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Constitution & Rules

The following constitution, bye-laws and guidance on etiquette set out how Bellshill Curling Club is run and how members are expected to conduct themselves on and off the ice.

Constitution and Rules

1. Name

The name of the Club shall be “Bellshill Curling Club”.

2. Objectives

To foster curling.

3. Membership

The total playing membership shall be limited to 11 rinks, or other such number of rinks as decided by the Executive Committee. The limitation on the number of reserves will be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

A. New Members

Application for membership shall be on the prescribed form obtained from the secretary and shall be signed by 2 members of the club and approved of by the Executive Committee. New members shall, upon election, be admitted to the Club at the Annual General Meeting. Every member shall, upon election, be furnished with a copy of this constitution and be bound thereby.

B. Resignations

Notices of resignation must be given to the secretary prior to the Annual General Meeting.

C. Failure to pay Annual Club Subscriptions

The Treasurer is empowered to send reminders as instructed by the Executive Committee. In the event of a Member of the club failing to pay the subscription and, where applicable, ice dues by 31 October of any year, that person automatically ceases to be a member but remains liable for any unpaid dues.

D. Honorary Members

The Executive Committee are empowered, where they consider that any member of the Club has rendered services to the Club of outstanding merit, to recommend to the members in the General Meeting that that person be made an Honorary Member.

4. Management

A. Executive Committee

The management of the Club shall be vested in an Executive Committee comprising:

B. Casual Vacancies

The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill a casual vacancy and such a member shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.

C. Powers

The Executive Committee shall have the powers to transact all the business of the Club and at any time call a General Meeting.

5. Meetings

A. Voting

Relevant motions at any meeting of the Club or Committee shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and voting. In the event of a tie the casting vote of the Chairman of the meeting shall decide.

B. Committee Meetings

Any 2 members of the committee shall have the power to request the Secretary to call a Meeting of Committee stating the business for which the meeting shall be called. Four members of the Executive Committee shall be a quorum.

C. General Meeting

The President, through the Secretary, shall be bound to call a General Meeting of the Club upon receipt of a requisition to do so, signed by 7 members of the Club stating the business to be brought before the meeting.

D. Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held within one month of the last game of each curling year. The following matters shall be dealt with at the Annual General Meeting:

  1. Previous minutes
  2. Chairman's remarks
  3. Secretary's report
  4. Treasurer's report (to include the proposed subscription for the coming year)
  5. Competition results
  6. Alterations to constitution and rules
  7. Appointment of office bearers and Executive Committee members
  8. Appointment of representative members to ruling bodies
  9. Any other competent business

E. Notices of General Meeting

The Secretary shall give written intimation of all General Meetings to those concerned at least 8 days prior to the meeting.

6. Treasurer

The Treasurer is empowered to receive and disburse monies belonging to the Club and shall submit an audited statement of account made up to the 31 March to the Annual General Meeting.

7. Laws, Rules and Policies of the Game

The laws of the game shall be in accordance with the Royal Caledonian Curling Club rules except where amended by club Bye-Laws which must first be approved by the Club in General Meeting.

8. Constitution and Rules

The above constitution and rules shall not be altered except at the Annual General Meeting of the Club. Written notice of any such proposed alteration shall be delivered to the Secretary 28 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. The decision of the Executive Committee as to the true meaning and intent of these rules shall be final and binding on all members of the Club.

9. Etiquette

Curling is a game of skill and of traditions. A shot well played is a delight to see, as is a game played in the true spirit of curling. Curlers play to win but never to humble their opponents. Curling has always relied on the common sense, the honesty and the good manners of the players and a sporting approach to the game. This spirit should influence both the interpretation and application of the rules of the game and also the conduct of all participants both on and off the ice.

Club Bye-Laws

General Competition Rules

  1. If no reserves are available, substitutes may be drawn from non-playing rinks. A substitute must play at the lowest position in the rink (i.e. Lead). Reserves will be found by the Match Secretary. This is as per RCCC standard.
  2. Spectating members can make up a rink if a team member fails to turn up.
  3. No game will count towards the competition unless a minimum of 1 member of the original rink play is in attendance.
  4. Any game not played, the rink not in default, deemed to have won by 5 shots.
  5. Games must be played as per fixture card and will consist of 10 ends or the bell, with the exception of late night ice, when 8 ends will be played.
  6. In the event of a peeled game in a knock-out competition the result will be decided by the number of ends won. If this still does not produce a result, a nominated player should throw a stone, which may be swept — the closest to the tee being deemed the winner.
  7. In the latter stages of knock-out competitions where the ice has not been pre-paid, the reserve will be responsible for the payment of the ice fees asked.
  8. Photography/social media consent is to be sought annually from members.

The Paterson Trophy (Conventional league format)

General rules apply, however any player not wishing to move up from their original position as shown in the fixture card when a substitute is required must ensure that they, along with their skip, agree the situation regarding position of play with the opposing skip prior to going onto the ice pad.

One team is promoted/demoted at the end of each season. The committee shall select members for positions needing to be filled.

The Bob Wilson Cup (Knock-out)

General Rules plus:

  1. Where a player's team has been knocked out of the competition, that player is not eligible to play for any other rink until the substitute list has been exhausted.
  2. A substitute subsequently becomes a member of that rink.
  3. Where a spare place appears in a subsequent round of the competition, this shall be filled by the team losing by the narrowest margin in the previous round. If the margins are equal, shots scored — then ends — shall be considered. If the same two teams would play again in the next round, the order of play must be redrawn to prevent it.

The McCall Salver (Pairs)

General Rules plus:

This season will revert to a league format and the winner will be determined by who is the winning team of the league.

The Cleland Trophy (Conventional league format)

Substitutes are to be chosen on a like-for-like basis as far as possible. NB — The Cleland Trophy is a Thirds' competition; therefore everyone should ideally be playing either one place up from the Paterson Trophy, or in the case of skips they should be leading.

All fees must be paid prior to the curling season commencing.

Curling etiquette & general guidelines