Etiquette on the bowls green

Here are some examples of best practice behaviour when you are on the bowls green, some of these are set out in the laws of the sport and others are good sporting behaviour:

Come to the game on time, with the correct attire and if you need chalk and/or a measure/pen make sure that they are with you. Always shake hands with your opponents at the start and end of the game.

When a player is standing on the mat, all players waiting to play should stand behind the mat so as not to be in the line of sight of the bowler on the mat; you should refrain from talking loudly or doing anything to disturb the concentration of the player on the mat.

Do not step onto an occupied neighbouring rink to get a better view of the jack.

Keep track of the play and be ready to bowl when it is your turn. Do not delay unduly, but do not ever bowl your wood before your opponent's wood has come to rest.

After you have bowled your wood do not turn away before it has come to rest, your skip wants you to learn from your mistake.

At the other end of the rink when a player is waiting to bowl, players should stand still and not obscure either of the rink markers. At the head, the skip of the team waiting to bowl should have free access to all the head of bowls and opposition players should all be behind him/her. As soon as the bowled wood has come to rest the skip should move aside from the head to allow the other skip to direct their player who now has control of the mat.

Bowlers on the mat should release the wood as low as possible and not bounce the wood so as to cause potential damage to the rink. Should the bowler be preparing to use a weighted or firing wood it is good practice to indicate to those at the head that this is what they are intending to do.

If you like to run after your wood to watch its progress, then ensure that you get ahead of the wood before it comes to rest and remain at the head until the opposition bowler has ceased to be in control of the mat.

When changing ends walk with the minimum of delay up the middle of the rink and be aware of what is happening on the adjacent rinks in case your movement might distract their play.

While you are at the head on a sunny day ensure that your shadow does not fall on to the jack. Also if you have white shoes do not stand behind a white jack.

Do not applaud your own "lucky woods" or complain about the opposition's "lucky woods" - you will have your share over time.

If you are a skip do not criticise your own player for bowling a bad wood, if they were trying their best.

Having lost an end, it is the responsibility of losing leads to collect the woods in a pusher to bring them back to the mat area. However, give them a hand if they need it.

Do not openly complain about an opponent's green.

If you are unhappy with what you consider to be infringement of the laws or poor etiquette by an opposing player, ask your skip to sort it out with the opposing skip.

If you have called for an Umpire to adjudicate on an issue, move away from the head and let them get on with their job.

If you are a spectator, or you have finished your match, do not walk behind a rink where a player is on the mat preparing to bowl.

Remember, bowls is a social game and should always be played in a good spirit and with fairmindedness.