Earlier this year World Bowls has introduced a new set of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls, the Crystal Mark Third Edition. In Hong Kong the new laws will take effect in two phases:
- National competitions: Any competition commenced on or after January 1, 2015 will adopt this version of the laws. All other competitions that have begun before this date and are still in progress will use the existing laws up to the finals. In this case the first competition to use the new laws will be the Mixed Pairs.
- League: The laws will be adopted in the forthcoming Premier League.
While a lot of the changes are on the wordings and clarification of the current laws, some of them did impact our game. To minimize the impact, Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association will impose domestic regulation for some of the rules to ensure that no one will gain unfair advantage from them:
| Law | Description | Hong Kong rules |
| 3.3 | Choosing the rinks for play
If, after the draw for rinks has been made, a player in a competition or game plays on the same rink before the start of play on the day of the competition or game, that player will be disqualified. This does not apply to open tournaments. |
If a player in a competition or game plays on the same rink on the same day of the competition or game, that player will be disqualified. This does not apply to open tournaments. |
| 5.1.4 | Trial Ends
Each player must not use more than the number of bowls being used during the game. If a player or an umpire notices that a player is using more than the permitted number of bowls, the defaulting player will lose the right to play any bowls remaining to be played in the trial ends. |
Hong Kong will adopt this. |
| 6.1.5.6 | Portable Groundsheet | Hong Kong allows the use of portable groundsheets as an alternative to the fixed groundsheets mentioned in this law. |
| 6.2.6 | To gain better grip during adverse weather conditions a player can, before delivering their bowl, lift the mat, turn it over and replace it in its original position. | Hong Kong will adopt this. This is a new law and players should always remember that they should ensure that the mat is returned to its original position when turning it over.
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| 7.1 | Position on the Mat:
“Before delivery a player must be standing on the mat with all or part of at least one foot on the mat. At the moment they deliver the jack or a bowl, the player must have all or part of one foot on or above the mat. |
Hong Kong will adopt this. This removes the requirement that, on taking up a stance on the mat, a player has to have one foot wholly on the mat.
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| 14.3 | Touchers
No bowl will become a toucher if it plays onto, or comes into contact with, the jack when the jack is in the ditch. |
Hong Kong will adopt this. This clarifies that a bowl cannot become a toucher if it comes into contact with a jack that is already in the ditch and that a bowl previously marked as a toucher will remain a toucher if it is played into the ditch and touches the jack again. |
| 20.2 | Dead End
If the jack and bowls need to be transferred to the opposite end of the rink before the end is replayed, they must be transferred in a way which avoids distracting players on neighbouring rinks. |
Hong Kong will adopt this. No longer mandatory to carry the bowls up the green after a dead end. |
| 23.3 | Deciding the number of shots scored
…If a player measures before the process of deciding the number of shots scored starts, the defaulting team will lose the right to play any bowls remaining to be played in that end and the non-defaulting team will deliver their remaining bowls to complete the end. |
Hong Kong will adopt this. There is now a penalty for measuring, i.e. using equipment to determine the shot, before all the bowls in an end have been played. |
| 32.4.2 | Game stoppages
Players, however, must not be transferred from one team to another. If players are transferred from one team to another, the defaulting team will forfeit the game to their opponents. |
Hong Kong will adopt this. This applies for games restarted on the same or a different day. |
| 40.1.9 | Players duties — The Skip
The duties of the skip will continue to include those duties pertaining to the scorecard. However law 40.1.9 allows Member National Authorities to set an appropriate “Domestic Regulation” for their own domestic play. |
For all domestic games the duties described in Law 40.1.7, apart from the provision of Law 40.1.7.5, will be transferred to the second player to play in each team.
le: Pairs — the Skip; Triples and Fours — the Second.” The skip will continue to be responsible for entering the finish time, signing the card and agreeing the final score with the opponents. |
Although the changes will not mean widespread alterations to the way we play the sport, I think it is essential that every bowlers in Hong Kong should be fully aware of the changes in the Laws. The new law book, as well as the Chinese translated version is now available from the Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association.
(Follow by Chinese version)
Memorandum (Pdf format)