About the Game
The game is played indoors on carpets that are purposely built for the sport. Same for the BOWLS and the jack. These are the consistent tools from club to club. Makers of the equipment are in England and Australia. (If interested about the details of the equipment, see the 'Rules and Tools' section for links to supplier of the equipment.)
It's a game of skill and strategy. Decide on a game of PAIRS, TRIPLES or FOURS. Eight ends are played and players alternate shots against their opponent. A coin is tossed to decide who goes first; the winner of the coin toss will choose their bowls colour. Once that is decided, the game starts. Example: Lead yellow bowls, Lead black bowls, lead yellow bowls, lead black bowls....etc. Winner of that END will start the next end.
The Rule book is available for purchase. See the 'Rules & Tools' section of the website. We encourage all clubs and players to become familiar with them and play by these standards. (BC 55+ Games, Vancouver Island, and Provincial Tournament play are bound by this book.)
Mobility. If you can walk 100 feet eight times and deliver the bowl, you can play carpet bowling. There have been 'bowl delivery tools' built to assist with rolling the bowl down the carpet. Players with a walker or a cane are welcome to participate. Most clubs have enough space to accommodate the walkers in-between carpets. Contact us for specs if you wish to build your own bowl delivery tool. (We're working on adding the specs to the 'tool and rules section.' Stay tuned)
Teams are mixed. There are no restrictions for choosing playing partners. Age is not a consideration either. (Some of the best players are the ones that have been playing the longest.)
For tournament play, teams apply with their preferred players. They learn each others playing strengths and use that in their strategy to win medals. Just like any sport, you put your best team forward.
For home club play, a more social event may be in order. Many find that random team selection works best to keep the fun going and to accommodate the ups and downs of who shows up on a given day. The added value of this is that players get to experience the value of different positions.
An example of game play in triples. The lead will set the bowls. (one in front, one behind and one 'right on' the jack.) The second will set up more points and place bowl blockers to stop the opponent from getting in and the skip will maximize points. Of course, your opponent is doing the same. It's a strategic game. Exciting when good shots are made, frustrating when they don't go where you intend them to.
The jack must stay on the carpet. Once a team knocks it off the carpet, the opponent wins the assigned points for a 'knocked off' jack. See the rule book for the break down of these points. It is different depending on pairs, triples and four team play.
Good etiquette. Players are not to move around during bowl delivery. It is like putting in golf. Don't move. It distracts the line of site of the person delivering the bowl. That is why they use chairs in games. Keeps people seated if it isn't their turn.
Spectators are welcome. However, during tournaments, spectators are NOT allowed to talk to players. The reason is that they may coach the game and that is unfair. Just like pro tennis, the players are not permitted to get direction from their support box. Coaching from a third party doesn't work. Umpires will look for this.
Umpires are trained to look for etiquette infractions as well as help decide scoring.