BOWLS CUSTOM AND RULES
GENERAL
- All Bowlers should have an understanding of the Rules.
- Bowling clothes, including Club shirt, should be regulation for matches.
- Bowling shoes must be regulation with smooth soles to protect the greens, and only worn on the greens.
- Bowling is a friendly game and all players should show good sportsmanship.
- Never drop bowls onto the green.
- Do not stand or sit on the edges of the green or ditch.
- Mobile phones should not be used on or around the green during matches. If required for urgent matters please keep on silent.
- Where smoking is permitted, please use the bins provided for cigarette ends.
PLAYING COMPETITION
- If you are representing the club on another bowling green you are an ambassador for the South Woodham Ferrers Bowling Club.
- Introduce yourself and shake hands with your opponent(s) both before play commences and after the game is complete.
- Do not walk across rinks that other people are using and do not stand or sit on the banks while waiting to play. – people sitting on the banks tend to place their feet on the edge of the green which may cause serious damage.
- While about to bowl, take notice of bowlers on adjoining rinks. Give way to the player who steps on the mat first (particularly important when playing indoors).
- When a player prepares to bowl, other players must stay quiet and not move about.
- After bowling – stay on the mat till your bowl settles, then move back. Do not delay the following player.
- Players should stand at least one metre behind the mat whilst not bowling.
- While standing on the green, do not block the rink markers including the middle number marker.
- Players must not dump bowls on the green or on the mat as a protest for any reason.
- Do pay attention to your Skip – do not question his/her instruction.
- If the Skip Fires at the head, team members should be prepared to stop bowls being knocked onto adjoining rinks.
- On sunny days you must ensure that your shadow does not fall on the jack.
- Spectators who are in the player’s line of vision should also keep still while bowls are being delivered and they should not distract players on the green.
- In a Fours game:
The No. 1 or lead places the mat (front of mat must be a minimum of 2 metres from the back of the green) and rolls the jack – and, if the end is lost, gathers the bowls at the end – but all team members should help. Never move the bowls until the score has been agreed.
All the bowls should be well to the side and behind the line of the back of the mat.
The No. 2 keeps the scorecard and deals with the scoreboard (in a Pairs and Triples game the Skip keeps the score unless agreed otherwise beforehand.)
The No. 3 agrees the score and does any measuring (unless otherwise agreed beforehand) – other team members should stand back.
When score agreed, clearly advise the Skip. - In the event of a dispute, the two skips only should discuss and resolve the problem.
- Lucky wicks – do not praise your team players lucky shots or show disappointment at the opposition’s lucky shots.
- Bowlers – when changing ends do walk briskly in the middle of the rink clear of adjoining rinks.
- Skips:
– do be clear with instructions by voice or hand signals.
– do show encouragement and appreciation.
– do remove the mat when the last bowl has been bowled.
– do remove your own team’s dead bowls. - If your team members are not playing well – do not criticise but offer encouragement.
- At away games it is usual to be invited to stay for a drink after the match, at home games players are invited to the village hall and it is customary to offer opposite number a drink.
- Bowls is a fun sport – praise a good bowl, no matter who bowls it.
- Do not give up, even if unlikely to win any match, as the accumulation of shots may affect the result at the end of the season – promotion or relegation in the division.