Club Helensvale - The Place to Be

Coach's Corner The importance of Etiquette

Learn to lose before you learn to win.

Losing with good grace is the first lesson for any bowler and bowls is the sort of game where even the very top players get a lot of practice at losing!

Etiquette is what you can do, beyond the law, to contribute to your opponent's enjoyment of the game – in contrast to gamesmanship, which means doing anything within the letter if not the spirit of the law to gain advantage, even if you ruin the game as recreation.

Important though laws are, they don’t cover everything.

Unwritten rules are the answer, but they don't work particularly well on a website so I've written down a couple of the "unwritten" rules to help you on your way.

1. When counting up your shots, always leave it to your opponent to concede.
2. Do not take your own shots out of the head yourself.
3. If you are measuring for shot or second shot, always offer the measure to your opponent before calling in the Umpire.
4. Be aware of the possession of the rink Law, and stand well behind the head (or the mat) when your opponent is bowling.
5. Stand still, of course, and don’t move until your opponent has completed their delivery.
6. Wait for your opponent's bowl to come to rest before starting your journey to the other end.

Bob Hill
Coach

Wanted - Bowls Coaches

See Brett Wilkie for details.