Player's Guide to Bowls Australia Laws of the Sport of Bowls Open age 2026/27

The requirement (law 7). 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 of delivering the jack or a bowl, the player must have all or part of one foot on or above the mat. A player using an approved wheelchair must have one wheel on the mat before delivery, and all or part of one wheel on or above the mat at the moment of delivery. Anyone not meeting this commits a foot-fault.

The penalty (law 8).

• On the first occasion the umpire (by their own observation or on appeal by a skip or opponent in Singles) warns the player in the presence of the skip, and tells the coach if present.
• On each occasion after that, the umpire has the player's bowl stopped and declared dead.
• If the bowl could not be stopped and disturbs the head, the opposing skip (or opponent in Singles) chooses to replace the head, leave it as altered, or declare the end dead.
• If a warned player foot-faults again while delivering the jack, law 10.2 applies (the opposing player places the mat and re-delivers the jack, but does not play first).

Source: World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, laws 7 and 8, https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf

Improper delivery (law 10.1). The jack is improperly delivered if it comes to rest:

• in the ditch;
• completely outside the boundaries of the rink;
• less than 23 metres from the mat line (measured in a straight line from the centre of the mat line to the nearest point of the jack, after centring);
• on the rink after contact with the face of the bank; or
• on the rink after contact with any object or person completely outside the boundaries of the rink.

What happens (law 10.2 to 10.3). The opposing player places the mat and re-delivers the jack (centred), but does not play first. If the jack is improperly delivered once by each player in an end, it is not delivered again: it is centred with the nearest point of the jack 2 metres from the front ditch, and the first player to play places the mat.

Short jack (law 9.2). If the jack in its original course comes to rest less than 2 metres from the front ditch, it is placed on the centre line with its nearest point to the mat line 2 metres from the front ditch.

Distance for domestic play (law 10.5). Member National Authorities can change the 23 metre distance to 21 metres for domestic play.

Mat placement (law 6.1.1). The mat's centre line is placed along the centre line of the rink with the mat line at least 2 metres from the rear ditch and at least 25 metres from the front ditch.

Source: World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, laws 6, 9 and 10, https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf

What counts (law 14). A bowl in its original course that touches the jack is a live bowl called a toucher, even if it comes to rest in the ditch within the boundaries of the rink. A bowl that does not touch the jack in its original course is a non-toucher. A bowl is also a toucher if, after coming to rest, it falls and touches the jack before the next bowl is delivered (or, for the last bowl of an end, within the 30 seconds in law 23.1). No bowl becomes a toucher by playing onto or contacting the jack when the jack is in the ditch.

Marking (law 15). A toucher is marked with chalk by a member of the team that delivered it, or by the marker, as soon as it comes to rest. If marking would be likely to move the bowl or alter the head, it is nominated as a toucher instead. If a bowl is neither marked nor nominated before the next delivered bowl comes to rest (or, for the last bowl, before the 30 seconds), it is no longer a toucher. A chalk mark left on a bowl that does not become a toucher is removed by an opponent or the marker.

In the ditch (law 14.4). A toucher in the ditch is marked with a brightly coloured indicator (not more than 50 mm wide and 100 mm high) placed vertically against the face of the bank or on top of the bank in line with the toucher. Lines can also be drawn around it in sand, or with chalk on vegetation or synthetic surfaces.

Source: World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, laws 14 to 16, https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf

Under law 17.1 a bowl is dead if:

• it is not a toucher and comes to rest in the ditch;
• it is not a toucher and rebounds onto the rink after contact with the face of the bank, or with the jack or a toucher in the ditch;
• after completing its original course or being moved as a result of play, it comes to rest less than 14 metres from the centre of the mat line (measured in a straight line to the nearest point of the bowl);
• it passes completely outside the boundaries of the rink after being moved as a result of play;
• in its original course, it passes outside a side boundary on a bias that prevents it re-entering the rink; or
• in its original course, it comes to rest outside a side boundary, even if in contact with the outside edge of a line jack.

A bowl is not dead (law 17.2) if it is carried by a player while inspecting the head; in its original course it comes to rest within the rink even though it passed outside a side boundary during its course; it is a toucher that rebounds from the face of the bank onto the rink; or it is a toucher that comes to rest on top of the jack or another toucher at rest in the ditch.

The skips (or opponents in Singles) decide as soon as they realise it is necessary, even if more bowls have been played since; if they cannot agree they ask the umpire. A dead bowl is removed from the rink as soon as it is declared dead.

Source: World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, law 17, https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf

Live jack in the ditch (law 18). A jack moved by a bowl in play into the front ditch within the side boundaries of the rink is live. Its position is marked with a white indicator (not more than 50 mm wide and 100 mm high) placed vertically against the face of the bank or on top of the bank in line with the jack.

Dead jack (law 19.1). A jack moved by a bowl in play is dead if it:

• passes completely outside the boundaries of the rink;
• comes to rest in any hollow in the face of the bank; or
• comes to rest less than 20 metres from the centre of the mat line (measured in a straight line to the nearest point of the jack).
  It is not dead if it comes to rest on top of a toucher at rest in the ditch, or on top of bowls at rest within the rink (law 19.2). The skips (or opponents in Singles) decide, and ask the umpire if they cannot agree.

Dead end (law 20). A dead end is not counted as a completed end. It is replayed in the same direction unless the skips (or opponents in Singles) agree to play the opposite direction, and the player who played first in the dead end plays first again.

Rebounding jack (law 21). The end continues if a jack at rest on the rink is driven against the face of the bank and rebounds onto the rink, or a jack at rest in the ditch is moved back onto the rink by a toucher.

Source: World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, laws 18 to 21, https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf

Under laws 22 and 23:

• Shot bowls are the bowls nearer to the jack than the nearest bowl of the opposing team or opponent in Singles. No bowl may be moved until the opponents agree whether it is a shot, except where a bowl must be moved so another can be measured.
• Deciding the shots must not start until the last bowl of the end has come to rest, or 30 seconds after that if either skip (or opponent in Singles) asks for the 30 seconds, for example to see whether a bowl lying at an angle will fall. No bowl likely to fall may be secured during that period.
• Measuring before the process starts is not allowed. If a player does, the defaulting team or opponent loses the right to play any bowls remaining in that end and the other side delivers its remaining bowls.
• All measurements are made between the nearest points of the jack and the bowl. Between a jack in the ditch and a bowl on the green (or the reverse), a flexible or string measure is used wherever possible.
• If a bowl is likely to fall, either opponent can secure it by the best available means. If a bowl falls of its own accord during the process, it stays in its new position and the shots already agreed still count.
• Shot bowls can be placed in a group away from measuring, and the number in the group must be agreed by the opponents.
• The third can measure any and all disputed shots (law 40.2.1).

Source: World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, laws 22, 23 and 40, https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf

Tied end (law 24). No shot is scored if it is agreed that the nearest bowl of each side is touching the jack, the nearest bowls are the same distance from the jack, or no live bowls are left within the boundaries of the rink. The end is declared tied and recorded on the score card as a completed end. Following a tied end, law 5.4 applies: in ends after the first (other than an extra end), the winner of the previous scoring end places the mat and delivers the jack and the first bowl. If the first end is tied, the same player plays first in the second end.

Final bowl (law 25). The last player in an end does not have to deliver the final bowl, but must tell the opposing skip (or opponent in Singles) before the process of deciding the shots starts. That decision is final.

Extra end in a knockout (law 28). If scores are equal after all ends in a knockout competition with a fixed number of ends, an extra end is played. The skips (or opponents in Singles) toss a coin and the winner decides who plays first. The extra end is played from where the previous end was completed. If it is still tied, another extra end is played, with a fresh toss.

Source: World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, laws 5.4, 24, 25 and 28, https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf

Playing out of turn (law 29.1). The opposing skip can stop the bowl and return it to be played in the proper order. If it has already come to rest without disturbing the head, the opposing skip chooses to leave the head and have their team play two bowls one after the other to restore the order, or to return the bowl and go back to the proper order. If it has disturbed the head, the opposing skip chooses to leave the disturbed head and play two bowls in a row, replace the head and return the bowl, or declare the end dead. If each team has already played a bowl before the error is found, play continues in that order.

Playing another player's bowl (law 29.2). The other player's bowl is replaced with the player's own bowl, and if it was marked or nominated as a toucher, the replacement is marked or nominated.

Changing sets (law 29.3). Changing your set of bowls during an uninterrupted game (or one stopped and continued the same day) forfeits the game, unless a bowl was damaged or the game moved between a vegetation surface and a synthetic or indoor surface. If a stopped game continues on another day, a different set can be used.

Failing to play (law 29.4). Once the result of an end has been agreed or the process of deciding the shots has started, a player who failed to play a bowl loses the right to play it.

Source: World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, law 29, https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf

Under law 32:

• No player may delay play by leaving the rink of play or their team unless their opponent agrees, and then only for no more than 10 minutes.
• In a team or side game, if a player must leave the green through illness or another reasonable cause and cannot return within 10 minutes, the umpire or Controlling Body can approve a substitute.
• A substitute is introduced only if both skips (or, if they cannot agree, the umpire or Controlling Body) think it is necessary.
• The substitute must play in any position other than skip, and the rest of the team can rearrange their positions as necessary.
• The Controlling Body decides the substitute's eligibility. If no eligible substitute is available in a team game, the team forfeits the game.
• In Singles, a player who must leave and cannot return within 10 minutes forfeits the game.
• A player or team that breaks law 32 forfeits the game.
• Member National Authorities can decide the requirements for introducing a substitute in domestic play (law 32.9).

Source: World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, law 32, https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf

Footwear (Appendix A.2). Players, umpires and markers must wear flat-soled ("heel-less") footwear when they play on the green or act as umpires or markers. World Bowls and Member National Authorities can approve specific colours for footwear and the types of sole.

Clothing (Appendix A.3). World Bowls and Member National Authorities can approve specific colours and types of clothing (including bowling gloves) for players, umpires and markers when they play on the green or act as umpires or markers. A competition's Conditions of Play must at least include footwear and clothing, including any sponsors' requirements (Appendix A.1.3.8).

Spectators (law 45). Spectators must stay outside the boundaries of the green and clear of the players, and must not disturb or advise the players. Betting or gambling on any game is not allowed within the grounds of any club.

Source: World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition, Appendix A and law 45, https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf