After Season Bowls Streaming

Lawn Bowls is a year round Sport although only 5 to 7 month in any one Country. Canadian, American and United Kingdom bowlers can continual watching their sport streaming from Southern Countries like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa during their winter months.

Writing this blog I find a lot of

Viewer Stats October 21, 2019

 interesting information  in the Blog Viewer Stats (right) I am always happy to see the 600 to 700 visit views every month but also where these blog followers are coming from.  First the graph show that many visitors doing not a quick read but staying for  three or four blogs. However, the blogs of interest are from several years past suggesting that the blogs are now suggestions to new club members.
 Such a readership tells me that I am successful in the promotion of our

Within 2 hours of Twitter posted

sport if they get what they are seeking in idea from the blogs.
 The screen capture of Stats only two hours after posting the blog to twitter, I see several visit and one new visitor spend time to view about 40 blogs . This visitor will probably return later with club members.
     I am always aware that sometimes the stats are misleading as with the heavy visit from Ukraine which I don t expect they are interest in Lawn Bowls. I once wrote a blog on the important of the club`s choice of new members and how a club is  indicating too much important on recruitment and by their choice of visitors.
In that blog, I asked "Would you Invite President Trump ?". Whom, although, an very important person; may not be an individual who would encourage the sport. Yes the club would have a lot of visitors for his visit; but afterward they would all disappear.  Not an ideal recruitment method.
   This suggestion has cause the continual visit to my blogs from Russian countries which often do a search the Internet for any interest or comments on Donald Trump.
    Also in the Traffic Source which indicates " from where" the individual was send to the blog it is surprising to see hppt... GirlsSnapShots,com/Jessica27. But of course maybe Jessica is interested in lawn Bowls.
Another interesting visitor is  Egypt where I have discovered  a growing interest in Lawn Bowls and even suggested the 2001 Israel video of "Beyond Blindness"  which is a  great videos .

I have watched games which were streaming and although the spectators were very noisy they were orderly.  An example is to watch the Malaysian Game and how the spectator yell all the time the bowl is rolling.  But they are extremely quite when a bowler is on the mat or no reason to be excited.

The photo left is the 2019 Canadian Indoor Bowls Single Championship in the Pacific Indoor Bowls club in Vancover B.C. Canada  as it is streaming on Bowls Canada`s Facebook page, today October 26 (update blog today)

 I take this as an example of the spectators being too close to the players. But more important is that our spectators do not know how to watch a Bowls Game so close.  Instead of looking if a player is on the mat directly in front of them they are clapping for a game which is being played or completed somewhere else.
I have seen a bowl rolled 3 meters short and know this was caused by such a distraction. However, the players also know to wait for the crowd to finish before going to the mat.

This blog is about the need for good commentators when streaming games. The recent Facebook Video of the Australian Champion of Champions (Singles)

 play at South Perth Bowls club on October 8,9 and 10th 2019 is used as an example. Not to criticize anyone as the commentators of Australian Videos are very knowledgeable and offer the viewer many great insights into game strategy.

When games are live streamed the viewer's

World Champion Single Final

comments can be very important. Questions ask may require an answer, A great game of bowls by the Australian streaming, was  the Champions of Champion (3 Nov 2019)    between Australian Lee Schraner and Hong Kong's Tony Cheung. Once again we find  the announcer's booth was very close to the mat.
I took the opportunity at the end of the game to comment (in the viewer comments) on the important of the announcer to be aware of the need for silence as the two players rolled their last end of the  tied 1-1 end each tie-breaker. Without a doubt the announcers agreed and went complete quite for all 6 bowls of that last end creating a extremely exciting game.  A great World Champion Game which must be viewed to appreciate. Ty (update 3/11).

But myself, I have a very loud voice which can clearly be heard miles up the green. Cline Adams, this Video Commentator has such a distinctive voice.
 In the above photo, ( Second up on left) we see the commentator booth was placed too close to the mat and as seen by the player photos ( below left) it is clear that the players can hear the commentator when they are on the mat.

There are some words which are  spoken  quickly and when first heard become a surprise to voice behind the player on the mat.  Some words like "When" a common conversation word is sharply spoken as are many words beginning with the "W" "B" or "D". Also if talking about

Eric Johannes

the BPL "Cup" we find a head turning  with the word "CUP" . Both Eric Johannes from South Africa but now playing for Queenland and Patrick Smith from Tasmania indicate they could hear the commentators and each have at times turned and look toward the commentators.

Sometimes the topic is of no importance to the viewer and I am sure many bowlers are happy at the quite moments of silence.
However, in later ends of play both Cline and his guest  speaker attempts to make an effort to not  do a discussion  when the player is on the mat and about to do their delivery. When they are using the mat directly in front of the commentator`s booth .  Of course, the Lawn Bowls rules define that spectators and guest are not permitted to be seated directly behind the mat or behind the line of the green. It also defines how far such spectators must be placed if a spectator stand is installed.  This rule about spectators behind the mat during delivery

Patrick Smith 

is understandable as there are always a small spectator discussions during the game.
  We even notice that the Marker /Umpire  is turning toward the video commentators because of the volume of the commentator`s voice. However, at the later ends of play, Cline is often seen to stop talking while the players is on the mat and about to deliver. This brings up an interesting point in the job of the Marker.  Noticing something of a game distraction it would be required that the Marker bring the interruption to the attention of the commentator and the video crew as it is the Marker`s job to insure quite Play Conditions.
  But thanks to Bowls Australia

 During the last month, thanks to Bowls Australia and their Facebook page we can find more streaming of great Championship Games.     
   The respect for the players should start at the club games where when singles are being played the marker also be expected to approach the spectators and advise them that their conversation is interfering with the game.
At a recent local National Championship I spoke to our National Representative, Anna Myers, I suggested that we in Canada are now seeing more and more of our Canadian Nationals games streaming.  I suggested that we had to get summer student employment project with some students from communication schools to help us  become good commentators and document which of  the subjects were of interest about bowls to the online streaming viewer and  first time lawn bowls visitors.

Learning from the Videos.

  In this first video of day One of the Australian Champion of Champions, we find that Eric Johannes has taken a size able lead with the score at 11 - 1. However, Patrick Smith has keep his cool and remains consistences in his performance. Slowly adding points, as Patrick returned the 20 - 9 before the last end; we find that the lead was too great to recover.  But the effort of Patrick often made one think he could come back and win the game.

A TimeOut Rule for Bowls

More and More we are finding Competitions are timed (2.1/4 hour for 14 or 16 ends) and watching as bowlers fight with the clock.  Many of us bowlers are aware that there is a rule (in sort) for controlling players who appear to be slow in their method of play as this time limit allows approx 8 minutes for an end of Play.

Blog Stats since Yesterday

This Blog was place yesterday and tweeted about the need for a TimeOut rule and as the stats show it has received a lot of views from all over the world. Thank you. as I know you see the weakness in various Countries' Controlling Bodies' rules which does not allow for a Skip to call for a TimeOut when it is obvious a delay is necessary but nothing will stop the clock.
( Example calling an Referee to measure)

This blog is to suggest that in a Timed Game as per the Rules and Appendix A-5 that the following rule be considered and maybe Referees educated in it use.. It is suggested it be worded such that it is used only in the last 10 minutes of play and with a couple of ends still to play.

Rule should read " When only 2 ends to play remain to be played in a Timed Game, the skip of either team, when needing to call a Referee or stop play for an Emmergency can call a "TimeOut"  (as per Rule Appendix A-5) and immediately start a stopclock or cellphone timer while waiting for the Referee or resume of play"  "Skip should call "Referee with Time Out Please" and as per Appendix 5-6 the time delay be calculated to have ended when the Jack has been thrown and centered  for the next end of play or the game has resumed"  

This blog, as a suggestion to the Lawn Bowls Controlling Body of a country; is to not penalize a team for unnecessary interruption of play during timed games. (Here in Canada, Lawn Bowls is under the  Bowls Canada Boulingrin responsibility )  I believe that there are at least four incident of play where this Timeout rule is badly needed which are not covered by the  Appendix A-5 used for timing a slow player's delivery.

  There are times when we need officials and players in the last ends of play of a timed game decide to not call the official because of the the delay. Also, there is a need for Skips to know and understand how a TimeOut rule would works. 

This year I noticed a more than normal Qualification Bowls Competition where the teams did not have sufficient time to finish their game because of a large usage of protective screens. This problem is more a need to educate team players on working together to position the mat and screens. The incidents which occured on the weekend at the 2019 Senior Nationals  Championship, here in Montreal Quebec; was because of an accident. But also besides the  officials not knowing what to do with the accident; there was another incident where it was the officials who wasted the time in the last minutes. Ofcourse, when there is no rule defined for a  problem  the officials simply do their best or nothing.

A second  problem with Controlled Time of Gameplay is where (intentionally or not) a team is slower than expected by the controlling body. This often appears to occur near the final ends of play when one team has a substantial lead and  the slow play prevents their opponent from completing the required ends of play.

 

Appendix 5-A states " Players must play without undue delay and in a way which does not prevent their opponents from being able to complete the required number of ends within the time limit decided by the Controlling Body.  (the following regulations which are based on a 16-end game being played within a two-and-one-quarter hour time limit). 

 If  the Chief Game Official or Referee had given the team a required warning of the "Slow Play" rule and the time requirements per bowl; and sill there was no change,  the official would have to demand his assistance referees to apply the necessary controls. Then the game would resume with each bowl roll measured.  With such an interruption, to explain the rules and what the assistance referee must do; there will centainly be a lost of time (maybe 5 or more minutes),  Presently, in Canada when such a lost of time occurs with the  Referees; the time can be allocate as lost time at the end of the "timed play". As this is an established policy known by officials; a skip calling of "Referee with TimeOut" in the last 5 minutes of play would guarantee that no delay caused by a measurement would delay a game in the last 2 ends.

Quick Close the Lawn Bowls Greens

A Thunderstorm or a interruption of play such as  sickness or health danger on the green are events which would stop the Timed gamed. In such emmergencies the Official would announce "Official TimeOut" or a "Stop of Play" and announce how the conditions of play would resume after the interruption. Of course, many would say sickness or stroke on one green does not affect the other games in play but in such serious times everyone nearby appears to get involved. 

At the 2019 Canadian Senior Triples, such an incident occurred. At the Beaconfield Lawn Bowling Club a Ontario Player stepping onto the Green and lost his balance and fell into the bowls and injured his back and/or ribs. 

the following day he went back to bowling with bandaged ribs but  the play was not stopped. . Such a misfortune is serious but even more is that in a game when something like this happens on the neighbouring green; everything stops as all get involved. Of course, play should have been stopped as the 911 call and amblance came and removed the bowler. The Ontario team had time to finished. But if the championship was  a 3 bowl Triple and not a 2 bowl triples of 16 ends.  The following day with Green protective sheets being placed, for the injured player who now had a changed delivery, the extra time of placing a protective sheet at the start a each end, would have never been finish within the time limit with a 3 bowl Triple.

All of these small actions make it more important to have a rule which clearly allows for lost time to be allocated at the end of a "Timed Game" if the cause of the lost time was not a fault of the players or teams.

 Officials  can also cause a Game Delay -  In this same 2019 Senior National Championship  between New Brunswick and Quebec I watched  as a tight score occured in last two ends of play. The bowling was as expected at a Championship, and as the last bowls came to rest within inches of the Jack. The referee was called; but with the Beaconfield Lawn Bowling club,  hosting the championship because they had two greens (which is necessary for a National) all the referees were on the North green.

 Many times, when the score is not close, the losing skip will give away the questionable point when a questionable measure rather than call an official and risk a delay of play.  After some discussion by the skips and their attempt to measure and  not able to agree; it was decided to call the referee.  But in this game on the north green which was used by only a few teams  the score was 11 - 11  and in the 13 end of 16 ends to be played. The " 5 minute bell" had just sounded and it seemed like forever before the referee arrived.

 The skips called "Referee for calibre"  three times which was the right way to call referees and an attempt to save time. I have seen times when skips just calling "Referee" and then the referee had to return to the sidelines to get the needed equipment from their utility bags. 

Finally an official arrived followed by an assistant and because this game was the "two bowls triples" format; there appeared to the officials to be plenty of time.When all day you have plenty of time, this shows how the time used by referees can easily run to about 5 or 6 minutes as they don't feel a need to hurry.

When they finally started the measurement, , the chief official  started by putting wedges around the bowls and jack, although none of them were dangerously standing on their edges. But I think it was as good teaching of the other officials who assisting and learning. The was close enough that it needed the calibres which were in the referee bag they had not brought to the green.

 I assume that during the day, the chief official did not have to use the calibres a lot because he used this opportunity to show his assistance referee how to properly  do a Calibre measurement. The measurement done and allocated, the team  just had time to throw the jack  as the "Time-up Bell" sounded. They played the 14th end but could have easily had another  two end to play if a "Time-out" Referee rule existed.

When National Championships are allocated to different Provincials; there are very few Clubs, in some provinces with double greens. Of course; the  smaller Provincial also don't have a large group of trained referees. Happy to have received the National Championships, the Provincial Controlling body often attempt to use as many local officials as a possible to assist the Chief Referee.  A national competition should not be an opportunity to teach the local referees, but in this case the official arriving to the green had been all day teaching and did not see the "warning Bell" sounding as a time to be careful not to waste time. Even those referee who have a lot of International experience are not taught to adjust their performance in this final few minutes of play. 

If on the other hand this was a normal bowls triples and the time limit normal allocated for three bowls triples and the 16 ends of play was  two hour and 15 minutes; the game time would have been more important in calling a referee or measurement.. Today many skips, my self included would simple agree fast (tied end or give the point) and go onto the next end of play rather than take the chance of missing or losing the last end of play.

. These incident of running out of time earlier in the season was brought to my attention during the past two months in local Quebec qualification tournaments and I did a club workshop to help players know how to get the mat down and the jack in play quickly.
In this case of Measurement

 

Stopping play on all greens or just the affected green, as probably happen yesterday,  is not done but there must be a way to applies the lost time.
.But if, the officials have the Time-Out Rule and had  leaned how to apply it with an official note of the actual time that the  play was stopped ( to be added when the play is resumed). 

 No one would want to see a game contested because of these incident, however if one team was not able to finish their game because of a lack of education of Officials or Organization staff it is an Bowls Canada Education thing..

When the Lawn Bowls Competition was resumed after the interruption; all players would be aware of how the  continued game would be played and then the lost time  applied to the game play (As suggested at the end of this blog) It is also important that at resume of play that the officials make an announcement of amount of time lost and which would be later added.

Photo at right is from the May 18 2019 Tasmanian Newspaper EXAMINER wrote about the development of Disability Lawn Bowls and the participation of their 10 player team which were send to MacKay Queensland for the 2019 Multi-Disability Lawn Bowls National Championships.

In Canada the BBAC Blind Bowls of Canada has just finished the Canadian Nationals in Edmonton August 26th to 30 and I am told by Daniel Morris , BBAC President that there is a lot of cooperation and coordination of Lawn Bowls for the  Blind and other Disabilities by BCB (Bowls Canada Boulingrin)

 Many changes are expected to be seen over the next few years and this new approach to Time Outs can be part of it.  The future of  our Canadian Lawn Bowls Scene depends on wise administration of all types of players and officials at all times.

Our sport is only going to develop and expand if we recruit and open doors for several types of individuals whom are not today being offered these opportunities in Lawn Bowls.

Back to the Suggest for Lawn Bowls TimeOut. Blogs of just text don t keep readers.. so now for the Second reason for a TimeOut policy

World Bowls Slow Play Control  - The rule is included in the latest edition of Laws of the game with the intention of allowing the Controlling body and officials to control incidents where teams which are leading in points  appear to be showing poor Sportsmanship in actions which are clearly intended to delay the game.

This rule allows for the decision of the Game official or the request of the Team skip or Coach to warn the team of their "Slow Play" and that if continued the rule will apply which allows for the team to deliver their bowls in a timed 4 minutes of play for the total number of balls by that team in that end.

Legal Game interruptions Delays -  Another important problem happens when the game is delayed by teams which require an official be called to assist the allocation of points.  

Although a team can be put on the "Time Clock" for slow play it is still possible to have other various " Legal Game Interruption" tactics which  delay the game.

 In such an incident the referee should be able to call a "Stop game Timeout" as they are requested measure bowls where they see as obvious the skip is using the measurements as a delay tactic. 
At such a "Timeout Official" as defined in Appendix A-5 can be instructed to collect lost time and  such time will be added at the end of game time to allow the opponents a proper game time.

To call for an official to measure a Short Jack which is by obvious judgment not a short jack or several calls for such an measurement is such a delay tactic.  To discuss or argue in the head of Bowls about the  allocation of points and then demand an official for measurement is another such delay tactic possible to a team.

Of Course it is hoped that our sport remains a Gentleman's sport and we will never see tactic used to delay the game but the development of conditions in the event such events happen is wise administration of the sport Controlling body.  Being prepared and having instructed Chief officials of how to apply the rules is always good sport administration

If a team which has been  defined as "On the Clock" Appendix 5-2 and an official is standing beside the team players to Apply Appendix 5-3 and Appendix 5-4 as to the start and stop of timing the delivery of their bowls; and that "Timing Official" who job is uniquely to do the timing; is aware of these irresponsible request of measurement as a method of delay then that official should be able to call  "Illegal Interruption Delay Action" and collect the time wasted with the idea it will be added at the end of the game time.

The official in announcing this Delay Action, would be expected to explain to the opponent team that they are at liberty to began a stop clock or Cellphone timer at the time that their opponent Skip begins such delay and they call the Chief official.
 The official will explain that after the measurement had been made that the official would decided if the wasted time would be allocated to the opponents.  If the official finds that the measurement was actually needed then the time would not be noted.. If however it was clearly a delay tactic the official would be added and noted to the total delay (to the time lost by all such action) and advise the teams skips that that time will be added to the game time when the allocated game time has expired. (see suggestion of End of Time actions by skip having time to be added)


Now to the most important of the four types of TimeOut. End of Game interruption  which runds out the clock.
  

 " Team Request Game Timeout. The Appendix 5-6 states that ..A skip can call for a maximum of two time-outs during the period in which timing is being carried out" t If we take the actual understanding that when teams play a national championship which is a timed game; then this rule applies because the team is being timed. (Yes the wording was in tented for a team is being disciplined and put on the clock but also as you will see in the following example,  the team skip who sees the game time approaching should have this liberty to call a time out)

 Today instead of writing this blog I would be across town watching the 2019 nationals but as a Type 2 Diabetic who must watch eating habits to spend the day at the Lawn bowls Club or a national champion requires a follow-up day of recover with good and regularly placed meals at home..

 Because the chief referee saw this as an opportunity for the assistant referee (of the local club) to learn to use calibres the head referee supervised as the assistant did and learned to do the measurements. 

After the measurement had been started, with the several adjustment of the calibres (more than five  times) and with the calibres each time being removed and re- adjusted and then the measurement re-tried the decision was made. Taking maybe another 3 or 4 minutes.

We saw the assistance referee reach for the bowl which was to be defined as point but now the Chief referee seem to stop her and tell her to redo it with the two bowl to be sure"  

So another bowls measurement as the chief referee watched and then instruct the assistant referee  how to indicate which bowl was shot. Measurement done, the bowl was rolled from the measurement area indicating shot; and the referees began picking up their equipment and wedges which had been used.

This scenario is defined because it in all, between calling for a referee, the measurement and finally the winning team now being free to re-roll the jack up the green and centering it; we are talking close  to 10 minutes. If this had been a three bowl triples game  and today under Canadian Controlling Board Rules there is not provision for this waste of time; the game would now be over.

  If however there was to have been a "General Time Out" called by the Referee or one of the team skips; because it was a delay so very close to the end of play and expected that it would take several minutes; this could have made a different in the game outcome. In good administration it would have allowed the two teams to finish their game.

If the chief Referee had had the option  of having such a rule  such as a "General TimeOut" the chief official could have ask the delay be timed by the assistance referee  or either of the two ski. In todays Cellphone era every has a stopwatch app and someone would have start a time clock because the request for a measurement was so near the game time limit .

If as per Appendix 5-5 the game is a timed game (whether the team is being "on the Clock" or not; the skips should have the  same option of calling for a Time out when first calling for the referee.  Calling "Referee with TimeOut Please"  

 Definitely a 11-11 measurement in the 15 end requires a time out to allow the teams to get the proper decision and then still have time to play that last end of play for the win or lost.

 Naturally a Chief referee would not have take so much time in a 3 bowl triple which was within minutes of game time expired.

How to apply these Timeout" to the Game allocated time 

If the team had been give "Time Outs and has now collected an extra time allocation because of the ruling by the official; they also know how to apply their time out at the end of allocated time. Centainly under present rules which say if the jack is thrown you finish your end of play if the timeout bell (Horn) sounded.  But of course to finish your end would be a lost of the ability to apply that extra time allocation.

The two skips would have been  told when the referrer finished noting the time delay of the "Time out" that was collected by the referee..

"At the end of the allocated time limit, When you hear the Bell , Stop play immediately and wait for the official to come to the green even if the end is still in the middle of play" "When the officials arrives they will now apply the allocated "timeout time" that was lost previously  and announce to continue play" 

 "For example when you hear the bell or horn for the end of allocated time in this case 2 and 1/4 hours for 16 ends of play;; stop play immediately (Do not roll another bowl) and wait for the official. and you can notify the official you are waiting by a  call of "timeout official please". 

::However, If you continue to play as per the normal rules of timed competitions, you will lose your collected addition time  allocations. "It is one or the other so  do not roll another bowl until the official arrives and begins to apply the extra time allocated from the Timeout "

When the official arrives they will state the "allocated Game time" added to play and advise the teams to continue to play. As per the Appendix A5-6 the timing official will tell the offending team when the time remaining in any end reaches one minute.

This suggestion and rule modification requires a better education of the chief official on how to use Timeouts during national timed Competition and also as per Appendix 5-2 which allocates an individual as Timing official as " by an official specifically allocated for that purpose"

John J. Tupper

Coach and 20 years competitive lawn bowler

St-Lambert Lawn Bowling Club

Coach.ca NCCP # 629012

during a timed National Championship Lawn Bowls game, there was the need to cancel Play because of Weather or some other Environment conditions; the Appendix A rule exist to allow

Competition and Being a Lead

........ Under Development ...........

In 2015 I wrote a blog about being a good Lawn Bowls Lead

July 21 Using the Head Stats

and it has remained a very popular blog and one of the regular Viewer's reads.

This blog "Being a good Lead" which received 2782 reads over the past 4 year is more about a few videos which may still be available on the Youtube Lawn Bowls search.

With the blog's anniversity with a few days I have decided to create  a 3 part Blog series which will introduction the lead to  Competition Games bowls and special the unique needs of the  Lead's responsibility to be involved in a good head and saving time for the team..

 What is the role of the Lead ?? The rule book (World Bowls Crystal Mark 3rd Edition) defines the role of the lead as:

40.3 The lead of the team to play first in an end must:

40.3.1 place the mat as described in law 6.1.1;

40.3.2 deliver the jack and make sure that it is cented before delivering the first bowl of the end. 

40.4 Other duties Along with the duties mentioned in the previous paragraphs of law 40, players can carry out any other duties assigned to them by their skip as described in law 40.1.10.

To many competition players and skips, the "Team Lead" position is often considered the most important position. After reading this blog you may understand how the lead's bowls not only define the game strategy, but affects how the game develops from end to end.

Yes it is " The Team Skip " who controls and dictate the  total game of Lawn Bowls, but unless "The Skip" involves all his team he will find walking to the mat in "Recovery Mode" When a team has  a knowledgeable "Team Lead" , the "Skip" should have a list of responsibilities which can be called  "Good Lead Usage List" (Another blog at a later date)

In  Competition Play we may find that "The Skip" had delegated several duties to the lead (and Second in Fours). In the Lawn Bowls game of FOURS,  the "Team Lead (First) and the "Team Second" work together to make a "Two Player Lead" and here  the skip "MUST" assign different responsibilities to each player.

 In social clubs games, we often find the position of "Leads" being that new players or novice which is learning the game. But when we come to a competition game where the Rules Book must apply; the lead must leave the Mat with a successful build head or the "Second" or "Vice" must perform those duties.

It is unfortunate that in a club social games the learning stops for the Lead as he is explained the above "Rule Book Duties for the Lead : Every day on the grean should lead to more learning of the game and continue to development of this player's ability.

 In Club Coaching the first 4 lessons sessions (2 hours each) often teach a new player how to throw the jack and roll your balls and the important of having and developing the line of delivery. In helping a new player and in a club social games we often see "The Skip" standing with a pointed foot indicating  the expected delivery line. This is the Coaching which has worked it way into the "Club Social Game" however in the Lawn Bowls Rule 34  it says

  " 34 Objects on the green  - Under no circumstances, other than those described in laws 14, (bowl or toucher) 18, (Jack) 41, (Disability or blind accessories) 49, (Green boundries) and 56.5, (Green marks like a respot mark) must any object be placed on the bank, the green, in the ditch, on the jack, on a bowl or anywhere else to help a player"

In other words, unless  a natural occurance element of the game, like the boundry markers;  or the surrounding landscape; no object can be placed on the green to help the player in his delivery of his bowl. Certainly not during  a Major competitions. Too often we see the  "Team Skip" stand off center line to inidicate the delivery line. The "Team Skip" or :Team Vice" can move around the head and even give a indicated reference of his opinion of the delivery line; but when the player is on the mat doing his delivery the "Team Skip" is expected to be on center line in the head.  Yes, the Skip can indicate the expected delivery line as a reference  (wider or narrow) but can not place an object (his foot or  bowling towl) on the green. Also it is forbidden to use  placed object (bowls bag)  on the side of the bank as an indication of :Delivery Line.

If during a competition play in the following games, there will be the changing of the "Centre Line" as the new area of play is changed; then all marks from previous games such a Center Line chalk marks must be removed as they can become Line indicators in the following games. Of course natural occuring  surface damage or surface coloration is considered as a natural element of the playing surface.

This blog will be divided into three parts as I will look at three aspects of "Lawn Bowls" competition play

1. - Most competition games are timed  games and all team players should know how to complete the total number of  14 or 16 ends of play without too much difficulty. (This Blog)

2.  Although the role of the lead is the place the Mat, throw the Jack, and play the first set of bowls; there may be other aspects of competition Play and the game which now has become the responsibility of the lead  and vice as they attempt to stay within the boundries of the Time Limit. (Blog "Vice and "Lead as a Team")

3.  Defining a Lawn Bowls Competition requires the Organizing committee  and the Skip to know the expectation of both as the "Vice or "Second" works to help  the  skip finishes all ends of play. This harmony of team players and expectation of the Officials may mean the understanding of "Being Placed on a StopWatch" Appendix 5 as a control of the playeers. Also it may mean how the Organizing committee defines the time indicators and end of play. Without knowledge of these a team may lose several minutes per end of play and result in not getting that last jack into play before the end of the time limit. (Blog "Timed Competition and StopWatch Rule"

In recent weeks I have had watched  a five consecutive days of qualifying play as the regional teams attempted to qualify for the Atlantic Championships.  These Playdowns have been a total of 10 teams ( five women and five  Man) playing at the different Lawn Bowling Clubs around Montreal over five days to win the honour of the two teams which will represent our province Quebec.

 When building a team to represent the province or participate at national or  international games the decision of who will be the "Team Lead" is usually the most important choice in building the team. Not only should the individual have the skill to perform as a Competition Lead but should have the knowledge of who to assist the team toward it win.  The skip must know and analysis  the individuals ability and Knowledge. .

Being A Competitive Lead -  A recent conversation with20 year veteran who has respresented our Province several time on the Canadian International scene; I heard him say
 “I regret that I did not stay "Team Lead" long enough when I started Lawn Bowls  at the club."
"They were meeding  a "Team Second" and asked me, next thing I knew I was always dictated as "Team Skip".
 "I wish that I had had five or 10 more years as lead before becoming Vice or Skip".
This is an all normal reference which skips make to their own development.

If the lead has the experience and moves into the position of second or vice they not only know what is expected of their lead but they also help their lead to develop into a good team leader game lead. 

So the lead becomes vice and the vase becomes skip if you want to win at a national or international level. That would mean 7 to 10 years lead 7 to 10 years vice and skips have 15 to 20 years experience.

What is the best place to put my balls as lead. The lead should always have his balls on around the Jack however  several things affect his ability to do this. 

1. The jack distance should be the distance that the "lead"" is capable of doing a "Natural delivery"

2. The decision to go "Forehand" or "Backhand" should be based upon the leads performance and inability..

3. The  skip should understand that by dictating a "Forehand" oor "Backhand" may not get the best performance from his "Lead" However if the skip has analyzes his leads ability, he may choose to go the opposite hand because the lead like everyone has  longer or shorter "Backhand" or "Forehand.". It is centain the strategy put demands upon all the team, including the lead.

First "What to learn or do in each of 3 section of "Game play". The game can be broken into three parts of four ends each. First 4 ends are " a learning or study" ends where we read the green (line and speed) and study the opponents' strength and weakness. Also this is the time to develop our ability to work as a team. There is no "I" in team/

Next we have "4 ends of strategy" where we attempt to gather the big point ends (or find we lost big ends and we are trailing) as we attempt to apply the previously learned information. Each player should learn unique facts which allow themself to do their job and position. Lead should know how to draw tight to jack or out-bowl  the opponent lead. Vice should be shifting from lead support to skip support. (Lead support is when lead does not get the tight head and vice (or second) must do the job.) Skip support may be anything from balancing of the head to blocks or jack-trails to create big point end. Hopefully when at the end of eight end the Vice and Skip know their abilities and are leading by 4 or 5 points or more. Bit everyone has bad ends and this Vice-Skip support allows for 6 bowls (in triples) to do the job needed.

The third end should be "Offensive or Deffensive" as you attempt to prevent losing the points by which you are leading or regain the points lost and now trailing.Remember by now most players have their line and weight so a off-centre jack may be the best gift from the "lead" or "Vice".Sometimes we find the last ends giving a big point win but it may be based upon a change of strategy (Sometimes I find an advantage (bad area to play) and wait to use it.).  

In some championship games we see 16 or 18 ends and here we are working on the ability of the team to outperform the opponents when after having played for 2 1/2 hours at which time everyone is tired. In these games a "Fourth Section" exist where strategy and ability is tested or found to fail the team. Some teams will fall apart after the end of 2 and 1/2 of play while others are just be getting started and are at their prime.

Most serious Competitions are "Timed Games" and in the rule book there is a whole  sections of rules

  5A = Players must play without undue delay and in a way which does not prevent their opponents from being able to complete the required number of ends within the time limit decided by the Controlling Body 

Ofcourse;  the Rule 33 "Leaving the green during the course of play"  only applies  in a non-timed game.

 33 33.1 No player must delay play by leaving the rink of play or their team unless their opponent agrees, and then only for no more than 10 minutes.

Therefore If a skip or Coach  feels this is not being respected they can complain and if the "Game Umpire" believes a team is causing unnecessary delay;( will also happen if the Controlling Body appeals as a result of its own observation) they can put that team on a "timed delivery" where all bowls must be played in 4 minutes. Which is checked by a timing umpire. The team may be allowed two time-outs as well as any delays by the umpire (measure) is also controlled. So the two teams should be able to complete the ends in 8 minutes or there about.

 In the rule book there is a whole section on this and the use of a timing official to check the team guilty of delaying the game.  Allowed two time outs this team loses their bowls if they do not delivery all their bowls in 4 minutes. An end is therefore expected to be completed in 8 minutes.

At this point = the umpire will tell the offending team that they are being ‘put on the stopwatch’ when any end in progress has been completed. (This (may)  also happen if the Controlling Body appeals as a result of its own observation.)

 Once the offending team has been put on the stopwatch, they will be required to deliver all their bowls in each of the remaining ends within a four-minute period (timed by an official specifically allocated for that purpose).

2) In each end, timing will start as soon as the jack has been properly delivered and centred (if the offending team is the first to play in an end) or as soon as the nonoffending team’s first bowl has come to rest 

3)Timing will then continue whenever the offending team is in possession of the rink, and will stop when the offending team’s last bowl of the end has been delivered.

4) Timing will stop during any interventions by the umpire (for example, to check a short jack or a line bowl) or any interventions by a coach.

 5) A skip can call for a maximum of two time-outs during the period in which timing is being carried out. 

 6) The timing official will tell the offending team when the time remaining in any end reaches one minute. 7)  At the end of the four-minute period (five-minute or six-minute period if time-outs have been called) the offending team will forfeit any bowls remaining to be delivered in that end.  (However, the non-offending team will deliver their remaining bowls to complete the end.)

Giving an example.. This weekend I watch a timed Playdown lawn Bowls game which was 14 end in 2.1/4 hours. The club, where the game was to be played; has requested the Organizing Committee to use protective screen. In order to get the best possible game, the skips of this particular game had decided to pickup the screens after delivery rather than has Screens in the Head during play.
However, when theend was finished and the  point declared it was the winning team "Lead" who took the jack, went and got the "protective screen" and after placing  it on the green' would return to placed the mat and throw the jack. Strange but the Vice did not hlep this Lead and the opponent lead and skip went about their tasks.
A clear indication of lack of co-operations between the teams and a complete waste of more than a minute to two per end ( over 30 minutes)
 Also one of the skips had a habit of staying in the head while his opponent skip rolled his bowl (another minute wasted) and this same skip had an occational  habit to go to the head before his last bowl. (another minute or two wasted)
 Of course the teans ran out of time and never played all the 14th end. Because the score was tired they played an extra end. This game, which was the final game of 5 was to define the  2nd team to respresent the regional at the Eastern Canada Competition.
  Nothing was said by the other skip..  You can be SURE that I would have been the first skip to communicate to the umpire of  the need to  ‘put on the stopwatch’  the ofending team in order ot allow both teams to finish all the ends of the game.  My belief is that "If the organizing committee decides to have a timed game they have to be prepared for a skip to apply the rules and ask for the use of the rules and time the team causing the delay.

In the beginning the offending team was leading 6 to 1 and although they did not win the honor to respresent the  region; the incident shows how important it is to have knowledge of how a Timed Competition Lawn Bowls Game is played.  In respect of the rules and in actions of all the involved players..  

Natural distance Bowls & the Wind

"Natural distance" on Lawn Bowls refers to the distance the bowl travels when we do everything the same for the four bowls and find the distance they roll is the same.

This blog will show how with knowing your "Natural Delivery Distance" you can measure variables of the Lawn Bowls Environment such as the effect of Wind on your Delivery or the change
as the Morning Dew lifts off the green and the green speeds up with heat from the early morning sun.

Stats less than 5 hrs later

As we have for several years perform the same delivery movements; we now find our body has a "Muscle Memory of how to delivery a bowl. Now to not change anything on our developed style of delivery;  If we can just relax and  just roll our bowl with our "Natural" movement, we will find that we have the same "Bowl roll distance: Of course, every game you, the bowler,  will need to make some adjustments for those new conditions of play such as the green speed or  the environment like wind, rain, dew.

The greatest bowlers were in the Australian Open this week and some heads looked like the Bowls had been dropped from a passing airplane.  the wind was unbelievable.  But still great bowls was had.

The stats of the blog readership is interesting as the visitors at this time of the year are USA , Canada and United Kingdom as their season starts and Australia where their season is finishing. When I posted the blog to twitter I was not surprise to see almost immediately readers from these regions. This weeks stats  showed a concern for the conditions of play and especially Rain (damage to the greens) and wind; I felt the need to do a blog on Wind and how we can measure its effect on our Delivery..  We often forget how much the environment affect and makes a difference to our bowls whether affecting us the bowler in our delivery or the actual conditions of play.

 Called :Muscle Memory" because after several months of rolling  bowl your body and mind knows the coordination of muscles and the bowl is now delivered to a  "Natural delivery distance", After many years of Bowls,  I have developed three  different natural distances which are  the difference of  bowl roll distance created by the removal of an element of body movement in the often taught Athletic Style of Delivery.

. When as a new bowler and the coach has instructed all the aspects of a proper delivery; you have learn  that  the distance of bowl rolls depends upon the arm swing movement (pendulum) and the Body movement as you do a  step forward into the line of delivery.

 Today, when  I am doing a delivery without any body movement  my bowls goes to 22 or 23 meters (in Canada the minimum distance is 21 meters) and  with the natural "Step into the line of Delivery" my bowl goes to 25 or 26 meters. The third delivery "Natural Distance" is my rather heavy Pendulum swing delivery which is always near  the maximum distance and about 28 to 29 meters.

 Coming to the mat, I evaluate the jack distance and depending upon that distance I use my first bowl  at the closest "Natural Distance", I than add or remove the necessary weight to the bowl as needed for the adjustment to the jack ..

No Wind

When building a house you must build a good foundation and then construct on top of it. Lawn bowls is similar and  the foundation of Lawn Bowls is the natural distance. With the natural distance you can then develop the ability to add on a little weight or take off a little weight, depending upon the jack distance.

Your Natural Delivery can also be use to evaluate the playing conditions of your rink. At the beginning of the game we are given one or two Trial ends where we can roll a few bowls and see how our natural distance has changed with the condition of the green or the effect of some of the natural conditions such as dew on green, wind, or even the direction of the cut of the green)

In a later blog I will discuss how important the jack roll is to a player who knows their "National Distance". But also important is being able to evaluate all the elements of a bowl delivery which are affected by changing environment such as weather conditions.

 We can use  the "National Distance as a measure tape of consistence movement in our delivery and  what we expect as a result and Delivery distance; if conditions are the same. Here I will use an example of how the Natural Delivery Distance can be use to evaluate how a windy day will affect your bowl delivery.

  NO, the wind will not push your bowl the distance you see in the photo at the end of this Blog.  Yes your delivery distance will change the amount and you will say "Unbelievable" but by having a method of measure  " a constant Delivery distance" we can evaluate the reality.

 Each time you go out to the club green to practice you can now check and feel comfortable with the results even if you simply want to know if the Green speed has changed this morning  as the morning dew lifts off the green. A few hours later you can check if again and see that the green now is more dry because of a warm sun and note how your distance will change.. Go out in the rain and learn.

In the photo (above right) we see the bowl cleaning towel being used to check the wind. With the absence of any wind the cloth hang straight down and if dropped, the bowl towel would arrive at the foot of the player beside the mat.

Normal delivery and
changing wind.

. As the wind increases and especially in this exercise, where it is coming from behind the player we will see that as it had become a strong wind (photo 2)  if  the towel is dropped would probably be  blown a few feet in front of the player. Myself,  I use this distance of the towel movement as dropped as an indication of how much the bowls will arrive at the new distance. (2 feet is about 2 meters )

Setting up my study or testing distance.--- Because I know my  Maximum Distance "Natural" delivery is 27 meters; I therefore arranged two mat with a distance of 27 meters between them.. I decided that I would bowl from mat to mat with the wind behind me and  then in my face as I returned up the green.

 We will see in the photos  below that the result of the bowls rolling. when there was no wind or a occasional little wind  (photo  left) was with very little or a  small effect of the wind on the bowls  This is more what to expect under a  normal delivery.

  Noted that there is some distance of that bowl in front and closest to the camera because of the wind force had changed to a stronger wind at the time of that bowl  was being rolled.  However, with the other three bowls we find that the small partial difference is a normal wind changing conditions difference in the bowls.

 In Day 2 and 3 of this years Australian Open Bowls we find the best bowlers in the world still having bowls 2 or 3 mat length from the jack as their bowl and bowl delivery is affected by the rather strong wind..

Earlier, I wrote. "NO the wind will not affect the bowl that much" because there is more to a wind blowing during your delivery than its effect on the rolling bowl. Have you been out walking in a strong wind and remember how very hard it was to walk and force yourself forward  into the wind.  Or the wind behind you seem to push you along the minute you lift your foot to walk.  If you are a bicycle enthusiast you will know the effect of the wind when you are on the highway. With the wind behind you no effort is needed  to advance and then again with the wind in front of you it is like going up a hill and your probably will use a gear change to help you.

You as a bowler have a body movement which is mainly your step forward and some body movement because of your delivery swing. In the three photos below, we see the wind was strong and in the face of the player/ (photo 2)

Now it is important to describe the clubhouse as to the green because in one direction (into the wind) the clubhouse blocks the changing direction of the wind and so it only blows down the green toward the bowler. Here we discover how the bowls fall short when the player bowls into the wind. WHY ?? We are stepping into the line of delivery and the wind is stopping our forward movement as we force to step into the wind.  Therefore the bowl is effected as it rolls but more important; our natural delivery movement has been decreased as we stepped out and the final result is the shorter bowls.

A frontal wind
Photo 2

Depending upon the strength of the wind and the type of bowls that we are using; there is a different effect on our delivery and where the bowl will finally arrive.  However by using the "Natural Distance" as a constant  delivery distance, we can now see how much  the wind has an effect on our bowls and our delivery movements.

We will than know how to adjust for the wind and roll up to the jack.  Same with rain and a wet green.  Use your Natural Distance measure and get out there on the green and do some tests to understand a wet green or light rain effect on your bowl delivery..

In the photo 2a) and 2b) of the three photos  below; we see that  the wind is coming from behind the bowler and pushed the delivery body movement of our step forward to a faster pace as we hurry to catch our balance and thereby giving a increase bowl roll.

In Photo 2b? we see one bowl quite far off to the side of the other bowls.  WHY ??

The wind is not blocked by the clubhouse at that end of the green when I was on the mat. (our clubhouse is shorter than the 33 meters long   bowling greens and being  shorter and to the right of the green there is always a cross wind at that end of the green)  The cross wind or sudden change in direction at the time of my delivery has cause that bowl to roll  extremely to the left.  No, a side wind does not effect the bowl that much but the wind does affect my delivery.

But why so much?  Well this is the difference between a young bowler and a senior bowler.. I am 74 and my balance is less ridged and therefore feeling the wind I lost my balance as I step forward and made quite a bad delivery of the bowl.
 The photo shows how  I delivered the bowl way of line by the lost of my balance and my quick step to prevent myself from falling as I stepped forward. If I had felt the change in wind direction I would not have been surprise and probably made an adjustment before my bowl was almost ready to be released.

Effect of Wind behind and in Front of  the lawn Bowler

So the wind's affect is more than just its influence on the bowl as it rolls.  It affect your balance as you step into your intended "line of delivery" and even your mental concentration. Who of us would  be doing a delivery and not think of the sound we just heard behind  as we are doing the delivery.  Here, in the photo,

 I was trying to do a Natural Delivery and when I felt the wind; I thought "Oh that is strong" and  wonder how  it would affect my bowl delivery to the jack.  But it did more than I thought because I did not consider that my age made me lose my balance and a delivery very much off line.

New Technology today allows an iPhone camera to capture  the strength of the wind and the  effect it has on the distance of the rolling  bowl,  Ask some one to video you as your roll and study your movement is a good use of today's technology. We can see and understand more than just the  effect of  the wind  on the bowl if we take the time to understand our sport and its requirement of us.

Thinking of this new information (how the wind affect our Bowl Delivery) we can make conclusions which will help our game. Like remove the body movement from a long Jack delivery.  When playing a game in a rather strong wind, Is a short Jack or Long Jack easier to play?  Well we see from the above information that to do a long jack Bowl Delivery we will use a lot of forward body movement; so a long jack will be harder to play as the wind varies and the bowls delivery is affected by the wind.