Etiquette on the Green

Bowls is a friendly game and when playing you can have fun and enjoy yourself. However it helps if you are respectful to other players and observe the usual acceptable behaviour of play. For this we give the following list:

Etiquette – acceptable behaviour on the rink

• Players and spectators at the head should stand still and keep quiet
• When it is your turn to bowl it is your mat and head.  Ask any opponent(s) to move if they are in your way
• Wait for your skip to tell you which shot you should play and stay on the mat to get feedback from your skip.
• Keep up with play at all time
• No trespassing into a neighbour’s rink, including going to and from the clubhouse, or moving to better see the jack.  Please be aware of others playing
• Walk up the centre of the rink with no delay.
• After bowling, step off the mat to the right.  As you approach the mat to bowl, do so from the rear left.  It is always a good idea to push the woods to the left to make this easier
• Show good sportsmanship by acknowledging a display of good skill by another bowler.
• Never applaud a lucky shot or complain about one.  Accept it with grace.  Do not say thankyou for a bad shot that goes your way
• It is not appropriate to criticise the playing surface or the performance of colleagues
• If you need to leave the rink, tell your colleagues and try to go immediately after your turn
• Only No2’s in triples and No3’s in fours should confer about the score after the last bowl has been played on each end.
• Avoid interfering with the head until the results of the end have been decided
• If an umpire is called, move away
• Players should assist in kicking the bowls back to help the raker
• Electronic devices should be off or on silent
• It is unacceptable to smoke or use your phone during a game(except if it is an emergency or being used for health monitoring purposes
• When walking across the head of another rink, pause if a bowler is getting ready to bowls, whether you are a player or a spectator.
• Please help clear the equipment from your rink after the game