This year there have been changes made to the slow play guidance which determines when a player can visit the head in each discipline. It also states the maximum time allowed to deliberate, and play your bowl.
Due to the tight timings between games, it will likely be enforced to ensure the smooth running of the overall event – please don’t get caught out!
Bowls England: Slow Play
Four Bowl Singles
Players will only be allowed to walk up to the head under the following circumstances:
- After delivery of their third and fourth bowls. Should a player wish to visit the head prior to this point the permission of the marker shall be obtained.
Two Bowl Singles
Players will only be allowed to walk up to the head under the following circumstances:
- After delivery of their first bowl
Four Bowl Singles & Two Bowl Singles
The maximum time that a player may deliberate before playing a bowl is two minutes, the time being calculated from the time the previous bowl played came to rest. Should this rule be breached they shall be warned by the marker. A further non-compliance shall be reported by the Marker to an Umpire in charge of the green who will issue a second warning and inform the Tournament Director (or nominated Deputy). On a third occurrence the Tournament Director (or Nominated Deputy) will enforce Sanction N and disqualify the offending player from taking any further part in the competition.
Three Bowl Pairs
Players will only be allowed to walk up to the head under the following circumstances:
- The leads: after delivery of their third bowl
- The skips: after delivery of their second & third bowl
Four Bowl Pairs
Players will only be allowed to walk up to the head under the following circumstances:
- The leads: after delivery of their fourth bowl
- The skips: after delivery of their third and fourth bowl
Triples
Players will only be allowed to walk up to the head under the following circumstances:
- The leads: after delivery of their third bowl
- The seconds: after delivery of their second bowl
- The skips: after delivery of their second & third bowl
If two’s up are played then both number two’s must leave the head at the same time.
Fours
Players will only be allowed to walk up to the head under the following circumstances:
- The leads: after delivery of their second bowl
- The seconds: after delivery of their second bowl
- The thirds: after delivery of their second Bowl
- The skips: after delivery of their first & second Bowl
Pairs, Triples & Fours
The maximum time that a player may confer before delivering a bowl is two minutes, the time being calculated from the time the previous bowl played came to rest. Should this rule be breached the opposing skip will notify the Umpire. A further non-compliance observed by a nominated official will result in a second warning, the Tournament Director (or nominated Deputy) will be informed. On a third occurrence the Tournament Director (or Nominated Deputy) will enforce Sanction N and disqualify the offending team/side from taking any further part in the competition.