Law Of The Week – The Footer – Burton & Puddington Bowls Club

There have been some questions recently about the footer and its placement and some confusion about when one, two or three metres apply.

Question Where should the footer be placed at the start of the game? Answer Within three metres of the entrance to the green. and At least one metre but not more than two metres from edge of the green. For our green the entrance is normally the right-hand side of the railings. So three metres along from the end of the railing towards the Bowls Shelter and then one metre (or not more than two) in from the edge. Question Where should the footer be placed at the beginning of an end? Answer One metre from the jack in any direction. and At least one metre from the edge of the green. Discussions continue about whether or not you can move the footer further than one metre by agreement with your opponent. There is nothing in the rules which permits this, but it does happen. Question What if the footer is too near the edge of the green? Answer You can object to the placement of the footer after your opponent has bowled the jack and their first bowl or if the jack goes off. The distance will then be measured. If the footer is at least one metre from the edge of the green, the game continues. If the footer is not at least one metre from the edge of the green, you place the footer correctly and you get to send the jack. Your opponent then bowls their first wood and the game continues. Question Who places the footer at the beginning of an end? Answer The leader places the footer at the start of each end. Note: Your opponent may have carried the footer after bowling their second wood in the last end. They should place it by the jack. However, it doesn’t matter where they put the footer, if you are the leader, you may pick it up and place it where you choose before the start of the next end. The footer must then remain in that place. If it moves or is picked up before the end is complete, it must be put back as near as possible to its original position. Question When do I have to make way for my opponent? Answer You can stand on the footer until your bowl comes to a stop. Question Three metres? Answer Three metres is mentioned twice in the rules. Firstly, placing the footer at the start of the game. See above. Secondly, for scoring. For a bowl to count it must be bowled at least three metres from the footer. Except when all your opponent’s woods have gone off the green. You may then walk your second wood and claim the point. Question What happens if a jack or wood goes over a footer or comes to rest on one? Answer The jack or bowl is returned and played again as the footer is not considered to be part of the green.

References From the Laws Of The Game

1.3 The FOOTER, which shall be round, shall have a diameter of not less than 125mm and not more than 155mm. The footer is not part of the green and any bowl or jack travelling over, or touching the footer, must be returned to be played again.

2.5 At the commencement of a game the footer must be placed by the leader, within three metres of the entrance to the green, on either the left or right side and one metre from the edge but no more than two metres from the edge.

3.1 A bowl must be played at least three metres from the footer and rest on the green to count, except when all the bowls of the opponent(s) are out of play.

5.1 At no time may the footer be used with the centre less than one metre from the edge of the green.

5.2 Objection to the placement of the footer must be made by the leader’s opponent only after the first bowl has come to rest or, if in the leader’s first attempt at setting a mark, the jack goes off the green. If the footer is then found, by measurement, to be incorrectly placed the end shall be re-started, with the footer correctly placed, the opponent attempting to set the mark, otherwise play shall continue.

5.7 A player may retain possession of the footer until that player’s bowl has ceased running. If a player has taken up the footer after playing a bowl, which for any reason has to be replayed, or if the footer is accidentally displaced during an end, it shall be replaced as nearly as possible in its former position.

5.15 After each end is concluded, the footer shall be placed at the jack by the last player. The footer may only be repositioned by the leader of the next end and before the first attempt to set a mark, anywhere within a space of one metre from where the jack lay at the conclusion of the last end but at least one metre in from the edge of the green. The footer must not be moved after the first attempt to set a mark by either the leader or the opponent until the end is concluded.