Laws of the Sport

The Laws of the Sport of Bowls have been developed by World Bowls Limited and are made available to Bowls Canada Boulingrin for publication. These laws are adopted Officiatingby all member national authorities, ensuring that the sport is played according to a consistent set of rules wherever it is played.

The current edition of the laws is titled the Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark 4th Edition, and was adopted in Canada on April 1, 2023. Copies can be ordered through your club or directly from Bowls Canada Boulingrin.

If you have questions, or require clarification on any of the updated laws, please send an email to office@bowlscanada.com with the subject line: Ask an Umpire.

If you require a bowling aid and would like to use it at any of the Canadian Championships, please fill out the Application for Bowling Aid Approval form and send it to the Bowls Canada Boulingrin office.

Amendments

World Bowls Amendments

CM4 Amendments – May 2023

The World Bowls Board, following recommendation from the World Bowls Laws
Advisory Group, have agreed to rescind Laws 37.1.3 and 37.1.5.3 with immediate effect.

  • 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.
  • 37.1.4 Displacement of a bowl in motion.
    • 37.1.4.1 If a bowl in motion is displaced by a player and it has not disturbed the head after it is displaced, the opposing skip or the opponent in Singles must choose whether to:
      • 37.1.4.1.1 place the bowl where the player believes it would have come to rest; or
      • 37.1.4.1.2 declare the end dead.
    • 37.1.4.2 If a bowl in motion is displaced by a player and it has disturbed the head after it is displaced, the opposing skip or the opponent in Singles must choose whether to:
      • 37.1.4.2.1 place the bowl where the player believes it would have come to rest and replace any part of the head disturbed after the displacement; or
      • 37.1.4.2.2 declare the end dead.
  • 37.1.5 Displacement of a bowl at rest.
    • 37.1.5.1 If a bowl at rest or a toucher in the ditch is displaced by a player and it has not disturbed the head after it is displaced, the opponent must put the bowl back to its former position.
    • 37.1.5.2 If a bowl at rest or a toucher in the ditch is displaced by a player and it has disturbed the head after it is displaced, the opponent must put the bowl back to its former position and replace any part of the head disturbed after the displacement.
    • 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.

To read more about the recommendations and amendments, click here.  

Become an Umpire

Purpose

Umpires play a vital role in ensuring that all aspects of play are in line with the Laws of the Sport of Bowls. Umpires must be able to apply their knowledge of the laws in an approach that will make the experience enjoyable for both the participants and the officials.

One of the goals of the National Officiating Committee (NOC) is to qualify at least one umpire at each lawn bowling club in Canada.

Level 1 (Provincial) Umpire

This is the entry level training program for all Canadian umpires and has been developed to encourage bowlers to gain officiating experience at their local events.  A Level 1 umpire is certified to officiate at all club, local and provincial events.

Level 1 Accreditation Process

The accreditation process is comprised of training, evaluation and apprenticeship. 

Training – Level 1 Umpire candidates complete a series of three half-day training sessions:

  1. The laws of the sport – This is followed by a 25-question take home exam which must be completed and marked before the third session.
  2. Measuring equipment and techniques.
  3. Measuring practicum.

The training utilizes the Laws of the Sport of Bowls, the Level 1 Umpire Training Manual and the World Bowls DVD on Umpiring and Marking Skills as training resources, and the services of a knowledgeable and competent course conductor. Umpiring candidates must have a minimum of two years of bowling experience, and will be expected to purchase a copy of the rule book and the training manual. Rule books can usually be ordered through your home club. The training manual will be available through your provincial association. 

In addition, all umpires must complete one of the approved Safe Sport courses:

Evaluation – In addition to the written exam completed during the training, candidates must also successfully complete a measuring exam and an oral exam.  Candidates must complete the measuring practicum prior to taking the measuring exam.

All exams are based on World Bowls standards.  A pass mark of 90% or better is required for each exam. 

Apprenticeship – New Level 1 umpires must mentor with an experienced umpire for a minimum of 4 hours or 2 tournament games before they can officiate.  New umpires will receive a BCB Umpire pin upon completion of their apprenticeship.

Level 2 (National) Umpire

A Level 2 umpire is certified to officiate at all club, local, provincial, and national events.

Level 2 Accreditation Process

Level 1 umpires can qualify for Level 2 (National) status after officiating for a minimum of 12 months and after at least 25 hours of umpiring experience at club, local and/or provincial tournaments (including their apprenticeship). All umpires are encouraged to keep a log of their officiating activities so that they are able to demonstrate their experience. 

A Level 1 umpire must take a measuring exam and pass with a mark of 90% or better in order to qualify as a Level 2 (National) umpire.

Umpire Recertification

Level 1 Umpire Recertification

New Level 1 umpires, who have taken the prescribed training and passed all exams, are certified for four (4) years. At any time during their second, third or fourth years, they may get recertified once they have 25 hours of umpiring experience and retake and pass the measuring exam. Upon achievement, they will become a certified Level 2 umpire, and may officiate for a further four (4) years before requiring recertification.

Level 2 Umpire Recertification

Level 2 umpires are also certified for a period of four (4) years. In order to be recertified they will be asked to produce a log showing a minimum of 25 umpiring hours over four years, and they must pass the measuring exam.

All umpires must be recertified before the end of their last year in order to remain qualified.  Adjustments have been made by each province to extend the recertification date due to local shutdowns in response to Covid-19. Exceptionally, at the end of their current officiating cycle, one year of grace may be approved by the Provincial Officiating Committee, allowing for recertification to occur during the following year. If recertification does not occur by the end of this extended period, then the umpire is no longer qualified to officiate. In this case, a former umpire can be recertified only after successfully completing the Level 1 umpire course and exams.

In addition, all umpires must complete one of the approved Safe Sport courses in order to be recertified: