Different Sets Formats

Making Sense Of Sets

Over the past few months I have attended a number of events where the ‘Sets Format’ has been played and the one noticeable thing is that the rules governing sets play do vary considerably and can leave the spectator somewhat confused and I am often asked what are the laws covering sets play.

The sport of bowls in general has three main “Law Makers” – World Bowls Limited, The World Indoor Bowls Council and World Bowls Tour and all three have variations on sets play:

World Bowls Limited Laws of the Sport of Bowls (pink book).

Law 15 Sets play.

15.1 Format of play

15.1.1 Competitions played in the sets format should consist of sectional play,

knockout (eliminating) play or a combination of both.

15.1.2 Each game should be played over the better of two sets, with each set

consisting of nine ends or any other format agreed beforehand by the

Controlling Body.

Note: You will note that while 2 sets of 9 ends per set are mentioned, the Controlling Body are given an option to play any other format they wish – 5 ends, 7 ends, first to 9 shots , the best of 3 sets etc. The only firm condition is that the format is agreed ‘beforehand’ and not changed during the course of tournament or event.

15.1.3 The winner of a set will be the player or team with the highest number of

shots when the ninth end is completed.

Note: If the controlling body have agreed to another format, for example 7 ends, the player of team with the highest number of shots at the conclusion of the agreed number of ends wins.

15.1.4 If the shot scores are tied after the ninth end of the set, the set will be a draw.

15.1.5 During sectional play, all nine ends of a set should be completed.

Note: This is enforced because shot difference is often used to determine the group winner if players or teams are equal on points.

15.1.6 During knockout play, there should be no further play in a set if, at any

point, it becomes impossible for one player or team to draw or win the set given the number of ends left.

15.2 Tie-breaker

15.2.1 If the game is tied after the two sets have been completed(each player or team having won one set or both sets having been drawn) a tie-breaker

consisting of three ends should be played to decide the winner.

15.2.2 The winner of the tie-breaker will be the player or team with the highest number of shots when the third end is competed.

15.2.3 There should be no further play in the tie-breaker if, at any point, it

becomes impossible for one player or team to draw or win the tie-breaker, given the number of ends left.

15.2.4 If the shot scores are tied after the third end of the tie-breaker, the players or teams should play a fourth tie-breaker end to decode the winner.

15.2.5 If the fourth end of a tie-breaker is a tied end, the players or teams will play more tie-breaker ends until a winner is found.

Note: This form of tie-breaker is extremely different to what you see being played at T.V. tournaments. I will outline the differences later in this article.

World Indoor Bowls Council Laws of the Sport of Indoor Bowls (green book)

Law 51 Rules Of Sets Play

51A Scoring

(i). Singles

(a). All sets shall be to a given number of shots or ends determined by the Controlling Body.

(b). Shots in excess of the given number of shots shall not count.

(ii). Team Events

(a). All sets shall be to a given number of ends. If the scores are tied at the completion of the given number of ends, the provisions of Law

50 shall apply.

(b). Shots scored in additional ends shall not be taken into account i.e. the winner shall receive two points for the win and the loser no points but the tied score shall be recorded for both teams.

(iii). Games

(a). May be the best of three or the best of five sets.

(b). No more sets shall be played after one player or team has won the number of sets needed to win the game.

(Law 50 refers to Playing to a Finish and Possible Drawn Game.)

Note: You will note that there is no mention of tie-breakers in the WIBC Laws of the Sport, while in reality they do play tie- breakers in their events. At the WIBC World Championships held recently the following Rules for Sets play were in operation.

WIBC Rules & Playing Conditions.

1. A match, with each player having four bowls will consist of two sets, each set played over 7 ends during the Round Robin stages, and 9 ends for the quarter-

finals, semi-finals and final. The winner of each set will be the player with the

most shots at the end of the 7th or 9th end.

At the Round Robin stage the full 7 ends must be played, because shot difference

may be required to determine the final group positions.

from the quarter-final stage a set will be won if at any point it becomes impossible for one player to win or draw the set given the number of ends remaining in that particular set.

2. If the shot scores are tied after the last end of the set then the set is drawn. If the match is tied after the two sets have been completed, ½ – ½ (if both sets are drawn) or 1-1, three tie breaker ends will be played to determine the winner. The match is decided by the winner of each end and NOT by the total number of shots scored in three ends.

In the third end of a match tie breaker ONLY, each player will be entitled to KILL/BURN the end once, with the end being replayed. A player wishing to kill/burn the end must declare his or her intention to the marker before any such attempt otherwise the jack if it goes dead will be re-spotted in accordance with clause nine of these Rules and Playing conditions. Shots scored in a tie break will not be added to total shots scored.

3. In all other circumstances there will be no dead ends.

4. If at the end of a third end of a match tie-breaker, the scores are equal, a fourth end will be played with each player delivering a single bowl to the jack to determine the winner. If both bowls are equidistant from the jack, further single bowls will be delivered to determine a winner.

5. In all other circumstances a ‘no score’ end will count as one of the seven or nine ends.

6. Play will be in both directions. The player winning the toss shall have the option of either taking the mat and jack and starting the first set or giving the mat and jack to his or her opponents and allowing them to start the first set. The loser of the toss shall have the option of either taking the mat and jack and starting the second set or giving the mat and jack to his or her opponent and allowing them to start the second set.

7. In a match tie-breaker, the player winning the toss shall have the option to take the mat and jack and deliver the first bowl or give it away in either the first or third end (assuming it goes to a third end) and the loser of the toss shall have the option to take the mat and jack and deliver the first bowl or give it away to their opponents in the second end.

In the event of a fourth or more ends being required a ‘NEW TOSS’ will take place for each subsequent end with the winner of the toss having the option of taking the mat and jack and delivering the first bowl or giving the mat and jack to his or her opponent.

Note: So you can see that the WIBC Rules governing sets play are far more complex than what is contained in their Law Book.

For those of you who watch bowls on television, be it the Scottish Open or Welsh Grand Prix or the World Championships from Potters these tournaments are organised by the World Bowls Tour and they also have a variation on sets play

1. A match will consist of two sets, each set played over 9 ends, the final will be

played over 11 ends. The winner of each set will be the player with the most shots at the completion of the 9th (11th) end. A set will be decided, with advice from the

marker as may be required, if at any point it becomes impossible for one player to

draw or win the set given the number of ends remaining.

2. If the shot scores are tied after the last end of a set, the set will be drawn (scored

½ each). If the match is tied at two drawn sets or one set each, a best of three ends match tie-breaker will be played to determine the winner. This will be the winner

of each end and NOT the total number of shots won in the three ends. If at the end

of the deciding third end of the match tie-breaker the scores are equal, a fourth

end will be played with each player delivering a single bowl to determine the

winner. If both bowls are equidistant from the jack, they will be removed and

further single bowls will be played to determine the winner. During the fourth end

the jack if hit off the rink, will be re spotted as described in Rule 7.

3. In all other cases a ‘no score’ end will count as an end.

4. Play will be in both directions. The player winning the toss shall have the choice

of starting or giving away the jack in the first set. The loser of the toss shall have

the choice of starting in the second set. The winner of an end will start the next

end in the same set.

Note: The World Bowls Tour were the only organisation that never changed their rules to allow a player who won the last end the option of giving or taking mat and jack.

5. In a match tie-breaker, the player winning the toss shall choose whether to take

the jack or give it away in either the first and third ends (assuming it goes to a third end) or to take or give away the jack in the second end. In the event of a fourth end being played the player winning a “new” toss shall have the choice of starting.

Note: So there you have it, three different organisations with three differing sets of rules covering “Sets Play.” While the number of shots or number of ends may vary, the one main difference is with the ‘tie-breaker.’ World Bowls Limited count all the shots scored over the three ends while the World Indoor Bowls Council and World Bowls Tour only count the ends won.

Umpires’ Clinic.

I recently attended the Annual General Meeting of the Welsh Bowls Umpires Association and the following incident was raised at that meeting. Opinion was divided on what action should have been taken. I would welcome your views on the incident and what action would you taken if you were the umpire.

“Playing a fours game, all the bowls in the end had been delivered, the thirds had conducted the measure and declared and agreed on 1 shot. The thirds walked up the green towards their respective skips and one of the skips asked who was shot, his third replied 1 shot for us, the opposing third said NO, 1 shot for us. It appears that both thirds thought they had the shot.”

I understand that after some debate the skips agreed to the end being tied and recorded as a played end, would you have come to the same decision if your were the umpire?

Readers’ Letters

Please, when measuring using the large callipers, is it recommended that the callipers should be held clear of the ground in both hands, or by resting the “V” pointed end of the calliper on the ground for greater stability.

I was doing the latter (as I had been taught) on one occasion to be told by a county marker that this was irregular.

Your comments please.

Derrick Plummer

REPLY…

Firstly, I must say that I do not encourage the use of large callipers. It is recommended that callipers should only be used when the distance to be measured is approximately 9 inches or less and this distance can be accommodated with a normal calliper. For distances in excess of 9 inches a box measure should be used. Large callipers can be difficult to use, especially if you are not used to using them. However, if you do elect to use them I do not have a problem with them being rested on the playing surface in the manner described in your letter, provided that you can freely move the business end of the calliper.

When I started umpiring over thirty years ago I was employed as a machinist at British Steel and used large callipers every day to measure and could handle them without having to rest them on the green. Now the only time I use a calliper is when umpiring and I find that I can get a more accurate measure by resting the calliper on the green or by resting my hands on the green for support.

Whatever method you use the most important factor is that you conduct an accurate measure and get the decision correct.