Be Proud of This As It Makes the Game As Enjoyable As Possible

Lawn bowls remains one of the few sports where common courtesy and etiquette is still prevalent. We should

be proud of this as it makes the game as enjoyable as possible.

Bowling Green Etiquette

1. Arrive on time and dress appropriately for the match.

2. Do not drop your bowls onto the green as this causes damage.

3. Do not stand on, nor sit with your feet on, the edges of the green as this damages the edges.

4. Skips will introduce the teams prior to the match. Shake hands with your opponent and try to(!) remember

their name.

5. As you cross over with the skip on the 2nd trial end shake hands with them. Also shake hands again with

youroppo and wish them a good game.

6. When at the mat end do not do anything that might disturb the player that is on the mat. Do not talk, move

nor get in their line of sight.

7. If you are bowling you must either be on or behind the mat, or at the head, when your bowl stops.

8. If you are at the head when a player is bowling you should not talk nor move at all (even an arm) and you

should not obscure centre or side rink markers. Make sure your shadow does not fall on the jack.

9. When changing ends keep to your own rink and be aware that woods from neighbouring rinks may travel

into your rink during their delivery. Do not dawdle!

10. Possession of the rink changes when the delivered bowl comes to a stop. Until you have possession you

should not go near the head, nor offer any comment to your next bowler (either verbally or by signals).

11. When at the head all players (save the one in charge of the head) should be at least 1 metre behind it. If you

are not in possession of the rink you should stand away from the head.

12. Congratulate your opponents for a good shot.

13. Do not applaud your sides lucky shots. If you are bowling then you should apologise to your opponent for

any lucky wicks you get.

14. If you are not directly involved in the marking then keep clear of the head and don’t interfere.

15. If you are marking and ask for shots then it is up to your opponent to agree and remove them from the

head, after measuring if necessary.

16. Other players should not move woods until the result of the end has been agreed (unless those marking

agree that specific woods can be moved)

17. All players, save the skips - and threes if playing 3s up, should kick the woods back for the next end. If a

pusher is used the lead of the side who won the end will just collect the mat and jack while his oppo

collects the woods.

18. Skips are in charge and you should only take instructions on what shot to play from them. If you are not the

skip you should not tell other players what shot to make.

19. At the end of the game shake hands with all other players and offer commiserations if they lost. Offer to buy your opposition a drink if you are the home side (he will return the favour later on).

20. If you are the home side put all your rink equipment away.

21. Be courteous at all times. If you think bowling etiquette or the laws of the sport are being broken then have a quiet word with your skip. Do not cause a scene on the green. It is only a game after all.

22. You may smoke on the rink with agreement with other players

23. Do not use mobile phones on the rink.

24. If the green is soft and likely to be damaged then put mats down. Don’t wait to be told to do so by the greenkeeper!

25. If you are a spectator, or need to leave the green during a match, then do not cross the eyeline of someone on the mat on any rink. Stand still until they have bowled and then move on.

The Players' Roles in Team Games.

In all team games it is the skip's job to direct the play. Other players should play the shot directed by the skip even if they don't agree with it. In fours games the 'Three' should direct the skip when required to do so. In

Triples or Pairs the Second or Lead may do this.

Other players should not interfere unless invited to do so.

The Skip

The Skip is in charge of the team and his/her instructions shall be followed by all the players.

With the opposing Skip he shall decide all disputed points and when both agree, their decision shall be final.

If both Skips cannot agree, the point in dispute shall be referred to and considered by an Umpire whose decision shall be final.

A Skip may at any time delegate his powers or any of his/her duties to other members of the team provided that such delegation is notified to the opposing Skip.

The Skip should also sign the scorecard at the end of the match (even if scorecard has been kept by the 2). He should also write down on the scorecard the time the match finished.

A Skip should be able to play all shots – including those miraculous ones!!

The Three

The third player (the Three) measures any disputed shots and agrees with his oppo the score for each end. If the

3s can’t agree then the skips will resolve the issue (else umpire is referred to).

The Three and the Skip often work together in deciding the best shot to play although the Skip has the final say.

A Three should be able to play all types of shots including take out/running shots – as directed by the skip.

The Two

The Two is often delegated to keep the scorecard.

In keeping the scorecard you should;

Make sure each player’s name from both sides is correctly recorded

Enter each ends result on the card immediately this has been agreed by the 3s

Compare the card with your opponent frequently during the match to ensure both cards agree (and resolve

Ensure scoreboard is correct and up-to-date

Pass completed scorecard to skip at end of game for them to sign etc

A Two should build on the head as started by the Lead by drawing close to the jack or place positional woods as directed by the Skip.

The Lead

If not done by the Skips, the Leads often toss the coin at the start of the match to see who has choice of the mat.

Even then it is up to the Skip to decide to have the mat or not.

The Lead places the mat and delivers and centres the jack at the start of each end. The Lead must follow the

Skips instructions on where to place the mat and where the jack is delivered to (ie short or long).

The losing lead shall use the pusher (where employed) to collect the woods after each end. If a pusher is not used all players at the mat end kick the woods back.

A Lead should aim to deliver all his woods as near to the jack as possible and, if possible, slightly behind the jack.