Rules
Details of rule change 2025 : –
Section 5.2 (Page 13) – Addition of point 5.2 (e)
In all disciplines, should either of the first 2 woods delivered by each singles player (or the lead in any other discipline) touch the jack and come to rest completely in the ditch, they shall be declared dead and removed from the mat.
If either bowl so delivered remains ‘live’ i.e. remains in whole or in part in live playing area, it will be marked as a ‘toucher’.
A toucher so marked may subsequently be pushed into the ditch (by the second wood or any subsequent woods) and will not be removed.
Section 5.4 (Page 14) – Addition of point 5.4 (g)
…the conditions described in rule 5.2 (e) apply.
Section 7.14 (Pages 27 and 28) – Removal of point 7.14 (b)
This rule relating to “Following the bowl up the mat” will no longer apply, although players should be mindful of the remaining rules regarding displacement of a bowl by a participating player – Section 5.7 (page 14 and 15) which remain in force.
The following is an example for the rule changes to Section 5.2 and 5.4: –
To start the game the jack is set to ¾ length.
Player 1 delivers their first bowl; it touches the jack and come to rest completely in the ditch. This bowl shall be declared dead and removed from the mat.
Player 2 delivers their first bowl; it touches the jack and remains partly in live playing area. It will be marked as a ‘toucher’ and remains in play.
Player 1 delivers their second bowl; it is short and does not touch the jack.
Player 2 delivers their second bowl; it take the both jack and their first bowl into the ditch.
The position of the jack and their first bowl positions are marked, but their second bowl shall be declared dead and removed from the mat.
In this scenario, this will be the state of play after the first 2 bowls from each player have delivered.
