Costa Blanca Umpires & Markers Association 
CBUMA

The following procedures are common to most measures and should be followed where appropriate.

 

(a) As an umpire or marker, make sure you are asked for your judgement before stepping in.

 

(b) Make sure the players advise you of exactly what requires measuring and ask them to remove surplus bowls. Do not remove any bowls yourself.

 

(c) Secure any leaning bowls or bowls that are on their running surfaces using wedges.

 

(d) If the bowl to be measured is obstructed by another bowl leaning on it, carefully remove the obstructing bowl after making sure that the bowl to be measured is properly wedged.

 

(e) Always work from the more open side and at right angles to the bowl and jack being measured. If possible, avoid working in a shadow.

 

(f) Make yourself comfortable and steady before you start to measure. Make sure that your head is directly above the line of measure and make sure that you can see both ends of the measure without overstretching.

 

(g) If the distance to be measured is longer than you can comfortably reach (that is, over one metre), seek assistance from another umpire, the marker or a player. For a box string or string measure, your assistant should take the jack end and you should take the decision end. If the assistant is the marker or a player, give positive instruction of what you want them to do, especially when operating the release button on a measure.

 

(h) If you are using a laser measure with target plates, seek assistance from another umpire, the marker or a player. For a laser measure, your assistant should place the target plates if in use and you should operate the laser. If the assistant is the marker or a player, give positive instruction of what you want them to do. NB, laser measures have not been approved for use in Spain.

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(i) When you are moving around the head, walk around the jack and bowls instead of in between them.

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(j) Where the measure is close (that is, feeler gauges are required) place a white strip of card or plastic on the ground below the points of contact of the measure to increase visibility.

 

(k) Do not waggle the pointer attached to the end of a flexible measure or touch the bowl if it does not pass it.

 

(l) Do not move the bowls or jack whilst measuring.

 

(m) Always return to the first bowl to recheck the measure except when using a laser measure.

 

(n) Before deciding the shot, always remember to check that any ‘shot’ bowls in the ditch have been marked as touchers.

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(o) Remove from the head the bowl that you have decided is shot and tell the players your decision. Remove the jack if it is a no-shot. NB, if you are a marker measuring for the opponents in singles you should not move the jack or any bowls without the consent of both players.

 

(p) At no stage put your foot, knee or hand in the ditch.