Training

BLBC offers training sessions for all members.
Coaches are available to meet with bowlers to provide individual coaching hints. 

BLBC Training Subjects offered

  • Basic signals
  • Bowl selection
  • Competitive bowling techniques and competition descriptions
  • Delivery of the bowl and jack
  • Delivery speed control
  • Equipment
  • Line of aim
  • Rules of the game
  • Warm up exercises
  • Strategy and tactics
  • Terminology

Lawn Bowler’s Handbook

The Bowls Canada “Lawn Bowler’s Handbook” is used by each coach and member as a training aid

Instructional Links & Information

Player Responsibilities

Skip
The skip has sole charge of the team and all players on the team should follow his/her instructions. The skip will decide all disputed points with the opposing skip within the Laws of the Sport of Bowls. The skip is responsible for the score card and to enter the names of all players on the card.

Third/Second
When playing fours, the third will measure any disputed shots and tell the skip the number of shots scored for and against their team as each end is completed. When playing triples, the second will measure.

Lead
The lead of the team to play first in an end should deliver the jack and make sure it is centered before delivering the first bowl of the end.
In conjunction with the opposing lead, arrange to clear the head by raking bowls at the end of each end.

In addition to the above, players can carry out any other duties assigned to them by their skip. (Except completing the scorecard).

Player Etiquette

Lawn bowling should be played in a spirit of good sportsmanship with common courtesy. Teams begin and end each game with a friendly handshake to all members of both teams.

As soon as each bowl comes to rest, possession of the rink is transferred to the other team. By the time a player's bowl comes to rest, he/she should be behind the mat or behind the head. Players of each team not in the act of playing or controlling play should stand well behind the head or mat.

A player on the mat should not be interfered with, or have his/her attention distracted in any way by an opponent. Players behind the mat should not talk while a player is on the mat.

If you are counting, your opponent will do the measuring and both must agree on the outcome. No bowls should be disturbed or kicked away without the agreement from both sides. Do not dwell too long on the mat or in protracted conferences.

All players must ensure that the greens are not damaged. Make use of screens, if necessary, to protect the playing surface

Rules

Mat Placement
The mat must be placed at least 2 meters from the back ditch, and at least 23 meters to the front ditch

Jack Initial Placement
The jack must be at least 2 meters from the front ditch and must be past the hog line
If a jack ends up in between 2 meters from the front ditch, it is placed 2 meters from the front ditch
The jack must be at least 21 meters from the mat

Bowl and Jack Delivery
One foot must be entirely on the mat during delivery
If the first lead throws the jack out of bounds, then the opposing team lead throws the jack
If both leads throw the jack out of bounds, the jack is placed 2 meters from front ditch

Bowl in Play
The bowl must be within the rink boundary and not in the front ditch unless it has been touched by the jack
If a bowl ends up out of bounds, it is removed from play
Any bowl that goes into the front ditch that has been touched by the jack remains in play

Scoring
If two counting bowls from opposing teams are equal distance from the jack, then the end is blanked
The end is replayed if a bowl hits the jack out of the lane (burnt end)

Dress Code

Clothing
Men - slacks or walking shorts (shorts not more than three inches above the knee).
Women - dresses, skirts, slacks, culottes, Capri pants or walking shorts provided the apparel is not more than three inches above
the knee. A team may wear any combination of the apparel mentioned.
For club competitions, wear white tops and bottoms or club colours except for St. Jean Baptiste, when you may wear blue tops, and Canada Day, when you may wear red tops.
For invitational, teams may wear their club col ours so long as all members of a team are wearing the same col ours Club crests are permitted. Subtle crests of a sponsor are permitted subject to prior approval of the Federation.

Footwear
Team members should wear regulation footwear according to WBB regulations. Soles should be flat. Sandals can be used but must have a strap around the heel. Open toed or heeled shoes should not be worn

Hats and Visors
Hats and visors may be any color and need not be uniform for all members of a team.

Outerwear
There are no restrictions with respect to color and type of additional clothing that a player may choose to wear during inclement weather.

Umpires
Umpires wear red shirts, there is no code requirement for outerwear