Marker's Guide to Bowls South Africa Singles All Ages 2026

From Bowls SA's Markers Guide for Beginners:

• Ask the players whether they will play one or two trial ends. Either player may play one trial end of up to four bowls in each direction, even if the opponent doesn't want to.
• The players toss, and the winner decides who plays first.
• Centre the jack at the length the player on the mat asks for, not less than 23 m from the mat line and not less than 2 m from the front ditch.
• Don't stop any bowl, or put your foot on the jack, during trial ends. The player is entitled to see the full effect of each bowl, even if it moves the jack or runs into the ditch.
• Re-centre the jack if it is moved.
• Tell the player how far short of, or past, the jack each bowl finished.
• Remove each bowl by hand once it has stopped.

Law 42.2 requires the marker to check the mat is on the centre line, centre the jack, make sure it is at least 23 m from the mat line after centring, and place a jack that stops less than 2 m from the front ditch at 2 m (law 9.2). Bowls SA's domestic regulation on law 10.5 confirms the 23 m minimum.

Bowls SA's Markers Guide adds:

• Let the delivered jack stop, then centre it using your hands, without your shadow on it or blocking the number plate.
• Centre it before judging its distance; coloured pegs are only a rough guide.
• If you doubt it is 23 m, call the umpire to measure (after consulting the players, and always if either player asks).
• If the jack goes into or beyond the ditch, wholly outside a side boundary, or less than 23 m from the mat line, return it. The opponent may then re-lay the mat and deliver. If they also fail, centre the jack 2 m from the front ditch, and the player due to play first places the mat anywhere on the centre line at least 25 m from the front ditch.
• Nobody may challenge the jack's original position after the first bowl has been delivered.
• After the first end, the winner of the previous end chooses whether to place the mat, deliver the jack and play first, or let the opponent do so.

Law 42.2.5 requires the marker to stand to one side of the rink, behind the jack and away from the head.

Bowls SA's Markers Guide adds:

• After centring the jack, take one step to the side and two steps back and stay perfectly still.
• Don't block the player's view of the corner peg or number plate, and don't let your shadow fall on the jack (yours or the neighbouring rink's).
• Only go to the head to mark a toucher, erase chalk, indicate a toucher or non-toucher, or answer a question, then move back out.
• Pay full attention to the game at all times so you can mark touchers before the next bowl and answer questions directly.

What you must answer (law 42.2.6 to 42.2.8):

• any specific question about the state of the head asked by the player in possession of the rink;
• when asked, tell or show that player the position of the jack;
• when asked, tell or show that player which bowl or bowls you think are shot;
• where the Controlling Body authorises it, signal shots with shot indicators.

Who may ask (Bowls SA Markers Guide): only the player in possession, whether or not they are on the mat, and only about the head as it is at that moment. Once their bowl stops and any toucher has been marked, possession passes to the opponent, and the first player may not ask again until it's their turn.

What you must not do:

• give any advice, or any information that wasn't specifically asked for;
• guide or direct play, or show by word or gesture that you favour a player or are pleased or disappointed with a shot;
• signal that the head has changed, unless it changed after you answered a question (for example a bowl fell), in which case you must tell the players;
• congratulate or commiserate with either player before the game ends, or chat with spectators or people on other rinks.

Under law 42.2.10 you must chalk all touchers and remove chalk from non-touchers as soon as they come to rest. Bowls SA's Markers Guide adds:

• Tell the players before the game that you will mark touchers as soon as they stop.
• Mark the toucher neatly on the running surface, not across the rings, dimples or emblem, as soon as it stops and before the next bowl is delivered, even if the next player is already on the mat (they are not yet in possession of the rink).
• A bowl that stops and then falls onto the jack before the next bowl is delivered is also a toucher: mark it as soon as the next bowl is delivered.
• Erase chalk from any played bowl that doesn't become a toucher. Don't lift a bowl to do so; if the mark is underneath, mark an "O" on it.
• If marking or erasing would disturb the bowl or the head, indicate to the players that it is a toucher (or non-toucher) instead.
• For a toucher or the jack in the ditch, mark its position (law 42.2.13): an indicator against or on the bank in line with it (white for the jack), and lines drawn in the sand or with chalk around it.

If a toucher is neither marked nor nominated before the next bowl comes to rest, it stops being a toucher (law 15.3).

Stopping bowls (law 42.2.11 and Bowls SA's Markers Guide):

• Don't stop a bowl or jack running into the ditch or over the side boundary.
• A bowl on the wrong bias, or on the correct bias but so narrow that it crosses the side boundary, should be stopped as soon as possible after it crosses the boundary.
• A bowl on the correct bias played so wide it can't come back in should not be stopped; remove it once it stops.
• A bowl from a neighbouring rink heading to disturb your head: lift the bowl at rest to let it pass and replace it. If it would hit the jack, stop it and return it to be replayed.
• A bowl played out of turn: point it out straight away, but don't stop it unless the opponent asks.
• If a player delivers the opponent's bowl, don't stop it; let it settle, then replace it with the player's own bowl (call the umpire if unsure).

Dead bowls: with both players' agreement (ask before play), remove dead bowls from the rink or ditch as soon as they stop (law 42.2.12), and place them on the bank no closer to the edge than the number plate and corner pegs. Keep the ditch and rink clear of neutral bowls or objects.

At the head (law 42.2.14 to 42.2.15 and the Bowls SA Markers Guide):

• Before scoring, check all bowls have been played. If the last bowl hasn't, point it out; the player must play it or declare they won't.
• Stay at the head until both players are present and have agreed the shots. Don't move or remove any bowl until they agree; only the players, or the umpire after measuring, may break up the head.
• Measure only when asked by a player. Players may measure for themselves. Don't let either player help or interfere while you measure, and let both see it. Don't suggest there may be another shot.
• If you need to prop a bowl, tell the players and wait 30 seconds after the last bowl stops.
• If you accidentally move the jack or a bowl while measuring, put it back as near as possible to its former position.

After each end (law 42.3): record the score on the scorecard; tell the players the running totals if there's no scoreboard; and remove the previous end's mat if needed.

After the game (law 42.4): make sure the scorecard has the players' names and signatures and the finishing time, and hand it in as the conditions of play require.

Under law 42.2.15 of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls, if either player is not satisfied with your measure, you must ask the umpire to measure. If no umpire has been appointed, choose a competent neutral person to act as umpire; their decision is final.

Bowls SA's Markers Guide for Beginners also says to call the umpire:

• if, after centring, you doubt the jack is at least 23 m from the mat line (after consulting the players), and always if either player asks;
• if the jack is moved in play to what you think is less than 20 m from the mat line, before the next bowl is delivered (always if either player asks);
• if a player delivers the opponent's bowl and you are unsure of replacing it without disturbing the head;
• whenever you have any doubt, can't make a decision, or face a close or difficult measure;
• for measures with the jack or a bowl in the ditch, which are done by the umpire;
• to report any infringement of the laws you notice, and any irregular markings on the bowls.