When to Resume Play

In last month’s edition of Bowls International there was a comprehensive report on the British Isles Indoor Bowls Council (BIIBC) Under 25 Junior International Series held at Nottingham Indoor Bowls Club. The report included the unfortunate incident that resulted in the match being STOPPED and restarted after a delay. The BIIBC are in the process of investigating that decision making process, so I cannot comment any further. However, I am able to tell you about the law that applies to such an incident.

Just a quick reminder of what happened at Nottingham – the game was stopped following a club official being taken ill and requiring medical treatment. After a delay of approximately forty-five minutes the game recommenced from where it was stopped and ends in progress were completed.

As the said match was played indoor, the World Indoor Bowls Council Laws of the Sport for Indoor Bowls (green book) was in force. I will also give you the law as stated in the World Bowls Laws of the Sport (yellow book) just in case such a similar incident occurs when you are playing under those laws.

World Indoor Bowls Council Laws of the Sport for Indoor Bowls.

Law 54 Game Stoppages

(i). When a game of any kind is stopped, either by mutual arrangement, by the

Controlling Body or by the umpire, after appeal to him on account of light failure, or

any other valid reason, it shall be resumed with the scores as they were when the

game was stopped.

(ii) An end commenced, but not completed, shall be declared dead.

Paragraph (iii) of this law relates to substitutes in a resumed game and is not applicable to this particular incident.

So, there is no doubt that the wrong decision was made as all the ends in progress should have been declared dead and started afresh.

World Bowls Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Second Edition.

Law 50 game stoppages

50.1 If a game is stopped because of darkness, weather conditions or any other valid

reason by:

50.1.1 the Controlling Body;

50.1.2 the umpire after an appeal has been made by the players; or

50.1.3 agreement between the players when an umpire or a representative of the Controlling Body is not present,

the game should be continued either on the same day or on a different day. The scores will be as they were when the game was stopped.

50.2 If an end has started but all the required bowls have not been played, it should be declared dead. (The end should be declared dead even if one or more players choose to remain on the green during the stoppage).

50.3 If all the required bowls in an end have been played but the process of deciding the number of shots scored (as described in law 40) has not been completed, the number of shots scored should be decided before the game stops.

Again, in this law, the final paragraph 50.4 deals with substitutes in a resumed game.

Although this version of the law goes into more detail, the meaning is the same. If a game is stopped for any valid reason any end in progress is DECLARED DEAD, even if players stay on the rink.

So, ultimately, the wrong decision was taken at the BIIBC junior international series, as all ends should have been replayed.

Running Away With it!

Readers’ Letters

I have received the following question via e-mail from Angela Barker:

Clarification please on powers of the umpire or marker when a bowler runs up the rink after his bowl, so that when his bowl comes to rest he is still several yards up the rink – or even a yard or two.

35.2 states as soon as each bowl comes to rest, possession transfers to opposing player.

If there is evidence of the opponent now preparing to bowl on the mat being annoyed or distracted, then 35.3 presumably operates.

However, if there is no sign of annoyance to the opponent, even when they are delayed bowling their bowl for a few seconds, should the umpire ignore it? Whilst the umpire has powers and could declare the bowl dead, if the bowler on the mat is not being annoyed, should the umpire keep quiet?

And what if the other members of the opposing team are being annoyed? As they are in the same team, but not the player on the mat, should their annoyance be ignored, or should the offending player be warned on the basis that possession passes to the whole team and not just the member on the mat? When this occurs it is not usually “distraction” or being interfered with but more usually “annoyance.”

Thank you Angela for you question. Before I attempt to answer it I think it would be beneficial to look at the law that covers this area. I note that you have referred to Law 35.2, so I can only assume that you are playing under the World Bowls Laws of the Sport Crystal Mark Edition (yellow book).

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 tome 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

35.3.1.2 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

The power of the umpire is clearly stated in the law – after having given a warning he or she can have the bowl last played by the offending player DECLARED DEAD.

You also ask if the umpire could take action if the player on the mat is not being annoyed. In many cases the player on the mat is being distracted but does not wish to make a fuss and gets on with in.

The law states that: “If the umpire, either by their own observation or on appeal…” so you do not have to wait until a complaint is made, you can take action against the player!

I would suggest that if the matter is drawn to your attention by one of the skips or opponent in singles that you thank them for bringing it to your attention and you then study the player ‘named’ discreetly and witness the offence being committed before you take action. If you do not see an offence being committed or you do not agree that the player is committing an offence go back and tell the person who raised the matter.

Again you are correct in stating that possession of the rink passes to the whole team and not just the player on the mat, so if any member of the team is being annoyed or distracted you can warn the player distracting them. However, I would suggest that the law is designed more for the player who is waiting on the mat to bowl. To give you an example: In a fours game the two leads A & B are bowling, lead A follows his second bowl up the green and is only half way up the rink when his bowl comes to rest and lead B is waiting on the mat to bowl his second bowl. Lead B makes no complaint and just gets on with bowling his second bowl. However, lead B’s second man, who is standing behind the mat observing play complains that he has been annoyed by lead A standing half way up the rink of play.

In my opinion it would look a little silly if the umpire took action when the person who should have been annoyed or distracted i.e. lead B has not made a complaint.

Finally, Law 56 ‘The Umpire’s Duties’ states the following:

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

So, if the umpire sees a breach of the law, they are bound by the laws of the sport to take action.

For those readers who are playing under the World Indoor Bowls Council Laws of the Sport of Indoor Bowls you can find this law on page 29 Law 41 ‘Possession of the Rink.’ Although worded differently it means the same.

Finally, a question for you the readers and/or bowls manufacturers. I recently attended the Welsh Indoor Bowls Association Warner Leisure Hotels Welsh Champion of Champions at Bodelwyddan Castle, North Wales and was asked the following question by Malcolm Slater, one of the hard working (he paid me to say that) staff at the bowls centre.

“In crown green bowls the bias on the bowl is marked by a slight indentation so that you can feel the bias with you thumb. Why don’t they do the same with flat green bowls?”

I was unable to give the answer. In fact, until I was shown, I did not know that a crown green bowl did have an indentation. Help please.