Umpire's Guide to Bowls South Africa Laws of the Sport All Ages 2026

Law 54 of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls requires the umpire to bring, or be given by the host club, suitable equipment. Bowls South Africa's domestic regulation on law 54.9 sets the minimum for all domestic play:

• a copy of the current Laws of the Sport of Bowls;
• a box string measure;
• a bullet string measure;
• a telescopic measure;
• callipers;
• feeler gauges;
• a long string measure;
• a 30-metre tape measure;
• a portable retractable boundary line;
• a mirror and a square, both with a levelling bubble;
• wedges for bowls and jack.

Markers in Bowls SA National Singles events (where Bowls SA is the Controlling Body) may only use a box string measure, a bullet string measure and wedges.

Under the domestic regulation on law 49.9, boundary threads may not be used when a compliant mirror and square or portable retractable line is available.

From the Laws of the Sport of Bowls (Crystal Mark 4th edition) and Bowls SA's Technical Officials training manual:

When: only once the last bowl of the end has come to rest, or 30 seconds later if a skip asks for the 30-second period (law 23.1). Don't secure a bowl likely to fall during that 30 seconds.

How:

• Measure between the nearest points of the jack and each bowl (law 23.4).
• Use a flexible or string measure when one object is in the ditch and the other on the green (law 23.5). These ditch measures are done by the umpire, not the marker.
• Wedge any bowl likely to fall, and if a bowl rests on another that blocks the measure, secure it before removing the other (law 23.6).
• Kneel with your head over the measuring line. Set the fixed end on the jack, find the nearest point of the bowl, then compare that setting against the other bowls and re-check the first, repeating until satisfied.
• If a marker helps with a long measure, the marker holds the fixed (bullet) end at the jack and you control the measure from the bowls.

Displacement: if your equipment moves a bowl or the jack, laws 37.4 and 38.4 apply.

Point to the shot bowl and confirm both sides agree. Bowls SA's Markers Guide notes that only the players, or the umpire after measuring, may break up the head.

Toucher (laws 14 and 15): a bowl that touches the jack in its original course, even if it then goes into the ditch within the rink. It also becomes a toucher if, after stopping, it falls onto the jack before the next bowl is delivered (or within the 30 seconds after the last bowl of an end). It can't become a toucher by hitting a jack that is already in the ditch. It must be chalked as soon as it stops, or nominated if marking would disturb it; if neither happens before the next bowl stops, it is no longer a toucher.

Dead bowl (law 17): a non-toucher in the ditch; a non-toucher rebounding onto the rink off the bank, the jack or a toucher in the ditch; a bowl resting less than 14 metres from the centre of the mat line; a bowl moved by play completely outside the rink; or, in its original course, a bowl that crosses a side boundary on a bias that can't bring it back, or stops outside the side boundary (even touching a boundary jack).

Not dead: a bowl carried by a player inspecting the head; one that crosses a side boundary but finishes inside the rink; a toucher rebounding off the bank onto the rink; a toucher resting on the jack or another toucher in the ditch.

The skips (or singles opponents) decide first; you rule when they cannot agree, and your decision is final.

Laws 18 to 21 of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls (Crystal Mark 4th edition). After being moved by a bowl in play, the jack is dead if it:

• passes completely outside the rink boundaries;
• comes to rest in a hollow in the face of the bank; or
• comes to rest less than 20 metres from the centre of the mat line (measured straight to its nearest point).

It is not dead if it stops on top of a toucher in the ditch or on bowls within the rink. A jack knocked into the front ditch within the side boundaries is live; mark it with a white indicator (max 50 mm wide, 100 mm high). A jack driven against the bank that rebounds onto the rink stays in play.

Next: a dead jack makes a dead end. It doesn't count as a completed end and is replayed in the same direction unless both skips agree otherwise, with the same player playing first. The Controlling Body may instead have the jack re-spotted and play continue (law 19.5).

The skips (or singles opponents) decide first; you rule if they disagree. If a marker suspects the jack is under 20 m, you should be called to measure before the next bowl is delivered.

Law 13 of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls (Crystal Mark 4th edition): possession of the rink belongs to the side whose bowl is being played, and passes to the opponents once each bowl comes to rest and any toucher has been marked. A player must not deliver before then.

If, from your own observation or on appeal from a skip (or singles opponent), you decide that a player delivered before the previous bowl came to rest, or that the players in possession are being interfered with, annoyed or distracted by opponents:

1. First time: warn the offending player with their skip present, and tell their coach (if present) that a warning was given.
2. Every time after that: have the bowl last played by the offending player or team declared dead. If that bowl disturbed the head, the opposing skip (or singles opponent) chooses to replace the head, leave it as altered, or declare the end dead.

The same procedure applies to a player who stands out of position (law 12) or moves onto a neighbouring rink while an opponent is about to bowl.

Under law 44 of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls (Crystal Mark 4th edition), a coach (or their delegated deputy) may advise during play only if:

• you were given their name before the game started;
• only one person is advising at the rink at a time;
• they advise only when their player or team is in possession of the rink; and
• they stay outside the boundaries of the green.

If you consider the law is being broken, ask the coach or deputy to stay within the law. If they do not, ask the Controlling Body to take immediate action to stop it (law 44.5). Under law 13.4.1.2, when you warn a player for interfering with opponents, you must also tell their coach (if present) that the player has been warned.

Bowls South Africa's domestic policy on law 33.1 says umpires are not responsible for calling players off during lightning or thunderstorm activity unless a player appeals to them.

When a game is interrupted, Bowls SA's Markers Guide for Beginners says the game resumes with the same score however long the break; an end that was started but not completed (including one not yet measured or decided when players left the green) is dead. If the game restarts the same day after bad weather, no extra trial ends are allowed; if it restarts on another day, normal trial ends are allowed.

Bowls South Africa's code of conduct and disciplinary procedure (published with its domestic regulations) says players must not use obscene language or signs, assault or threaten anyone, victimise a player, official or spectator, or otherwise act against the spirit of the game, on or around the green, during or after play.

For a breach, the Controlling Body may:

• act through the presiding umpire, who may take any action considered necessary at the time, including suspending the player from the game immediately; and/or
• require the player to attend a disciplinary hearing (no legal representation), which can lead to suspension from bowls and/or a fine.

The Controlling Body can also restrict alcohol and tobacco on the green, and Bowls SA proposes no tobacco products on the green.

For on-green interference with players in possession of the rink, use law 13.4 (warning, then the offending bowl is declared dead).

Under law 43.2.6 of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls (Crystal Mark 4th edition), the umpire's decision is final in all circumstances except those relating to the meaning or interpretation of a law. On interpretation, there is a right of appeal to the Controlling Body for the competition.

So a measure for shot, or a ruling on whether a bowl or jack is in play, is final. A dispute about what a law means can go to the Controlling Body. At national events Bowls South Africa appoints a Jury of Appeal, whose decisions are final (for example the 2026 SA Masters conditions of play).

Bowls South Africa certifies technical officials through courses set by its National Standing Committee for Technical Officials (Technical Officials Students Training Manual, revised March 2023):

Candidates who meet each course's requirements are certified by Bowls South Africa. Under law 43.1, an umpire at a game must be appointed by, or on behalf of, the Controlling Body for the competition.