Simplified and Abridged

Transcription

1 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Rules for Playing Lawn Bowls Simplified and Abridged This little booklet is a simplified and abbreviated set of rules for the game of lawn bowls. It is not intended to replace or compete with the official rules of the game. The official rules cover many situations which occur infrequently but are important at a competitive level. This book does not address them. Instead this booklet is designed to state the basic rules for those who play mostly at the club level. In stating these rules, the goal is to be brief and clear rather than to cover every contingency which may arise. It is hoped that most questions are answered in these pages, but the final answer is always provided by the official rules. Lawn bowls is a game that depends on the good will and integrity of the players. There are no referees or umpires hovering about to educate the players or penalize those who break the rules. In this environment, enjoyment of the game is increased if the players know and agree on the basic rules. Jack Edwards, Member 2006 Williamsburg Inn Lawn Bowling Club 1. THE MAT 1.1 Placement. The mat is placed on the center line and the front edge must be at least 2 meters (slightly over 6.5 feet) from the rear ditch, but no further than the hog line. It may be placed anywhere between that point and the hog line. 1.2 Moving the Mat during Play. After play begins, the mat may be moved slightly to ensure that it is on the center line but it may not be moved up or back. If the mat is accidentally removed before the end is completed, the opponent restores it to its original position. 1.3 Challenging Position. Any challenge to the position of the mat must be

2 made before the first bowl is rolled. 2. THE JACK 2.1 Who Rolls Jack. The game begins with a coin toss or other random device. The winner of the coin toss has the option to take the mat or give the mat to the opponent. After each end, the winner of the point has the option of taking the mat or giving it away. 2.2 Dead Jack. A jack is dead if it comes to rest entirely outside the rink, in the ditch, or less than 23 meters (about 75.5 feet) from the mat. 2.3 Both Players Roll Dead Jacks. If both players deliver dead jacks, the jack is placed 2 meters from the front ditch. The player who rolls the jack (the one who first rolled a dead jack) may then move the mat to any legal position. 2.4 Centering. After the jack has been legally delivered, it is centered. This is done by moving the jack on a line perpendicular to the center line. If the length of the jack is challenged, measurement is made after the jack has been centered. 2.5 Near Front Ditch. If the jack comes to rest within the rink but less than 2 meters (6.5 feet) from the front ditch, the jack is centered 2 meters from the front ditch. 2.6 First to Bowl. The player who first delivered the jack also rolls the first bowl. 2.7 Replacing Mat After Dead Jack. In all cases, a player may move the mat to a different place if the opponent has delivered a dead jack. 2.8 Challenging Length. The length of the jack cannot be challenged after the first bowl has been rolled. 2.9 Jack Hit into Ditch. If a bowl drives the jack into the ditch, the jack is still live Dead End. If a bowl drives the jack off the rink, the end is dead and is replayed in the same direction as before. The team that delivered the jack on the dead end also delivers the jack on the replayed end. A dead end does not

3 count as an end played. 3. THE BOWLS 3.1 Alternate. Teams alternate in delivering bowls. 3.2 Dead Bowl. A bowl is dead if it comes to rest entirely outside the rink, less than 14 meters (about 46 feet) from the mat, or in the ditch (unless it is a toucher under 3.3). To be outside the rink, the bowl must be entirely outside the boundary line of the rink; if any part of it touches the line, the bowl remains live. 3.3 Touchers. A bowl which touches the jack while the bowl is in course is called a toucher and remains live even if it goes in the ditch then or later, provided it remains within the boundaries of the rink. Once a subsequent bowl has been delivered, a non-toucher does not become a toucher even if it later comes in contact with the jack. 3.4 Marking touchers. Each toucher shall be marked with chalk or other identifying mark. A toucher must be marked before the next bowl comes to rest. 3.5 Moving a Toucher in the Ditch. A toucher in the ditch may be moved by a jack or another toucher, but it cannot legally be moved by a dead bowl (similarly, a jack may be moved by a live bowl but not a dead one). Players should stop a dead bowl before it can move a bowl or jack in the ditch. 3.6 Protecting the Head. The head should be protected from bowls coming from the adjoining rink. A bowl may be lifted so that a bowl legally delivered from an adjoining rink may pass. If the bowl from the adjoining rink is improperly delivered (for example, a wrong bias), it should be stopped before it can disturb the head. 3.7 Improperly Moving Bowl. Whenever a bowl is inadvertently moved by a player, it should be restored to its original place by the opponent. If a bowl is improperly moved during measurement, it should be replaced by the opponent, but all points previously agreed upon are counted. 3.8 Bowl Delivered out of Turn. When a player delivers a bowl out of turn,

4 the opponent can stop the bowl. If the bowl is not stopped, and comes to rest without disturbing the head, the opponent plays two bowls, then the proper sequence is resumed. If the bowl disturbs the head, the opponent has three choices: accept the disturbed head; place the bowls where they were before the head was disturbed and return the bowl; or declare the end dead. 3.9 Delivery of Wrong Bowl. If a player delivers a bowl belonging to another player, after it has come to rest it should be replaced with the correct bowl Time Limit. A player must deliver a bowl not more than 1 minute after the previous bowl came to rest Cannot Change Bowls. Bowls cannot be changed during a game unless a bowl is damaged in the course of play. 4. PLAY AND SCORING 4.1 Scoring. After all bowls have been delivered, a team is awarded one point for each bowl that is closer to the jack than any of the opponents bowls. 4.2 Equidistant Bowls. If the closest bowls of the teams are an equal distance from the jack, as when each has a bowl touching the jack, no point is awarded. This counts as an end. 4.3 Who Measures. Either team may measure, though usually the team conceding shots will measure. 4.4 Measuring Before Last Bowl. The player with the last bowl may decline to bowl and ask that the head be counted. 5. THE PLAYERS 5.1 Players and Positions. Players in a pairs game are called lead and skip; each delivers 4 bowls. Players in a triples game are called lead, second, and skip; each delivers 3 bowls. Players in a fours game are called lead, second, third, and skip; each delivers 2 bowls.

5 5.2 Duty to Measure. Those who measure are the lead in pairs, the second in triples, and the third in fours. 5.3 Duty to Keep Score. When each team has a score card, the cards are kept by the skip in pairs, and by the second in triples and fours. 5.4 Skip May Change Duties of Others. The duties described in 5.2 and 5.3 may be delegated differently by the skip. 5.5 Skip May Delegate Own Duties. A skip may delegate any of his or her powers and duties to other members of the team, provided the opposing skip is informed. 6. MISCELLANEOUS 6.1 Possession of the Rink. After a team s bowl comes to rest, the other team is in possession of the rink. The team in possession of the rink may communicate as necessary. The members of the team which does not possess the rink should remain quiet, stay clear of the head, and not distract the bowler on the mat. 6.2 Foot Fault. When the jack or bowl is delivered, at least one foot must be on or above the mat. 6.3 Leaving Green. During the game, a player may leave the green only with the approval of the opposing team, and not for more than 10 minutes. 6.4 Special Rules. These general rules may be amended by rules adopted for a specific tournament or match.