Umpiring

New Laws for Pennant Play:

Bowls Australia have decided to introduce the International Laws of Lawn Bowls.
Please see the major changes to the Laws below.
 

Minimum Length of End:

A Jack must finish not less than 23 Meters from the Front of the Mat, upon delivery.

Rink Widths:

The Minimum and Maximum width of Rinks will alter to between 4.3 to 5.8 meters.

Side Boundaries:

An imaginary straight line between the centre of the boundary pegs.
 

The Ditch:

The ditch should be between 200 and 380 mm wide and between 50 to 200 mm deep from the surface of the green.

Placing the mat:

Managers in a side game, Skips in a team game or opponents in a singles game should toss a coin.  The winner of the toss should place the mat and play the bowl or tell the opposing player to place the mat and play the bowl.  The opposing player cannot refuse.  If this option is chosen by the Manager then it will apply to all teams.
In all other ends the winner of the previous end can decide to place the mat or tell the opposing player to place the mat.
 

Foot Fault.

Before delivery one foot should be fully on the Mat.  At the moment they deliver they should have one foot on or partly over the mat.
 

Jack:

If the Jack has been delivered improperly by each player then the jack should be placed at the 2 meter mark and the first player to bowl should place the mat.
 

Possession of the rink:

Possession of the rink belongs to the player or team whose bowl is being played.  Players at the mat end should stand 1meter behind the mat.  Players at the head-end should stand behind the Jack and away from the head.

Neighboring Rink: (Law 35)

A player should not go into or walk along a neighboring rink or boundary between the outside rink and ditch when a player is about to deliver a bowl.

Skips:

Both Skips will decide all disputed points in line with the laws of the game.  If an Umpire decides that the decision of the skips is not in line with the laws then he can overrule the decision.
 

Damaged bowl:

If a bowl is damaged then it can be replaced by a bowl from the same set.  If the bowl is split into pieces the end is declared dead.  If the player is using all four bowls then he should use another complete set of bowls.
 

Game stoppages:

If a game is stopped because  of darkness , weather or any other valid reason then it should be continued on the same day or a different day.
If the end has started but is not complete then it will be declared dead.
If the end is complete but the number of shots has not been decided then the players will stay on the green to decide the end or declare the end dead.
 

Fours Game:

After delivering a bowl players will only be allowed to walk up to the head in the following circumstances.
the Lead after the second player has delivered their second bowl.
the Second after delivery of their second bowl.
the Thirds after delivery of their second bowl and
the Skips after delivery of each of their bowls.   However Law 35 applies

Trial Ends:

All trial ends will be completed before the appointed time for commencement of play regardless of the period of grace or if players arrive after the appointed time.

Damage to the green:

If a player in the opinion of the Umpire is causing undue damage to the green after warning the player, side manager or skip if the player continues the Umpire can direct the player to use a ground sheet.

As other law changes become known, I will post them in this space.

 

David Mayson