Doing the Card

NUMBER TWO INDOORS? DO THE CARD!!!!

Over the past few months in my capacity as secretary of the Welsh Indoor Bowls Association I have attended numerous international trial matches and find myself continually having to remind the second players that they are responsible for completing the score card and not the skip and that they must keep the score card with them at all times. Furthermore, I have lost count of the number of times players have left the score card at the end of the rink of play.

As the scoring of the card is one of the most important tasks to be conducted by any player on the green, I think it is worthwhile looking at the law in detail.

Law 43 Players and their Duties

Law 43C The Second.

(i). The second player shall keep the record of all shots scored for and against his team and shall at all times retain possession of the score card whilst play is in progress.

NOTE: ‘AND SHALL AT ALL TIMES RETAIN POSSESSION OF THE SCORE CARD…’

(ii). He shall see that all the names of all players are entered on the score card.

(iii). He shall compare his record of the game with that of the opposing second player as each end is declared.

NOTE: THIS MAY BE A PAIN BUT IT AVOIDS ANY PROBLEMS AT THE END OF THE GAME IF THE SCORES ARE DIFFERENT.

(iv) At the close of the game he shall hand his score card to his skip, who shall

sign the card and record on the card the time of the conclusion of the game

Here’s a question for all umpires out there. What percentage of cards handed in have been fully completed in accordance with the laws? I would be most interested to know.

NOTE: This only applies to the games played under the WIBC Laws of the Sport of Indoor Bowls. In games played under the WBL Laws of the Sport the skip shall keep the score card – see Law 37.1.7