2026 Finals

The IBA Championships (hereafter "the Championships") will be adopted by each member Association at Stage 1, will also apply at Stage 2, and shall comprise:

Singles — Open, Under 18 (Youth) and Under 25

• Under 18 (Youth) — competitors must be under 18 years of age on 1st April of the season in which they are competing.
• Under 25 — competitors must be under 25 years of age on 1st April of the season in which they are competing.
• Each player shall play with a set of 4 bowls (matched set), singly and in turn.
• All singles games are played on a first player to 21 shots basis.
• Substitutes in singles are not allowed.

Pairs — Open, Under 25 and Over 55

• Open Pairs — each player shall play with a set of 4 bowls (matched set), singly and in turn.
• Under 25 Pairs — competitors must be under 25 years of age on 1st April of the season in which they are competing.
• Over 55 Pairs — competitors must be 55 years of age, or over, on 1st April of the season in which they are competing.
• Under 25 Pairs / Over 55 Pairs — each player shall play with a set of 3 bowls from a matched set of 4, singly and in turn.

Triples — Open

• Each player shall play with a set of 3 bowls from a matched set of 4, singly and in turn.

Fours — Open and Senior

• Senior Fours — competitors must be 55 years of age or over on 1st April of the season in which they are competing.
• Each player shall play with a set of 2 bowls from a matched set of 4, singly and in turn.

In all Pairs, Triples and Fours competitions

• Each match will consist of 18 ends.
• In the event of a tie, an extra end(s) shall be played until a winner is determined.
• Substitutes in Pairs, Triples and Fours will be determined as per Championship Rules.

Restricting the movement of players during play

After delivering their first bowl, players will only be allowed to walk up to the head under the following circumstances:

Singles

• The opponents: after delivery of their third and fourth bowls.

Pairs (each player playing four bowls)

• The leads: after delivery of their third and fourth bowls.
• The skips: after delivery of their second, third and fourth bowls.

Pairs (each player playing three bowls)

• The leads: after delivery of their third bowl.
• The skips: after delivery of their second and third bowls.

Triples (each player playing three bowls)

• The leads: after delivery of their third bowl.
• The seconds: after delivery of their second and third bowls.
• The skips: after delivery of each of their second and third bowls.

Fours (each player playing two bowls)

• The leads: after the second player in their team has delivered their second bowl.
• The seconds: after delivery of their second bowl.
• The thirds: after delivery of their second bowl.
• The skips: after delivery of each of their bowls.

Other conditions

1. To ensure the schedule runs smoothly and all games are completed as planned, a maximum time limit of 3 hours 30 minutes (including trial ends) will be strictly enforced. Each match will commence at the same time as indicated by the senior umpire on duty.
2. Play must be continuous — players must play without undue delay and not in a way that prevents their opponents from completing the match within the time limit. Slow play will be monitored by umpires in conjunction with the Controlling Body.