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Section 8 - Play, players and their duties
34 |
Team play |
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34.1 |
Number of players |
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A team should consist of two, three or four players as defined in law 1.2.3. |
34.2 |
Order of play |
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| 1 |
The leads should play their bowls in turn, followed by each pair of players in their order of play. |
| 2 |
If a player delivers a bowl before the previous bowl has come to rest, the umpire should, on the first occasion, warn the player in the presence of the skip and advise the manager or the coach when they are present that a warning has been given. On each occasion after this, the umpire should declare the player’s bowl dead. If that bowl has disturbed the head, the opposing skip or opponent in Singles should choose whether to:
- replace the head;
- leave the head as altered; or
- declare the end dead.
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| 3 |
The positions of players within a team should not be changed after the first end has been completed unless the change is necessary because a substitute is introduced as described in law 51. |
| 4 |
If players in a team game change positions when paragraph 3 above does not apply, the team will be disqualified and they will forfeit the game to their opponents. |
| 5 |
If players in a side game change positions within a team when paragraph 3 above does not apply, or if they change teams, the side will be disqualified and they will forfeit the game to their opponents. |
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35 |
Possession of the rink |
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| 1 |
Possession of the rink will belong to the player or team whose bowl is being played. |
| 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. |
| 3 |
If the umpire, either by their own observation or on appeal by one of the skips or opponents in Singles, decides that the players in possession of the rink are being interfered with, annoyed or distracted in any way by their opponents, the umpire should, on the first occasion, warn the offending player in the presence of the skip and advise the manager or the coach when they are present that a warning has been given. |
| 4 |
On each occasion after this, the umpire should have the bowl last played by the offending player or team declared dead. If that bowl has disturbed the head, the opponent should choose whether to:
- replace the head;
- leave the head as altered; or
- declare the end dead.
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36 |
Position of players |
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36.1 |
In relation to the rink of play |
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| 1 |
Players at the mat-end of the rink who are not delivering a bowl should stand at least 1 metre behind the mat. |
| 2 |
Players at the head-end of the rink who are not controlling play should stand:
- behind the jack and away from the head;
- on the surrounds of the green if the jack is in the ditch; or
- well clear of the head if it is not possible to stand on the surrounds.
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| 3 |
As soon as a bowl is delivered, a player who is controlling play, if they are in front of the jack, should take their position as described in paragraph 2 above. |
| 4 |
If a player does not meet the terms of this law, law 35 will apply. |
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36.2 |
In relation to a neighbouring rink |
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| 1 |
A player should not go into a neighbouring rink where play is in progress. |
| 2 |
A player should 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. |
| 3 |
If the rink of play is an outside rink (see law 5.6), a player should 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. |
| 4 |
If a player does not meet the terms of this law, law 35 will apply. |
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37 |
Players and their duties |
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37.1 |
The skip |
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| 1 |
The skip will have sole charge of the team and all players in the team should follow the skip’s instructions. |
| 2 |
The skip should decide all disputed points with the opposing skip, making sure that any decision reached is in line with the Laws of the Sport of Bowls. |
| 3 |
If the skips need to check any part of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls before reaching a decision, they should ask the umpire for an explanation. |
| 4 |
If the umpire considers that a decision reached by the skips is not in line with the Laws of the Sport of Bowls, the umpire should overrule that decision so that it is in line with the laws. |
| 5 |
If the skips cannot reach agreement on any disputed point, they should ask the umpire to make a decision. The umpire’s decision is final. |
| 6 |
If the Controlling Body has not appointed an umpire, the skips should choose a competent neutral person to act as the umpire. |
| 7 |
The skip in a Pairs game should perform the duties of the second, as described in law 37.3. |
| 8 |
Skips can, at any time, delegate their own powers and any of their own duties (except those described in paragraph 7 above) to any other members of the team as long as they tell the opposing skip immediately. |
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37.2 |
The third |
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The third can measure any and all disputed shots. |
37.3 |
The second |
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| 1 |
The second should:
- be responsible for the score card supplied by the Controlling Body while play is in progress;
- enter the names of all players of both teams on the score card;
- record, on the score card, all shots scored for and against the team as each end is completed;
- compare the score card with that of the opposing second as each end is completed; and
- at the end of the game, hand the score card to the skip who should record on it the time that the game finished and then sign it.
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| 2 |
If a Member National Authority agrees to a scoreboard being used instead of one of the score cards, the second of the team which won the toss for opening play should update the scoreboard and the opposing second should deal with the score card as described in paragraph 1 above. |
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37.4 |
The lead |
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The lead of the team to play first in an end should:
- place the mat as described in law 19.1.1; and
- deliver the jack and make sure that it is centred before delivering the first bowl of the end.
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37.5 |
Other duties |
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Along with the duties mentioned in the previous paragraphs of law 37, players can carry out any other duties assigned to them by their skip as described in law 37.1.8. |
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38 |
Players with disabilities |
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| 1 |
Wheelchairs should be of a type approved by both WB and the Governing Body for wheelchair bowlers in the country in which the player is playing. |
| 2 |
A player who has a physical disability will be allowed to use a support or an artificial limb (or both) when delivering the jack or a bowl, or when walking on the green. The support should have a base covered with rubber or a similar material. This base should measure at least 76 millimetres across, and it can be placed on or next to the mat. |
| 3 |
Partially sighted and blind bowlers can use any form of assistance necessary (including having an assistant with them) to allow them to take part in the sport of bowls, as long as the assistance is approved by the Governing Body for partially sighted and blind bowlers in the country in which the player is playing. |
| 4 |
The person assisting a partially sighted or blind bowler will not be breaking
law 58.3 if the assistant:
- repeats the skip’s instructions to the player;
- helps to direct the player; or
- tells the player where the jack or a bowl came to rest.
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| 5 |
For domestic play, Member National Authorities can approve the use of artificial devices for delivering the jack or a bowl. |
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