Stickers

I recently assisted my wife on umpiring duties at a Welsh ladies triples competition and we encountered a few interesting issues during the course of the day.

First up was the issue of self adhesive bowls stickers – the majority of players involved had two bowls with one type of sticker and the third bowl with a different colour sticker. The players were asked to either put on stickers of the same colour and design or remove them altogether. As some of the ladies had to pay for the stickers and would have to purchase new ones to replace them, they were not too happy about the decision made by the umpires (Mrs and Mr Phillips). So, for the benefit of those playing in the event and other players who have been asked to remove their stickers from bowls, the following is the law that applies to the use of bowls stickers:

Law 8 Bowls

8.1 Specifications

8.1.8 The Controlling Body can supply adhesive (stick on) markings for players to temporarily fix to both sides of their bowls, or allow players to use their own markings. When these markings are used:

8.1.8.1 they are part of the bowl for all purposes under the Laws of the Sport of Bowls;

8.1.8.2 there should be only one such marking fixed to either side of the bowl;

8.1.8.3 they should not be put over any distinguishing marks on the non-bias side of the bowl, although they can cover the distinguishing marks on the bias side of the bowl; and

8.1.8.4 all bowls belonging to players within a team or side should have these markings on them and the markings should all be the same design and colour.

Practise makes Perfect

The second issue occurred before the start of the second round in the afternoon. One triple who had received a bye in the first round (the morning session) had been given permission by the Controlling Body to practise on the green prior to the start of the second round. A polite general enquiry was made as to whether this should be allowed. The following law applies to such an instance:

Law 13 Practise

13.1 If a player or team that has not yet played is due to meet a player or team that has already played on the same day, the player or team that has not yet played can

practise as long as;

13.1.1 the Controlling Body gives approval;

13.1.2 there is enough time available without delaying the competition; and

13.1.3 another rink is available apart from that on which the player or team has been drawn to play later that day.

13.2 If a player or team has already played on the same green on the same day, that

player or team can practise in line with law 13.1 if they have a “bye.” (A player or team has a “bye” in any round of a competition if they don’t have an opponent in that round).

13.3 The Controlling Body should allocate the rink on which a player or team can

practise.

13.4 If two players or two teams are entitled to practise:

13.4.1 they can practise together; and

13.4.2 the format of, and the number of bowls used in the practise should be decided by the players concerned.

And Now we Come to a Touchy Subject…

Due to my various other commitments I don’t get the opportunity to umpire as much as I would like these days. However, I still watch a lot of bowls around the country and I am always concerned about the relaxed attitude that exists in relation to the marking of ‘touchers.’ Often players do not carry chalk and are therefore unable to mark ‘touchers’ while many others wait for their opponent to mark the ‘toucher’ or take an age to mark the bowl themselves. Law 25 ‘Marking a toucher’ fully explains how a ‘toucher’ should be marked and states the following:

Law 25 Marking a toucher.

25.1 A toucher should be marked with chalk by a member of the team that delivered the bowl or the marker as soon as it comes to rest.

Note: Mark the toucher yourself. DO NOT wait for your opponent, it is your responsibility to mark the bowl! I always advise players and especially markers to mark the bowl as soon as it comes to rest – you do not have to wait for the next player to deliver his or her bowl. When marking I always tell both players of my intention to mark a toucher as soon as it comes to rest, so they know that they will have to wait to deliver their bowl.

25.2 If, in the opinion of either skip or opponent or the marker, a toucher comes to rest in a position in which marking it would be likely to move the bowl or alter the head, the bowl should not be marked but nominated as a toucher instead.

Note: If this occurs ensure that you clearly inform your opposing skip or opponent that you have nominated the bowl as a toucher. Leave no doubt in their mind that the bowl is a toucher.

25.3 If, before the next delivered bowl comes to rest or, in the case of the last bowl of the end, before a period of 30 seconds that applies under law 40.1, a bowl is neither marked nor nominated, it is no longer a toucher.

Note: This strengthens my claims to mark the toucher or nominate it as soon as it comes to rest. If you wait for the next player to deliver his or her bowl you may forget and if 30 seconds has passed that bowl technically is no longer a toucher and a difficult skip could enforce the law.

25.4 If a bowl has been nominated as either a toucher or a non-toucher, and both skips or the opponents in singles agree that further movement of the bowl means it should no longer be nominated, the bowl should be marked or have its mark removed as appropriate.

25.5 If a player fails to remove a mark from a bowl before delivery and the bowl does not become a toucher, a member of the opposing team or the marker should remove the mark as soon as the bowl comes to rest.

Note: Again please note that your opponent, NOT YOU should remove the chalk from the bowl.

25.6 If, in the opinion of either skip or opponent or the marker a wrongly marked bowl comes to rest in such a position that removing the mark would be likely to move the bowl or alter the head, the mark should not be removed and the bowl should instead be nominated as a non toucher.

Note: This ties in with law 25.4 above.

READER’S LETTER

Whilst umpiring a match I was asked by a local member to give my opinion on the following incident that had occurred at his club the week before.

At a league match between two clubs a player of the visiting team had a minor accident in his car, and telephoned to say he was delayed. After 30 minutes he had not arrived. There was no reserve and no umpire present. The match started with the three players on the one rink playing as prescribed under Law 52B. After two ends had been played the player arrived and both he and his team Captain wished for him to play with the rink losing 25% of its score for the first two ends only.

If you were the umpire on duty what would be your decision?

Can he play part way through the match or should the match continue as the first two ends. As there was nothing in the competition rules the home Captain agreed for the player to play and the match resumed.

Peter Lillford

Bognor Regis.

Dave’s Reply…

Thank you Peter for the very interesting question, a situation I am sure many of our readers would have come across at some stage. Firstly, may I clarify your reference to the Law – Law 52B is the indoor law reference, the relevant outdoor law is Law 46.2. As we are currently in the outdoor season I will use the World Bowls Limited Laws of the Sport of Bowls and Law 46.2 states the following:

Law 46 Absentee players in a team or side.

46.2 In a side game

46.2.1 In a side game, the Controlling Body will decide on the eligibility of each member of the side. If a side introduces an ineligible player, the defaulting side will forfeit the game to their opponents.

46.2.2 If, 30 minutes after the scheduled start time for a game, or sooner if the Controlling Body decides, one player is absent from one or more teams in a side, the game should continue but:

46.2.2.1 the number of bowls played by each defaulting team should be made up by the lead and second, both playing three bowls: and

46.2.2.2 one fourth of the total shots scored (including decimal places) by each defaulting team should be deducted from their score after the game has finished.

As you correctly state in your letter Peter there is nothing in the laws to cover such a circumstance which allows a player to join in a match after it has started. Equally, one could argue that there is nothing in the laws to prevent a player joining in after the start.

In some cases the local league has a domestic rule which covers such an instance. However, you state that in this case no domestic ruling was in place. Therefore, I think this type of situation I think is covered by the foreword in the Laws of the Sport which reads:

“No laws governing a sport can cope with every situation, and the laws governing the sport of bowls are no exception. Unusual situations not covered within the laws can and often arise. The Laws of the Sport of Bowls (“the laws”) have been drawn up in the spirit of true sportsmanship. So, if a situation arises that is not covered by these laws, players, markers and umpires should use their common sense and a spirit of fair play to decide on the appropriate course of action.”

So, looking at the situation through the eyes of true sportsmanship, the player in question was genuinely delayed, he made the effort by telephoning to say he was going to be late and he arrived as soon as possible, and therefore I would say that he made every effort to get to the match on time and I think that the home Captain acted in the true spirit of the sport by allowing him to play and should be applauded for his actions.

If I were the umpire on duty I would have approached the home Captain, explained to him that the law is not clear and it the interests of sportsmanship I would suggest that the player be allowed into the game. However, if the opposing Captain said no, I would rule that the player could not join the match.