BOWLING ETIQUETTE

Dress correctly for all games
Greet and shake hands with team members and opponents at the start of a game and shake hands, congratulate or compliment them at the end of play.
Stand still when a player is on the mat and be ready to bowl when it is your turn. Do not talk or make a noise behind the mat.
Don’t become a wanderer and distract other bowlers. Don’t move at the head when a player is preparing to bowl.
Remain behind the mat or behind the head when it is not your team’s 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.
Walk down the centre of your rink when you are changing ends.
Don’t walk through the head and be aware of players on the next rink.
Don’t ‘dilly dally’ checking the state of the head as the skips will be waiting to bowl.
Pick up the mat for your opponent after an end is completed. ? Stand well back from the head when drive shots are played and warn others on adjacent rinks.
Always help to push the bowls to the end of the rink. The only player not clearing is the player who is placing the mat.
Outdoors, on sunny days, be aware of your shadow. Don’t let it mask the jack or allow it to fall in front of the mat when a player is about to bowl. ? Never criticise your opponent, the greens, or your own team. If you cannot say something positive, don’t say anything at all.
Avoid obscuring any of the rink markers or the jack. ? Don’t applaud a team member who has outrageous luck.
Don’t wave opponent’s bowls through the head.
Encourage and praise your team.
Compliment your opponent on a good shot.
Admit a fluke with grace.
Be a gracious winner and a good loser.
When not on the green don’t walk past the end of a rink when a player is about to bowl towards you. Learn the Laws of Bowls and abide by them. ? Keep the game moving along by avoiding slow play so help one another