Rules of Play
Lawn Bowls Rules of Play
Brantham Bowls Club generally plays to Bowls England rules, but some leagues and game types are based on English Bowling Federation rules, so it's important that you know the difference if you plan on entering any competitions. The two are similar and have core rules in common:
- You must bowl with at least one foot on the mat
- The mat belongs to the bowler until they choose to leave it
- Always stand well behind the bowler on the mat - don't distract them
- It's traditional to shake hands with your opponents before and after each match
- The stick is exactly 2m long and is used as a guide for
Key Differences between BE and EBF Rules
| FEDERATION GUIDE | RULE | BOWLS ENGLAND GUIDE |
|---|---|---|
First end is set up with the stick under the mat to put the front of the mat at exactly 2m |
FIRST END |
First player places the mat |
Not allowed (unless a friendly game) |
TRAIL ENDS |
Optional if required |
Must be between 2m and 4m from ditch |
MAT POSITION |
Can be from 2m to 23m from ditch |
Only bowls within 2m of the Jack can be counted |
SCORING BOWLS |
All bowls in play can be counted |
Jack is placed at the end of the stick to measure 2m from the far ditch |
MAXIMUM JACK PLACEMENT |
Jack is placed beside the end of the stick to measure just under 2m from the far ditch |
No chalk required. Bowls in the ditch are out of play |
CHALK TOUCHERS |
Bowls that touch the jack before going in the ditch are still counted, so should be marked with chalk |
Part of the jack or part of a bowl over the rink boundary is out of play |
OUT OF PLAY |
The whole of the jack or the whole of a bowl must be over the rink boundary to be out of play |
Can change position |
PLAYERS |
Cannot change position |
Challenger calls - usually the HOME team/player |
COIN TOSS |
Opposition calls - usually the AWAY team/player |