Here's a run-down of the main changes

Rink numbers, markers and boundary pegs

 The side boundaries of a rink is the centre of the boundary peg.·  Pegs can be fixed to the face of the bank or on top of the bank, clubs should check the minimum and maximum dimensions. (Law 1.3.27, Law 5.4 and Domestic regulations 4 (4.1 and 4.2)) which allow current pegs and rink markers to be used.

Handing over the mat

· For the first end the winner of the toss, and for ends other than the first, the winner of the preceding end has the option of playing first. The opponent cannot refuse the mat and playing first. (Law 18.4)

Foot-faulting

 A player should take a stance on the mat with one foot wholly on the mat before delivering a bowl. (Law 20.1)·

 At the moment of delivering the jack or bowl, the player should have part of one foot on or above the mat. (Law 20.1)·

· An umpire may decide that a player is foot-faulting by their own observation or on appeal from an opposing skip in a team game or the opposing player in singles.

· On the first occasion the umpire should warn the player in the presence of the player’s skip and advise the manager or coach if present that a warning has been given. (Law 21.1)

· On each subsequent occasion that the player foot-faults the umpire should have the player’s bowl stopped and declared dead. (Law 21.2)

 If it is not possible to stop the bowl before it disturbs the head, the opponent should choose to (i) replace the head·
(ii) leave the head as altered
(iii) declare the end dead (Law 21.3)

· If a player foot-faults while delivering the jack, the opposing player should place the mat in a legal position and re-deliver the jack but should not play the first bowl. (Law 21.4)

Trial ends

 The Controlling Body may allow trial ends immediately before or after the scheduled starting time of a game. (Law 18.1)·

Improper delivery of the jack

 The jack can now be improperly delivered once by each singles player or lead.·  It is then placed at the 2 metre mark, with the mat being placed at the option of the first to play. (Law 23.3)

Adhesive Markings

If adhesive markings are used, all bowls belonging to players within a team or side should have adhesive markings of the same design and colour (Law 8.1.8)

Touchers

 A bowl should be marked as a toucher by a member of the team that delivered the bowl as soon as it comes to rest. (Law 25.1)·

· If a bowl is not marked or nominated as a toucher before the next bowl comes to rest, or in the case of the last bowl of an end, before a period of 30 seconds after the bowl has comes to rest, the bowl is no longer a toucher.(Law 25.3)

· The position of a toucher or a jack in the ditch can be marked, in addition to the indicator on the bank, by drawing a circle around the toucher or the jack in the ditch.

· If the position of the toucher or the jack is moved in accordance with the laws, the mark around the toucher or the jack will be removed another mark can be drawn around the bowl or jack in its new position. (Law 24.4, 29)

Player’s positions

 Players at the mat end not delivering a bowl should stand at least 1 metre behind the mat. (Law 36.1)·

 Players at the head end not controlling the head should stand:·

 behind the jack and away from the head,·

 on the surrounds of the green if the jack is in the ditch, or·

 well clear of the head if it is not possible to stand on the surrounds. (Law 36.2)·
Penalty as for Law 35. (Law 36.4)

 A player should not:·

 go into a neighbouring rink where play is in progress.·

 go into or walk along a neighbouring rink, even if it is not being used, while an opponent is about to deliver a bowl.·

· go into or walk along the section of the green between the outside side boundary of rink and the side ditch while an opponent is about to deliver or is actually delivering a bowl. Law 36.2)
Penalty as for Law 35 (Law 36.2.4)

Scorecards

 The skip will record on the scorecard the time that the game finished and then sign the scorecard. (Law 37.3 dot point 5)·

Replacement players and substitutes

 In a team game·
The period of grace for the start of a game is set at 30 minutes from the scheduled starting time after which the game is forfeit if a player is absent. (Law 46.1.2)

· In a side game
The period of grace for the start of a game is set at 30 minutes from the scheduled starting time after which the game should continue but:

 the number of bowls played by each defaulting team should be made up by the lead and second playing three bowls each, and·

· one fourth of the total shots scored by each defaulting team should be deducted from their score after the game is finished. (Law 46.2.2)
Note: Up until the commencement of a game a replacement player can be brought in to the team/side for the absent player. A substitute is only allowed if a player is not able to continue because of illness or other reasonable cause.

· A substitute can only be introduced if both the skips agree, or if the opponents cannot agree, the umpire or controlling body decides that the substitute is necessary. (Law 51.3)

· See also Law 17.2 and Appendix A, which places the onus on controlling bodies to include specific rules on substitutes and replacements in conditions of play, and Domestic Regulation 4.7.  (Law 51.9)

Groundsheets

· Groundsheets are allowed. If groundsheets are to be used, their position will be decided in consultation with the green-keeper. The mat should be placed on the rear edge of the groundsheet. (Law 19.1.5) Any player not meeting these conditions is foot-faulting. (Law 20.3)

Game stoppages

· A game can be stopped on account of darkness, weather conditions or any other valid reason by the Controlling body, or the umpire on appeal from the players.

· The players can agree to stop play only when the umpire or a representative of the Controlling body is not present. (Law 50.1)

 An end commenced but not completed shall be declared dead. (Law 50.2)·

· If all required bowls in the end have been played but the result of the end has not been decided, the result should be decided before the game stops. (Law 50.3)

· If an original player in a team is not available when the game is re-started, a substitute will be allowed. Players may not transfer from one team to another. (Law 50.4)

 A player can use a different set of bowls if a game has been stopped and re-started on another day. (Law 47.3.2)·

End

· An end commences with the delivery of the jack by the first player to play in that end, (Law 18.3.2) but includes deciding the number of shots. (Law 1.3)

Decisions of skips

 The skips in deciding points of dispute should make sure that the Laws are observed. (Law 37.1.2)·

 If the skips are not sure of the correct decision they should ask the umpire for an explanation. (Law 37.1.3)·

 The umpire should overrule any decision made by the skips that the umpire considers is not in line with the Laws. (Law 37.1.4)·

Other variations include:-
Jack level

 Jack level and Jack High have the same meaning. (Law 1.3.26)·

Shot indicators

· On the request of the Controlling body shot indicators can be used by the marker to indicate which player’s bowl or bowls are considered to be shot. (Law 1.3.29)

Ditch Depth

 The maximum depth of a ditch is increased to 200mm. (Law 3.2 dot point 2)·

Bowl challenge

· A challenge to a bowl is complete on the lodging of the deposit. The penalty for a set of bowls failing a challenge is for the player to forfeit the game. (Law 8.5.1 dot point 3)

Mat placement
If it is found that the mat has not been correctly placed:-

 before the jack is delivered, the player to play first should place the mat correctly. (Law 19.1.2)·

· after the jack is delivered but before the first bowl is delivered, the opposing player should reposition the mat and redeliver the jack, but not play the first bowl. (Law 19.1.3)

 after the first player to play has delivered the bowl, no one has the right to challenge the position of the mat. (Law 19.1.4)·

Delivering the jack
If it is found that the wrong team has delivered the jack:-

 before the bowl is played by each team, the correct team will re-start the end. (Law 22.5)·

 after a bowl has been played by each team, play in that end should continue in that order. (Law 22.6)·

· after the first player to play has delivered the first bowl, no one has the right to challenge the legality of the position of the jack. (Law 22.7)

 

Premature delivery
If a player delivers a bowl before the previous bowl has come to rest, the umpire should:-

· on the first occasion, warn the player in the presence of the skip and advise the manager or the coach when they are present that a warning has been given.

· on every subsequent occasion, declare the player’s bowl dead, and the opposing skip or opponent in singles should choose whether to:
(i) replace the head
(ii) leave the head as altered
(iii) declare the end dead (Law 34.2.2)

Damaged bowls

 If the bowl is struck by another bowl and splits, the end should be declared dead. (Law 49.2)·

 The damaged bowl should be replaced by another bowl from the same set before the start of the replayed end. (Law 49.3)·

· If a bowl at rest in the rink splits into pieces without having been struck by another bowl, the bowl should be replaced with another bowl from the same set and the end continued. (Law 49.4)

· If a damaged bowl cannot be replaced by a bowl from the same set, all bowls in the damaged set should be replaced with bowls from a different set. (Law 49.5)

Possession of the rink
If the umpire, either by observation or appeal by one of the skips or opponents in singles, decides that a player in possession of the rink is being interfered with, annoyed or distracted in any way by the opponents, the umpire should:-

· on the first occasion, warn the offending player in the presence of the skip and advise the manager or coach when they are present that a warning has been given. (Law 35.3)

 on every occasion after the first warning, the umpire should have the last bowl played by the offending player declared dead.·

 If the bowl has disturbed the head, the opponent should choose whether to:·
(i) replace the head, leave the head as altered
(ii) declare the end dead (Law 35.4)

Conditions of play

· A Controlling body should make sure that the players and the clubs who are taking part in the competition or game are familiar with the conditions of play. (Law 43.3)

Duties of umpire and marker

 The umpire, and in the umpire’s absence, the marker should:·
(i) make sure that all aspects of play are carried out in line with the Laws of the Sport of Bowls,
(ii) check before the game starts, that;

 all bowls have a clearly visible World Bowls stamp on them·

 the rink of play is the correct width by measuring it·

 the pegs or discs on the side banks in the direction of play are the correct distances by measuring them. (Law 55.1)·

In addition the marker will:-

 check the jack is at least 23 metres from the mat line after it has been centred·

 when asked, tell or show the player in possession of the rink the position of the jack·

· when authorised by the Controlling Body, signal to spectators (using shot indicators) which player’s bowl or bowls the marker considers to be shot, Law 55.2)

Note: There is no separate recognition of a measurer or law umpire within World Bowls Laws.

Managers/Coaches

· Any player, team or side in any competition at any level can nominate to the umpire before a game a coach or manager who can give advice from outside the boundaries of the rink.  (Law 57)

Spectators

 Spectators should stay clear of the rink and not offer advice or disturb players.·  Umpires can report spectators and controlling bodies may remove spectators from the green or the venue.  (Law 58.4)

Contracting out

 No Controlling Body or individual has the right or power to contract out of any of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls·.