Bowls etiquette

Basic Bowls Etiquette

• Play with good sportsmanship and manners.

• Strive to win, but treat opponents with courtesy.

• Once a bowl comes to rest, possession of the rink transfers to the other player/team.

• By the time a bowl comes to rest, the player should be either behind the mat or the head, not in between.

• Players not playing or controlling play should stand well behind the head or at least a yard behind the mat.

• Do not interfere with, annoy or distract a player on the mat.

• Players at or behind the head should remain still while another player is on the mat.

• Players behind the mat should not talk while another player is on the mat.

• In a team game, skips or thirds decide the number of shots; other players should not interfere.

• Do not disturb or kick away bowls without agreement from both team's thirds or skips.

• Avoid wasting time on the mat or in lengthy conferences.

• Do not follow bowls to the head unnecessarily.

• Players should not make comments about an opposition bowl before it comes to rest (e.g. "go into the ditch!" or "hit my bowl!")

• All bowlers should have a working knowledge of the World Bowling Body (WBB) laws and Irish Lawn Bowls (ILB) bye-laws.