Bowling Green Etiquette

Bowls is a friendly game and all players should show courtesy and good sportsmanship to their opponents and fellow team members.

During the game, encourage your teammates but don't criticize them.  Commend good shots.

Learn to accept that flukes are a part of the game; sometimes they go for you, sometimes against.

Remember that some players like to see the rink boundary markers and/or the centre marker while bowling so make sure you are not obstructing them.

On sunny days, make sure your shadow does not fall on the jack.

Do not drop your bowls on the green and ensure your delivery does not damage the green.

If you are at the same end as a player delivering a bowl, you must stand behind the mat, staying out of the player's field of vision.

Do not move around the head or mat when a player (of either side) is about to deliver their bowl.  Stand well back, keep quiet and do nothing to distract the bowler.  Wait until the bowl has been launched before moving.

After delivering a bowl, you must be behind the mat when it stops as procession of the rink then passes to the other team.  If you follow your bowl down the rink, you must be behind the head when it stops.

In a fours game, the no.1 & no.2 players should stand well back allowing the no.3s to stand at the head directing their skip.  In a triples game the no.1 players should stand well back allowing the no.2s to stand at the head directing their skip.

When the no.3s (fours) or no.2s (triples) are deciding the head, the other players should stand well back from the head.