New Laws of the Sport of Bowls

The following is an excerpt from a Bowls Victoria newsletter regarding the new Laws with some clarifications you may find of interest.

 

Queries regarding the new Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark 3rd Edition, introduced on 1 January 2015

Who Signs the Scorecard Now?

Bowls Victoria has received many calls and emails over the past couple of weeks since the adoption of changes to the Laws of the Sport of Bowls in respect of who should now sign the scorecard.  The SECOND now signs the card at the completion of the game as they are the person who has kept the score and checked it with their opponent. The Skip delegates all the roles and responsibilities of the scorecard to the SECOND in fours.

BA DR 3.2 Skips duties relating to scorecards (Law 40.1.9)
For Domestic Play in Australia, all duties relating to the scorecard set out in law 40.1.7 (including keeping and completing the scorecard) shall be performed by:
3.2.1 In Singles; the marker is responsible for keeping, completing and dealing with the card (as per law 42)
3.2.2 In Pairs; the skip of each team
3.2.3 In Triples; the skip of each team
3.2.4 In Fours; the second of each team

New Law on Bowls Rings on Your Bowls

The introduction of the 2015 Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark 3rd Edition has changed the Law in relation to Bowls Rings/Discs in that, the small ring on the bias side may no longer cover the World Bowls Stamp or the Serial Number of the Bowl. Players must now ensure that if their discs cover either of these they need to change them. Your choices are,
1) just use the dot to cover the small engraving,
2) use the small ring if it’s not covering the WB Stamp or the serial number or,
3) you can use both the small ring and the dot.
You cannot cut or trim the small ring – you either have it on the bowl in its original size or you remove it. Teams and Sides may have a mixture of the configurations, BUT they must be from the same set of rings. Law 52.1.8 cover these issues:

LAW 52.1.8 The Controlling Body can supply adhesive (stick-on) markings for players to temporarily fix to both sides of their bowls, or allow players to use their own markings. When these markings are used:

52.1.8.1 they are part of the bowl for all purposes under the Laws of the Sport of Bowls;

52.1.8.2 there must be only one layer of markings fixed to either side of the bowl;

52.1.8.3 they must not be put over the serial number and the World Bowls Stamp which are present on the bias side of the bowl; and

52.1.8.4 all bowls belonging to players within a team or side must have these markings on them and the markings must all be the same design and

colour. However, players may use markings which are different in size from those used by other players in their team or side where this is necessary due to differences in the sizes of the manufacturers’ rings on the bowls.

52.1.8.5 If opposing teams or sides have the same design or colour of markings and an alternative is not available, players in the team or side listed second in the draw must remove their markings.

52.1.9 In all games, each player must play with the appropriate number of bowls from the same set