Laws:
There is an old saying that "Rules are made for the Obedience of Fools and the Guidance of Wise Men" and no matter what game you play, if you don't know the rules/laws of the game then you can't fulfill your obligation to that game!

It is important to learn to play well, but if you don't learn and understand the rules, you haven't completed your training. Coaches take note.

In lawn bowls, the two most infringed laws are "Laws 36 and 37.(Aus.) If you don't know these laws then I respectfully suggest that you buy a law book.

The two laws deal with "Possession of the Rink and Position of Players". The penalty (Law 58a) for infringing these laws could cost you an important game! If you're a team player you wouldn't want this to happen, would you?


A bit about Etiquette:
It's nice to hand your opponent his bowl or commend him on a good shot or any other nicety that may come to mind, but it is better etiquette to accord your opponent the latitude to which he is entitled. I am talking about those laws again.

While a player is on the mat, both he and his team have possession of the rink till his bowl comes to rest.

Then and only then does possession change to his opponent. (Law 36).

But until that happens, the bowler who is waiting to play his bowl must stay a minimum of 2 metres or 6 feet behind the mat or on the bank.

Law 37 states that anyone who is not in the act of bowling must stay 2metres or 6 feet behind the mat or on the bank at the mat end and 2 metres behind the head or on the bank at the head end except the Skips or Directors who are entitled to stand anywhere in the head while directing the bowler on the mat but must retire 2 metres behind the Jack as soon as the bowl is delivered.

I know we all get caught up in the excitement of the game at times and it is easy to forget the important aspects of the laws and also Etiquette can go out the window, but a good caring bowler should be able to remember what observations need to be addressed.

If you follow this advice and remember the BASICS, you will enjoy this wonderful game so much more and so will those who play with or against you.
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