Possession of the Rink

In recent weeks I have received a number of e-mails asking where a player should stand before and after they have played their bowl.

The World Indoor Bowls Council Laws of the Sport of Indoor Bowls (INDOOR) covers this with Law 41 ‘Possession of the Rink’ and Law 42 ‘Position of Players.’

Law 41 Possession of the Rink

(i). Possession of the rink shall belong to the team whose bowls is being played.

NOTE: This is quite simple. If you or a member of your team is delivering a bowl you are in possession of the rink.

(ii). The players in possession of the rink for the time being shall not be interfered

with, annoyed, or have their attention distracted in any way by their opponents.

NOTE: When you are in possession of the rink, your opponents should ensure that they do not distract you in any shape or form. Some classic examples are coughing, kicking bowls together, standing close to the mat just in vision and checking the score with the opposing second to name just a few.

If this continually happens you would be within your rights to report such incidents to the umpire.

(iii). As soon as each bowl has come to rest, possession of the rink shall be transferred to the other team, time being allowed for marking a toucher.

NOTE: So, as soon as your bowl stops, possession moves to your opponent and you should respect that by keeping quiet.

(iv). Should a player infringe the Law of rink possession the umpire shall, after having given a warning, have the bowl last played declared dead. If the bowl has disturbed the head, the opponent shall have the option of:

(a). resetting the head, or

(b). leaving the head as altered, or

(c ). declaring the end dead.

NOTE: This is one of the few laws which actually gives the umpire some powers! The umpire can stop your bowl if he or she thinks you have infringed the law of possession of the rink, but first he or she must give you a WARNING. If you are an umpire and you are ever faced with such a situation, when you warn the player make sure that you also inform the skip and if a Team Manager is present also inform him or her. This will avoid any problems later if you have to stop a bowl.

If the bowl that the umpire has declared ‘dead’ has disturbed the head, it is the NON-OFFENDING PLAYER or team that has the options. If you are at fault you keep quiet and allow your opponent to make the decisions. You can only hope that they are fair-minded when they make their decision.

Law 42 ‘Position of Players’ should be used in conjunction with Law 41 ‘Possession of the Rink’ because failure to comply with this law will allow the umpire to take action in accordance with Law 41 and have your bowl stopped.

Law 42 Position of Players

(i). Players of each team not in the act of playing or controlling play shall stand behind the jack and away from the head or at least one metre behind the mat.

(ii). As soon as the bowl is delivered, the skip or player directing the head, if in front of the jack, shall retire behind it.

NOTE: If you have cause to stand in front of the jack to show something to one of your players as soon as he or she has played the bowl you must retire behind the jack. I, personally, am not sure why. The only reason I can think of is that you are out of the way of the bowl and cannot interfere with it.

(iii). In cases where there is no “stand off” room at the end of the rink, players shall stand well clear of the head, whilst a bowl is being delivered.

NOTE: In some indoor greens there is no room, usually at the far end of the green as some greens play straight up to the wall. In such cases it is impossible to stand behind the jack so you must make every effort to stand clear of the jack.

(iv). Failure to observe this Law constitutes a breach of Law 41 (Possession of the Rink).

NOTE: So, linking both laws together – Law 41 & Law 42, if you don’t comply with the above, the umpire reserves the right to have a bowl stopped and declared ‘dead.’

As well as delving into the laws surrounding rink possession, it is also apt to analyse Law 22 ‘Encroaching.’

Law 22 Encroaching

A player shall not encroach on an adjoining rink where play is in progress. Should

the player in possession of the mat so encroach, the umpire shall, after having given

a warning, have the bowl stopped and declared dead.

NOTE: This law applies to all players on the rink and it also refers to the player ‘in possession of the mat.’ It is ONLY this player who can have his or her bowl stopped by the umpire and declared dead. So, if you are delivering a bowl and you continually walk onto the next rink where play is in progress you can expect at some time to have your bowl stopped. Again the umpire must give you a warning first.

For those of you who play to the World Bowls Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal MarkSecond Edition (OUTDOOR), the laws relating to this topic are much more detailed:

Law 35 Possession of the rink.

35.1 Possession of the rink will belong to the player or team whose bowl is being played.

35.2 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.

35.3 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.

35.3.1 the first time this happens the umpire should:

35.3.1.1 warn the offending player, while the skip is present; and

5.3.1.2 tell the manager or the coach, if they are present, that the player

has received a warning.

35.3.2 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:

35.3.2.1 replace the head;

35.3.2.2 leave the head as altered; or

35.3.2.3 declare the end dead.

Law 36 Position of players

Law 36.1 In relation to the rink of play

36.1.1 Players at the mat-end of the rink who are not delivering a bowl should stand at least one metre behind the mat.

36.1.2 Players at the head-end of the rink and who are not controlling play should stand:

36.1.2.1 behind the jack if they are members of the team which is in

possession of the rink.

36.1.2.2 behind the jack and away from the head if they are members of

the team which is not in possession of the rink;

36.1.2.3 on the surrounds of the green if the jack is in the ditch; or

36.1.2.4 well clear of the head if it is not possible to stand on the

surrounds.

36.1.3 As soon as a bowl is delivered, a player who is controlling play from a position that is either level with or in front of the jack, should take their position as described in Law 36.1.2

36.1.4 If a player does not meet the terms of this law, law 35 will apply.

36.2 In relation to a neighbouring rink.

36.2.1 A player should not go into a neighbouring rink where play is in progress.

36.2.2 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.

36.2.3 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 boundary of the rink and the side ditch while an opponent is about to

deliver or is actually delivering a bowl.

36.2.4 If a player does not meet the terms of this law, law 35 will apply.

I hope these laws are self-evident. They are very similar to the INDOOR book but in my opinion explain the rules better.

If there is a particular question you would like to ask me about the laws regarding possession of the rink, or any other umpiring questions for that matter, please e-mail Assistant Editor Patrick Hulbert on patrick.hulbert@keypublishing.com and he will forward me the e-mail.