The Leads shall play their bowls alternately, followed by each pair of players in order.

No one shall play until the opposing player’s bowl shall have come to rest.

The order of play may not be changed after the first end has been played, unless required by the introduction of an acquired Team Member (see Law 39D(i)) or a Substitute (see Law 40A(ii)), under penalty of disqualification.

Possession of the rink shall belong to the Team whose bowl is being played.

The players in possession of the rink for the time being shall not be interfered with, annoyed, or have their attention distracted in any way by their opponents

A soon as each bowl shall have come to rest, possession of the rink shall be transferred to the other Team, time being allowed for marking a Toucher.

Should a player infringe the Law of rink possession the Umpire shall, after having given a warning, have the bowl last played declared dead. If the bowl has disturbed the head, the opponent shall have the option of:

(i) Players of each Team not in the act of playing or controlling play, shall stand a minimum of 2m behind the Jack or 1m behind the mat, or on the bank.

(ii) The Director of the Team in possession of the rink may stand at any point on or in front of the head in order to direct the player on the mat, or to indicate where a bowl is to be played, but shall, as soon as the bowl is delivered, retire a minimum distance of 2m behind the Jack, or onto the bank.

(iii) Controlling Bodies may specify prior to the start of the play in any game any variation to the position of players at both the head and mat end to facilitate either viewing by spectators or coverage of the game by television.

(ii) Skips shall decide all disputed points, and when both agree their decision shall be final.

(iii) If the Skips cannot agree, the point in dispute shall be referred to an Umpire whose decision shall be final.

(iv) Skips may at any time delegate their powers and any of their duties to other Members of their Team provided that such delegation is notified to the opposing Skip. In particular the Skip shall nominate any Member of the Team to measure any disputed shots on behalf of the Team.

(i) The Directors shall make every attempt to prevent disturbance of the head by a neutral object, and may stop a neutral Jack or bowl, which is likely to displace the Jack or a bowl. The neutral bowl in course from an adjoining rink shall be replayed provided it was delivered on a bias which would have resulted in it re-entering its own rink.

(ii) Alternatively, the Directors shall have the option of lifting a bowl at rest upon their own rink which is likely to be disturbed by a neutral bowl in course providing that the lifting will not influence the result of the end.

(iii) The Directors shall make every attempt to prevent any disturbance of the head by a dead bowl belonging to their rink.

(i) In addition to the duties specified in the preceding clauses, any player may undertake such duties as may be assigned by the Skip.

(ii) At the conclusion of each end all present at the head shall assist in the removal of all bowls to a position behind the mat.

A Graded Team means a Team in which every Team Member plays in the position in which they have been classified by their Club.

The Controlling Body may give approval for a Team Member to play in a higher graded position, but under no circumstances may a Team Member play in a lower graded position.

In a Graded Triples Event, the Second player may be a classified Lead, Second or Third.

In a Graded Pairs Event, the Lead may be either a classified Lead or Second.

If an Original Team Member is unable to continue playing in an event for a reason accepted as valid by the Controlling Body, and unable to return before the completion of the event, their place may be taken by an acquired Team Member who may play in any position and who shall have the same rights as an Original Team Member.

The appointment shall be subject to approval by the Controlling Body, and the acquired Team Member shall be:

Only one acquired Team Member per Team shall be permitted per event.

Players shall not be transferred from one Team to another.

The Team Members of the Team which wins a Club Championship are the players who shall be nominated by the Club for entry to the Champion of Champions Event.

Any change in playing personnel shall be subject to the prior approval of the Centre Controlling Body, and shall be limited to one Substitute and/or one acquired Team Member, in accordance with Law 40B.

A Substitute means a player temporarily filling a position for an absent Team Member

A Substitute may play in any position except that of Skip, except that in a Graded Event, a Substitute graded Skip shall play as Skip.

The use of a Substitute is subject to the prior approval of the Controlling Body for the Event.

A Controlling Body may define the circumstances which it will not accept as a valid reason for a player’s unavailability. However, a Substitute shall not be permitted if a Team Member enters another competition scheduled to play at the same time. If a Substitute is refused on these grounds, the Controlling Body shall, on request, permit a change of Team Member in accordance with the provisions of Law 39D.

Only a Fours Team may contain a Substitute and an acquired Team Member simultaneously.

A Triples or Pairs Team shall be permitted one Substitute or one acquired Team Member, but not both simultaneously.

If the player for whom a Substitute was approved later becomes available, the player shall, with the consent of the Controlling Body, rejoin the Team at the completion of any end.

No Substitute or change of personnel shall be permitted in any Singles game, except that in any Sides Match a Substitute or acquired Team Member may be permitted to play in any Singles game.

A substitute Team Member shall be approved when a player has qualified or been selected for a Centre or Bowls NZ event.

A Substitute approved by the Controlling Body shall, where possible, be:

Where it is not possible to satisfy the above requirements, the Controlling Body may appoint any suitable player to act as Substitute.

Players shall not be transferred from one Team to another.

(ii) In a Team which is not part of a Side a game shall be defaulted if one Member be absent and no Substitute be available.

(iv) In a Side, if the required Substitutes are either not available, or not allowed, the game shall be defaulted unless the Controlling Body allows, if circumstances warrant, a Side to play with a Fours Team without a Substitute. In such case the opposing Team shall play as though the Second is the missing player and playing in turn.