UMPIRE’S TIPS for Lawn Bowls

From time to time the club umpire will add topical or general tips regarding the laws of the game and general playing standards to help members enjoy the game as much as possible…

Etiquette on the MAT and at the HEAD (Law 12 & 13)

01/08/2022  – Kees Struik

AT THE MAT

  • After you have delivered your bowl and it has come to REST at the other end, you should be WELL CLEAR OF THE MAT (preferably behind the mat or at least moving behind the mat to a location that does not impede your opponent from stepping onto the mat to play their bowl.)
  • DO NOT walk BACKWARDS through the mat, because under the laws of the sport, when your bowl stops, the rink (mat & head) is no longer yours.  It eventually dawns on most bowlers, that their opponent is standing behind them waiting to bowl, so walking backwards through the mat not only wastes time but prevents your opponent from preparing to bowl.  (COACHES TIP:  You will have more success if your centre of gravity is slightly forward when you deliver your bowl.  Having your centre of gravity slightly forward will help you step forward after you deliver which also helps clear the mat.  If you always step back after you deliver, you may find your centre of gravity is neutral or slightly backward when you deliver.  This can result in frequent short bowls.  (This is often seen in bowlers who practice frequently, when a post delivery habit is formed that has the bowler preparing to retrieve the next bowl rather than moving forward through the shot just played.)

AT THE HEAD

You have possession of the rink (mat & head) when it is your turn to bowl and while your current bowl is still rolling.  (This does not apply after LAST bowl of end comes to rest)

When your team’s bowl comes to rest you lose possession of the rink and:

  • You should NOT step into the head to see who has shot.  You need to wait until you have possession of the rink again before you can check.
  • You should NOT shout or call out instructions or observations about the last bowl or the head.  You opponent will likely be trying to call the next shot or communicate the situation, so yelling out and waving your arms about will be impeding your opponent’s ability to play.
  • You should NEVER stand jack high when not in possession of the rink.
  • You should NEVER deliberately get in your opponents delivery line and move about to try and put them off their shot.  This is very bad sportsmanship and should be called out if ever observed.  If necessary, to prevent this, skip or deputy should take the side of the head their team is bowling on, thus blocking would be attempts by opponents to disrupt play.
  • You should ALWAYS stand still, “behind the jack and away from the head”, when not in possession.  You should also accommodate your opponent’s positioning requests relating to the shot being played.  I.E., If drawing a back bowl, do not obstruct your opponent’s visibility of the area of the rink they are targeting.  If you feel your opponent is standing too close to the head or target area, ask them politely to move.
  • You CAN applaud your teams bowl (briefly) when it comes to rest.
  • You should ALWAYS mark your team’s touchers promptly, and then move out of the head.

TIPS for TIMED MATCHES (I.e., tournament play)

18-7-2022   – Kees Struik

  • When playing in a timed match with a specified number of ends, it very bad sportsmanship to unnecessarily delay play during the match.  Provisions for time wasting should be included in the conditions of play.  (See Laws of the Sport – Appendix A5 for an example)
  • Players must play without undue delay and in a way which does not prevent their opponents from being able to complete the required number of ends within the time limit.  I.e. Standing behind the mat with their bowl ready.
  • How skips manage their time during a match is up to them but the following can appear to be time wasting in a close game:
    • Skips visiting the head.  In timed matches skips should rely on their thirds/seconds to determine the shot to play if necessary.
    • Spending too much time studying the head after the last third/second bowl has come to rest.
    • Slow walking between change over from head to mat.

The most important statement in the “LAWS OF THE SPORT OF BOWLS”.  (Under “Introduction”)

21/2/2022 – Kees Struik

No laws governing a sport can cope with every situation, and the laws governing the sport of bowls are no exception. Unusual situations not covered within the laws can often arise. The Laws of the Sport of Bowls (‘the laws’) have been drawn up in the spirit of true sportsmanship. So, if a situation arises that is not covered by these laws, players, markers and umpires must use their common sense and a spirit of fair play to decide on the appropriate course of action.