Policy on team selection

Selection of teams is the responsibility of team captains, aided as appropriate by designated selectors. Selection will be based in the first instance on availability, although in the women’s league matches, individuals are required to be affiliated by name otherwise they are not normally eligible to play. Where the number of available players exceeds the number of team places, selection will involve a subjective assessment of factors like the players’ skill and experience, the need to create a balanced rink composition, and the need to bring on new players by giving them the chance to test their skills in competition. To ensure fairness, effort should be made to ensure that there are no permanent ‘reserves’ and that any player designated a reserve has the chance to play at the next available opportunity.  

Captains/ selectors also need to be aware of the rules laid down by Associations responsible for each league and competition in which our teams participate in respect of gender. Both the Glamorgan County Bowling Association and the Private Greens Bowling Association of Wales currently stipulate that there should be no restrictions as regards the selection of women players. The Glamorgan Women's Bowling Association specifies that male players can be selected to play where there are insufficient women players available but limited to one per rink and the male players can only play at no.2. No men are allowed to play in either the Twilight League or the Three Wood Pairs competition.

With regard to men’s team, the fixture availability app, Spond, is currently the preferred means by which players can signal to captains /selectors their willingness and availability to play on specific dates. But for the avoidance of doubt, Spond should not be relied upon by captains/selectors as the only means of determining availability. The onus is on the individual player to notify captains/selectors that they are available to play by whatever means available.

With regard to the women’s team, the small number of players and teams means that WhatsApp and phone are considered a sufficient and preferrable means of communication, and Spond is not therefore in use.

Wherever there is an insufficiency in the number of players available in the first instance, the men's and women's captains should consult on who may be available and willing to play in the fixtures in question.