Player Tips - The Lead

On being THE LEAD in a Lawn Bowls Game:

Being a LEAD (the first position for a novice bowler) does not require knowledge of all facets of the Lawn Bowls Game. Just these few:

1. A LEAD will sign in and place his/her name chip in the LEAD area of the team assembly board.

2. Acquire his/her bowls and place outside awaiting team selection.

3. Have coffee and doughnuts.

4. When the teams are to be selected, go to board when leads are announced and select a chip. Place your name chip on roster board.

5. Pick up bowls, go to assigned rink and sign in for team A or B.

6. A coin will be flipped and a lead will be asked to chose heads or tails. Whichever lead wins will ask their skip do we go first or second.

7. If your team is first. Lay out mat in proper area. Deliver JACK to distance the Skip has selected (where he or she is standing). Center JACK by directing SKIP. If you deliver JACK too short or too long (in the ditch) the JACK will be returned and the your opponent's LEAD will deliver the JACK. The other Skip may direct your opponent to change the mat. If both JACKS are delivered incorrectly the Skip will place the Jack 6 feet from the ditch. You still bowl first even if your opponent delivered the Jack.

8. Select a bowl and deliver to the JACK. Generally a lead should try and deliver two bowls near the jack and one behind the (1- 3 feet if possible). It is better to be long than short.

9. Leads may get directions from the Skip to deliver bowls left or right. The Skip may indicate how far your bowl is from the Jack so stay on mat and look at your skip until the bowl stops. Exit the mat to your right. Remain 3 to 4 feet behind opponent when he/she is bowling and remain quiet.

10. After Leads & Vices have bowled, walk to head of green while Skips bowl. After all bowls have been delivered, Vices will determine score and signal Skips.

11. Losing teams LEAD will then rake the bowls one or two feet behind the mat, being laid by winning LEAD, two feet to right of mat, looking toward the Skips.

12. Start new end.