arrangements
To provide additional support to enable affiliated clubs to open safely, we are working in
collaboration with the Bowls Development Alliance (BDA), Bowls England, and Disability Bowls
England to develop club resources under the banner ‘Back to Bowls’.
This will include:
• Exclusive access to club resources including signage, posters, and sanitization products
• Risk assessment template
• Exclusive access to club resources including signage, posters, and sanitization products
• Case studies for ‘covid-friendly’ sessions and formats
• Review of online booking systems
• Additional information for disabled participation is available.
If your club is not affiliated with BCGBA, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we can take
you through the affiliation process, including connecting you with your County Association.
We recommend that all clubs consider this document together with the government guidance. All
items may be adapted as necessary to meet your club’s specific circumstances, so long as your
actions remain consistent with government advice and social distancing requirements. This guidance
is applicable from Monday 29th March and replaces all previous guidance that we have issued.
This guidance is applicable from Monday 12 April and replaces all previous guidance that we have issued.
Organized sport
For the sport of outdoor Crown Green bowls, any activity organized under the jurisdiction of BCGBA
by affiliated clubs, counties, and associate members in accordance with this guidance is recognized as
organized sport in accordance with DCMS guidance. This includes:
• National Competitions
• District and county competitions involving affiliated clubs only
• District and county leagues involving affiliated clubs only
• Fixtures between affiliated counties
• Club fixtures between affiliated clubs
• Internal club events or organized sessions for club members
• Coaching by a qualified coach (see the section on coaching for details)
• On green training provided by the Bowls Development Alliance
Any activity not listed above is not recognized by BCGBA as an organized sport and will need to follow
the guidance on outdoor legal gathering limits as this is considered to be informal or self-organized
sport. This includes any casual play (for example ‘roll-ups’) and any activity involving clubs, leagues
or associations not affiliated to Bowls England.
Whilst organized sport removes the restriction on legal gathering limits during participation, the
relevant organizing body (club, county, league, or Bowls England) must consider the risks and set out
ways to mitigate them so people can participate safely in accordance with this guidance. Informal or
self-organized sport is not covered by any exemptions.
Key points from the link.
To play under the sports exemption (organized sport) clubs, league and associations need to be members of the Governing body
.
Accepted formats are listed on pages 3 and 4
.
No Spectators are permitted at present
.
Travel – you need to follow national guidance, still listed as minimizing time spent outside (rule of 6 and 2 households)
.
All previous hygiene guidance remains in place
.
Clubrooms can be open for use of toilets and collecting of equipment only in Step 1
.
A revised risk assessment is attached, existing risk assessments should be reviewed and updated in line with the roadmap
.
Visiting teams should be made aware of any restrictions at your club
.
News | British Crown Green Bowling Association (click on the BCGBA.ORG.Uk link to get the full guidelines below)
News | British Crown Green Bowling Association
BCGBA Statement Mar 26, 2021, | News26th March 2021 RETURN TO PLAY (UPDATE) The return to play guidance, as it stands today, has been produced in conjunction with Bowls England to try and ensure that we are issuing similar guidelines for outdoor bowls with specifics for each code as appropriate. . Cl...
News | British Crown Green Bowling Association
News | British Crown Green Bowling Association
BCGBA Statement Mar 26, 2021, | News26th March 2021 RETURN TO PLAY (UPDATE) The return to play guidance, as it stands today, has been produced in conjunction with Bowls England to try and ensure that we are issuing similar guidelines for outdoor bowls with specifics for each code as appropriate. . Cl...
BCGBA.ORG.UK
News | British Crown Green Bowling Association
BCGBA Statement Mar 26, 2021, | News26th March 2021 RETURN TO PLAY (UPDATE) The return to play guidance, as it stands today, has been produced in conjunction with Bowls England to try and ensure that we are issuing similar guidelines for outdoor bowls with specifics for each code as appropriate. . Cl...
Hello All
Can you please forward this email to all the clubs in you're league asap.
After holding discussions with our treasurer Cathy Wilson we have decided that the GM fees for 2021 will be suspended for all clubs, leagues & federations unless they start to play during the season.
So basically if you're league doesn't commence then the clubs in your league & the league will not pay the GM fees but if your league does commence we expect your league to collect the fees & forward them to the GM treasurer.
Any league's or clubs who paid in 2020 their fees will be carried over to 2022 unless they play this season.
BCGBA still expect all clubs to pay the BCGBA fees (see the previous email) & also have PLI
British Crown Green Bowling Association Fees 2021
I have been asked to write to you following the recent BCGBA Executive meeting regarding the fees
for 2021. The rules of the Association indicate a fee of £35-00 being the annual fee payable by
Member Clubs.
The BCGBA Executive committee is not able to alter the fee without a rule change at the Annual
General Meeting, so the fee, therefore, remains at £35-00. However, following analysis of the current
financial position and to help struggling clubs we have agreed to subsidize the fee for 2021.
Member clubs who have paid the fee for 2020 (to be confirmed by Members Counties by 31 st
January) will therefore have a subsidy in 2021.
Clubs who have not paid the 2020 fee to their County association by this date will not be able to take
advantage of the subsidy and must pay full fees for both 2020 and 2021. Clubs who have not paid
will remain on the suspended list until the fee for 2020 and 2021 is paid and will not be able to enter
any competitive bowling until this has been paid.
Member Clubs who have paid the 2020 fees in full, will pay just £20-00 in 2021 adding up to a total
of £55-00 over the 2 years in question. This £20-00 must be paid in accordance with normal County
Association collection methods and submitted to BCGBA as per the rules.
Many thanks,
Mark Bircumshaw (On behalf of the Executive Committee)
I have been asked to write to you following the recent BCGBA Executive meeting regarding the fees
for 2021. The rules of the Association indicate a fee of £35-00 being the annual fee payable by
Member Clubs.
The BCGBA Executive committee is not able to alter the fee without a rule change at the Annual
General Meeting, so the fee, therefore, remains at £35-00. However, following analysis of the current
financial position and to help struggling clubs we have agreed to subsidize the fee for 2021.
Member clubs who have paid the fee for 2020 (to be confirmed by Members Counties by 31 st
January) will therefore have a subsidy in 2021.
Clubs who have not paid the 2020 fee to their County association by this date will not be able to take
advantage of the subsidy and must pay full fees for both 2020 and 2021. Clubs who have not paid
will remain on the suspended list until the fee for 2020 and 2021 is paid and will not be able to enter
any competitive bowling until this has been paid.
Member Clubs who have paid the 2020 fees in full, will pay just £20-00 in 2021 adding up to a total
of £55-00 over the 2 years in question. This £20-00 must be paid in accordance with normal County
Association collection methods and submitted to BCGBA as per the rules.
Many thanks,
Mark Bircumshaw (On behalf of the Executive Committee)
Stay safe everyone.