PLAYING THE GAME

(1)     FORM AND DURATION

A game of bowls shall be played on 1 rink mat or several rink mats.  It shall consist of a specified number of shots or ends or shall be played for any period of time as previously arranged.

(2)     PLAY ARRANGEMENTS

A game shall be played on 1 rink mat as

(a)       a Singles game with 2 players, each player playing 2, 3 or 4 bowls singly and alternately.

(b)       a Pairs game with 2 players on either side, each playing 2, 3 or 4 bowls.  The 2 Leads shall play all their bowls singly, alternately and in turn before changing ends with the Skips who will then bowl their bowls singly, alternately and in turn.

(c)       a Triples game with 3 players on either side who shall be called Lead, Second and Skip, each player playing 2 or 3 bowls singly and alternately, each Lead playing all their bowls before the Seconds are allowed to bowl their bowls.  The Leads will remain at the delivery end until both Seconds have bowled all their bowls, then these 4 players will change ends with the Skips who will then bowl their bowls singly, alternately and in turn.

(d)       a Fours game with 4 players on either side who shall be called Lead, Second, Third and Skip according to the position in which they play.  Each player will play 2 bowls only, each singly, alternately and in turn.

(i)        The Leads will play all their bowls before the Seconds be allowed to bowl theirs.

(ii)       If no Third is at the head end both Thirds will then bowl their bowls singly and alternately.  These players will then change ends with the Skips who will now bowl their bowls singly and alternately.

(iii)      Where one or both Thirds elect to be at the head end whilst the Leads and Seconds play their bowls (see also Law E2), the Leads and Seconds will play their bowls as above and then proceed to the head end. The Thirds will leave the head end when it is their turn to bowl and may not return to the head end.

(e)       A team game shall be played by 2 sides on a given number of rink mats, each side composed of an equal number of players.

(3)     TRIAL ENDS

Trial ends shall be at the discretion of the controlling body.

(4)     TOSSING FOR START

(a)       The captains in a team game shall toss.  The winner has the option to play first or second on all rinks.

(b)       In games played on 1 rink mat, the Leads shall toss and the winner shall have the option of playing first or second.

(5)     PLAYING FIRST

(a)       In all subsequent ends to the first, the winner of the preceding end shall play first.

(b)       In the event of a tied end (no score) or a replayed end, the player who played first in that end shall again play first.

(6)     PLACING THE DELIVERY MAT

(a)       At the beginning of an end the player who is to play first shall place the delivery mat within the delivery mat lines with the shorter side in contact with the fender.

(b)       The delivery mat must not be moved until the end is complete.  If accidentally moved it must be returned to its proper position by the following player.

(c)       The last player to bowl in that end shall remove the delivery mat clear of the rink mat.

(7)     PLACING THE JACK

(a)       The Marker in a Singles game shall place the jack on the jack line where the player who is to play first requires it.

(b)       The Skip whose side it is to play first shall place the jack on the jack line at any length he/she chooses.

(c)       The jack may be placed on the jack line in any position and may overhang the end of the jack line providing it is in contact with the jack line.

(8)     STANCE ON THE DELIVERY MAT

(a)       A player at the moment of delivering the bowl shall have the whole of one foot entirely within the confines of the delivery mat.  The foot must be either in contact with or directly above the delivery mat. 

(b)       The other foot may be placed totally on the delivery mat or partially on the delivery mat and the delivery area or totally within the delivery area. 

(c)       The delivery area is shown diagonally hatched on the diagram in Appendix 3.  The delivery lines, the visible ditch line and the delivery mat lines do not form part of the hatched legitimate delivery area.

(d)       No part of the body shall be in contact with the ditch area or any part of the rink mat outside the legitimate delivery area. 

Failure to observe this law constitutes foot faulting.

(9)     FOOT FAULTING

(a)       In Pairs, Triples and Fours games it is the duty of the players who are at the delivery end to call foot faults.

(b)       In Singles games only the players involved and the Umpire may call foot faults.

(c)       Should a player in a Singles game foot fault, the Marker shall stop the bowl and remove it clear of the rink mat.

(d)       In all other cases the opposing player who is in charge of the head shall stop and remove the offending bowl.

 (10)  POSSESSION OF THE RINK MAT

(a)       Possession of the rink mat shall belong to the side whose bowl is being played.

(b)       The players in possession of the rink mat shall not be interfered with, annoyed, barracked or have their attention distracted by their opponents.

(c)       As soon as each bowl has come to rest, possession of the rink mat shall be transferred to the other side, time being allowed for marking a toucher, removing dead bowls or making line decisions.

(11)   POSITION OF THE PLAYERS