PLAY INFRINGEMENTS

(1)     FOLLOWING THE BOWL UP THE RINK MAT

(a)       No player shall follow their bowl up to the head on the rink mat or leave the rink mat and follow it up the side. 

(b)       Any player who infringes this law must be warned as soon as they cross the nearest dead line and on the second offence the opposing Skip can have the bowl stopped and removed from the rink mat or have the end played again, but it must be from the same direction.

(2)     PLAYING BEFORE THE LAST BOWL HAS COME TO REST

(a)       A bowl played before the last bowl has come to rest must be stopped and removed from the rink mat.

(b)       Any such bowl that disturbs the head or makes contact with any bowl or the jack, the opponent may leave the head as altered or declare it void.  It will be replayed from the same direction.

(3)     CHANGING THE ORDER OF PLAY

Players may change their order of play at the completion of any end but only with the approval of their Skip and the knowledge of the opposing Skip before the next end commences.  If this is not done then any wood bowled by a player who has changed their playing position without the knowledge of either Skip will have their wood dealt with as defined under Law F4.

(4)     PLAYING OUT OF TURN

(a)       If a player plays before their turn, the opposing Skip shall have the right to stop the bowl and cause it to be played again in its proper order.

(b)       If the bowl so played has moved the jack or altered the head, the opposing Skip shall have the option of allowing the head to remain as it is or to declare it void.

(c)       If the head is declared void it will be replayed from the same direction.

(d)       If the head is allowed to remain in its new position, the other players will follow in the new order of play.

(5)     PLAYING THE WRONG BOWL

A bowl played by mistake shall be replaced by the player’s own bowl.

(6)     DROPPED BOWL

If a bowl is dropped or slips out of the hand of a player whilst in the process of delivering their bowl, it may be retrieved and played again without penalty provided that it does not fully cross the nearest dead line.  Otherwise it shall be considered as a dead bowl and shall be removed from the rink mat.

(7)     CHANGING BOWLS

No player shall change their bowls during a game unless they become damaged or objected to as not complying with Law B1.

(8)     LEAVING THE RINK MAT

(a)       No player will leave the rink mat while a game is in progress without first consulting their opposite number and then for a period not exceeding 10 minutes.

(b)       If during a team game a player is forced to leave the game through illness or any other just cause, their place may be taken by a substitute if both captains agree.

(c)       Should the sick or indisposed player return after the substitute has joined the game on the rink mat, even though the substitute has not bowled the player will not be allowed to rejoin the game, nor can they act as a substitute in any other set.

(d)       Should the opposing team captain not agree to the playing of a substitute or should there not be a substitute available, the game will continue with the missing player being classed as the Second.

(9)     ABSENTEE PLAYERS

(a)       If a player is absent from a side at the time laid down for the commencement of the game, a wait of 10 minutes may be allowed.

(b)       If trial ends are to be played they will take place.  The missing player will forfeit their rights to trial ends.

(c)       If the missing player arrives before the trial ends are completed they will be allowed to play and only the trial ends will be forfeited.

(d)       If the missing player has not arrived by the expiry of the time allowed, a Singles or Pairs game will be awarded to the opponents.

(e)       A Triples or Fours game will commence with the missing player being considered as the Second and the playing order will be as defined in Law F10.

(f)        If the missing player arrives after the delivery mat has been placed for the first end, they will not be allowed to play.