Casting the Jack

Let He who is Without Sin Cast the First Jack

The following incident occurred recently in a Welsh national club championship match.

The lead delivered the jack and on its way up the green it struck his skip on the foot and deflected sideways. The same skip returned the jack to the mat end and the same lead was about to re-deliver the jack. The umpire on duty stepped to the edge of the rink and pointed out to the lead that the jack now must be delivered by the opposing lead and that he could re-position the mat if he wished. Both leads were very co-operative and had no problem with this decision. However, the skip thought that the umpire should not get involved until requested to do so by either skip.

Was the umpire correct? And what would you have done in a similar situation?

Firstly, let us look at the law which covers such an incident.

I have covered the complete law as it appears in the law book with the relevant paragraph in bold print. Law 23 in the World Indoor Bowls Council Laws of the Sport of Indoor Bowls (WIBC) states the following:

Law 23 Delivering the Jack

(i). Before the jack is delivered the mat must be correctly placed in accordance with

Law 18. The player to play first shall deliver the jack and ensure that it is properly centred.

(ii). If the jack in its original course comes to rest at a distance of less than two metres from the front ditch, it shall be moved out to a mark at that distance and centred

with the nearest portion of the jack to the mat line being two metres from the edge of the front ditch, by setting it alongside the edge of a two metre measuring device, or in line with the ‘T,’ if affixed to the carpet in accordance with Law 5(ix).

(iii). If the jack during its original course is obstructed or deflected by a neutral object or neutral person or by a marker, opponent, or member of the opposing team, it shall be redelivered by the same player.

(iv) If the jack during its original course is obstructed or deflected by a member of its own team, it shall be redelivered by the lead of the opposing team, who under these circumstances is entitled to reset the mat.

(v). No one shall be permitted to challenge the legality of the original position of the jack after the first to play has delivered the first bowl.

For those of you who play under World Bowls Limited Laws of the Sport of Bowls (WBL), their version is a little more complicated:

Law 22 Delivering the Jack

22.3 If, in its original course, the jack is displaced by one of the other players,

law 33.1.1 will apply.

Law 33.1.1 then goes on to state the following:

33.1.1 Displacement of a jack in its original course.

33.1.1.1 If a jack in its original course is displaced by a member of the team that delivered the jack, the opposing lead should place the mat as described in law 19.1.1 and re-deliver the jack, making sure that it is centred, but should not play first.

NOTE: So, we have confirmed that the umpire was correct in that the opposing lead should re-deliver the jack but was he correct in entering the rink of play without being asked to do so by one of the skips?

For the answer to this you have to look at Law 59 ‘Duties of the Umpire’ in the WIBC Laws of the Sport and Law 56 ‘The Umpires’ Duties’ in the WBL version of the laws.

Law 59 (ii) The duties of the umpire shall be as follows:

(e). The umpire shall enforce the WIBC Laws of the Sport of Indoor Bowls.

Law 56 .2.5 The umpire should make sure that all aspects of play are in line with the Laws of the Sport of Bowls.

NOTE: The umpire on duty was perfectly correct on all aspects of the law.

CAPTION: Even though his opposing skip is trying to warn him, the jack is about to hit this player’s foot.