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