Playing Etiquette.

This is normal for the smooth and pleasant running of games.

Friendly handshakes and wishes of good luck are traditional at the beginning of a game.

The most basic thing to remember is ‘MAN ON THE MAT’. When anyone is standing on the mat, about to, or actually bowling, no one should interfere or distract that person, either by walking across the opposite end of the rink, moving around near the head or by talking or distracting the player at the mat end.

When it is your turn to bowl you may discuss what you should do with your team, or ask questions of the marker as necessary before bowling. Once you have delivered the wood, you may stand and watch the path and learn from it for the next time. It is not good etiquette to go forward and hang around in front of the mat.

Once your wood comes to rest you lose possession of the rink.

You must step off the mat and stand at least a metre behind the eye line of your opponent.

You may not communicate with your team at the other end, or the marker, until your opponent’s wood has come to rest.

Skips or other team members at the head end should stand behind and to the side of the jack, ideally not directly behind the jack.

Skips often have the scorecards, but they may be filled in by other members of the team (number 2s in rinks) however, the two cards must be held by members at the same end so that the scores may be ratified every end.

Only number 3s in rinks and 2s in triples are involved in deciding the result of an end. They can ask for a score, or they may offer to give away a score, but until both have agreed the result, is not communicated to the skips. Once the result is given to the skips there should be no more measuring or any changes.

Other members of teams do not become involved.

When the result is determined, the winning number 1 fetches the mat, all other members of the team help to move the woods back to at least one metre behind and to the side of the mat.

In singles, you may measure yourselves if required, but if you ask a marker or umpire to measure, players leave the green and the decision of the person measuring is final and not to be questioned.

At the end of the game, friendly handshakes and thanks are normally exchanged.

Home players normally invite visitors to stay for a drink after the game.

Winning players normally invite their opponents and the marker for a drink.

All players in the team help to clear away all the equipment used.

IMPORTANT.

For everyone’s safety, woods must be under control at all times.

Firing or driving at the head should only happen with adequate warning to those at the other end.

Markers and those in control at the head end should walk up the rink to watch whether or not the wood fired touches the jack or not. It is safer than standing behind the head and means they will know whether the wood must be chalked.

Woods should never be hurled up the green before or after a game when players are not facing the bowler.