"This is not Nam. This is bowling.
There are rules."
Walter Sobchak, The Big Lebowski
The Rules for Playing Carpet Bowls
1. EQUIPMENT
Carpet
1.1 A carpet shall be a minimum
of 1.83m (6ft) and a maximum of 1.98m (6ft 6in) wide and a minimum
of 9.14m (30ft) and a maximum of 10.06m (33ft) long.
Carpet Markings
1.2 A jack placement line 0.91m
(3ft) long shall be marked centrally, 0.91m (3ft) from each end
of the carpet.
1.3 There
shall be a delivery space at the centre of each end of the carpet
which shall be 457mm (18in) wide marked by two guidelines which
measure 457mm (18in) in length.
1.4 A
delivery area shall be demarcated as follows at each end of the
carpet. A lateral line 457mm (18in) in length shall be drawn
to connect the two guidelines that mark the delivery space. (As
shown in the diagram below).
1.5 A
lateral line shall be drawn across the carpet equidistant from
each end.
Centre Spar & Delivery Blocks
1.6 A block (which may be circular,
a spar, a diamond or similar), 457mm (18in) across and 50mm (2in)
high. Hard edged and of a contrasting colour to the carpet, shall
be placed in the centre of the carpet equidistant from each end
and each side.
1.7 Two
blocks of wood of a contrasting colour to the carpet, being of
size 152mm x 101.6mm x 50.8mm (6in x 4in x 2in) shall be placed
on the delivery guidelines. The blocks shall be placed such that
the height shall be 152mm (6in), that the 101.6mm (4in) side
shall be along the edges of the carpet and the 50.8mm (2in) side
along the lines.
Bowls
1.8 16 bowls, 8
of each colour, all made by the same manufacturer, shall be 98mm
(3.875 in) in diameter and be No. 3 bias. No bowls other than
this matching set shall be used in a game. Stickers may be used
to distinguish between the bowls.
Jack
1.9 The jack shall
be 63.5mm (2.5in) in diameter and weigh 283.5gm (10oz) or be
within the manufacturer's stipulated tolerance for this size
and weight of jack. (Currently 15% plus or minus)
2. PLAYING
2.1 Before the commencement of the
game the skips shall toss a coin. The winner has the option to
play first or second and if not previously decided which colour
woods to bowl.
2.2 The team playing first will place
the jack on the jack placement line not less than 0.91m (3ft)
nor more than 1.83m (6ft) from the end. In subsequent ends the
team winning the last end places the jack and that team bowls
first. (In the case of a tied (dead) ends the player who bowled
first on that end shall again bowl first).
3. PLAYERS
3.1 Where facilities allow, players
will stand well back from the carpet when others players are
bowling.
3.2 The third player of each team
may, when it is their turn to bowl, be invited to visit the head.
3.3 When it is the turn of the Skips
to bowl, the remaining players go to the other end of the carpet.
3.4 Substitutes may be used in cases
of illness/emergency. Such substitutes may play in any position
other than Skip.
4. SKIPS
4.1 Skips shall have control of the
play of their team, but may delegate this responsibility at any
time during the match to another member of that team. However
once a game has commenced the team positions cannot be changed.
4.2 In the absence of an independent
referee the two Skips shall be the judges of all disputes and
their decision shall be final.
5. MEASURING
5.1 Whilst measuring is being carried
out, the jack shall not be held nor touched by hand.
5.2 All measuring shall be between
the nearest points of the jack and wood. If a wood requiring
to be measured is resting on another wood which prevents its
measurement, then the best possible means available shall be
taken to secure its position whereupon the other wood shall be
removed. No measuring shall be carried out until the last wood
on an end has been bowled.
5.3 The Skip shall nominate which
of their bowlers shall measure and all other members shall stand
well clear of the carpet whilst the result of the end is being
determined.
5.4 In the case of a dispute, then
agreement should be reached between the skips on what is to be
measured and by whom.
6. SCORING
6.1 If a wood from each team is equidistant
from the jack then neither side will score, but the end will
count as an end played.
6.2 Nothing in these rules shall make
it mandatory for the skip with the last wood in the end to bowl
it. However, the Skip must declare their intentions to the opposing
Skip before determining the result of the end.
6.3
(i) Only the Skip or designated player of the team conceding
the shot(s) should remove the counting wood(s) from the head.
These woods should be placed in a blank area of the carpet to
avoid possible confusion later.
(ii) Under no circumstances should members of the team claiming
the shot(s) touch or
move any wood until after the final score is agreed.
7. PLAY INFRINGEMENTS
7.1 Whether playing or directing,
bowlers must not stand, kneel on or touch the carpet. Should
a bowler, after having been warned by the opposing Skip, persist
in infringing this rule then one shot shall be deducted on that
and each subsequent occasion. The only exception to this shall
be when it is necessary for deciding the end after the last wood
of the end has come to rest, or stopping and removing a foul
wood.
7.2 If a bowler shall bowl an opponent's
wood in error then after it has come to rest the opposing Skip
will replace it with one of the player's own side's woods.
7.3 If a player bowls before their
turn or before their opponent's wood has come to rest then that
wood shall be declared dead.
7.4 Any wood which does not completely
pass a lateral line level with the centre of the centre block
or which touches or passes over that block shall be declared
dead.
7.5 No wood may be carried past the
centre block and no wood must be picked up before the preceding
wood has been delivered. If this occurs then the wood will be
declared dead.
7.6 Each bowler, when delivering a
wood, must have both feet entirely behind the end of the carpet.
Should a bowler, after having been warned by the opposing skip,
persist in infringing this rule then the skip shall cause that
wood to be declared dead.
8. DISPLACEMENT OF WOODS OR JACK
8.1 If a wood whilst in motion or
at rest be interfered with or displaced by one of the bowlers,
then the opposing skip shall:
(i) Leave the woods/jack to remain as they are or
(ii) Replace the woods/jack as near as possible to their original
position or
(iii) Replay the end unless any live wood so moved is the only
one.
8.2 Should the jack be driven by a
wood in play wholly beyond the limits of the carpet, whether
it be the end or side of the carpet, it shall be counted dead.
The opponents shall receive 2 shots and a new end begun by the
opponents. If during the course of the game the jack is driven
to the end or side of the carpet, then the two players in charge
of that end should agree that the jack has stopped moving. An
agreement should be reached within a reasonable time consistent
with the time it would normally take to deliver the next wood.
If after reaching the said agreement and subsequently the jack
should fall off the carpet without any contact being made with
the jack, then that end should be replayed without penalty. If
this happened on the final end of a timed game and the whistle
to signal the end of the game went before the jack was placed,
then you would not be allowed to replay the end.
8.3 All dead woods in motion shall
be stopped and removed where possible before disturbing any other
wood or jack. In the event of a dead wood resulting in a live
wood or jack being moved, then the opposing skip shall:
(i) Remove the dead wood and leave the woods/jack to remain as
they are, or
(ii) Remove the dead wood and replace the woods/jack as near
as possible to their original position, or
(iii) Replay the end unless any live wood so moved is the only
one.
Unforeseen Incidents
8.4 If, during the course of play, any neutral object
disturbs the position of the jack or any wood then the skips
shall:
(i) Remove the neutral object and leave the woods/jack to remain
as they are, or
(ii) Remove the neutral object and replace the woods/jack as
near as possible to their original position, or
(iii) Replay the end unless any live wood so moved is the only
one.
8.5 If a wood is mistakenly declared
dead and removed from the carpet, then that wood shall be replayed
8.6 If prior to or whilst a measure
is taking place, the jack or a wood (which is considered to be
within the count) is displaced, the following will apply. Unless
this is the last end of a game, and no shot has been previously
conceded, in which case refer to rule 8.4.
(i) If, before the score has been agreed, a wood falls naturally
without any physical interference, it shall remain and be counted
in its new position.
(ii) If, before any shots have been conceded a wood, which is
required to be measured, is accidentally moved by a measurer
whilst measure is taking place the end shall be replayed.
(iii) If the jack is moved at any time whilst a measure is taking
place, measuring will cease. Any shots previously conceded/measured
prior to the jack being moved will count as scoring, and the
end will count as an end played.
(iv) If a wood is accidentally moved by a measurer at any time
whilst a measure is taking place, all shots previously conceded/measured
prior to the wood being moved will count as scoring and the end
will count as an end played. E.g. measured/conceded 2 woods -
OK - 3rd wood OK - then a wood that has been considered to be
within the count is moved, that wood will be removed from the
head but will not count and providing that wood is not the opponent's
nearest wood the measure may continue - 4th wood OK - the next
shot is the opponents wood - then 4 shots shall be awarded and
measuring will cease.
9. DELIVERY
9.1 The forward motion on which a
wood is released must pass between or through the 457mm (18in)
delivery space, which is demarcated by the guidelines and the
blocks.
9.2 All woods must be released within
the demarcated delivery area. Should a bowler after being warned
by the opposing skip or a referee continue to infringe this rule,
then the wood shall be declared dead, stopped and removed from
the carpet.
9.3 If during delivery of a wood either
block is touched in any way then the wood shall be declared dead.
If, however, the block is touched after the wood has been released
this would not be classed as a foul. Delivery of a wood shall
be considered as being from the point of presenting the wood,
in the hand, to the carpet until it is released from the hand.
A player may, however, put their wood down on the carpet, to
either get a better grip or to go and check the end, then that
wood shall not be classed as a dead wood.
9.4 Disabled bowlers must be allowed
to adopt a comfortable stance and method when delivering their
woods, although they should not be allowed to gain an unfair
advantage.
10. SPECTATORS
10.1 Persons not taking part in a game
shall be situated clear of and beyond the limits of play. They
may support a team, but only in a way that will not offend nor
disturb their opponents.
10.2 Direct coaching of a player whilst
a game is in progress is forbidden. The opposing skip shall bring
any offence to the notice of the independent referee, who will
assess the situation and may ask the offender to leave the playing
area.
English
Carpet Bowls Association retain the copyright to 'The Rules
for Playing Carpets Bowls', which may not be reproduced without
permission.
updated
22/04/17
You can download a copy
of the rules here. (for best results change your printer settings
to print a booklet)
In addition to the playing
rules the ECBA has a number of policies which can be viewed here. |