Coaching & Etiquette

Etiquette in Lawn Bowling is simply defined as good sportsmanship and common courtesy.

1. Dress appropriately. Flat soled shoes are required. 

2. Shaking hands with teammates and opponents at the beginning and the end of the game is customary.

3. No matter how competitive the game may be, always compliment a good shot – whether by your own team or your opponents. Similarly, do not criticise a bad shot; no one wilfully plays a bad bowl.

4. Admit a “fluke shot” in good spirit.

5. Do not distract a player who is preparing to deliver a bowl. Stand back and speak quietly.

6. Be ready to play when you turn comes. Stay “in the game”.

7. Following the bowl you have delivered up the green can obstruct your opponent’s view. Avoid this habit.

8. When changing ends, walk well within the boundaries of your own rink.

9. Players must stand at least 6 feet behind the jack when standing in the head. Any movement can be distracting, stay motionless when you are at the head.

10. Do not openly criticise the condition of the green, particularly if you are visiting another club.

11. Make every effort to protect the green by delivering the bowl smoothly.

12. Leads are responsible for pushing the bowls at the conclusion of the end. Do your share.

13. When the game is over, help to return mats, jacks and other equipment to the storage place.

14. Be a gracious winner and a good looser

1. If your team is first, you set up the mat and throw the jack to where  the skip is standing. Center the jack by directing the skip. If you throw in the ditch or out of bounds, the opposition will throw the jack. If both jacks are delivered incorrectly, the skip will place the jack 6 feet from the ditch. The loser of the toss is up first to deliver the first bowl.

2. Deliver a bowl to the Jack. Generally a lead should try and deliver two bowls near the jack and one about 1-3 feet behind the jack. It is better to be long than short.

3. Leads may get directions from the skip to deliver bowls left or right. The skip may indicate how far your bowl is from the jack. Stay on the mat until your bowl stops. Then exit the mat to your right. Remain 3-4 feet behind opponent  and remain quiet to not distract the other player and pay attention to the game.

4. After leads & 2/3 have bowled, walk to the head of the green; don't move around to distract while skips bowl. After all the bowls have been delivered the vices will determine the score and signal skips.

5. Winning team will take the mat and losing team will rake the bowls 1-2 feet behind and to the right of the mat.

6. Start new end.

1. Remember your skip is in charge. You must try to follow the Skip's instructions on the delivery direction and placement of your bowls.

2. Possession of the rink: remember when your teammate's bowl has come to rest, you should immediately retire behind the head and make no observations of the head or relate any changes that might have taken place. Remain quiet; your opponent now possesses the rink.

3. After completing delivery and the exchange of ends, your function is to report (signal) when asked by the skip specific information regarding the position of the bowls in the head.

4. Know your skip, ask in advance if he wants specific help.

5. If what you consider to be a dangerous situation has developed in the head, do not hesitate to motion your skip to come and take a look.

6. All players at the head end are to stand a least 6 feet behind the jack, Except the player in possession of the rink. All players at the head end of the rink shall remain motionless until bowl is delivered.

7. You will chalk mark all touchers either before the next bowl is delivered or before the next bowl in course comes to rest . Remove any bowls from the ditch which are non touchers and guard the front ditch to prevent entry of non toucher bowls which may disturb the position of the jack or one or more touchers in the ditch.

8. You must prevent any disturbance of the head by an outside object or by a dead bowl from another rink.

9. When an end is completed with all bowls delivered, it is the responsibility of both vices to determine the score count of that particular end. Never signal the resulting score to you skip until all measurements needed have been made and you and your opponent have mutually agreed. When measuring for a multiple score, it can be helpful to place the bowls already measured on a towel to avoid confusion or possible recount of a bowl previously measured.

10. The score should be kept by both teams. The skip keeps the score. If no cards are kept in a local game, the skip who is at the end where the score board is should mark the score.

11. Both vices will aid the lead raking the bowls at the conclusion of an end by kicking in the bowls to more or less ground them to make it easier to rake.

Some Dos and Don'ts for Playing the Position of Vice

Dos

• Become familiar with the bowls of the people on your team even before the first bowl is delivered.

• Inform your skip if a change takes place in the count of the head, but only when you have control of the mat.

• Call your skip to the head when you are in control of the rink if there is a special circumstance that she should be aware of.

• If your opponent is measuring for a point, watch carefully to see that it is being done correctly with the proper angle, no sagging of the tape, without moving the jack or the bowl etc.

• Get the permission of your opponent before you move any bowl that you are claiming as a point. When you do remove a point bowl, place it on a towel to make the final count more accurate.

• If you are claiming a point but your opponent does not agree, don't argue just have  them measure immediately.

• Before you signal your skip on the point count, be sure your opponent agrees to the same number.

• If your team has won the end, pick up the jack and give it to your lead before the bowls are raked.

• After each end, help kick the bowls in line for the raker.

• If your team has lost the end, signal the score to your skip and help kick in the bowls for raking.
  
  

Dont's

• Do not move when any player is on the mat and is ready to bowl.

• When the opposing team has control of the mat do not approach the head or try to communicate with your skip.

• Do not tell your skip what  to do. If your skip wants advice or information they should ask for it.

• Do not volunteer to your opposing vice how many points their team has. They should state the number of points they thinks their team can claim, then you either agree or disagree with their claim.

• Do not move any bowl or the jack until you are sure the last bowls has been delivered and the final count of points has been agreed upon. A good way to tell that all bowls have been delivered is to watch for the skip picking up the mat.

• Do not socialise or wander off while the game is being played. A good team player stays focused on the play of everyone on their rink.

1. The skip keeps the score on the score card.

2. You are in charge of your team as director. You must decide, with your opponent any dispute or refer to the umpire. Sign both the score card sheets at the end of a match and act as the scorer in a pairs match.

3. It is part of your job to instruct your lead and vice as to how you want them t o play their shots with best chance of producing a score for your team. Should  one of your teammates fail to make the shot called for, don't be critical. Remember, the player knows without being told that is was a bad shot.

4. Stand still, don't move around the head. This can be quite distracting to other players.

5. When your opponent delivers the last bowl at the conclusion of an end, it your responsibility to remove the mat.

6. It is important to remember that as the director of your team, your attitude towards your teammates and the game will often make a difference between a loss or a win. The purpose of the game is to enjoy yourself,make it enjoyable for  others and win if you can. But, when your team is down and the breaks seem to be all going against you, even the most naive should recognise that encouragement of your team may accomplish what caustic criticism or languishing on the bench when the lead or vice is on the mat can never, never accomplish. You may not win the game, but you popularity will increase immeasurably.

Characteristics of a good skip

• Must be good at all types of shots.

• Should practice the draw, trail, yard on, block and drive.

• Must know the rules of the game.

• Must be responsible for which tactics are used in the game.

• Must be able to evaluate the speed of the green, weakness and strength of the opponent and strength of own team.

• Should know how to build a head on their own terms and force the opponent to make difficult shots.

• Must set the tenor for good sportsmanship.

• Should know when to change the shape of the game by moving the mat and forcing opponents to play the weak hand.

• Should know how to communicate clearly with confidence and assurance.

• Should know how to play safe shots and avoid giving up big scores.

Tips for Skips

• Allow leads to draw twice before bowling for position.

• Leads should not be asked to drive.

• Skips should decide which  hand plays best and stick with it if possible.

• Build each head safely. If you must lose an end, it should be by a low score.

• When you have the shot, bowl for position. When you're down a shot, draw.

• Do not call for position bowls that will give your opponents a chance to wick in or rest on.

• Try to cover all positions that jack would take if wicked.

• Know when your team is in a position to make a big score.

• The drive is both an offensive and defensive weapon. Use it to nullify an end, move the jack or push a bowl up.

• Blocks are very difficult to make. Practice block shots with opposing hand.

• Watch Your Opposition

• Study the Green!

• One hand wider/narrower than the other hand?

• Are there irregularities on either hand that could be avoided?

• Is the pace of the green fast, slow to moderate?

• Does your opponent favour one hand more than the other?

• Even his/her badly played Bowl, position- wise, can provide you with information-you may have to play there.

Six Basic Playing Strategies

Refrain from over-building a head

• When several shots are already held, you create a larger target & risk the chance of losing your built-up head by an easy-to-hit drive,

• By adding bowls to the head your position is weakened elsewhere on the green, should the jack move back

Vary the length of the Jack

• Exploit your opponent's weaknesses by playing a length beneficial to you & troublesome for the opposition

Vary the length of the mat

• May confuse the opponent

• May change the way the green works in your favour

Get a second shot in the head

• If you have already shot, a second shot will serve as insurance against the removal of your only shot

• If you are down two or more shots in the head, a second shot will minimize your loss, especially if the position is such that it is virtually impossible to get shot bowl.

Match a cluster of your opponent’s bowls with one of your bowls

• Reduces the possibility of losing a big end either intentionally or accidentally

• If the cluster is behind the jack, a matching bowl will deter your opponent from moving the jack back.

• Such a bowl may force your opponent to change his shot to the more skilful & more difficult draw shot.

Back bowls are better

• Jacks move back far more often than they go forward

• Can avoid the loss of a big end if a back bowl is put into position early in the end

Suggestions:

• Watch experienced bowlers play & try to guess the next shot

• Ask experienced bowlers about their strategies

IMPORTANT

• Practice-playing pickup games is not practicing

• Practice-adding weight or subtracting weight

• Two teams of 2, 3, 4 bowlers & each one take turn adding weight or subtracting weight-point For each one that goes further or is closer if subtracting weight.

• Setting up a simulated end – e. three bowls in a triangle within 15 feet of the ditch

• Practice drawing with mat closer to the hog line

• Draw to the jack – two players & a coach or friend with a measurement (piece of string), any bowl further from the jack to be removed.

• Everyone likes to drive – should be left to the vice to break up head – two bowls set a mat apart score 3 points for going between bowls; one if you hit the bowl.

• As the skip you must have confidence in your draw weight, if not, it really does not matter what strategy you have in mind. Winning will be a challenge.