How can we help you?
Everything you need to get the most from your club app — written in plain English, step by step.
Admin Help Guides
Step-by-step guidance for Club Admins and Selectors — covering Club Settings, Match Selection, League Management, and Competition Entries & Draws.
Club Settings
9 guides
Match Selection (Club Admin & Selector)
10 guides
League Management (Club Admin)
13 guides
Competition Entries & Competition Draws (Club Admin)
13 guides
⚙️ Club Settings
Everything you need to configure your club — from rink numbers and opening times to modules, branding, and kiosk mode.
1. How to navigate to Club Settings
Ensure you are logged in and have selected the club you manage.
Click or tap your name in the top right corner of the screen.
Select Club Settings from the menu. Alternatively, open the Admin dropdown in the top navigation and select Club Admin.
You will land on the Club Settings page, which contains all the configuration options for your club.
2. General Club Details
Edit your Club Name and Description — these appear throughout the app and on your club homepage if enabled.
Upload a Club Logo — this is displayed in the header and on printed team sheets.
Set your club Season (Indoor or Outdoor) — this affects how fixtures and sessions are displayed.
Enter the Primary Admin Email — this is the address that receives admin notifications.
3. Rink & Session Configuration
Set the Number of Rinks available at your club.
Set your Opening Time and Closing Time — these define the hours members can book between.
Set the Session Duration in hours (for example, 2 hours means booking slots are 2 hours long).
If your club uses non-standard session times, toggle Use Custom Sessions and define each session's start and end times.
Tip: If you change the number of rinks or session times, existing bookings are not affected — only new bookings use the updated settings.
4. Booking Rules
Toggle Auto-Approve Bookings if you want member bookings to be confirmed instantly without admin approval.
Toggle Open Roll-ups to allow members to join roll-up sessions booked by other members.
Toggle Private Roll-ups (requires Open Roll-ups enabled) to let members create private roll-ups that others cannot join.
5. Modules
Each module can be switched on or off independently using the toggles in the Modules section.
Rink Booking — the core booking grid. Almost always left on.
Match Selection — enables team selection and availability tracking.
Competitions — enables knockout and round-robin competition draws.
Leagues — enables internal league management with fixtures and tables.
Club Homepage — builds a public-facing club homepage with news and galleries.
Function Room Bookings — manage function room enquiries and availability.
Custom Branding — design custom scorecard layouts with your club colours.
Club Messaging — enable in-app chat channels for members.
SMS Notifications — enable paid SMS notifications (requires a monthly allowance).
Tip: Turning a module off hides it from members and removes it from the navigation. Existing data is retained if you switch it back on later.
6. Branding & Appearance
Choose a Club Theme colour (Emerald, Blue, Purple, Slate, Rose, or Amber) — this sets the accent colour throughout the app for your members.
Configure Team Sheet template settings — choose a style (Classic, Compact, Modern, or Bowls), primary colour, font size, and optional fields like dress code or venue.
If you enable Advanced Mode for team sheets, you can upload a custom header image and edit the HTML template directly.
Configure League Table print settings in the same way — style, colour, font size, and optional footer text.
7. Kiosk Mode
Toggle Kiosk Mode to enable a touch-screen terminal where members log in by entering their unique 5-digit member ID.
Enter the Kiosk Account Email — this is the dedicated account used to run the kiosk terminal.
Set up the kiosk device by logging in with the kiosk account email, then navigate to the Bookings page — it will automatically enter kiosk mode.
Tip: Each member must have a 5-digit Member ID assigned in their profile before they can use the kiosk. You can assign these in the Members admin page.
8. Membership Fees
Toggle Membership Fee Enabled to charge members an annual fee online via Stripe.
Enter the Fee Amount in pence (for example, 5000 = £50.00).
Enter a Description — this is shown to members on the payment page.
If your club has its own Stripe account, enter your Stripe Secret Key and Publishable Key to collect payments directly. Otherwise, the platform Stripe account is used.
9. Saving your changes
Scroll to the bottom of the Club Settings page and click Save Changes.
A confirmation message will appear when the settings have been saved successfully.
Some changes (such as theme colour) may require members to refresh their browser to see the update.
Tip: If you are partway through editing and navigate away without saving, your changes will be lost. Always click Save Changes before leaving the page.
📋 Match Selection (Club Admin & Selector)
How to create, publish, and manage team selections for matches. This guide covers both the Club Admin and Selector roles.
1. How to navigate to Selection
Ensure you are logged in and have selected your club.
Click Selection in the top navigation menu.
If you are a Club Admin, you can also access Selection via the Admin dropdown.
You will see a list of upcoming and recent matches. Click Create New Selection to start a new one.
2. Creating a new selection
Click Create New Selection.
Choose the Competition type (for example: Bramley, Wessex League, Denny, Top Club, or Friendly).
Enter the Match Date and optional Match Name.
Set the Match Start Time and Match End Time.
Choose the number of Home Rinks for the match.
Click Create Selection to open the selection editor.
3. Assigning players to rinks
In the selection editor, you will see a grid showing each rink and the positions (Lead, 2, 3, Skip).
Click a position to open the member picker and search for a player by name.
Selected players are assigned to that position on that rink.
To remove a player, click their name and select Remove.
For Friendly matches, you can set the number of rinks and players per rink, and choose whether the match is Home or Away.
Tip: You can see which members have marked themselves as unavailable for this date — their names are highlighted in the member picker. Click the Availability button to see a full list.
4. Setting the Home and Away Captains
In the selection editor, scroll to the Captains section.
Use the dropdowns to assign a Home Team Captain and an Away Team Captain (optional).
Captains are included on the printed team sheet and in any notifications sent to members.
5. Saving as a draft
At any point, click Save as Draft to store your selection without publishing it.
Draft selections are only visible to admins and selectors — members cannot see them.
You can return to a draft at any time by clicking on it from the Selection list.
Tip: Use the draft state to build your selection over several days. You can check availability, adjust players, and only publish once you are happy with the team.
6. Publishing a selection
When your selection is complete, click Publish.
Members who have been selected will automatically receive an email and/or push notification (depending on their notification preferences).
Once published, the selection is visible to all members from the Selection page.
You can still edit a published selection — click Edit, make changes, and click Save. Members are not re-notified of edits unless you publish again.
Tip: If you need to make a small change (for example, swapping a player), you do not need to unpublish and republish — just edit and save. The updated selection is visible immediately.
7. Sending SMS notifications
On the Selection page, open a published selection.
If your club has SMS Notifications enabled, you will see an SMS Notification toggle.
Toggle it on to send a text message to all selected players who have a mobile number on file.
SMS messages are charged against your club's monthly allowance — a counter is shown so you can see how many you have used.
Tip: Only use SMS for important, time-sensitive selections — for example, late changes or matches with short notice. Email and push notifications are free and should be your default.
8. Printing a team sheet
Open a published selection.
Click Print Team Sheet.
A formatted team sheet is generated using the template and branding configured in Club Settings.
Use your browser's print dialog to print or save as a PDF.
Tip: You can change the team sheet template (Classic, Compact, Modern, or Bowls) and colours in Club Settings → Branding & Appearance at any time.
9. Marking availability as a member
Both Club Admins and Selectors can also mark their own availability.
Open the Selection page and click on an upcoming match.
If you have been selected, click Available or Unavailable to indicate whether you can play.
Your availability is visible to the selector when they are choosing teams.
10. Entering match results (Club Admin)
After a match has been played, open the published selection.
Click Enter Results or Match Scores.
Enter the club score and opposition score for each rink.
Enter any opposition player names if known.
Click Save Results — the scores are stored and visible on the selection page.
Tip: If you have Live Scoring enabled, scores can be entered rink-by-rink during the match using the Live Scoring page, rather than entering them all afterwards.
🏆 League Management (Club Admin)
How to set up internal club leagues, generate fixtures, manage teams, enter scores, and print league tables.
1. How to navigate to Leagues
Ensure you are logged in as a Club Admin and have selected your club.
Click Admin in the top navigation, then select Leagues.
You will see a list of existing leagues. Click Create New League to set up a new one.
2. Creating a new league
Click Create New League.
Enter a League Name (for example: Winter Triples League).
Enter an optional Description.
Choose the Format — Triples or Fours.
Set the Start Date and End Date for the league season.
Set the weekly Start Time and End Time for matches (for example, 18:00 to 21:00).
If matches span multiple sessions, toggle Multi-Session and add each session time range.
Click Create League to save.
3. Configuring scoring rules
Open your league and click Edit Settings.
Scroll to the Scoring section.
Choose how points are awarded: Points per Set, Game Win, Standard Win, or Highest Shots.
Enter the points value for each (for example, 2 points per set win, or 3 points for a game win).
If your league uses sets scoring, toggle Sets Scoring and enter the number of ends per set (for example, 8 ends).
Click Save Changes.
Tip: Scoring rules must be set before fixtures are generated. If you change scoring rules mid-season, previously entered results are not recalculated automatically.
4. Adding teams to the league
Open your league and click Manage Teams.
Click Add Team to create a new team.
Enter a Team Name (for example: Team Smith).
Assign a Captain by searching for a member — the captain can submit results and manage the playing rota.
Add players to the team by searching for members and clicking Add.
Repeat for each team in the league.
Click Save when all teams have been added.
Tip: You can edit team rosters at any time during the season. Players added or removed from a team only affect future fixtures.
5. Selecting rinks for the league
Open your league and click Edit Settings.
Scroll to the League Rinks section.
Select which rink numbers are available for this league's fixtures (for example, Rinks 1–4).
If your club is outdoor and you want fixtures clustered on adjacent rinks, toggle Adjacent Rinks and define the rink clustering periods.
Add any Blacklisted Dates where no fixtures should be scheduled (for example, bank holidays or club events).
Click Save Changes.
6. Generating fixtures
Open your league and click Generate Fixtures.
The system automatically creates a round-robin fixture schedule for all teams, alternating home and away.
Review the generated fixtures — you can edit individual fixture dates or rinks if needed.
Toggle Force Even Fixtures if you want every team to play every other team the same number of times (recommended for fairness).
Click Confirm to save the fixture list.
Tip: If you add or remove teams after fixtures have been generated, you will need to regenerate the fixture list. This will overwrite any manually edited dates or rinks.
7. Creating rink bookings from fixtures
After generating fixtures, click Create Bookings.
The system automatically creates a rink booking for every league fixture, using the rink numbers and session times configured.
These bookings appear on the main rink booking grid and are visible to all members.
If a fixture date or rink is changed later, the associated booking is updated automatically.
8. Entering match scores
Open your league and click on a completed fixture.
Click Enter Scores.
Enter the Home Score (total shots) and Away Score (total shots).
If the league uses sets, enter the Home Sets and Away Sets won.
Click Save Scores — the league table is updated automatically.
Tip: Team captains can also submit scores from the My Teams page. If both captains submit different scores, a conflict is flagged and the Club Admin is notified to resolve it.
9. Resolving score conflicts
If two captains submit conflicting scores for the same fixture, a warning badge appears on the fixture.
Open the fixture and click Resolve Conflict.
You will see both sets of submitted scores side by side.
Enter the correct scores and click Save to override both submissions.
The league table is recalculated with the confirmed scores.
10. Generating scorecards
Open your league and click Generate Scorecards.
Choose the format — PDF or Excel (XLSX).
The system produces a scorecard for every fixture in the league, pre-filled with team names, dates, and rink numbers.
Download the file and print or distribute to team captains.
Tip: If your club has Custom Branding enabled, the scorecards will include your club logo and colours. You can configure this in Club Settings → Branding & Appearance.
11. Printing the league table
Open your league and click Print League Table.
A formatted league table is generated using the template and branding configured in Club Settings.
The table shows positions, games played, wins, draws, losses, shots for, shots against, and points.
Use your browser's print dialog to print or save as a PDF.
12. Managing player unavailability
Open your league and click Manage Teams.
Select a team and click Player Unavailability.
Mark date ranges during which each player is unavailable — the captain can see this when managing their playing rota.
Captains can also mark their own players' unavailability from the My Teams page.
13. Setting the league rota
Open your league and click Manage Teams.
Select a team and click Edit Rota.
For each fixture, select which players from the team will play.
The rota is visible to the team captain and helps them plan their line-up for each match.
Click Save when the rota is complete.
Tip: Captains can edit the rota themselves from the My Teams page. Encourage your captains to keep the rota up to date so players know whether they are playing each week.
🎖️ Competition Entries & Competition Draws (Club Admin)
How to create competitions that members can enter, manage entries, and build knockout or round-robin competition draws.
1. Enabling competition registration
Before members can enter competitions, you need to enable the Competition Registration feature.
Go to Club Settings via the Admin menu or your profile menu.
Scroll to the Competition Registration section.
Toggle Competition Registration Enabled to on.
Optionally, enter a Competition Page Header — this is a message shown at the top of the Competition Entries page (for example, entry rules or deadlines).
Click Save Changes.
Tip: If you do not see the Competition Registration toggle, ensure the Competitions module is enabled in Club Settings → Modules.
2. How to navigate to competitions
Ensure you are logged in as a Club Admin and have selected your club.
Competition management is split across two areas:
Competition Entries — where members self-register and you manage entries. Access via the Competitions dropdown → Competition Entries.
Entries Admin — where you review and download all entries. Access via the Competitions dropdown → Entries Admin (Club Admin only).
Competition Draw — where you create and manage knockout or round-robin draws. Access via the Competitions dropdown → Competition Draw.
3. Creating a competition for member entry
Go to Competition Entries and click Create Competition (or go to Entries Admin and click Create Competition).
Enter a Competition Name (for example: Club Singles Championship).
Choose the Type — Singles, Pairs, Triples, or Fours.
Enter an optional Description and Rules (for example: eligibility, handicap requirements, or format details).
Set the Maximum Entries — the maximum number of entrants allowed (optional).
Enter the Price Per Entry in GBP if you charge an entry fee (optional). Leave blank for free entry.
Set the Registration Deadline — the closing date for entries.
Click Create Competition — the competition is now open for member entry.
Tip: Members will see the competition on the Competition Entries page as soon as it is created. The status shows as "Open" until the deadline passes or you close it manually.
4. Managing entries as a Club Admin
Go to Entries Admin via the Competitions dropdown.
You will see a list of all competitions with their entry counts and status.
Click a competition to view the full list of entrants.
You can manually Add an Entrant by searching for a member — useful for entries taken offline or over the phone.
You can Remove an Entrant if they have entered by mistake or withdrawn.
Click Download Entries to export the full list as a CSV or PDF for offline use.
Click Close Competition to prevent further entries (even if the deadline has not passed).
5. How members enter a competition
Members go to Competition Entries from the Competitions dropdown.
They see a list of open competitions with details — format, price, deadline, and number of entries so far.
They click Enter Competition and follow the on-screen instructions.
If there is an entry fee, they are taken to a Stripe payment page to pay by card.
If the competition is Pairs, Triples, or Fours, they can enter their partner or team-mate names during registration.
They receive a confirmation once the entry is recorded.
Tip: Encourage members to enter early to secure their place. If a competition has a maximum entry limit, it will show as "Full" once the limit is reached.
6. Creating a competition draw
Once registration is closed and you have your list of entrants, you can create a competition draw.
Go to Competition Draw from the Competitions dropdown.
Click Create New Tournament (or Create Draw).
Enter a Tournament Name — this is what members see on the Competition Draw page.
Choose the Tournament Type — Knockout (single elimination) or Round Robin (everyone plays everyone).
Choose the Competition Format — Singles, Pairs, Triples, or Fours.
Set the Number of Rinks Available for the tournament.
Click Create Tournament to open the draw builder.
7. Adding players or teams to the draw
In the draw builder, click Add Players (for knockout) or Add Teams (for round robin).
For singles knockout, search for and select all the players who have entered the competition.
For pairs, triples, or fours knockout, build teams by selecting players for each team and assigning a team name.
For round robin, create teams (or use existing league teams) and assign them to groups.
Click Save when all players or teams have been added.
You can adjust the seeding or bracket order by dragging players or teams before generating the draw.
Tip: If you have an odd number of players in a knockout, byes are automatically assigned to the top seeds so the first round has an even number of matches.
8. Generating the knockout bracket
Once all players or teams are added, click Generate Bracket (knockout) or Generate Fixtures (round robin).
For knockout: the system creates a full bracket with rounds — Quarter Finals, Semi Finals, and Final — based on the number of entrants.
For round robin: the system creates a fixture list where every team plays every other team, with rink assignments and rounds automatically scheduled.
Review the generated draw — you can manually adjust rink assignments or fixture dates if needed.
Click Publish to make the draw visible to members on the Competition Draw page.
Tip: You can keep the draw as a draft while you fine-tune it. Members only see it once you click Publish. You can still edit a published draw — changes are visible immediately.
9. Managing round robin groups
For round robin tournaments with many teams, you can split teams into groups.
In the tournament settings, set the Number of Groups and Qualifiers per Group — the number of teams that progress from each group to the knockout stage.
The system automatically divides teams into groups and generates fixtures within each group.
After all group fixtures are completed, the top qualifiers from each group automatically progress to a knockout stage.
You can manually adjust the group assignments before fixtures are generated if you want to seed specific teams into different groups.
10. Linking a competition to its draw
If you created a competition for member entry and then built a draw from those entries, you can link them together.
Open the tournament in the Competition Draw page.
Click Link to Competition and select the competition from the dropdown.
This allows members to click through from the Competition Entries page directly to the draw to see who they are playing.
The link is also shown on the Competition Draw page so members can see which competition the draw belongs to.
11. Entering results and advancing the draw
Open the published tournament from the Competition Draw page.
As matches are played, open each match and enter the score.
For knockout: when you enter a result, the winner automatically advances to the next round of the bracket.
For round robin: results update the group standings automatically, and the qualifying teams are highlighted.
For walkovers (where a player or team cannot play), set the result to Walkover and the opponent advances automatically.
The bracket and standings update in real time for members viewing the Competition Draw page.
Tip: You do not need to enter results in order — you can enter them as matches are completed across different rounds. The bracket adjusts automatically.
12. Printing or downloading the draw
Open the published tournament from the Competition Draw page.
Click Print Draw or Download Draw.
For knockout: a bracket chart is generated showing all rounds, players, and scores — suitable for printing or displaying on a clubhouse noticeboard.
For round robin: a fixture list and group standings are generated.
Use your browser's print dialog to print or save as a PDF.
13. Open Competitions CRM (for external entries)
If your club runs open competitions (where external teams or players enter), you can manage them using the Open Competitions CRM.
Go to Admin → Open Competitions.
Add external contacts (teams or individuals) with their contact details.
Track the Contact Status of each entry — Not Contacted, Contacted, Interested, Entered, or Declined.
Record notes and follow-up dates for each contact.
Once external entries are confirmed, you can add them to a competition draw alongside your club members.
Tip: The Open Competitions CRM is separate from the member Competition Entries system. Use the CRM for external teams, and Competition Entries for your own club members.
Welcome to the BowlsTime App
Welcome! This app has been designed to make club life easier for every member — whether you are booking a rink, checking who has been selected for the next match, or entering a club competition.
It works on your phone, tablet, or computer. There is nothing to download, and you can log in from anywhere with an internet connection.
Book rinks online
No more phone calls — check availability and book in seconds.
See match selections
Find out if you have been selected and view the full team sheet.
Enter competitions
Sign up for club competitions quickly and easily.
Stay informed
Receive notifications and read club news all in one place.
If you ever get stuck, there is a Live Chat button at the bottom right of every page. Do not hesitate to use it!
Getting Started
How to log in
Open the app in your web browser, or tap your saved bookmark.
Enter your email address. This is the address you used when you joined the club. If you are unsure, ask your club administrator.
You will receive an email with a secure login link. Check your inbox — and your junk or spam folder if you do not see it within a minute or two.
Click the link in that email. You will be logged in automatically — no password is needed.
Tip: Bookmark the app after logging in so you can return to it quickly next time.
Forgotten your login email?
Contact your club administrator, who can check which email address is registered on your account.
Once confirmed, use that email address to request a new login link.
Updating your personal details
Once logged in, click or tap your name in the top right corner of the screen.
Select My Profile from the menu.
Update your name, phone number, or notification preferences.
Click Save when you are done.
Your email address is used to identify your account and cannot be changed here. Contact your club administrator if it needs updating.
Want to get notifications for Selection and Rink Bookings to your phone?
From your phone navigate to app.bowls-time.com or scan one of our QR codes in your club.
In your phone browser, click the share button, normally a square with an arrow at the top.
Select Add to Home Screen.
Go back to your phone homescreen and launch the Bowls Time app.
Once logged in, click or tap your name in the top right corner of the screen.
Select My Profile from the menu.
Scroll to the Push Notification section in My Profile and toggle the button to enable push notifications.
Click Allow
Logging out
Click or tap your name in the top right corner.
Select Sign Out from the menu.
Tip: If you use a shared computer (for example in the clubhouse), always log out when you have finished.
Booking a Rink
How to view available rinks
From the top menu, click Rink Booking, then Book a Rink.
Use the date selector to choose the day you would like to play.
A grid will show all rinks and available time slots. Available slots are shown in white with a green background and taken slots are shown in green.
How to make a booking
Click on an available (green) time slot on the rink you would like to use.
A booking form will appear. Fill in your name and the type of game (for example: Roll-up, Club, County).
Add any notes if needed — this is optional.
Click Confirm Booking.
You will receive a confirmation. 📋 Note: your club may require admin approval before the booking is confirmed
Tip: You can only book rinks that do not clash with existing club or league sessions.
How to move a booking
Click on the booking you wish move and drag it to another available slot.
For Mobile, click and hold your finger on the booking until other slots become highlighted with a purple border, then drag your booking to the desired free slot.
Tip: You can only move bookings made by you.
How to cancel a booking
Go to Rink Booking, then My Bookings.
Find the booking you would like to cancel.
Click the Cancel button next to it.
Confirm the cancellation when prompted.
Please cancel as early as possible so other members can use the rink.
Viewing your existing bookings
Go to Rink Booking, then My Bookings.
This page lists all your upcoming and past bookings.
Match Selection
Match selections are published by your club selector or administrator. When you have been selected to play, your name will appear on the team sheet.
Finding match selections
From the top menu, click Selection.
You will see a list of upcoming and recent matches.
Click on any match to view the full team sheet, including rink assignments and player names.
Understanding selection information
- Competition name — for example: Bramley, Wessex League
- Match date and time
- Rink assignments — which rink you will be playing on
- Your position — Lead, 2, 3, or Skip
- Team-mates — who else is on your rink
What to do if you have been selected
You will receive a notification when a selection is published. Check the details carefully.
You can click on the notification and it will take you to that published selection, where you can select whether you are available or unavailable.
Make a note of your match date, time, and rink number.
Tip: Turn on email and or push notifications in your Profile settings so you are always alerted when a selection is published.
League Teams
The Leagues section shows all the club internal league competitions, including team fixtures, results, and standings.
Viewing league teams
From the top menu, click My Teams.
You will see the leagues you are involved in as a player or captain.
Click on a league to view fixtures, results, and the current league table.
Understanding team details
- Fixtures — upcoming and completed matches with dates and rink assignments
- Results — scores from completed games
- League Table — standings based on points, shots for, and shots against
- Players — members of your team
If you are a team captain, you may also be able to submit match results and manage your squad through this section.
Club Competitions
How to enter a competition
From the top menu, click Competitions, then Competition Entries.
You will see a list of open competitions available to enter.
Click on a competition to read the details — including format, eligibility, and closing date.
Click Enter Competition and follow the on-screen instructions.
You will receive a confirmation once your entry has been recorded.
Eligibility and entry deadlines
Each competition displays its eligibility rules (for example, gender or membership type) and a closing date. Make sure you enter before the deadline — late entries may not be accepted.
📋 Add any club-specific eligibility rules here — e.g. minimum years of membership, handicap requirementsChecking your entry
Go to Competitions, then Competition Entries.
Your submitted entries will be listed here with their status.
Tip: If you have entered a pairs, triples, or fours competition, make sure all your partners have also submitted their entries if required.
Competition Draws & Results
Finding competition draws
From the top menu, click Competitions, then Competition Draw.
Select the competition you would like to view.
The draw shows which players or teams are competing against each other in each round.
Understanding the draw format
Competitions use one of two formats:
- Knockout — you play one match per round; lose and you are out. The draw shows a bracket with all rounds displayed.
- Round Robin — every team plays everyone else; results determine final standings.
Viewing results and progress
Open the draw for your competition.
Completed matches show the final score. Upcoming matches show the players or teams scheduled to play.
For knockout tournaments, your progress through the draw is shown visually on a bracket chart.
Results are updated by your club administrator. If a result appears incorrect, please contact your administrator.
Fixtures & Events
Viewing upcoming matches
From the top menu, click Selection to see all published match selections.
Each card shows the competition, date, and whether a team has been selected yet.
Click a match to see the full details, including rink assignments.
Viewing league fixtures
Go to My Teams from the top menu.
Select your league and view the fixture list for the season.
Adding events to your personal calendar
📋 If calendar export is available, add instructions here — e.g. click the calendar icon on any fixture to download an .ics file
Tip: As a quick alternative, take a screenshot of your upcoming fixtures to refer to later.
News & Announcements
Where to find club news
If your club has a homepage enabled, it will be the first thing you see after selecting your club.
News posts, notices, and upcoming events are displayed on the homepage.
Older posts can be scrolled through or browsed by date.
Not all clubs use the club homepage. If you cannot find news here, check with your administrator about how announcements are shared. 📋 Insert club preferred communication channel here
Tip: Important notices — such as green closures or competition deadlines — will also be sent as app notifications if you have them enabled.
Notifications
What the app notifies you about
- Your rink booking has been approved or rejected
- A match selection has been published and you have been selected
- A booking you made has been moved or cancelled by an administrator
- Important club announcements
Viewing notifications
Look for the bell icon in the top right corner of the app.
A number badge shows how many unread notifications you have.
Click the bell to see a list of recent notifications.
Click any notification to go directly to the relevant part of the app.
Managing notification preferences
Go to My Profile (click your name in the top right).
Scroll to the Notifications section.
Toggle email or SMS notifications on or off.
Click Save.
Tip: We recommend keeping email notifications turned on so you never miss a selection announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Troubleshooting
🔐 Unable to log in
Make sure you are using the email address registered with your club.
Check your junk or spam folder for the login email.
Login links expire after a short time — request a new one if needed.
Try a different web browser (for example Chrome or Safari).
If problems persist, contact your club administrator to confirm your account email.
🌐 Page not loading or showing an error
Refresh the page (press F5 on a computer, or swipe down in your phone browser).
Check your internet or Wi-Fi connection.
Try closing the browser and reopening it.
Clear your browser cache (found in browser settings).
If the problem continues, contact support — the app may briefly be unavailable.
📅 Booking not saving
Check that you have filled in all required fields.
Make sure the rink slot is still available — someone else may have just booked it.
Check your internet connection and try again.
If you get an error message, note what it says and contact your club administrator.
🏆 Competition entry not submitting
Check that the competition is still open and has not passed its closing date.
Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements listed on the competition page.
Try refreshing the page and submitting again.
Contact your club administrator if the problem continues.
🔔 Missing notifications
Check your notification settings in My Profile — email notifications may be turned off.
Check your junk or spam folder for notification emails.
Ensure your email address is correct in your profile.
Ask your club administrator to check that your account is active.
Contact & Support
Getting help with the app
If something is not working as expected, you can use the Live Chat button at the bottom right of the screen to speak with the BowlsTime support team.
Who deals with what?
| Issue | Contact |
|---|---|
| Cannot log in or account problem | Club Administrator |
| Booking query or dispute | Club Administrator or Steward |
| Match selection question | Club Selector |
| Competition entry issue | Club Administrator |
| App technical bug or error | BowlsTime Support (Live Chat) |
| Membership or personal details | Club Administrator |
If you are unsure who to contact, your club administrator is always the best first point of contact for club-related questions.
Admin Help Guides
Step-by-step guidance for Club Admins and Selectors — covering Club Settings, Match Selection, League Management, and Competition Entries & Draws.
Club Settings
9 guides
Match Selection (Club Admin & Selector)
10 guides
League Management (Club Admin)
13 guides
Competition Entries & Competition Draws (Club Admin)
13 guides
⚙️ Club Settings
Everything you need to configure your club — from rink numbers and opening times to modules, branding, and kiosk mode.
1. How to navigate to Club Settings
Ensure you are logged in and have selected the club you manage.
Click or tap your name in the top right corner of the screen.
Select Club Settings from the menu. Alternatively, open the Admin dropdown in the top navigation and select Club Admin.
You will land on the Club Settings page, which contains all the configuration options for your club.
2. General Club Details
Edit your Club Name and Description — these appear throughout the app and on your club homepage if enabled.
Upload a Club Logo — this is displayed in the header and on printed team sheets.
Set your club Season (Indoor or Outdoor) — this affects how fixtures and sessions are displayed.
Enter the Primary Admin Email — this is the address that receives admin notifications.
3. Rink & Session Configuration
Set the Number of Rinks available at your club.
Set your Opening Time and Closing Time — these define the hours members can book between.
Set the Session Duration in hours (for example, 2 hours means booking slots are 2 hours long).
If your club uses non-standard session times, toggle Use Custom Sessions and define each session's start and end times.
Tip: If you change the number of rinks or session times, existing bookings are not affected — only new bookings use the updated settings.
4. Booking Rules
Toggle Auto-Approve Bookings if you want member bookings to be confirmed instantly without admin approval.
Toggle Open Roll-ups to allow members to join roll-up sessions booked by other members.
Toggle Private Roll-ups (requires Open Roll-ups enabled) to let members create private roll-ups that others cannot join.
5. Modules
Each module can be switched on or off independently using the toggles in the Modules section.
Rink Booking — the core booking grid. Almost always left on.
Match Selection — enables team selection and availability tracking.
Competitions — enables knockout and round-robin competition draws.
Leagues — enables internal league management with fixtures and tables.
Club Homepage — builds a public-facing club homepage with news and galleries.
Function Room Bookings — manage function room enquiries and availability.
Custom Branding — design custom scorecard layouts with your club colours.
Club Messaging — enable in-app chat channels for members.
SMS Notifications — enable paid SMS notifications (requires a monthly allowance).
Tip: Turning a module off hides it from members and removes it from the navigation. Existing data is retained if you switch it back on later.
6. Branding & Appearance
Choose a Club Theme colour (Emerald, Blue, Purple, Slate, Rose, or Amber) — this sets the accent colour throughout the app for your members.
Configure Team Sheet template settings — choose a style (Classic, Compact, Modern, or Bowls), primary colour, font size, and optional fields like dress code or venue.
If you enable Advanced Mode for team sheets, you can upload a custom header image and edit the HTML template directly.
Configure League Table print settings in the same way — style, colour, font size, and optional footer text.
7. Kiosk Mode
Toggle Kiosk Mode to enable a touch-screen terminal where members log in by entering their unique 5-digit member ID.
Enter the Kiosk Account Email — this is the dedicated account used to run the kiosk terminal.
Set up the kiosk device by logging in with the kiosk account email, then navigate to the Bookings page — it will automatically enter kiosk mode.
Tip: Each member must have a 5-digit Member ID assigned in their profile before they can use the kiosk. You can assign these in the Members admin page.
8. Membership Fees
Toggle Membership Fee Enabled to charge members an annual fee online via Stripe.
Enter the Fee Amount in pence (for example, 5000 = £50.00).
Enter a Description — this is shown to members on the payment page.
If your club has its own Stripe account, enter your Stripe Secret Key and Publishable Key to collect payments directly. Otherwise, the platform Stripe account is used.
9. Saving your changes
Scroll to the bottom of the Club Settings page and click Save Changes.
A confirmation message will appear when the settings have been saved successfully.
Some changes (such as theme colour) may require members to refresh their browser to see the update.
Tip: If you are partway through editing and navigate away without saving, your changes will be lost. Always click Save Changes before leaving the page.
📋 Match Selection (Club Admin & Selector)
How to create, publish, and manage team selections for matches. This guide covers both the Club Admin and Selector roles.
1. How to navigate to Selection
Ensure you are logged in and have selected your club.
Click Selection in the top navigation menu.
If you are a Club Admin, you can also access Selection via the Admin dropdown.
You will see a list of upcoming and recent matches. Click Create New Selection to start a new one.
2. Creating a new selection
Click Create New Selection.
Choose the Competition type (for example: Bramley, Wessex League, Denny, Top Club, or Friendly).
Enter the Match Date and optional Match Name.
Set the Match Start Time and Match End Time.
Choose the number of Home Rinks for the match.
Click Create Selection to open the selection editor.
3. Assigning players to rinks
In the selection editor, you will see a grid showing each rink and the positions (Lead, 2, 3, Skip).
Click a position to open the member picker and search for a player by name.
Selected players are assigned to that position on that rink.
To remove a player, click their name and select Remove.
For Friendly matches, you can set the number of rinks and players per rink, and choose whether the match is Home or Away.
Tip: You can see which members have marked themselves as unavailable for this date — their names are highlighted in the member picker. Click the Availability button to see a full list.
4. Setting the Home and Away Captains
In the selection editor, scroll to the Captains section.
Use the dropdowns to assign a Home Team Captain and an Away Team Captain (optional).
Captains are included on the printed team sheet and in any notifications sent to members.
5. Saving as a draft
At any point, click Save as Draft to store your selection without publishing it.
Draft selections are only visible to admins and selectors — members cannot see them.
You can return to a draft at any time by clicking on it from the Selection list.
Tip: Use the draft state to build your selection over several days. You can check availability, adjust players, and only publish once you are happy with the team.
6. Publishing a selection
When your selection is complete, click Publish.
Members who have been selected will automatically receive an email and/or push notification (depending on their notification preferences).
Once published, the selection is visible to all members from the Selection page.
You can still edit a published selection — click Edit, make changes, and click Save. Members are not re-notified of edits unless you publish again.
Tip: If you need to make a small change (for example, swapping a player), you do not need to unpublish and republish — just edit and save. The updated selection is visible immediately.
7. Sending SMS notifications
On the Selection page, open a published selection.
If your club has SMS Notifications enabled, you will see an SMS Notification toggle.
Toggle it on to send a text message to all selected players who have a mobile number on file.
SMS messages are charged against your club's monthly allowance — a counter is shown so you can see how many you have used.
Tip: Only use SMS for important, time-sensitive selections — for example, late changes or matches with short notice. Email and push notifications are free and should be your default.
8. Printing a team sheet
Open a published selection.
Click Print Team Sheet.
A formatted team sheet is generated using the template and branding configured in Club Settings.
Use your browser's print dialog to print or save as a PDF.
Tip: You can change the team sheet template (Classic, Compact, Modern, or Bowls) and colours in Club Settings → Branding & Appearance at any time.
9. Marking availability as a member
Both Club Admins and Selectors can also mark their own availability.
Open the Selection page and click on an upcoming match.
If you have been selected, click Available or Unavailable to indicate whether you can play.
Your availability is visible to the selector when they are choosing teams.
10. Entering match results (Club Admin)
After a match has been played, open the published selection.
Click Enter Results or Match Scores.
Enter the club score and opposition score for each rink.
Enter any opposition player names if known.
Click Save Results — the scores are stored and visible on the selection page.
Tip: If you have Live Scoring enabled, scores can be entered rink-by-rink during the match using the Live Scoring page, rather than entering them all afterwards.
🏆 League Management (Club Admin)
How to set up internal club leagues, generate fixtures, manage teams, enter scores, and print league tables.
1. How to navigate to Leagues
Ensure you are logged in as a Club Admin and have selected your club.
Click Admin in the top navigation, then select Leagues.
You will see a list of existing leagues. Click Create New League to set up a new one.
2. Creating a new league
Click Create New League.
Enter a League Name (for example: Winter Triples League).
Enter an optional Description.
Choose the Format — Triples or Fours.
Set the Start Date and End Date for the league season.
Set the weekly Start Time and End Time for matches (for example, 18:00 to 21:00).
If matches span multiple sessions, toggle Multi-Session and add each session time range.
Click Create League to save.
3. Configuring scoring rules
Open your league and click Edit Settings.
Scroll to the Scoring section.
Choose how points are awarded: Points per Set, Game Win, Standard Win, or Highest Shots.
Enter the points value for each (for example, 2 points per set win, or 3 points for a game win).
If your league uses sets scoring, toggle Sets Scoring and enter the number of ends per set (for example, 8 ends).
Click Save Changes.
Tip: Scoring rules must be set before fixtures are generated. If you change scoring rules mid-season, previously entered results are not recalculated automatically.
4. Adding teams to the league
Open your league and click Manage Teams.
Click Add Team to create a new team.
Enter a Team Name (for example: Team Smith).
Assign a Captain by searching for a member — the captain can submit results and manage the playing rota.
Add players to the team by searching for members and clicking Add.
Repeat for each team in the league.
Click Save when all teams have been added.
Tip: You can edit team rosters at any time during the season. Players added or removed from a team only affect future fixtures.
5. Selecting rinks for the league
Open your league and click Edit Settings.
Scroll to the League Rinks section.
Select which rink numbers are available for this league's fixtures (for example, Rinks 1–4).
If your club is outdoor and you want fixtures clustered on adjacent rinks, toggle Adjacent Rinks and define the rink clustering periods.
Add any Blacklisted Dates where no fixtures should be scheduled (for example, bank holidays or club events).
Click Save Changes.
6. Generating fixtures
Open your league and click Generate Fixtures.
The system automatically creates a round-robin fixture schedule for all teams, alternating home and away.
Review the generated fixtures — you can edit individual fixture dates or rinks if needed.
Toggle Force Even Fixtures if you want every team to play every other team the same number of times (recommended for fairness).
Click Confirm to save the fixture list.
Tip: If you add or remove teams after fixtures have been generated, you will need to regenerate the fixture list. This will overwrite any manually edited dates or rinks.
7. Creating rink bookings from fixtures
After generating fixtures, click Create Bookings.
The system automatically creates a rink booking for every league fixture, using the rink numbers and session times configured.
These bookings appear on the main rink booking grid and are visible to all members.
If a fixture date or rink is changed later, the associated booking is updated automatically.
8. Entering match scores
Open your league and click on a completed fixture.
Click Enter Scores.
Enter the Home Score (total shots) and Away Score (total shots).
If the league uses sets, enter the Home Sets and Away Sets won.
Click Save Scores — the league table is updated automatically.
Tip: Team captains can also submit scores from the My Teams page. If both captains submit different scores, a conflict is flagged and the Club Admin is notified to resolve it.
9. Resolving score conflicts
If two captains submit conflicting scores for the same fixture, a warning badge appears on the fixture.
Open the fixture and click Resolve Conflict.
You will see both sets of submitted scores side by side.
Enter the correct scores and click Save to override both submissions.
The league table is recalculated with the confirmed scores.
10. Generating scorecards
Open your league and click Generate Scorecards.
Choose the format — PDF or Excel (XLSX).
The system produces a scorecard for every fixture in the league, pre-filled with team names, dates, and rink numbers.
Download the file and print or distribute to team captains.
Tip: If your club has Custom Branding enabled, the scorecards will include your club logo and colours. You can configure this in Club Settings → Branding & Appearance.
11. Printing the league table
Open your league and click Print League Table.
A formatted league table is generated using the template and branding configured in Club Settings.
The table shows positions, games played, wins, draws, losses, shots for, shots against, and points.
Use your browser's print dialog to print or save as a PDF.
12. Managing player unavailability
Open your league and click Manage Teams.
Select a team and click Player Unavailability.
Mark date ranges during which each player is unavailable — the captain can see this when managing their playing rota.
Captains can also mark their own players' unavailability from the My Teams page.
13. Setting the league rota
Open your league and click Manage Teams.
Select a team and click Edit Rota.
For each fixture, select which players from the team will play.
The rota is visible to the team captain and helps them plan their line-up for each match.
Click Save when the rota is complete.
Tip: Captains can edit the rota themselves from the My Teams page. Encourage your captains to keep the rota up to date so players know whether they are playing each week.
🎖️ Competition Entries & Competition Draws (Club Admin)
How to create competitions that members can enter, manage entries, and build knockout or round-robin competition draws.
1. Enabling competition registration
Before members can enter competitions, you need to enable the Competition Registration feature.
Go to Club Settings via the Admin menu or your profile menu.
Scroll to the Competition Registration section.
Toggle Competition Registration Enabled to on.
Optionally, enter a Competition Page Header — this is a message shown at the top of the Competition Entries page (for example, entry rules or deadlines).
Click Save Changes.
Tip: If you do not see the Competition Registration toggle, ensure the Competitions module is enabled in Club Settings → Modules.
2. How to navigate to competitions
Ensure you are logged in as a Club Admin and have selected your club.
Competition management is split across two areas:
Competition Entries — where members self-register and you manage entries. Access via the Competitions dropdown → Competition Entries.
Entries Admin — where you review and download all entries. Access via the Competitions dropdown → Entries Admin (Club Admin only).
Competition Draw — where you create and manage knockout or round-robin draws. Access via the Competitions dropdown → Competition Draw.
3. Creating a competition for member entry
Go to Competition Entries and click Create Competition (or go to Entries Admin and click Create Competition).
Enter a Competition Name (for example: Club Singles Championship).
Choose the Type — Singles, Pairs, Triples, or Fours.
Enter an optional Description and Rules (for example: eligibility, handicap requirements, or format details).
Set the Maximum Entries — the maximum number of entrants allowed (optional).
Enter the Price Per Entry in GBP if you charge an entry fee (optional). Leave blank for free entry.
Set the Registration Deadline — the closing date for entries.
Click Create Competition — the competition is now open for member entry.
Tip: Members will see the competition on the Competition Entries page as soon as it is created. The status shows as "Open" until the deadline passes or you close it manually.
4. Managing entries as a Club Admin
Go to Entries Admin via the Competitions dropdown.
You will see a list of all competitions with their entry counts and status.
Click a competition to view the full list of entrants.
You can manually Add an Entrant by searching for a member — useful for entries taken offline or over the phone.
You can Remove an Entrant if they have entered by mistake or withdrawn.
Click Download Entries to export the full list as a CSV or PDF for offline use.
Click Close Competition to prevent further entries (even if the deadline has not passed).
5. How members enter a competition
Members go to Competition Entries from the Competitions dropdown.
They see a list of open competitions with details — format, price, deadline, and number of entries so far.
They click Enter Competition and follow the on-screen instructions.
If there is an entry fee, they are taken to a Stripe payment page to pay by card.
If the competition is Pairs, Triples, or Fours, they can enter their partner or team-mate names during registration.
They receive a confirmation once the entry is recorded.
Tip: Encourage members to enter early to secure their place. If a competition has a maximum entry limit, it will show as "Full" once the limit is reached.
6. Creating a competition draw
Once registration is closed and you have your list of entrants, you can create a competition draw.
Go to Competition Draw from the Competitions dropdown.
Click Create New Tournament (or Create Draw).
Enter a Tournament Name — this is what members see on the Competition Draw page.
Choose the Tournament Type — Knockout (single elimination) or Round Robin (everyone plays everyone).
Choose the Competition Format — Singles, Pairs, Triples, or Fours.
Set the Number of Rinks Available for the tournament.
Click Create Tournament to open the draw builder.
7. Adding players or teams to the draw
In the draw builder, click Add Players (for knockout) or Add Teams (for round robin).
For singles knockout, search for and select all the players who have entered the competition.
For pairs, triples, or fours knockout, build teams by selecting players for each team and assigning a team name.
For round robin, create teams (or use existing league teams) and assign them to groups.
Click Save when all players or teams have been added.
You can adjust the seeding or bracket order by dragging players or teams before generating the draw.
Tip: If you have an odd number of players in a knockout, byes are automatically assigned to the top seeds so the first round has an even number of matches.
8. Generating the knockout bracket
Once all players or teams are added, click Generate Bracket (knockout) or Generate Fixtures (round robin).
For knockout: the system creates a full bracket with rounds — Quarter Finals, Semi Finals, and Final — based on the number of entrants.
For round robin: the system creates a fixture list where every team plays every other team, with rink assignments and rounds automatically scheduled.
Review the generated draw — you can manually adjust rink assignments or fixture dates if needed.
Click Publish to make the draw visible to members on the Competition Draw page.
Tip: You can keep the draw as a draft while you fine-tune it. Members only see it once you click Publish. You can still edit a published draw — changes are visible immediately.
9. Managing round robin groups
For round robin tournaments with many teams, you can split teams into groups.
In the tournament settings, set the Number of Groups and Qualifiers per Group — the number of teams that progress from each group to the knockout stage.
The system automatically divides teams into groups and generates fixtures within each group.
After all group fixtures are completed, the top qualifiers from each group automatically progress to a knockout stage.
You can manually adjust the group assignments before fixtures are generated if you want to seed specific teams into different groups.
10. Linking a competition to its draw
If you created a competition for member entry and then built a draw from those entries, you can link them together.
Open the tournament in the Competition Draw page.
Click Link to Competition and select the competition from the dropdown.
This allows members to click through from the Competition Entries page directly to the draw to see who they are playing.
The link is also shown on the Competition Draw page so members can see which competition the draw belongs to.
11. Entering results and advancing the draw
Open the published tournament from the Competition Draw page.
As matches are played, open each match and enter the score.
For knockout: when you enter a result, the winner automatically advances to the next round of the bracket.
For round robin: results update the group standings automatically, and the qualifying teams are highlighted.
For walkovers (where a player or team cannot play), set the result to Walkover and the opponent advances automatically.
The bracket and standings update in real time for members viewing the Competition Draw page.
Tip: You do not need to enter results in order — you can enter them as matches are completed across different rounds. The bracket adjusts automatically.
12. Printing or downloading the draw
Open the published tournament from the Competition Draw page.
Click Print Draw or Download Draw.
For knockout: a bracket chart is generated showing all rounds, players, and scores — suitable for printing or displaying on a clubhouse noticeboard.
For round robin: a fixture list and group standings are generated.
Use your browser's print dialog to print or save as a PDF.
13. Open Competitions CRM (for external entries)
If your club runs open competitions (where external teams or players enter), you can manage them using the Open Competitions CRM.
Go to Admin → Open Competitions.
Add external contacts (teams or individuals) with their contact details.
Track the Contact Status of each entry — Not Contacted, Contacted, Interested, Entered, or Declined.
Record notes and follow-up dates for each contact.
Once external entries are confirmed, you can add them to a competition draw alongside your club members.
Tip: The Open Competitions CRM is separate from the member Competition Entries system. Use the CRM for external teams, and Competition Entries for your own club members.
BowlsTime Help Centre · Last updated June 2026
Still need help? Use the Live Chat button at the bottom right of the screen.