Purley Bowls Club is proud of it’s friendly and welcoming atmosphere in and around the green so use common sense, courtesy and fairness at all times

Below is a list of globally accepted etiquettes to observe when playing or watching bowls matches.

DRESS

SAFETY ON AND AROUND THE GREEN

  • Take care getting on and off the green over the ditch – Step down sideways or use the steps
  • Be aware of what to do in the event of an accident including how to contact First aiders
  • Location of defibrillators – Inside the Bowls club house and also inside the sports club reception
  • Ensure bowls are positioned at an angle behind the mat not directly behind the mat.
  • Be aware of “firing” shots and ensure you notify others on the green if you are about to “fire”
  • Be Sun Safe – Use high factor sun cream on warm days even when the sky is overcast.
  • Stay Hyrdated – always have a bottle of water with you for every game.
  • Be aware of the location of the ditch at all times when you are on and around the green.

BEFORE A MATCH OR BALLOT

  • Arrive for a match at least 20 minutes early so you can get ready and assist with preparing the rink, cards, water, visitors changing room etc
  • When your opponent arrives, greet them and direct external players to the visitor’s changing room.
  • Just prior to play in a match, shake your opponents hand and wish them a good game.

ON THE GREEN AT THE MAT END

  • Stand still when a player is on the mat.
  • At the mat end, remain behind the mat when you are not bowling.
  • Do not talk or make a noise behind the mat, including kicking bowls, when a player is about to deliver a bowl.
  • Warn the players at the other end if you are about to play a drive or ‘fire’.
  • Always remember that as soon as your bowl comes to rest, possession of the mat passes to your opponent, so move behind the mat immediately.
  • Avoid following your bowl up the green. If you can’t get back behind the mat or the head when your bowl stops, you are in breach of the World bowls Law 13, and this can result in the removal of your last bowl.
  • Pick up the mat when your opponent has delivered the final bowl of the end.

MOVING UP AND DOWN THE RINK

  • Keep to your own rink. Do not wander and distract other bowlers.
  • Walk down the centre of your rink when you are changing ends.
  • Don’t hang about chatting to your team midway down the rink if your opponent is on the mat and ready to play.
  • Do not run on the rink at any time.
  • After you have bowled your bowls, as you you walk up to the head end, do not step into the head of bowls. Players who have just walked from the head to the mat will be ready to bowl.
  • Don’t hang about on the rink or stroll unnecessarily slowly from mat to head or vice versa. If your opponent has possession of the mat, you must be behind the head or behind the mat so they can bowl.

ON THE GREEN AT THE HEAD

  • Stand still when a player is on the mat.
  • On sunny days be aware of your shadow. Do not let it mask the jack nor permit it to fall in front of the mat when a player is about to bowl.
  • When standing at the head end, try to avoid obscuring boundary pegs, rink plates or rink markers.
  • SKIPS – PLEASE DO NOT STAND IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE JACK.
  • Move well back from the head when a player drives or ‘fires’ and warn others on adjacent rinks.

PLAYER BEHAVIOUR

  • Compliment your opponent on a good shot
  • Do not applaud a massive fluke, admit a fluke with good grace.
  • Don’t “bully” players into making decisions.
  • Be a gracious winner and a good loser.
  • Don’t deliberately cause issues on the green to “put off” your opponent.
  • Deal with any game issues, including equipment, player or supporter issues in a friendly and cooperative manner.
  • Always handle issues through your opposition skip in the first instance before reverting to umpires or club officials.
  • Handle disagreements in a friendly non-confrontational manner.
  • Keep a good pace when playing. Slow play is discourteous and is discouraged.

MANAGING THE HEAD

  • If your opponent has possession of the rink stand well clear of the head.
  • Don’t make contradictory comments to your opponent when they are calling shots, lines or distances back to their team. It is their rink so remain quiet.
  • Each team should have designated controllers of the head. Usually, the skip and one other.
  • If you are not the designated controller of a head for your team, do not enter the head until an end is complete and only after the shot score has been agreed by the designated controllers.
  • Don’t voice your opinions on the management of the head including what shot to play next unless you are requested to by the designated controller of the head.

DECIDING SHORTS GAINED

  • Wait for the final bowl of an end to stop before deciding shot count
  • DO NOT move any bowls until both sides have agreed the shot count.
  • When counting shots, assess the head and
    • if you think you have one or more shots, say to your Opponent “I’m asking for x” where x is the number of shots you believe should count.
    • If you think your opponent is holding one or more shots wait for them to request their shots, then respond.
  • If you are unsure or there is disagreement as to which bowls count towards the shot score then don’t continuously circle the head discussing it, propose a measure.
  • DO NOT pressure your own teammate or your opponent to accept your assessment of any decision.
  • Do not criticise a player if they request a measure, if they are unsure then respect their request.
  • Even if you think the shots are obvious if a player wants to measure then don’t criticise them for checking even if the measure proves you right.
  • Only the designated controllers, a marker or umpire should measure for shots.
  • If there is any doubt about a decision, then request that the skips make assessment or request an umpire decision.
  • Help gather the bowls after each end. Don’t leave it all to the lead and their pusher.
  • Even if you are not a designated controller of the head, don’t interfere with the decision process or question the decision after agreement has been reached.

MOVING AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE GREEN

  • Do not walk past the end of a rink if someone is on the mat at the other and. Stand still until the bowl has been delivered.
  • Supporters should be fair in their praise of all players especially when good shots are played.
  • Do not coach players from the side of the green. This is not permitted under bowls laws unless a coach has been nominated.
  • When stepping onto the green step sideways and step well away from the ditch. Use the stairs at the corners if needed.
  • Players on the green should not berate individuals that forget to stop when someone is on the mat ready to bowl. A kind word is more effective and friendlier than a harsh rebuke.

AFTER A MATCH OR BALLOT

  • Congratulate your opponent if they have won, commiserate if they have lost.
  • Help put the equipment away, don’t leave it for other people to do.
  • If you are the last player(s) at the club, help to lock the club up and secure the fox fence.
  • A traditional way to celebrate the completion of a bowls match is to share a drink at the bar.

GAME KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS

  • Never criticise your opponent, the greens or your own team members. If you cannot say something positive, don’t speak.
  • Pay attention to the game. Nothing can be more frustrating for your team if they feel you are not interested in the game.
  • Stay on the rink within the boundaries of the ditch and rink markers at all times.
  • Always appear to be enjoying the game.
  • Greet your own team and opponents at the start of the game and congratulate or compliment them at the end of play. Shaking hands before and after a game is part of the tradition of the game.
  • Learn the Laws of the game and abide by them.
  • If, at any time, you have issue with a player or team, e.g. inappropriate behaviour, speak to your skip or the marker. Skips and Markers can engage an umpire or the club captain to help resolve issues if needed.