THE BOWLS

(1)     GENERAL

(a)       Bowls shall not exceed 134mm (5¼”) or be less than 114mm (4½”) diameter and shall not exceed 1.59kg (3½lb) in weight.

(b)       Loading of bowls is strictly prohibited.

(c)       Coloured discs or stickers may be used to identify team or club bowls and for this purpose they shall be classed as part of that bowl.  The placing of a number of stickers on top of each other will render that bowl illegal.

(d)       For the purposes of play in all competitions players are required to use bowls specifically produced for all the codes of bowling which are recognised by the E.S.M.B.A.

(e)       The E.S.M.B.A. recognises bowls which are produced specifically for the use of bowlers in the following codes; Short Mat, Flat Green, Indoor Rink, Crown Green, Federation.

(f)        The bowls can be made of wood, composition or plastic and may be of any colour.

(g)       There is no requirement in the Short Mat game for players to bowl with a matched set of bowls.

(2)     LIVE BOWL

A live bowl is

(a)       a bowl which in its original course comes to rest wholly within the live area, even though it overhangs the edge of the rink mat or

(b)       a bowl which in its original course breaks the ditch line, but does not interfere with any toucher or the jack in the ditch, does not touch the fender or make contact with the floor or the centre block and comes to rest wholly within the live area, even though it may overhang the edge of the rink mat or

(c)       a bowl which in its original course on the rink mat touches the jack, either directly or by deflection off another bowl or bowls, even though it settles in the ditch or makes contact with the fender after it has touched the jack.  Such a bowl shall be live and be called a toucher and its position in the ditch should be suitably marked so that it may be accurately replaced in the event of it being illegally disturbed.

(3)     DEAD BOWL

A bowl is dead and MUST be removed from the rink mat if

(a)       it is delivered from a foot fault position or

(b)       it contacts the centre block or passes over it or

(c)       it does not travel beyond the dead line or

(d)       it finishes in the ditch without touching the jack or

(e)       it touches or rebounds from the fender or contacts a toucher or the jack which is in the ditch, unless the bowl in question is a toucher or

(f)        when it comes to rest any part of the bowl breaks any part of the ditch line, unless it is a toucher or

(g)       when it comes to rest any part of it intersects any part of the dead line or

(h)       it makes contact with the floor or leaves the rink mat (except as in Law F12) or

(i)         it is carried beyond the dead line by the player who is in possession of the rink mat.

(4)     BOWL DISPLACEMENT

(a)     Displacement by a non-toucher

          (i)      If a head is disturbed by

·                a bowl which rebounds from a toucher which is in the ditch or

·                a bowl deflected by the fender or

·                a bowl or jack in the ditch which is moved by a non-toucher (except as in Law B5)

it shall be restored as near as possible to its original position by the opposing player who is in charge of play at the head and the end completed.

(ii)      If a head is disturbed by

·                a bowl delivered from a foot fault position or

·                a bowl which strikes, contacts or passes over the centre block (except as in Law B5)

                   the opposing Skip shall have the following options.

·                restoring the bowl or bowls as near as possible to their original position or

·                letting the head remain in its new position or

·                playing the end again and it MUST be from the same direction.

(b)     Displacement by a participating player

If a bowl while in motion or at rest on the rink mat or if a toucher in the ditch be interfered with or displaced by one of the players the opposing Skip shall have the following options.  

·               restoring the bowl as near as possible to its original position or

·               letting it remain in its new position or

·               declaring the bowl dead and removing it from the rink mat or

·               playing the end again and it MUST be from the same direction.

(c)     Displacement by a non player

If a bowl while in motion or at rest on the rink mat or if a toucher in the ditch be interfered with or be displaced by any person not playing or by a jack or bowl from another rink mat or by any other object, the two Skips will come to an agreement regarding its original position.  Should the Skips fail to agree, the end shall be played again in the same direction.

(d)     Displacement by the Marker in a Singles game

If a bowl is displaced while it is being measured by the Marker, it shall be restored as near as possible to its original position by the Marker, subject to the agreement by both players.  If the players cannot agree, the end shall be played again from the same direction.  (If any other displacement should occur, Law B4 (c) will apply.  For this purpose the Singles players are deemed to be Skips).

If a shot or shots have already been awarded, the player holding the shots will have the option of accepting this as the score for that end.

(e)     Displacement by the Umpire

If the Umpire accidentally displaces the bowl(s) whilst measuring, the Umpire will replace it or them as near as possible to the original position before completing the decision.  The Umpire will be the sole arbiter in the matter.

(5)     BOWL DRIVEN OVER THE FENDER

(a)       If a bowl be delivered with such force as to pass or to cause another bowl to pass over the back or sides of the fender, the opposing Skip shall have the following options

·               claiming 3 shots and counting the end as played or

·               counting the end as an end played and claiming the shots lying or

·               completing the end or

·               playing the end anew as in a dead end. 

(b)       If a bowl and the jack are driven over the back or sides of the fender at the same time, the law concerning the jack will take precedence. (See Law C5)

(6)     TOUCHER

(a)       A toucher shall be clearly marked with chalk by a member of the player’s side before the next bowl comes to rest (see also TOUCHER in Appendix 1). 

(b)       If a bowl is not so marked before the succeeding bowl comes to rest it will cease to be a toucher (see Law D10 (c)).

(c)       If in the opinion of either the Skip or the player in charge of the head that to attempt to mark such a bowl could cause it to fall or move it shall not be marked, but it MUST be nominated as a toucher and it should then be marked if the danger ceases during the course of play.

(d)       The Marker in a singles game should mark all touchers and should indicate to the players any bowl which is a toucher that they were unable to mark.

(e)       All toucher marks should be removed before any bowl is played.

(f)        Should a bowl be played which has not had the mark removed, the Skip, the player in charge of the head or the Marker shall remove the mark as soon as the bowl comes to rest, or if there is danger that such a bowl should fall and alter the head or its position, it should be indicated and that mark removed if the position is changed.

(g)       Touchers may act upon the jack or other touchers in the ditch.  The jack and any such touchers moved shall remain in their new position.

(h)       Touchers rebounding from the jack or the fender or from other touchers in the ditch onto the live area shall remain in play where they have come to rest.

(7)     LINE DECISIONS

(a)       A line decision can be called for at any time during an end and any offending bowl will be removed.

(b)       Any non-toucher in the ditch will be removed whenever it is found.  In other words a dead bowl is a dead bowl no matter what the circumstances.