“UMPIRING IS THE KEY TO ENSURING THAT THE LAWS OF THE SPORT ARE ADHERED TO AT ALL LEVELS OF PLAY”

Bowls NZ is excited to introduce the Vision for Umpiring: Technical Officials plan to our bowls community. The continued development of the quality and quantity of technical officials and tutors is fundamental to the supervision of the game, and the improvement of bowls.  This plan sets the foundation for the national direction, regional development and alignment of umpiring in New Zealand. 

Developed over 4 years, this plan is the culmination of work undertaken by the Bowls NZ Umpires Committee and is ready to be implemented by Clubs, Centres, 3 Regional Service Centres and Bowls NZ

What does this plan seek to achieve?

Quite simply, this plan seeks to increase the number of technical officials in our sport. This is to be achieved through the promotion of clear pathways and opportunities to participate at centre, regional, national and international events and the creation of the Regional Umpires Development Teams (RUDT’s).

Download the full "Vision for Umpiring" plan here

View the Bowls NZ Domestic Regulations here

The new Laws which were approved by World Bowls at their Meeting in October 2010 will come into effect in New Zealand on 1st April 2011.

Below is a summary of the main changes to the Laws.  The Law Book is currently being printed and will be available for purchase in February 2011.  A number of orders have already been received but we expect this number to increase once the book is available.

If you require copies of the new Law Book please contact Pauline Rowland at Bowls New Zealand national office – pauline@bowlsnz.co.nz

Click here to download an order form for the new law book.

Or you can see here for a PDF Version of the new Law Book.

DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE PDF VERSION OF THIS MEMO - CLICK HERE

The following is a précis of the main law changes that affect the game to be effected in the Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark Second Edition.

The new law book is at the printers and will be available in February.

The changes will be effective in New Zealand from 1st April 2011.

Please note that there is a general change to the layout of the Law Book in that the dot system has been replaced by a decimal numbering system throughout.

Main changes are:-

1.        ILLEGAL BOWLS (Laws 8.1.9, 8.4, 8.5.3)               

Bowls from mismatched set or having an incorrect date stamp will no longer need to be ‘challenged’. (Ref laws 1.4.3 and 56.2.5). In these instances, the umpire should advise their unsuitability on inspection prior to play and if they are observed being used during a game or are reported as being used within ten minutes of completion of a game, the game will forfeited.

2.        SETS PLAY   (Law 15.5.6)

If a jack is driven out of bounds, it is respotted on the left, right or in the centre spot  50cm in front of the 2 metre mark depending on where it went out of play. At present, if that spot is covered by a bowl in play, then the jack is respotted a further 50cm in front of that spot.

This is to be changed so that if the spot to be used is covered by a bowl in play, the jack shall be placed as close as possible, in front of, but not touching that particular bowl.

3.        LENGTH OF GAMES (Law 16.1.3 and 16.2.3)

At present, Triples games are 18 ends, regardless of whether it’s two or three bowls. This is to change so that two bowls games will remain at 18 ends, but three bowl triples will be fifteen ends.

4.        OPTION TO GIVE MAT AND JACK AWAY (Law 18.4)

This option will no longer be available. The winner of an end will have to play first in the following end.

5.        DOMESTIC REGULATIONS (Laws 17.1  17.2 and Law 30.4)

We have been trialling  in competitions which do not directly or indirectly lead to the winners being awarded a club title or qualifying to compete for a centre, national or international title the jack and mat could be placed by the opposition after one improper delivery and the jack could be respotted if driven out of bounds. These become permanent options in domestic non championship play and in time limit domestic non championship games. An end made dead  after the bell need not be replayed If any of these are to be used they must be stated in conditions of play

6.        SUBSTITUTES,REPLACEMENTS AND PROGRAMME CHANGES.

New law 16.3.2 allows Controlling Bodies to introduce regulations and conditions of play for introducing substitutes which are different to Laws 50 and 51. Controlling Bodies can also decide on Regulations or conditions of play for introducing Reserve and Replacement Players. Law 16.3.3. introduces flexibility in programme amendments to ensure a competition can be completed.

7.         BOWL IN ORIGINAL COURSE DISPLACED BY A REBOUNDING NON TOUCHER (Law 28.5.1) 

At present, in a game of singles, if the players can’t agree where this disturbed bowl  would have come to rest, the marker can decide for them. This will be no longer the case. If they can’t agree, the end will be declared dead. (No change for bowl at rest)

8.        POSITION OF PLAYERS (Law 36.1.2)

Clearly designates where Players of the team in possession of the rink will be permitted to stand and where those not in possession of the rink should stand..

9.        SCORE CARD. AND DUTIES OF A SKIP (Law 37)

The Skip will now keep the score card in all disciplines.

10.     30 MINUTE LIMIT FOR LATENESS (Law 46 ) 

The Controlling Body now has the option of reducing the time limit for being late to a time less than 30 minutes but if this is to be used then it must be stated in the conditions of play

Focus on Umpiring