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Section 2 - The green, ditch and banks

 

2

The green

 
1 The green should be either rectangular or square.
2 The length of the green in the direction of play should be between 31 metres and
40 metres.
3

The green should have a suitable level playing surface.
4 The playing surface should be eithervegetation or a synthetic surface approved by a Member National Authority.
5 For domestic play, Member National Authorities can decide the standards for greens constructed in line with previous editions of this law.
   

3

The ditch

 
1 The green should be surrounded by a ditch.
2

The ditch should be:

  • between 200 millimetres and 380 millimetres wide; and
  • between 50 millimetres and 200 millimetres deep.
3

The ditch should have a holding surface which is free from obstacles and made of a material which will not damage the jack or the bowls.
4 For indoor greens, only the end ditches in the direction of play should meet the standards mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 3 above.
   

4

The bank

 
1 The ditch should have a bank against its outer edge.
2 The top of the bank should be at least 230 millimetres above the surface level of the green.
3

The bank should be vertical and set at a right angle (90°) to the surface of the green, or sloped at an angle of not more than 35° from the vertical (see diagrams 1, 2 and 3 in appendix B.1).
4 The surface of the face of the bank should be made of, or be covered with, a material which will not damage the jack or the bowls.
5 There should be no steps that could interfere with play either cut into or positioned against the face of the bank.
   

5

Division of the green

  The green should be divided into sections called rinks.
   
 
1

The rinks should be:

  • between 4.3 metres and 5.8 metres wide for outdoor play; and
  • between 4.6 metres and 5.8 metres wide for indoor play.

Wherever possible, all rinks on a green should be the same width. For domestic play, Member National Authorities can decide the standard for the minimum width of a rink.
2

The rinks should be numbered in order, with the centre of each rink being marked on the bank at each end by a peg, disc or other suitable device that has the rink number on it and is fixed vertically:

  • to the face of the bank and flat against it; or
  • on the top of the bank not more than 100 millimetres back from its face; or
  • on the wall behind the bank (for indoor play only).
3

The four corners of the rinks should be marked by white or brightly coloured boundary pegs that are fixed vertically:

  • to the face of the bank and flat against it; or
  • on the top of the bank not more than 100 millimetres back from its face.
4

The boundary pegs should be:

  • not more than 50 millimetres wide and not more than 100 millimetres high if they are fixed to the face of the bank of an outdoor green; or
  • not more than 25 millimetres wide and not less than 600 millimetres high if they are fixed on the top of the bank of either an outdoor or an indoor green (although this height limitation does not apply to flexible boundary pegs containing a spring or similar mechanism in their base that allows them to bend on contact with an object or person); or
  • not more than 25 millimetres wide and the centre of the peg should be clearly marked by a thin black vertical line if they are fixed to the face of the bank of an indoor green.
5

For domestic play, Member National Authorities can decide:

  • the standards for boundary pegs made in line with previous editions of this law; and
  • the requirements for thin black vertical lines marking the centres of boundary pegs that are fixed to the face of the bank of an outdoor green or fixed on the top of the bank of either an outdoor or an indoor green.
6

The boundary pegs of an outside rink should be:

  • at least 600 millimetres from the side ditch for outdoor play; and
  • at least 460 millimetres from the side ditch for indoor play.
7 If a boundary peg is not vertical, it should be put so before a player or the umpire decides whether or not a jack or a bowl is within the boundary.
8 If a player or the umpire finds a boundary peg in the wrong position, they should not move it until the end has been completed on any rinks affected. The peg should then be correctly positioned by the umpire or by agreement between the skips or opponents in Singles on the rinks affected.
9 For outdoor play, the side boundary of the rink of play can be marked by connecting the boundary pegs with a green thread drawn tightly along the surface of the green, leaving enough loose thread to reach the corresponding pegs on the face or on the top of the bank. For domestic outdoor play, Member National Authorities can decide not to use boundary threads.
10 The boundary thread (see paragraph 9 above) should not be lifted or held down when the jack or a bowl is in its original course or in motion.
11 Pegs, discs and other types of markers used to mark the centre and corners of the rinks should be made of a material which will not damage the jack or bowls.
12 White or brightly coloured pegs or discs should be fixed vertically against the face of the side banks or on top of the side banks in the direction of play to mark distances of 2 metres and 25 metres from the end ditches (see diagram 1 in appendix B.4). Wherever possible, these should be the only pegs or discs visible on the side banks.
13 The centre line of each rink can be marked along the surface of the green starting 2 metres from each end ditch and finishing at any point up to, but not less than, 25 metres from the opposite end ditch (see diagram 1 in appendix B.2).
14

The centre line of the rink can be marked at a distance of 2 metres from each end ditch (see diagram 2 in appendix B.2). The mark can be:

  • lines drawn in the form of a ‘T’; or
  • a small piece of suitable material inserted immediately below the surface of the green (for outdoor play only).
15 If part of the green is used for spectators, side ditches do not have to be used, but the distance markers on the side banks should be brought forward and fixed appropriately. They should be clearly visible to the players.
16 While there is temporary seating on the green, there should be a completely unrestricted area of the green that is at least 900 millimetres wide between the seated area and the outside boundary of the nearest rink.

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