Bowls Etiquette

Like most sports there are the rules then there is the etiquette. The etiquette governs the ‘spirit of the game’ and is just as important and the rules themselves. The etiquette is about being courteous and respectful to your opposition. Some things to remember:

• Shake hands with your opponent at the start and end of the game and wish them well.
• Be gracious in defeat as well as victory. In many games, it is customary to offer your opponent a drink after the game. If you are the home player, you would normally offer first.
• Don’t eat, drink, or smoke on the green and please do not run on the green, as it can cause dents and bumps that will affect the smooth running of the green.
• Be on time for your game. Some games have a limit on how long your opponent should wait. If you don’t arrive on time, as well as being rude, you may forfeit the game.
• Stay quiet, still and out of the bowler’s eye line when they are on the mat.
• Stay on your rink while playing. Walking across other rinks may disrupt their game.
• Even when not playing be aware of what is happening on the green. If someone is on the mat and about to bowl, stop and let them bowl before walking past their rink. 
• Avoid casting a shadow over either the player on the mat or the jack on sunny days.
• Compliment a player on a bowl well played, but do not compliment or comment on a lucky bowl (your teams or your opponents). You don’t need to draw attention to the lucky shot. They know it was lucky.
• By the time your bowl has stopped, you should be either back behind the mat or behind the head of bowls. You should not be in a place that prevents your opponent from bowling their bowl. Once your bowl has stopped the mat belongs to the  opposition.
• Do not cheer or will on a bad bowl of your opponents.
• Before recording the score for an end ensure that you have agreed it with your opposition. Declare the number of shot you believe you have won and wait for them to confirm.
• Unless your role is to measure and agree the score, stay out of the head at the end of each end.
• Listen to your skip and be guided by them on the bowl to play. They can see the head clearer and where the best opportunity of scoring is.
• Pay attention to the game, so that you know when it is your turn and where your team’s bowls are in the head.
• Wait your turn to ask for information about your last bowl e.g. how far short or past the jack it was, wait until you are back on the mat or ask while the bowl is still moving. Once your bowl has stopped you should not be communicating with players in the head. Your turn has ended.
• Walk to the side of the head rather than through the head, so not to disturb the bowls.
• Avoid criticising the green. Sometimes there will be funny runs and strange behaviours of the bowls on the green. This is the nature of outdoor bowls.
• The umpire’s decision is final. Do not challenge it.
• If you are going to bowl at speed (fire) then warn the players at the head end, so they can prevent the bowls from crossing into other rinks.
• It is the responsibility of the home team to tidy up and put the equipment away at the end of the game. All players on a rink should help in tidying up.