Cookies

We use essential cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set analytics cookies that help us make improvements by measuring how you use the site. These will be set only if you accept.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our cookies page.

Essential Cookies

Essential cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. For example, the selections you make here about which cookies to accept are stored in a cookie.

You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Analytics Cookies

We'd like to set Google Analytics cookies to help us improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify you.

Third Party Cookies

Third party cookies are ones planted by other websites while using this site. This may occur (for example) where a Twitter or Facebook feed is embedded with a page. Selecting to turn these off will hide such content.

Skip to main content

Playing Guidelines

At Priory Garden Bowls Club, bowlers are encouraged to play in manner which encourages and nurtures a friendly, relaxing and happy environment for all those involved. The following guidelines are provided to support this ethos.

Members new to bowls do not need to know or understand all the rules. Experienced bowlers are always on hand to provide guidance and support. 

A copy of the Club's Code of Conduct and English Bowls Federation Laws can be found in the Club Manual held in the clubhouse.

Playing etiquette and, competition rules and laws are explained below.

Playing Etiquette 

Etiquette is the customary code of polite behaviour. It simply means displaying good sportsmanship. This can be achieved by having knowledge of what behaviour is acceptable and applying it using common sense, honesty, fairness and consideration for others. By doing this it helps everybody involved to enjoy their game.

In bowls, etiquette applies to everybody involved with a match, whether they are playing, helping out or spectating. If you are unsure of what is expected and acceptable the easiest thing to do is to ask. The following points, updated and approved on 12th February 2014, form the basis of good etiquette when participating in the game of bowls.

  1. Do not cross the rinks that others are or will be playing on.
  2. Respect your green keepers work; do not damage the green by dropping your bowls and, attempt to roll your bowls rather than bouncing them.
  3. Before you play shake hands with your team and your opponents with the wish of good bowling,
  4. Observe rink possession, which belongs to the bowler on the mat, from point of delivery until the bowl in play comes to rest.
  5. Concentrate on your game and support your team; do not disturb players on adjoining rinks
  6. Avoid talking or any form of disturbance likely to disrupt the bowler's concentration through the point of delivery.
  7. Always stand at least 1 metre behind the mat while your opponent bowls.
  8. Always stand still, and at least 1 metre behind the head, when a player is about to bowl.
  9. Never deliver your bowl until the previous delivery comes to rest
  10. Walk up the middle of your rink when changing ends
  11. The Skip is responsible for advising on the best shot to be played. When the Skip is bowling this responsibility becomes that of the number two.
  12. On completion of an end do not remove bowls from the head until the number of shots has been decided.
  13. The shots are decided by one nominated member from each team; unless agreed otherwise this is the Number Two. It is their responsibility to remove and count their opponents shot bowls.
  14. If measuring is required it is the responsibility of the player claiming the shots.
  15. Every player excluding the Number One, i.e. the player casting the next jack, should assist in collecting the bowls after the shots have been counted and agreed.
  16. Whether you win or lose always shake hands with your opponents and your team and, thank them for the game. Be a good loser. 
  17. If you are unhappy about something during your match you should discuss it away from the green and, not while an end is being played.

          - Return to Playing Etiquette

 

Competition Rules and Laws

Internal competitions and home friendly matches are played under English Bowls Federation Laws. (EBF). Refer to Main Laws of Play below for a general overview. 

Away friendly matches are played under laws as set by the host club. In most cases these are EBF laws.

AGE Concern matches are played under EBF Laws with the exception that the minimum jack length is 19 metres.

Main Laws of Play

1) - Position of Mat

2) - Position of Jack

3) - Movement of Jack

4) - Dead Bowls

5) - Scoring Bowls

1) - Position of Mat

a) - At the start of the first end of the match the leading edge of the mat is placed 2 metres from the ditch from the end where bowls are to be played from.

b) -For all subsequent ends the mat is placed, by the lead player who won the previous end, so that the leading edge is between 2 and 4 metres from the ditch from the end where bowls are to be played.  - Return to Main Laws of Play

2) - Position of Jack

a) - The jack must be cast, by the lead bowler, to rest at least 23 metres from the front edge of the mat and at least 2 metres from the ditch at the end where bowls are to be played to.

b) - If the jack is cast and comes to rest less then 2 metres from the ditch then it is moved away from the ditch to the required 2 metre mark.

c) - If the jack is cast and comes to rest less than 23 metres from the leading edge of the mat or comes to rest in the ditch it is given to the opposing lead bowler to recast. If agreed between the skips of both teams the jack can be positioned by the opposing skip rather than recasting. Whichever option is taken the jack must be positioned as described in a) above before the first bowl of the end is played.

d) - In all cases the jack must be aligned with the centre mark of the rink before the first bowl of the end is played. - Return to Main Laws of Play

3) - Movement of Jack

a) - If during normal play the jack is knocked into the ditch and remains within the confines of the green then it remains live.

b) - If during normal play the jack is knocked outside the confines of the rink, either to one side or over the strike board at the back of the ditch, the jack is dead. The end is declared dead and must then be replayed in the same direction with bowlers playing in the same order. - For clarity, the jack is considered to be outside the confines of the rink at either side if it is knocked onto or over the line dividing the rinks.- Return to Main Laws of Play

4) - Dead Bowls

a) - Any bowl, either directly delivered or knocked into the ditch during normal play, is declared dead.

b) - Any bowl, either directly delivered or knocked outside the confines of the rink during normal play, is declared dead and is removed from the green. - For clarity, a bowl is considered to outside the confines of the rink at either side if it is knocked onto or over the line dividing the rinks.- Return to Main Laws of Play

5) - Scoring Bowls

a) - Only bowls within 2 metres of the jack are included when calculating the score for each end. - Return to Main Laws of Play 

 - Return to Playing Etiquette