Basic Rules of Lawn Bowls

Basic Rules for Lawn Bowls

No laws governing a sport can cope with every situation. Unusual situations not covered can arise. The Laws of the Sport of Bowls have been drawn up in the spirit of true sportsmanship. Common sense should be used when unusual situations not covered by the Laws arise.

All lawn bowlers should familiarize themselves with “Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark 3rd Edition, 2014”.

Basic Rules You Should Know

Mat Placement: The first to play places the mat on the centre line at least 2 metres from the ditch and up to the hog line if desired.
Foot Faulting: Before delivery a player must have one foot fully on the mat and at delivery all or part of one foot on or above the mat.
Jack / Bowl Length: A jack must travel 21 metres to be legal while a bowl must travel 14 metres to be in play.
Jack Delivery: If the jack is improperly delivered the opposition may reposition the mat and deliver the jack but not play first. If the jack is delivered improperly by both leads the jack is placed at the 2-metre mark and the first to play may reposition the mat.
Touchers: Only the delivered bowl may be a toucher even if it deflects off other bowls before touching the jack.
Position on Rink: Players at the mat end who are not delivering a bowl should stand at least 1 metre behind the mat. Players at the head end who are not controlling play should stand behind the jack.
Playing Wrong Bowl: Replace with correct bowl.
Playing out of Turn: Opposition skip has choice: a) may stop the bowl, b) leave it and have two bowls played to restore proper sequence, c) reset disturbed head and restore proper sequence, d) leave disturbed head and play two bowls or e) declare dead end.
Bowl & Jack Displacement: Numerous scenarios can arise. The opposition skip and skips have options. The options depend upon the cause and timing of the displacement.
Rink Possession: Possession of the rink belongs to the player or team whose bowl is being played.
Determining score: Bowls should not be moved until the number of shots has been agreed upon by the vice or skip.
Objects on the green: No objects should be placed on the bank, the green or in the ditch to help a player.
Game stoppage: If a game has been stopped for a valid reason and all bowls have not been played, the end is declared dead.

Measuring For Shot

Measurement for shot shall be made between the nearest points of the Jack and Bowl. Always measure from the Jack to the Bowl.
If required, use wedges to prevent movement of either bowl or jack.
Callipers are used when the space between the Jack and Bowl does not permit the flexible measure being used. Insert callipers from top.
A thin paper may be used to determine if a bowl is frozen to the jack. [NB Placing the paper on the playing surface may help to determine if there is a gap.]
At the completion of the end the two Vices count the shots. If your team is shot, the opposing Vice removes the shot Bowl or Bowls agreed upon placing those Bowls away from the Head on a towel. If a measure is required for the balance of the shots, this should be done by the opposing Vice who has already removed the shot Bowls.
When an end is completed and a measure is immediately required to determine the Shot Bowl, either Vice may measure, but MUST measure to their own Bowl first & then to the opponents Bowl.
Where one Bowl of Team ‘A’ is in contention with two Bowls of team ‘B’, measure to Team ‘A’ first, then measure to the other two Bowls.
If Bowl and Jack are more than an arm’s length apart ask the opposing Vice to assist by holding the measure against the Jack.
The opposing Vice is allowed to measure if they have any doubt as to the shot Bowl.
The Skip is in charge of the game at all times and may question the measure or the count before the Head is raked.
If there is continuing doubt call for a neutral party or umpire to measure.
Do not remove any bowls until the count has been agreed upon.