CRYSTAL MARK 4th Edition – RELEASED

Crystal Mark 4th Edition “Laws of the Sport of Bowls” have come into affect from April 1 2023. Note however that for competitions commenced prior to April 1, the existing rules continue to apply until the end of the tournament.

For your information on the changes and their implementation, our Zone 9 Umpires Chair Garry Enfield is across the new rules, and has provided a summary of some key changes for your information;

PLEASE NOTE THAT WORLD BOWLS HAS NOW RECINDED THE TWO RULES OUTLINED BELOW WHICH HAD GENERATED MUCH DISCUSSION

Two major changes to the new CM v 4 laws are the following

37.1.3 If a bowl in its original course is deliberately displaced or stopped by a member of the team that delivered the bowl, the defaulting team will forfeit the game to their opponent.

37.1.5.3 If a player lifts a bowl at rest on their rink to allow their team’s bowl in its original course to pass, the defaulting team will forfeit the game to their opponent.

Bowls Australia appealed about the harshness of the above laws but lost the appeal.

Any new competitions commenced after April 1, will be subject to CM V 4 Laws.

Garry

Copies of the Crystal Mark 4th Edition are also available on the BA website at a cost of $12

Bowls Australia’s John Roberts (National Officiating Advisory Chair) has provided a summary of the new changes;

The Markers duties now includes checking that the mat is placed on the centreline of the rink (Law 42.2.1).
The definition of measuring has been relocated from Law 23.3 to definition C.21.
Rinks of play have been amended to include side boundaries and faces of the bank, (C.28.2).
Trial ends can be utilised when moving an interrupted game between a vegetation green and a synthetic or indoor green, (Law 5.1.1).
Law 13.3, previously Law 11.2.2 (CM3.2) has been relocated to “Possession of the Rink”. It is now clear that a player should not deliver a bowl before the previous bowl has come to rest, and they have possession of the rink. In terms of the Law, a player should not even be on the mat until the previous bowl has come to rest.
New Law 26.3 clarifies that there must be no further play in a knockout competition if it is impossible to win the game given the number of ends left.
New Law 29.1.4, clarifies the scenario where bowls have been played out of turn by each opponent. If a bowl has been played out of order by both players (Singles and teams) the order of play remains the same for that end.
New Law 29.3.1.2, states that a set of bowls may be changed when, (on the same day) a game is moved between vegetation to a synthetic or indoor surface.
New Law 54.9 allows MNAs to approve measuring equipment with Law 57.1.1.19, allowing the inclusion of measuring equipment in Domestic Regulations.