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Laws of the Game
D.
Definitions
D.1.a
The LEADER Is the player who has the first attempt to set a mark, and shall
deliver the first bowl after any attempt to set a mark.
D.1.b
In
pairs there shall be no changing in the order of play until the end is
complete.
D.2
A PRECEDING BOWL or JACK is a bowl or jack delivered immediately before
the bowl in question.
D.3
A FORFEITED BOWL is a bowl taken off the green as a penalty for
an offence under the Laws
D.4
A DEAD BOWL is a bowl that cannot be counted and shall be
taken off the green so as not to interfere with play.
D.5
An END: commences when the leader delivers the jack, is
concluded when the last bowl finishes running and is completed when the
score is agreed.
D.6
A VOID END is an end to be replayed with the footer placed
as near as possible to where it originally lay during the void end.
D.7
A DEAD END is an end which is deemed to have been
completed with no score. The new end should be started from where the jack
lay.
D.8
LAND: is the term used for the route taken by a jack
and is then extended to cover the route that may be taken by any of the
bowls at that end. It is also the expression used to indicate to any other
player that they are causing a physical or visual blockage.
D.9
JACK-UP is called by either player when a jack other
than their own ceases running on, or adjacent to, the land which they will,
or may, use to send their bowl/s.
D.10
MEASUREMENTS are taken between the nearest points of the
jack and a bowl with nothing to lie between. The adjustable end of an
approved measure must be taken to the jack. In the case of the footer the
adjustable end of the certified tape is taken to the centre of the footer.
D.11
A STRIKE is a bowl delivered at such a speed as to attempt to negate the
bias.
D.12
A MARK is set by the leader sending the jack, to rest on the green, a
distance of at least 19 metres.
1. Equipment
1.1
The GREEN shall be a
playing area of grass, or an artificial surface as approved by the BCGBA.
1.2
The ENTRANCE, which must
be near the centre of any one side of the playing area, shall be plainly
marked.
1.3
The FOOTER, which shall be
round, shall have a diameter of not less than 128mm (5 inches) and not more
than 154mm (6 inches).
1.4
STANDARD JACKS as defined
in Appendix A shall be used in all competitions. A jack must only be used
for the purpose of setting a mark.
1.5
A BOWL shall weigh not
less than (2lb), except that a player with medical evidence of a wasting
disease of bone or muscle may be allowed a dispensation. A bowl must not
have any device for altering or adjusting the bias.
1.6
The following are approved
by the BCGBA. as measuring devices to be used in
accordance with the Laws of the Game.
(APPROVED
MEASURES)
1. A
tape or other certified metric measure at least 19 metres long.
2.
Any Crown Green metal measure.
3.
Any form of string measure.
4.
Any telescopic measure.
5.
Callipers.
6.
Feeler gauges.
2.
The Game
2.1
The game shall be played
on a green by two players each having two bowls, normally playing
alternately until each shall have delivered both bowls, the object being to
play the bowls as near as possible to the jack.
2.2
Where more than two
players take part in a game, these Laws shall operate when applicable.
2.3
Before commencing play the
number of points to be scored to make the game shall be fixed.
2.4
The leader at the first
end shall be as determined by the organising body of the match.
2.5
At the commencement of a
game the footer may be placed by the leader, but must be within three metres
of the entrance to the green, on either the left or right side and one
metre from the edge.
2.6
If during the course of
play any player is found to have substituted a non-standard jack for a
standard jack, or has altered the bias of the jack or bowl(s) by any means,
or is playing with a bowl having a device for adjusting the bias, that
player shall forfeit the game. The offender(s) to receive the minimum score
and the opponent(s) to receive the maximum score.
2.7
If during the course of a
match, any jacks are found to be not in accordance with Appendix A, the
affected games shall be declared void and restarted with standard jacks.
2.8
No player shall be allowed
to change the jack or bowls during the progress of a game except with the
consent of the Referee and then only if, in the Referee's opinion, the jack
or bowls are so damaged as to be unplayable.
3.
Scoring
3.1
A bowl must be played at
least three metres from the footer and rest on the green to count, except
when all the bowls of the opponent(s) are out of play.
3.2
The winner of an end is
the player whose bowl is nearest the jack or, if all the bowls of the
opponent(s) are out of play, still has at least one bowl in play. The
winner shall be the leader and have the first attempt to set a mark at the
succeeding end. In pairs either of the winning pair may be the leader at
the next end.
3.3
The winner of each end
will count one point for each bowl nearer to the jack than the nearest bowl
of the opponent(s) or, if all the bowls of the opponent(s) are out of play,
one point for each bowl still in play.
3.4
The result of the end
shall be clearly indicated, by the winner, to the markers who must sit
together and agree each other's score cards every third end and at the end
of the game. Where the score cannot be agreed, by the markers or players,
it shall revert to the end where both score cards show the score to be in
agreement.
4.
Setting a Mark
4.1
In an attempt to set a
mark, a player bowling the jack must allow the opponent(s) the opportunity
of seeing with what bias it is delivered, and of watching its course from a
point near the footer.
4.2
A mark is set when the
jack having been bowled, does not go off the green, is not prevented from
going off by resting against anything at the edge or in the channel or,
after lawful objection, is proved by measurement, with a certified measure,
to be at least 19 metres from the footer, with the footer at least 1 metre
from the edge.(subject to rules revision 2010)
4.3
If the jack in its course
is impeded in any way, or stops on the land of other players, it must under
all circumstances be returned. If two jacks are bowled near the same place,
the one that is last stationary must be returned. The same player to have
another attempt at setting a mark.
4.4.a Verbal objection to a
mark set by the leader must be made by the leader's opponent only after the
first bowl has come to rest, otherwise the leader may have the jack, and
bowl if played, returned to have another attempt at setting a mark. An
opponent objecting to a mark must make an indication that an objection has
been made.
4.4.b If, after an
objection to a mark has been made, it is proved by measurement to be a
mark, the jack and bowl shall remain.
4.5
If the leader fails to set
a mark, the leader's opponent is then entitled to an attempt at setting a
mark. In pairs this will be the player waiting to follow the leader.
4.6
If the leader fails to set
a mark, objection to an attempt by the opponent must be made by the leader
before delivering the first bowl.
4.7
If the opponent then fails
to set a mark, the leader shall have another attempt and so on,
alternately, until a mark has been set by one of them. The original leader
to play the first bowl.
4.8
When the leader, having
had an attempt to set a mark, is prevented from delivering the first bowl
through a tape on the green during the measure of a mark from another end,
or if the first bowl is impeded, the jack may be returned for the leader to
have another attempt at setting a mark.
4.9
The first attempt to set a
new mark, after a dead end, shall be made by the same player who set the
mark in the dead end. Any dead or forfeited bowls are reinstated for the
new end.
4.10
The first attempt to set a new mark,
after a void end, shall be made by the same player who set the mark in the
void end. Any dead or forfeited bowls to be reinstated for the replayed
end.
5.
Method of Play
5.1
At no time may the footer
be used with the centre less than one metre from the edge of the green.
5.2
Objection to the placement
of the footer must be made by the leader's opponent only after the first
bowl has come to rest or, if in the leader's first attempt at setting a
mark, the jack goes off the green. If the footer is then found, by
measurement, to be incorrectly placed the end shall be re-started, with the
footer correctly placed, the opponent attempting to set the mark, otherwise
play shall continue.
5.3
A player's foot must be
placed on the footer when delivering either the jack or a bowl. A player
placing the right foot on the footer must play the jack and bowls with the
right hand, and a player placing the left foot on the footer must play jack
and bowls with the left hand. Nothing in this Law shall apply to any player
who suffers a permanent disability of a limb.
5.4
A player must bowl with
the same hand throughout the game.
5.5
Any bowl not played in
accordance with Laws 5.3 and 5.4 may be stopped by the Referee and returned
to be played again. If a player offends again during the course of the
game, the bowl wrongly played shall be forfeited.
5.6
Players are required to
give a verbal warning to their opponent and to take every precaution before
striking, to eliminate the possibility of causing injury to other players,
Referee, Measurers or spectators by being struck with a jack or bowls. A
player shall receive a caution for the first transgression of this Law. For
a second offence, the game shall be awarded to the opponent(s). The
offender(s) to receive no further score and the opponent(s) to receive the
maximum score.
5.7
A player may retain
possession of the footer until that player's bowl has ceased running. If a
player has taken up the footer after playing a bowl, which for any reason
has to be replayed, or if the footer is accidentally displaced during an
end, it shall be replaced as nearly as possible in its former position.
5.8
If the leader's first bowl
has been forfeited, the leader's remaining bowl shall be played, followed
by the opponent playing two bowls consecutively.
5.9
If the first bowl of the
leader's opponent has been forfeited, the leader's remaining bowl shall be
played, followed by the opponent playing the last bowl.
5.10
A player may play a bowl so as to
block an opponent's course, but a bowl must not be placed, or played a
distance less than three metres from the footer, otherwise it shall be a
forfeited bowl.
5.11
If a player has taken up position on
the footer and a bowl falls from that player's hand, even by accident, and
travels more than 3 metres, from the centre of the footer, in a forward
direction, it shall be deemed to have been played.
5.12
If a player delivers any bowl out of
turn it must be returned to be played in its proper turn.
5.13
If a player, in turn, delivers a bowl
of another player, it shall be returned to the proper owner to be played,
the offender forfeiting a bowl.
5.14
A player, when at the end where the
jack lies, must not stand directly behind the jack or obstruct the view of
an opponent.
5.15
After each end is concluded, the
footer shall be placed at the jack by the last player. The footer may only
be repositioned by the leader of the next end and before the first attempt
to set a mark, anywhere within a space of one metre from where the jack lay
at the conclusion of the last end but at least one metre in from the edge
of the green.
6.
Running Jack or Bowl
6.1
A bowl played while the
jack or preceding bowl is in motion shall be forfeited.
6.2
If a running jack or bowl
appears to be in danger of striking a still bowl or jack belonging to
another end, such running jack or bowl should be stopped and returned to be
replayed.
6.3
If a running bowl is
impeded in any way, except by either player, it must be played again. If a
running bowl is impeded by either player, all the offender(s) bowls shall
be forfeited at that end.
6.4
A player must not
endeavour to affect the running of any bowl, nor follow it up in such a
manner as to obstruct the view of the opponent. For a first offence,
involving the player's own bowl, that bowl shall be forfeited. In the case
of a further offence, the game shall be awarded to the opponent(s). The
offender(s) to receive no further score and the opponent(s) to receive the
maximum score. (subject to rules revision 2010)
6.5
Should a player attempt to
influence the running of an opponent's bowl, all the offender(s) bowls
shall be forfeited at that end.
6.6
A bowl played or struck
off the green, or prevented from going off by resting against anything at
the edge or in the channel, is a dead bowl.
7.
Still Jack or Bow
7.1.a
If, as a result of a lawfully played bowl,
the jack is disturbed and goes off the green, or is prevented from going
off by resting against anything at the edge or in the channel, that end
shall be dead. If, after a legitimate mark has been set, the jack goes off
the green, the footer should be placed one metre in from the point where
the jack left the green, the same player setting the mark. Any dead or
forfeited bowls to be reinstated.
7.1.b If the disturbed jack
comes into contact with a bowl or jack not belonging to that end, or if it
comes into contact with any person on the green the end becomes void.
7.2
If, as a result of a
lawfully played bowl, the jack or any bowls are disturbed and come into
contact with other bowls belonging to that end, the jack and any bowls so
disturbed must remain where they stop.
7.3
If, as a result of a bowl
wrongly played, the jack or any lawful bowl already played is disturbed,
such jack or bowls shall be replaced as near as possible in their original
positions.
7.4
If the jack or any bowl is
displaced by the jack or a bowl of any other players, or by any exterior
cause, and the players agree as to the spot of replacement, the end must be
continued, otherwise the end is void.
7.5
Should any player of an
end touch or displace a still jack or bowl before the end is complete, all
the bowls of the offender(s) shall be forfeited at the end concerned.
7.6
When an end is concluded
neither the jack nor a bowl claimed to count may be moved without the
consent of the opponent until the points are counted and all players are
satisfied, otherwise all bowls of the offender(s) shall be forfeited at the
end concerned.
8.
Measuring
Subject to rules revision 2010
8.1
No measurement of an end
is permitted until the end is concluded.
8.2
When an end is being
measured, all players must stand away and not interfere with the actions of
either the Referee or Measurer(s).
8.3
The Referee or Measurers
are not permitted to place either their thumb or finger(s) on either the
jack or a bowl when measuring an end.
8.4
In the event of the
displacement of the jack or a bowl being measured any points already given
shall stand. If no points have been given when all measurements are
finished, the end is complete. If either the jack or a bowl being measured
is displaced by a player, that player shall lose the point claimed.
8.5
When a bowl is touching
either the jack or another bowl, and has to be removed so that nothing lies
between the jack and the bowl to be measured, it must be removed by the
Referee and the measurement made after such removal.
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