BASIC RULES

BASIC RULES YOU SHOULD KNOW

1. Mat Placement: The first to play places the mat on the centre line at least 2 metres from the ditch and up to the hog line if desired.

2. Foot Faulting: Before delivery a player must have one foot fully on the mat and at delivery all or part of one foot on or above the mat.

3. Jack / Bowl Length: A jack must travel 21 metres to be legal while a bowl must travel 14 metres to be in play.

4. Jack Delivery: If the jack is improperly delivered the opposition may reposition the mat and deliver the jack but not play first. If the jack is delivered improperly by both leads the jack is placed at the2 metre mark and the first to play may reposition the mat.

5. Touchers: Only the delivered bowl may be a toucher even if it deflects off other bowls before touching the jack.

6. Position on Rink: Players at the mat end who are not delivering a bowl should stand at least1 metre behind the mat. Players at the head end who are not controlling play should stand behind the jack.

7. Playing Wrong Bowl: Replace with correct bowl.

8. Playing out of Turn: Opposition skip has choice:

  1. a) may stop the bowl,
  2. b) leave it and have two bowls played to restore proper sequence,
  3. c) reset disturbed head and restore proper sequence,
  4. d) leave disturbed head and play two bowls or
  5. e) declare dead end.

9. Bowl & Jack Displacement: Numerous scenarios can arise.  The opposition skip and skips have options. The options depend upon the cause and timing of the displacement.

10. Rink Possession: Possession of the rink belongs to the player or team whose bowl is being played.

11. Determining score: Bowls should not be moved until the number of shots has been agreed upon by the vice or skip.

12. Objects on the green: No objects should be placed on the bank, the green or in the ditch to help a player.

13. Game stoppage: If a game has been stoped for a valid reason and all bowls have not been played, the end is declared dead.