Bowls is, perhaps, one of the most sociable games that you can play – its very pace allows for friendships to be quickly established giving the game a special charm. Here are some guiding principles to help keep it that way.
- Always be on time for matches and in suitable attire.
- Always pay attention to what is going on during the game.
- Ensure that all bowls are placed behind the front of the mat before play commences.
- Stand still and remain quiet behind the mat when other players are about to play and always remember that only the player on the mat can ask for instructions from their skip.
- Always try to keep to the rink you are playing on – don’t wander. In particular do not leave the green by walking across another rink without first checking that it is clear to do so.
- On sunny days ensure your shadow does not fall on the jack.
- Avoid obscuring rink markers or boundary pegs and do not walk across a player’s line of vision if they are about to bowl.
- Never deliver your bowl before the previous bowl has come to rest.
- Always be prepared to admit to a lucky shot and accept your opponent’s lucky bowls gracefully – they tend to cancel out over a season.
- If you follow a bowl after delivery, keep within the laws and try not to obscure your opponent’s view of the bowl.
- Always inform your opponent and skip if you wish to leave the green.
- When a skip decides on a firing shot, it is as well to stand back and make sure that all players know, so that they can avoid any bowls that fly about the head.
- Avoid wasting time deciding which is shot bowl .. if there is any doubt, get down and measure.
- Shot bowl and any other undisputed counting bowls should be placed on a cloth, then disputed bowls can be measured.
- Win or lose, always shake hands with your opponents and thank them for the game.