Costa Blanca Umpires & Markers Association 
CBUMA

4. Laws v Rules

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Laws

Hopefully at this point you will be familiar with the World Bowls Law Book. It comprises:​

Index
Foreword incl. definitions
Sections relating to the game and administration  
Appendices incl. illustration of Distances 
Domestic Regulations - rear cover

 

Many people skip over the definitions but these are very important and help you understand the law book. Please read them.

Remember your law book belongs to you and you can colour code it or put coloured tabs on it as you wish.
 

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Rules

Competition rules, also known as Conditions of Play and local rules, are put together by the body controlling the competition. These range from rules relating to your competitions in a club, to published rules such as those for the Spanish Nationals or Valencians. The World Bowls Laws allow controlling bodies to amend certain elements of the laws to ensure a competition can be played successfully. The Appendices in the law book explain how controlling bodies must put their competition rules together and how, if necessary, to restrict the movement of players.

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It is important that before you mark a game you read the competition rules and that you understand any restrictions that are imposed for head visits. However, even when restrictions have been imposed, in exceptional and limited circumstances a singles player can ask the marker for permission to visit the head - see Appendix A.4.2. 

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Most singles games are the first to 21 shots. However, if this is not the case it will say in the competition rules - e.g. sets play.

 

If the competition rules are silent on any particular aspect of the game the Laws will apply.

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