Etiquette is central to the sport of bowls and must always be observed:
- Dress correctly for all games and arrive in good time.
- Mobile phones should be switched off during play and used with discretion while in the vicinity of the green.
- Greet team members and opponents at the start of the game and congratulate or compliment them at the end of play. Shake hands at the start of the game and at its conclusion.
- Remember to thank the marker at the end of a singles game for sparing his/her time and offer a drink.
- Concentrate fully on the game and on all bowls as they are being delivered. In a competitive match save your socialising until afterwards
- Be ready to bowl when it's your turn.
- Do not talk or make a noise behind the mat, or move at the head end, when a player is preparing to bowl.
- Remain behind the mat or behind the head when it is not your turn to play.
- Always remember that, as soon as your bowl has come to rest, possession of the rink (at both ends) passes to your opponent.
- Avoid obscuring the rink number, rink markers or the jack.
- Keep to your own rink. Don't become a wanderer and distract other bowlers. Walk down the centre of your rink when you are changing ends. Don't walk through the head.
- Be aware of players on the next rink.
- Don't walk past the end of a rink when a player is about to bowl towards you.
- Pick up the mat for your opponent after the last bowl has been delivered.
- At the end of an end, once the score has been agreed, the only concern of the winning lead is to put down the mat and deliver the jack (unless in a pairs game where they will help clear bowls). The losing lead can also put out bowl for winning lead.
- Everyone else should help to clear bowls. Twos alter scoreboard after bowls have been cleared. Twos or skips fill in the scorecard.
- Outdoors be aware of your shadow. Don't let it fall across the jack or head or allow it to fall in front of the mat when a player is about to bowl.
- Encourage and praise the rest of the team, including the skip. Bowls is a team game; everyone should be working together.
- BUT don't applaud a team member who has outrageous luck!
- Admit fluke with grace.
- Compliment your opponent on a good shot.
- Don't wave opponents' bowls through the head.
- Take care of team members, and the head, when drive shots are being played, and warn others on adjacent rinks of the intended shot. One of the 3s could be ready to go in front of the head to see if the delivered bowl is a toucher.
- Do not criticise your opponents, the green, or your own team. If you cannot say something positive, do not say anything at all.
- Be gracious whether you win or lose.
- Learn the Laws of the Sport and play in accordance with them.
Good etiquette and manners make for a pleasant game and cost nothing!