est 1917

HINTS FOR A PLEASANT GAME

Hints to Ensure a Pleasant Bowling Game
From Florence Thiffault

  1. Spectators
    Their prescribed behaviour is best described by quoting the International Bowling Board rule:  “Persons not engaged in any game shall be situated clear of and beyond the limits of the rink of play.  They shall preserve an attitude of strict neutrality, and neither by word nor act disturb or advise the players.”  “A spectator may applaud good shots made by either team.”2.     General Hints for All Players:
  • Be courteous and considerate.
  • Do not move around nor carry on a conversation while a bowl is being delivered.
  • Be a gracious winner and a good loser.
  • Commend both your teammates and your opponents for a good shot.
  • Avoid any criticism by word, look or action of a poor shot.  (Even the best player can make them.)
  • Be interested in the game and watch its progress at all times.
  • LEARN TO TAKE YOUR OWN GRASS. (Each set of bowls has its own line.  Learn where to aim in order for your bowl to come to rest where you want it.)
  1. Hints for Leads and Seconds:
  • Watch the result of the coin toss and you will know which side goes first.  If its yours……
  • Place the mat IMMEDIATELY.  Be ready to roll and centre the jack for your skip.  POINT in one direction until the jack is in proper place.
  • As the front end walks up the green, don’t stop to point out your bowl (even if it is on the jack).  This is a team effort and we speak only of OUR bowls.
  • As you walk up the green, be sure to stay within the confines of your own rink.
  • After the vices have indicated that the end is over, be ready to rake in the bowls being careful to stay on your own rink.
  • When you have delivered your bowl, NEVER turn away until your bowl has come to rest.
  •  LEARN TO TAKE YOUR OWN GRASS.
  1. Hints for Vices and Skips
  • Watch all bowls played by leads and seconds so you will know their positions when it is your turn to bowl.
  • Vices, when you reach the head, do not begin to point out the identity of the bowls.  Your skip has just left the head and knows their positions.
  • Do not move around while skips are bowling.  Stand far enough behind the jack so that your feet do not confuse.  Dark shoes are preferable.
  • Do not presume to give the skip “the grass” and do not offer advice unless s/he requests it.
  • Be sure to indicate to the skip any change in the head.  Let him/her know which side is shot and how many.
  • Warn the skip if the other side has built up a pocket of bowls to which the jack might be moved.
  • Keep out of the line of vision while the opposing skip is delivering a bowl.
  • Don’t get in the habit of waving bowls in.  You cannot change their speed or direction.
  • Be sure to know the bowls and to which side they belong.  If uncertain, DO NOT turn them over.  A touched bowl is a burned bowl and may be placed by the opposing skip.
  • The vice-skip whose team has NOT scored removes the winning shot(s) and then does any necessary measuring.
  • In measuring, do not touch the jack to hold it steady.  If at the time of measure the jack is moved, rule 33.4 applies.
  • When taking out the shots, DO NOT throw them carelessly as you might:

Injure the grass
Interfere with play on the next rink
Move a bowl that might be in the count.

  • Be sure to provide yourself with chalk and a measure.  Mark all touchers and the position of the jack or a toucher delivered to the ditch.
  • DO NOT let dead bowls remain in the ditch.  Remove them and place them on the bank.
  • Be alert and watch the play at all times so that you are ready to warn your skip of any bowl delivered by your side which has come to rest outside the confines of the rink.
  • Be sure both skips have delivered all their bowls before touching or removing any bowls from the head.
  • LEARN TO TAKE YOUR OWN GRASS.
  1. Hints for Skips
  • Remember – a smile doesn’t cost any more than a frown and gets better results.
  • DON’T  yell your instructions from one end of the rink to the other.  Bowling is supposed to be a quiet, dignified game and it is possible to give all instructions by hand signals.
  • DON’T show anger, impatience or disgust for a poor bowl.  YOU were a beginner once.
  • DON’T try to wave a short bowl, it won’t work.
  • DON’T point out the obvious.  Your bowlers are aware when their bowls are too short, too long, too wide or too narrow.  DON’T run up the rink after your bowl, it is discourteous and disturbing to your opponent.
  • After the game, whether you win or lose, shake hands all around.  Congratulate the winners and express pleasure in playing with both team mates and opponents.

Have a nice season!