Laying down the Law
The Laws of the Sport of Bowls – Crystal Mark Third Edition will come into effect from January 1 across the nation.
A summary of the four main changes which will most affect Australian bowlers have been listed below, while a more detailed summary of all changes has also been made available at the conclusion of this web article for those interested in a more comprehensive analysis of the modifications.
LAWS RE-NUMBERED
The Laws have been reorganised – with the aim to follow the progression of the game. The Laws have been renumbered.
POSITION ON THE MAT
Has been changed (Previously stated that a player should be standing on the mat with one foot fully on the mat) 7.1 Before delivery a player must be standing on the mat with all or part of at least one foot on the mat. At the moment they deliver the jack or a bowl, the player must have all or part of one foot on or above the mat.
DEFAULTS
Authority to create a DR to provide for Absentee players in a sides game:
39.2.3 For domestic play, Member National Authorities can approve regulations which are different from those mentioned in law 39.2.2.
DR has been created that provides for the team with one player short to play less bowls – e.g. in fours play the team short plays 6 bowls (lead, third & skip) against 8 bowls.
PLAYERS’ DUTIES
Authority to create a DR to provide for who keeps the score-card: 40.1.9 For domestic play, Member National Authorities can transfer the skip’s duties described in law 40.1.7 to other members of the team. However, they must make sure that the duties are transferred to players whose positions, in order of play, are the same in each team. DR has been created that provides that in fours play the score card is kept by the second of each team.
The Crystal Mark Third Edition of the Laws of the Sport will come into effect from Thursday, January 1, 2015 around Australia.
Accordingly, the new law book will be released and available for purchase on Bowls Australia’s e-store prior to the end of the 2014 calendar year, and will also be purchasable via the state and territory associations.
Click here to read the summary of changes to the Laws of the Sport.
