Officiating Offerings – April 2024
These snippets of information are issued regularly by Bowls Tasmania and republished to the BTS website with the permission of the author.
Some notes on questions asked during the season
Stopping/Lifting Bowls. Law 37.1.5.3 was rescinded shortly after the issue of the Law Book Crystal Mark 4th Edition. If you have a copy of this law book, please redact this law. There have been comments made about players claiming an eight if a bowl has been lifted during play before coming to rest. Even if the law had not been rescinded it would not have been an eight declaration!
Umpire of the Day. Law 43.1 states that an umpire must be appointed by, or on behalf of, the Controlling Body for the competition. Once that Umpire has been appointed, they are the ‘Umpire of the Day’. Another umpire cannot, even if they think they are better, take over the duties of the appointed umpire.
Accidental Delivery of the bowl. Under Definitions, see page 9 of the Law Book, C Play, C.3 Delivery: Deliberately releasing a jack or bowl from the hand or artificial device using an underarm movement. If the jack or bowl accidentally slips from the player’s hand or artificial device during delivery, the player can pick it up and start the delivery again. Note: there is no mention in the Definition on how far the bowl may have travelled.
Bowling Arm events: See Bowls Australia Artificial Devices Policy. The jack may be delivered by hand or Bowling Arm. Players may commence play without a Bowling Arm then take it up during the game but then may not go back to bowling without the arm.
Declaring the results of an end. Law 22, the number of shots scored must be agreed by the opponents before a declaration is made.
Indicating the position of the jack. Law 12.1.3, As soon as a bowl is delivered, a player who is controlling play from a position that is either level with or in front of the jack must take their position as described in law 12.1.2, that is behind the jack.
Position of Markers. Law 42.2.5 the marker must stand to one side of the rink, behind the jack and away from the head. Not on the seat or on the bank!
Position of players. All State controlled events use the Movement of Players Law DR A.4, page 93 of the Law Book. This law allows the thirds to remain at the head with the skips at the commencement of each end. Otherwise, the thirds may only go to the head after delivery of their second bowl! A.4.2 does allow exception to this law in limited and exceptional circumstances. Umpires should check all competition’s Conditions of Play, before play, to see if this Law is enacted for that competition.
Leonie Price
Officiating, Coaching and Bowling Arm Director
Bowls Tasmania