OAK BAY LAWN BOWLING CLUB

LOCAL RULES - SHORT MAT

The following local rules modify those contained in the “Short Mat Rules” as found on the Bowls Canada Boulingrin website, which in turn are excerpted from the English Short Mat Bowls Association’s Short Mat rules. These Local Rules also list some of the more salient rules for situations that commonly occur in short mat play.

• Format of play. Singles and Scotch Pairs will be round robin. Session winners for Singles and Pairs will play each other to determine the Club Short Mat Champions.

• Game format/length.

Pairs games shall be 14 ends unless required to terminate earlier by the “two hour rule”. A tie shall be recorded as such. Games are recorded as “W” (win), “L” (loss) or “T” (tie). Although letters only are recorded, standings will be determined on the basis of two points for a win, one point for a tie, and no points for a loss. In the event of a tie at the end of the Session, a one game playoff will take place to determine the winner. A round robin format will be used if more than two teams finish the Session tied.

Singles games shall comprise two 7 end sets. If each Singles player wins one set, a 3 end tie breaker is played with only the ends won counting. Scoring for Singles: If a Player wins both 7 end sets, or wins one set and ties the other, that player wins the game. Score 3 points. If each player wins one 7 end set, a 3 end tie breaker is played to determine the game winner. The first player to win 2 ends wins the game. Winners of tie breaker scores 2 points, loser of tie breaker scores 1 point. Please enter the points won on Score sheet in addition to the “W” or “L”. Points alone shall determine the Session winner. In the event two players are tied in points at the end of the Session a one game playoff will take place to determine the winner.

· Two hour rule. Each Singles and Pairs game shall be played within the allotted two hour time slot. No new end should therefore be started after the two hours are up, with the exception that an end begun within the time limit should be completed even if that takes the game beyond the two hours.

· Bowls delivery and play.

1. A bowler’s lead foot may not fall on or outside the Delivery Line.

2. A toucher or jack on the Ditch Line with any part in the live area is however still playable.

3. A bowl must wholly cross the further Dead Line.

4. A bowl that touches the Centre Block (wood board) is dead and shall immediately be removed.

5. Any portion of a bowl that intersects any part of the Ditch Line, unless it be a toucher, is dead and shall immediately be removed.

6. A jack is live and may be played by a live bowl if the jack is within the live area, or if any portion of it is within the live area when it is intersecting the Ditch Line.

7. A toucher or jack in the ditch may not be moved except by another toucher. A jack on the Ditch Line is playable if any part of it is within the live area, but a toucher intersecting the Ditch Line is not playable except by another toucher or the jack.

8. The mat may NOT be given away except on the first end by the winner of the toss.

· Burned ends. Burned ends are NOT replayed. Jack (yellow heavy jack) is to be placed on the red dot on the side where it left the carpet. If a bowl is covering the dot, the jack is placed as near as possible to the dot on the side facing the centre of the carpet.

· Mat placement. The Delivery Mat (rubber mat) is to be placed on the Rink Mat (green carpet) so that the rear edge is in line with the rear edge of the Rink Mat. When the Delivery Mat is being placed, the Fender (hinged wooden board) shall be removed from the area of delivery and replaced only after completion of the end.

· No Shows (late arrival). When a player fails to arrive within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time the game shall be forfeited.

· Situation when a Singles player or Pairs team wishes to reschedule a game.

Every scheduled game is to be recorded as a win (W), loss (L), or tie (T) on the game results chart posted on the notice board in Anderson House.  In the event that a Singles player or Pairs team wishes to reschedule a game, the team requesting the change of date/time shall be held to have lost the game should the opponent be unable to accommodate a change of date/time.  In the event both agree not to play a scheduled game, the team first declaring their unavailability or suggesting a mutual cancellation of their game shall be determined to be the losing team and shall have a loss posted to their record, while their opponent shall be credited with a win. In the interest of sportsmanship Singles players and Pairs teams are expected to make every reasonable effort to accommodate a request for change in the date/time of a scheduled game.

· Refund of entry fee. Entry fee is non-refundable once the first game has been played.

· Rink Mat. Rink mat may be straightened after the 7^th end if needed. Please take care of the Rink Mat by walking on it only when necessary, make adjustments to remove wrinkles and maintain alignment, and vacuum when required.

Revised: 03 Oct 08