Etiquette

• Bowls

  

  (i.e. Good Manners for bowlers and spectators)

  Please note that some of these rules are locally applied to Mearns Bowling Club. Other clubs may have different views. Many of our more senior players will say that twenty or thirty years ago much more attention was paid to bowling green etiquette, but lawn bowls remains one of the few sports where common courtesy and etiquette is still prevalent. We should be proud of this and in order to make the game as enjoyable as possible bowling green etiquette should be promoted to members old and new. Much of this is common sense, but here are some of the main ‘rules’ of etiquette (good manners).

   1.   Dress appropriately and ensure that you know the dress code for each game or match in which you are participating.

  2.   Do not show disrespect for your opponent(s) by arriving late, ensure that you leave sufficient time to change before the game. If you are representing the club on another green you should remember that you are an ambassador for Mearns Bowling Club. Behave appropriately.

  3.   Enter and leave the bowling green by the steps provided. Do not walk across rinks that other people are using and do not stand or sit on the banks while waiting to play. Note: it is not the banks that are the main problem, we have artificial banks that will withstand some abuse, but people sitting on the banks tend to place their feet on the edge of the Green causing serious damage.

  4.   Introduce yourself and shake hands with your opponent(s) both before play commences and after the game is completed.

  5.   During the game do not move around the head when your opponent is about to deliver his/her bowl. Stand well back from the head, keep quiet and do not do anything that would distract your opponent. Wait until the bowl has been delivered before moving.

  6.   If you are at the same end as the player delivering a bowl, you must stand behind the mat, thus staying out of the player’s line of vision. Here is what the SBA rule says about this. "Players of each team not in the act of playing or controlling play shall stand behind the Jack and away from the head or 1m behind the mat." Bear in mind that some people like to see the rink boundary markers and the centre pin while playing, so make sure that you are not obscuring them. On sunny days you must also ensure that your shadow does not fall on the jack.

  7.   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. For example if you need to arrange a tie with another member don’t try to do this while he/she is playing someone else! Also, keep gratuitous advice to yourself!

  8.   At our Club we are privileged to have one of the best greens in the area. Look after it! Don’t drop your bowls onto the green and ensure that your delivery is not causing scuff marks or otherwise damaging the green.

  9.   Observe the rules for possession of the rink! Here is the SBA rule on this.

        "Possession of the rink shall belong to the team whose bowl is being played. The players in possession of the rink for the time being shall not be interfered with, annoyed, or have their attention distracted in any way by their opponents. As soon as each bowl has come to rest, possession of the rink shall be transferred to the other team, time being allowed for marking a ’toucher’. "

  10. After you have delivered a bowl and before it has come to rest you have two options. If you want to track your bowls progress you must be behind the head as it stops. In other words you must beat it to the head. If you don’t go to the head you must be behind the mat as your bowl stops. This ruling is quite clear, but, unfortunately, many players, including many of those who should know better, show disrespect for their opponents by failing to observe it. How many times have you been on the mat, ready to play your bowl, when you have had to wait for your opponent to complete his/her stroll up the green or back to the mat? If your opponent is guilty of this you should ask him/her to stop. Remember that it is him/her who is in the wrong.

  The SBA website is a bit more succinct, here is what it says about etiquette:-

  1.   Players should use the steps provided when going on or off the green.

  2.   Bowls should not be dropped on the green.

  3.   Do not stand on the verges.

  4.   Matches, cigarette ends, etc., should be placed in the litter-baskets and not in the ditches.

  5.   Bowls should not be kicked in until the shot has been decided by the skips (or thirds).

  6.   After delivering a bowl, a player should either retire behind the mat or advance to the head. He (she) should not take up a position in between.

  7.   Don’t delay the game.

  8.   Don’t wander around or move about the head when a player is about to deliver a bowl.

  9.   In ALL games it is the responsibility of the ’Skip’ to keep the score.

  10. Bowling is a friendly game and all players should show courtesy and good sportsmanship.

  11. All bowlers should know the rules as laid down by the World Bowls Board.

  12. Mobile phones should not be used on or around the green.

  13. After the game you should once again shake hands with your opponent(s) and congratulate/commiserate with them appropriately.

  14. It is also customary to offer to buy them a drink if you have won the game. Where a marker has been involved in a game you should also offer him (her) a drink.

  Knowledge of the above will make you a more respected bowler, keep things friendly and contribute towards the enjoyment of the game for everyone involved, both on and off the green.

   

  Players' Roles in Team Games

  37.1.7  The skip should:

  37.1.7.1  be responsible for the score card supplied by the Controlling Body while play is in progress;

  37.1.7.2  enter the names of all players of both teams on the score card;

  37.1.7.3  record, on the score card, all shots scored for and against the team as each end is completed;

  37.1.7.4  compare the score card with that of the opposing skip as each end is completed; and

  37.1.7.5  at the end of the game, record on the score card the time that the game finished and then sign it.

  37.1.8  If a Member National Authority agrees to a scoreboard being used instead of one of the score cards, the skip of the team which won the toss for opening play should update the scoreboard and the opposing skip should deal with the score card as described in law 37.1.7.

  37.1.9  Skips can, at any time, delegate their own powers and any of their own duties (except those described in laws 37.1.7 and 37.1.8) to any other members of the team as long as they tell the opposing skip immediately.

  37.2     The third

  37.2.1  The third can measure any and all disputed shots.

  37.2.2  The third can tell the skip the number of shots scored for or against their team as each end is completed.

  37.3     The lead

  The lead of the team to play first in an end should:

  37.3.1  place the mat as described in law 19.1.1; and

  37.3.2  deliver the jack and make sure that it is centred before delivering the first bowl of the end.

  37.4     Other duties

  Along with the duties mentioned in the previous paragraphs of law 37, players can carry out any other duties assigned to them by their skip as described in law 37.1.9.

  It is also worth emphasizing that the head must not be disturbed by any player until the shots have been finally agreed. When the Thirds or Skips are deciding the shots the other players should stand well back from the head and give them the space to do so.

  During the game encourage your team mates, do not criticize them. Commend good shots and learn to accept that flukes are a part of the game. Sometimes they go for you, sometimes against.

   

  Etiquette for Markers

  During the season, when we are heavily involved in singles ties, markers are required most evenings. Consider making yourself available as a marker whenever you can. We all know that there is nothing worse than playing an important tie without a marker. Traditionally, our Club has volunteer markers available, but recently ties without markers seem to be becoming more common. It is not good etiquette to watch games from the sidelines or from the clubhouse while there are people playing without markers. If you have the time, get out there and mark, please.

  If you are marking a tie the following rules should be observed. (Note that these are not the formal SBA rules related to official markers. These rules are what is expected of a marker on Mearns Bowling Club’s green in domestic tournaments):-

  a.         S/He should adopt the appropriate dress code for the match s/he is marking.

  b.         When a player has delivered the jack the marker should centre it then stand back and to one side, ensuring that all rink markers are visible to the players.

  c.         S/He should answer any specific question (from the player in possession of the rink) about the state of the head. S/He should not offer any additional information that has not been requested. For example if someone asks, "Who lies the shot?", you should just answer that question, e.g. "you are" or "he is". You should not say anything like, "You are lying two shots". If you are unsure of the situation, for example you cannot decide who is lying, don’t guess. You can offer an opinion, but make sure that the player who is asking the question is made aware of this.

  d.         The marker should mark all touchers immediately they come to rest and remove chalk marks from non-touchers.

  e.         S/He should also remove all dead bowls from the rink with the players’ agreement.

   f.         S/He should also mark the position of touchers and/or the jack which are in the ditch.

  g.         The marker should not move any bowls until the end is complete and the players have agreed the number of shots.

  h.         S/He shall measure disputed shots when required, but, once again, he should not move the bowls until the players agree. If an Umpire is available then s/he may be called upon for a decision. Where no Umpire is available the marker may select one. Both players may also agree that the marker should make the decision. This is acceptable at local level.

  i.          S/He should record shots, as appropriate, on a scorecard (and score board, if there is one) after each end is completed and present the completed card at the end of the match to the players involved. Only when asked, s/he should advise the players of the score at any stage of the match.

• Bridge