Law: Possession of the Rink

The law/s explained on this page have been confirmed as the official rules of our game. The only time that rules and laws could change would be if a particular tournament made an express notice (in their bylaws/rules) that a given rule was changed for that particular competition.

So unless you have been told differently by a governing body or competition organiser, these are the official rules of our game.

The following rules/laws are not interpretations of the Laws of the Sport, but the actual laws as written.

Section 1.3 – Possession of the rink

12 Position of players

12.1 In relation to the rink of play

12.1.1 Players at the mat-end of the rink who are not delivering a bowl must stand at least 1 metre behind the mat.

12.1.2 Players at the head-end of the rink and who are not controlling play must stand:

12.1.2.1 behind the jack if they are members of the team which is in possession of the rink;

12.1.2.2 behind the jack and away from the head if they are members of the team which is not in possession of the rink;

12.1.2.3 on the surrounds of the green if the jack is in the ditch; or

12.1.2.4 well clear of the head if it is not possible to stand on the surrounds.

12.1.3 As soon as a bowl is delivered, a player who is controlling play from a position that is either level with or in front of the jack, must take their position as described in law 12.1.2.

12.1.4 If a player does not meet the terms of this law, law 13 will apply.

12.2 In relation to a neighbouring rink

12.2.1 A player must not go into a neighbouring rink where play is in progress.

12.2.2 A player must neither go into nor walk along a neighbouring rink, even if it is not being used, while an opponent is about to deliver or is actually delivering a bowl.

12.2.3 If the rink of play is an outside rink (see law 49.6), a player must neither go into nor walk along the section of green that lies between the outside side boundary of the rink and the side ditch while an opponent is about to deliver or is actually delivering a bowl.

12.2.4 If a player does not meet the terms of this law, law 13 will apply.

13 Possession of the rink

13.1 Possession of the rink will belong to the player or team whose bowl is being played.

13.2 As soon as each bowl comes to rest, possession of the rink will transfer to the opposing player or team after allowing time for marking a toucher as soon as it comes to rest.

13.3 A player must not deliver a bowl before the previous bowl comes to rest and possession of the rink has transferred to the opposing player or team.

13.4 If the umpire, either by their own observation or on appeal by one of the skips or opponents in Singles, decides that a player has delivered a bowl before the previous bowl has come to rest, or the players in possession of the rink are being interfered with, annoyed or distracted in any way by their opponents,

13.4.1 the first time this happens the umpire must:

13.4.1.1 warn the offending player, while the skip is present; and

13.4.1.2 tell the coach, if they are present, that the player has received a warning.

13.4.2 on each occasion after this, the umpire must have the bowl last played by the offending player or team declared dead. If that bowl has disturbed the head, the opposing skip or opponent in Singles must choose whether to:

13.4.2.1 replace the head;

13.4.2.2 leave the head as altered; or

13.4.2.3 declare the end dead.

Laws of the Sport …

We play under the World Bowls Laws of the Sport. Please don’t feel that you have to know every rule, because the principles of the game are quite simple. The link here is to the official laws and covers every aspect and eventuality in the game.

Click here … to read the Laws of the Sport