Rule 1 – Eligibility
Rule 1a
All Nations competing must be members of the “Bowling European Corporative” and must have paid their annual subscription to the Treasurer of the B.E.C. Committee, prior to the start of the championships.
Rule 1b
The National association from which the participants depend must be affiliated to the country’s National Bowling Federation.
Rule 1c
Entry fees to the annual championships are to be suggested by the host nation but must be agreed by the B.E.C. Tournament Committee before they are implemented.
Rule 1d
All members of a Team, Ladies Doubles, Mens Doubles or Mixed Doubles representing a Company, Firm or Organization, must be employed by the aforementioned for more than 6 months on either full time or part-time (no less than 16 hours per week) basis. They can also be a pensioner of the aforementioned. The definition for a pensioner is this:
- MUST be in receipt of a company pension as of commencement of the Championships.
- If a company pension is not available, then the person should be in receipt of a State pension and NOT employed by another company.
- If a player has retired from the Company that they have represented at BEC in the past and are neither in receipt of State or Company pension they will still be eligible to represent that Company.
- In addition to this rule it is permitted to allow a spouse (Husband or Wife), dependant or children (under the age of 25 years) to represent the aforementioned. However the following sub rules MUST be adhered to:
1. The spouse MUST be a member of the aforementioned bowling sports club – fully paid up member.
2. In the same team/double there can be only one spouse/family member.
Family member must be playing in the same team/double.
3. Applies to each event (Fours, Doubles).
4. The Country Representative has certified the above.
Rule 1e
A foreign player (one that has not worked for the Company) will be allowed to participate if the following criteria has been met:
1. Only one Foreign player will be permitted in a Team and the remaining 3 players must comply with the normal eligibility rule set (be affiliated with that Company).
2. The player has participated in the Countries qualifying league or tournaments for that Company for at least 3 years.
3. The Country Representative has certified compliance.
Rule 2 – Discipline
Rule 2a
The Championships Manager will be the B.E.C. country representative of the host nation or his delegated representative. – he/she will be responsible to the B.E.C. Executive for the organisation of the whole Championships. – he/she will be responsible for the audit of all scores and the publication of all scores and final results for each country representative and the B.E.C. Executive.
Rule 2b
The B.E.C. Referee will be responsible for the overall interpretation and enforcing the rules throughout the time of the annual Championships. He will settle all matters which may arise such as illegal pinfall, fouls, etc… where differences cannot be resolved between the Team Captains, or any other matter appertaining to the playing rules.
Rule 2c
Team Captains will be responsible for checking the scores of the opposing team and that of his own team and must correct any errors and sign both score sheets (if in use) before leaving the players area. The Team Captain is responsible for the behaviour of his team members.
Rule 2d
Protests and appeals against the decisions of the Championships Manager, B.E.C. Referee or Team Captains, must be made in writing to the General Secretary of the B.E.C. at least thirty minutes prior to the starting of the prize-giving ceremony. If however a protest or an appeal effects placing’s in the semifinals or the finals it must be lodged before the event starts. Such protests or appeals must be formulated in either English or French, the recognized languages used in B.E.C.
Rule 2e
The decision of the B.E.C. Executive will be final.
Rule 3 – Tied Scores
Rule 3a
In the case of any tied result between two teams, the qualifying (9 games) will be decided by:
1. Highest last game score for the team/double
2. Highest second last game score for the team/double
3. Etc.
In the case of any tied result between two teams, the semifinal/final (3 games) will be decided by:
1. Highest last game score for the team/double
2. Highest second last game score for the team/double
3. Etc.
Rule 4 – Regulations
Rule 4a
Athletes and coaches must not smoke, use tobacco products or use any kind of synthetic cigarettes or e-cigarettes while in competition
i.e. during the entire period of a block of games. It is also the policy of BEC that smoking is not permitted inside the bowling centre during the Championships.
Rule 4b
BEC Rule concerning eating of food during play will be applied – eating food should not be permitted on the lanes. It is also the policy of BEC and the host Nation that only food purchased at the bowling centre is consumed within the bowling centre, which also includes soft drinks.
Rule 4c
BEC Rule concerning drinking of alcoholic beverages during play will be applied – drinking alcohol is not permitted during play.
It is also the BEC policy that players who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs to such an extent as to impair their senses will be asked not to participate in that squad by the BEC Referee.
Rule 5 – Playing uniform
Rule 5a
Members of the same Four Person Team, Ladies Doubles, Mens Doubles and Mixed Doubles MUST wear identical bowling shirts. The bowling shirts must carry the Companies name, emblem or logo on them. Players are permitted to play in tailored shorts.
Rule 5b
For Ladies doubles the bowling shirts MUST either display the names of both companies being represented or each bowler must wear a shirt displaying the name of the company the individual bowler is representing. Bowlers will NOT be allowed to wear a shirt that only bears the name of the other bowlers company
Rule 5c
Each player will have the flag of their country displayed on the bowling shirt. This should preferably be on the left hand sleeve.
Rule 6 – Sponsorship of Teams
Rule 6a
The name of a Sponsor may be displayed on individual bowling shirts but MUST adhere to the following controls: –
1. The name of the Company (Team Name) MUST be bigger than the Sponsors Name so that it is clear who the team represents at the Championships.
2. The Sponsorship area on the Bowling Shirt will be limited to:
a. A 12cm round area on the top left front of the Bowling Shirt (see Diagram) or sleeve opposite Country flag.
b. A banner along the bottom of the back of the Bowling Shirt which must not exceed 5cm by 25cm (see Diagram).
Rule 6b
The banner area must not be above the Company Name (Team Name)
Rule 6c
The areas for the Sponsor name is shown on the diagrams below:
Rule 7 – Reserve Players
Rule 7a
In Four person Teams, one reserve player is allowed. He/she may enter the competition at the start of a game. Changing the team line-up is allowed only between games. A reserve player is also allowed in the Ladies Doubles and Mens Doubles event.
Rule 7b
No reserve is allowed in the mixed doubles.
Rule 8 – Bowling Balls
Rule 8a
The bowling balls used by the 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd placed teams in each event MAY be subjected to random legality checks at the discretion of the BEC Committee or BEC Referee.
Rule 8b
Only bowling balls that are included in the USBC Approved Bowling Ball list may be used in competition. The list of approved bowling balls is published on the website https://bowl.com/approved-ball-list . Any illegal playing equipment will result in the teams being disqualified from the Championships.
Rule 8c
Cleaning of the surface of the bowling ball is permissible prior to any delivery during a game. Any cloth product that is non-abrasive and contains no chemical additives that would modify the surface finish of the ball, would be acceptable
to use. Cleaners, which are products meant to clean the ball surface without changing the surface roughness, may be used, and provided they are on the list of approved products (
www.bowl.com ).
Rule 8d
Adjusting and altering of the surface of the bowling ball by means of scrub sponges, scoring pads and polish that are on the list on approved products may be done only during any practice session and between any block of games, as well as between semifinals and finals of an event, provided it is done outside of athletes´ area.
Rule 8e
Plugs, inserts, tape and slugs may not extend beyond the surface of the ball.
Rule 8f
A balance hole is only allowed if the country’s National Bowling Federation allows it.
Rule 9 – Championship Format
The Host Country will determine the commencement date and time of the Championship which will always encompass Ascension Day. The standard start date and time is the Wednesday prior to Ascension Day and approximately 16:00 on that
day. If the Host would like to start prior to this period then they must request this via the BEC Executive before any presentation is given at the AGM. The Host should also ensure there is a series of qualifying squads which
do not conflict with the AGM to allow members of the Committee to play.
Rule 9a
The number of games that are played in the qualifying rounds will be set by the host nation but must be 8 or more games in duration spread over more than 1 section. This decision will need to be agreed with the BEC Executive prior to the Presentation at the AGM. Teams and doubles will only carry forward 50% of their qualifying team/double scores into the semi-finals. If the pins are odd, then the pins will be rounded down.
Rule 9b
Where possible the semi-finals section should equal the number of games played in a single qualifying section. The number of teams qualifying for the semi-finals should be as many as the bowling facility will allow but should not be more than 30% of the overall entry. The pins from semi-final will be transferred to the final.
Rule 9c
The finals section should be played over a minimum of 3 games in a format chosen by the host nation. Where possible the number of teams playing in the finals should be a minimum of half those who qualified for the semi-finals and should not exceed 80% of the semi-final total. These figures should be rounded up. Teams will carry forward all their accumulated scores from the semi-final into the finals.
Rule 9d
The BEC Executive Committee will review the actual proposed numbers each year at the pre-Championship visit.
Rule 9e
The BEC Championships will be played according to the American Format – Teams will play on alternate lanes after each team frame is completed.
Rule 9f
The host country must try to plan the tournament so all teams and doubles have fair play. Try to avoid that same participants have very early start and very late start. Ladies doubles should not play the late squads.
Rule 10 – Title Awards
Rule 10a
The teams having the highest total pin fall in each section, according to the format adopted for the Championships by the host country, will be declared “European Corporative Champions” for that year for that section.
Rule 10b
Best Country Performance (The Presidents Trophy): the title of “Best Country Performance” will be awarded to the country having the most points in the “Top Ten” placing in the Championships in each event in the Championships. Points are awarded as follows: – 1 st place 10 points; 2 nd place 9 points; 3 rd place 8 points; and so on until 10 th place being awarded 1 point.
Rule 10c
Individual titles and awards are not awarded by the BEC committee. However, individual prizes can optionally be awarded by the host organizing committee. These awards will be determined by the host committee and is at their sole discretion.
