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Burgess Hill Bowls Club crest
Burgess Hill Bowls ClubEst. 1895 · Burgess Hill, West Sussex

Marker's Guide

A quick reference for marking club competition games.

Marking is an important role, and a great way to help the club and get to know how competition play works. It isn't something to simply pick up on the day, though — our own club umpire is happy to take anyone who's interested through marking training. It's singles games that are marked — in team matches the players keep their own score and measure — so this guide assumes a singles match. Once you're up to speed, it's a handy reminder of what a marker does, from setting up to signing off the card.

Before the game

Clothing

Club top with white or grey shorts, depending on the competition.

Equipment checklist

  • A measure
  • Wedges
  • Chalk
  • A coin for the mat toss
  • The metre measure stick (needed when scoring two woods)

Also make sure you know where the long measure is kept, in case you need to measure the distance from the jack to the mat.

Setting up

Find out which rinks are free and offer the players a selection to choose from, then remove that rink number so it isn't chosen by other players. Write up the score card: the challenger goes on the left, and also as the Home player on the score board. Set up the rink with the score board, mats, jack, pushers and 2m sticks. The challenger tosses for the mat.

Competition rules

Make sure you and the players are familiar with any rules that apply, such as handicap scoring.

Before the trial ends

Let the players know:

  • That you would like to mark any touchers, and remove any non-touchers from the ditch, before the next bowl is delivered.
  • On the trial ends, ask whether they would like the jack repositioned when it is delivered.
  • Ask whether they would mind changing the score on the scoreboard when they are at the scoreboard end.
  • In a singles match, remind them they may visit the head after the third and fourth bowls have been delivered.

Trial ends

Ask how many bowls the players would like to use for the trial ends — no more than the number they are playing with (two, three or four). Toss the coin if required; the player who has the mat for the trial ends will be first to play on the first end of the match.

As each wood comes to rest, tell the bowler the distance from the jack and remove the wood from the head. If a wood looks like it is going to hit the jack, pick up the jack and replace it on the same spot once the wood has passed. When the trial ends are done, wish both players good luck and proceed to the far end of the rink.

During the game

The mat

For all ends, the front of the mat must be a minimum of 2 metres from the ditch. Ensure the mat is central before the jack is delivered — players are allowed to use the stick as a guide for this.

The jack

At the beginning of each end, centre the jack when it comes to rest. If you remember, place the jack with its emblem facing upwards — this helps you see if the jack has been touched by a bowl on its natural course. Ensure the jack is a minimum of 23 metres from the front of the mat and past the yellow markers, and no less than 2 metres from the ditch. Reposition the jack 2 metres out as necessary. It is solely the marker's responsibility to ensure the jack is a legal length; if there is any doubt, centre the jack and measure.

If the jack is delivered improperly, the opposing player may reposition the mat and shall re-deliver the jack, but the original player shall bowl first. If both players improperly deliver the jack once, place the jack at full length, 2 metres from the ditch; the original player may then place the mat, align the jack and shall bowl first.

Where to stand

Stand approximately one and a half metres behind the jack and one metre to the side. Make sure you do not cast a shadow over or close to the jack, and stand still whenever a player is on the mat.

  • Be aware of the other rinks and protect your rink's head — stop and remove any bowls played by players on the adjacent rinks.
  • When a bowl is coming into the head and could be a toucher, position yourself so that if the jack is touched you can see it and be ready to mark the bowl.
  • When a bowl is played with weight or firing, position yourself in front of the head and to the side, so you can watch the bowl in and judge what happens after any contact.
  • Do not engage in conversation with the spectators — it is a distraction from your duties as a marker.

Touchers

Mark all touchers immediately, as soon as they come to rest.

Answering questions

Only the player in possession of the mat may ask questions about the head — once the bowl in motion comes to rest, possession passes to the other player. Answer questions clearly: indicate the shot bowl by pointing with a flat hand, and if asked who is holding, indicate up or down using a shoulder or thigh tap.

Do not offer advice — only tell the players how you see the state of the head. If you are unsure which bowl is shot, call it a measure. And if a player is walking back to the mat while still looking at the head, stay still until they turn away.

Ends and scoring

Result of the end

When the end is complete, look at the head. If no measure is required, move up the rink three or four metres and wait for the players to tell you the score — this helps to speed up the match.

The marker must not be involved in the players discussion for shots unless the marker is asked to measure. If a measure is required, ask the players to remove the bowls that are not in the measure, then:

  1. 1Wedge any leaning bowl, or any bowl on its running edge, so it cannot topple.
  2. 2Measure the bowls that need to be done.
  3. 3Determine the shot bowl or bowls — there could be more than one.
  4. 4Do not move a measured bowl away, in case the players want the head re-measured by an umpire or another competent person.

Once the players have agreed the result, pick up your wedges and move to the other end of the rink.

Do not remove any bowls you have measured — the players may require a second opinion.

Score

Update the score card at the end of each end and check that it tallies with the scoreboard. If you are walking up to the end where the scoreboard is, you update the scoreboard; otherwise the players will update it.

To keep the game moving, centre the jack first, then move to the scoreboard. You can update the score board while a bowl is in motion or while the players are changing over — but keep still when a player is preparing to deliver, and keep an eye on the jack as each bowl comes in, so you can tell if it becomes a toucher.

At the end of the game

Ask the players to sign the card, then place the card in the clubhouse “Completed Competitions Box”.