Fours

When asked to play "LEAD"

If your Skip wins the toss, it then becomes your job to carry out if any, his instructions, in relation to the distance you should deliver the Jack. You then place the Mat within the legal limits, cast the jack and centre it by giving clear signals to your team mate at the head. Most Skips I have played with over the years all tend to let their Leads do their own thing, only asking for a change as the last resort or for a specific reason. Remember at all times that you are part of a team and you will gain more experience as you go along.You now come to play the First bowl, try and have it finish on or as close as possible to the Jack, you then hope to repeat or improve your advantage with your second bowl. A good Lead sets the head for the rest of the end. Don't get worried if your bowls get moved, you've done your bit now let the other players do theirs.

The" SECOND"

Your first job is to enter both teams names and their playing positions onto the scorecard. At the completion of each end enter the score onto the card and maintain the correct totals, confirm the details with the other Second after each end. The second also has to be more versatile in playing shots and must be able to draw his bowl to any point asked of him or trail the jack even removing a shot bowl. The saying goes that if you are holding shot you will cover, if you're shots down you must retrieve, A team with a good second will on average win more than they loose .

The "THIRD"

Playing here you need to be a strong and accurate bowler, able to carry out the skips directions without rancour or prejudice, to play bowls with force in order to open the head, maybe ditch tthe jack or even kill the end. They should get on well with the skip, but only offer advice if asked for. It is also their job to count the shots and do any measuring of the bowls at each end. For the skip to have a silent third is priceless.

The "SKIP"

Skips should toss but usualy leave it to the leads. At the end they sign the scorecard. ( they do get more to do) Skips must be good experienced bowlers and know the laws of the game inside out. They should be authoritative shewd and somewhat unorthodox, I think single minded, be able to communicate and generate good team spirit, by encouragement, knowbody plays a bad shot on purpose so being berated by your skip is not good for morale. Watching the green and the opponents for any weaknesses and passing these on to his team all contributes to a winning team winning the game. At the end of each end the last skip to bowl should place the mat on the bank (flat and not overhanging).

 

Game of triples

As above but the player playing second takes on the responsibilities of the thrid as well

 

 

 

HAND SIGNALS

To indicate to your team members who is holding shot, the following method is recomended:-
A shot for you is indicated by a touch on the shoulder ei, 1 tap = 1 shot, 2 taps= 2 shots and so on.

A shot against you is signaled by a tap on the wrist, although most people favour a tap on the side of the leg.

Or just hold the appropiate the number of fingers up down (careful with 2).

I hope these job discriptions help you