Bowls Etiquette
Railway Union Bowling Club: Bowls Etiquette (adapted from the Irish Bowling Association Yearbook)
Bowls should be played in a spirit of good sportsmanship and with good manners.
Players should make every effort to win, but should treat their opponents with courtesy.
As soon as a player's bowl has come to rest, possession of the rink shall be transferred to the other person/team.
By the time a player's bowl comes to rest he/she should be behind the mat or behind the head - not between the two.
Player's from each team not in the act of playing or controlling play shall stand well behind the head or a yard behind the mat.
A player on the mat should not be interfered with, annoyed or have his/her attention distracted in any way by an opponent.
Players at or behind the head should not move while another player is on the mat.
Players behind the mat should not talk while another player in on the mat.
Skips or thirds decide the number of shots - leads or seconds should not interfere.
No bowls whatsoever should be disturbed or kicked away without the agreement of both thirds or skips.
Do not waste time by dwelling too long on the mat or in protracted conferences with other players.
Do not follow bowls to the head unnecessarily.
All bowlers should have a working knowledge of the WBB (World Bowling Body) laws of the game and the bye-laws of the BLI (Bowling League of Ireland) and LBLI (Ladies Bowling League of Ireland).
Players must not make comments about an opposition bowl before it comes to rest e.g. 'go into the ditch' or 'hit my bowl'.