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MARKERS COURSE
HOME STUDY MATERIAL

5. Before the game starts

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Equipment

1. Ensure that you have your Markers kit with you. It should comprise:

  • Law Book

  • String Measure

  • Chalk &/or spray chalk

  • Wedges

  • Spare Scorecard

  • Pen or pencil

  • Cloth

  • Coin

  • White card

  • Watch with sec. hand

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2. Ensure the umpire's kit is available and that there is a 23 metre tape, a mirror and a ditch measure

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3. Ensure that the equipment for the match is to hand - mats, jack, trolleys, ditch markers

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4. Ensure the rink markers are upright

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5. Ensure the scoreboard is set to zero

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6. If there is no umpire and competition stickers are being used, ensure there is only one set of stickers on the bowls being used by the players (Law 52.1.8.2).

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Preamble - what is this?

Before the start of the game you should introduce yourself to the players and determine the following:

  1. Whether they wish you to toss the coin to determine who has the option to take mat for the first end (Law 5.2.2 ) - make sure you have a coin in your markers kit

  2. That you will “answer any specific question…” (Law 42.2.5-7)  to players in possession of rink” (Law 13) In the past, answers were required to be very specific but this has relaxed somewhat. So if a player asks if they are 1 down and they are in fact 2 down or holding shot the marker can inform them of this. A player may also ask what the situation is, giving the marker scope to describe the head as necessary. 

  3. How you relay distances - Metric or Imperial and/or by demonstrating

  4. That you will remove dead bowls with their permission

  5. Whether they would like you to measure for them as and when requested

  6. That you will mark touchers, and remove marks non-touchers, as soon as come to rest (Law 15)

  7. If a player intends to fire that they please inform or signal to the you

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Trial Ends are part of the game but not the start of the game - see Law 5.1

  1. During the trial ends the marker can give distance information unsolicited

  2. Once the jack has been centred the distance between the mat and the jack may not be changed. However, a player can ask the marker to stand in a different place on the green for them to bowl to - trial ends only.
     

Click on this button for a printable checklist for

the markers kit and preamble to keep in your kit bag.

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