Lawn Bowling Etiquette
- Dress appropriately for all games. Relatively flat soled shoes are a must. Shoes with aggressive tread or heels cannot be worn on the greens.
- Compliment your opponent on a good shot.
- Admit a fluke with grace.
- Stand still when a player is on the mat.
- Do not talk or make a noise behind the mat when a player is about to deliver a bowl.
- Remain behind the mat or outside the head and behind the skip when it is not your turn to play. Always remember that as soon as your bowl has come to rest possession of the rink passes to your opponent.
- Keep to your own rink. Do not become a wanderer and distract other bowlers. Walk down the center of your rink when changing ends.
- On sunny days be aware of your shadow. Do not let it mask the jack nor permit it to fall in front of the mat when a player is about to bowl.
- Try to avoid obscuring boundary pegs, rink plates or rink markers.
- Never criticize your opponent, the greens, or your own team members. If you cannot say something positive, don’t say anything.
- Pay attention to the game. Nothing can be more frustrating to your teammates that to have them feel that you are not giving your full attention and best efforts to the game.
- Always appear to be enjoying the game.
- Stand well back from the head when drive shots are being played and warn others of adjacent rinks of the fact.
- Greet your team members and opponents at the start of the game and congratulate or compliment them at the end of play. Shaking hands before a match and at its conclusion is part of the fine tradition of the game. (NOTE: for the foreseeable future Covid-19 Restrictions may not permit this)
- Learn the Laws of the Game and abide by them.
- Be a gracious winner and a good loser.
