Ready, weather or not!

Melbourne’s weather is always fun, everyone knows the classis ‘four seasons in one day‘ reference, and ‘If you don’t like Melbourne’s weather, just wait five minutes’.

Melbourne’s hottest month is January (21°C avg), its coldest month is June (9°C avg), its wettest month is September/October (64mm avg) and its windiest month is July (21km/hr avg).

Melbourne is renowned for its ‘four seasons in one day’ phenomenon. Visitors may experience a sudden chilly wind after a sunny morning or an unexpected drizzle on an otherwise warm afternoon. This unpredictability, often a topic of conversation among locals, makes it imperative for travellers and bowlers to be prepared with layers and umbrellas, regardless of the season.

The weather across Victoria clearly impacts on our great game, so now we will look at the weather and the Laws of the Sport of Bowls.

Let’s start with Law 35, unforeseen incidents. If during play the position of the jack or bowl is altered by the wind, a storm or any other unforeseen incident, the skips or the opponents in Singles must put the jack or bowl back to its former position and if no agreement can be reached, they must declare the end dead.

LEAF BLOWERS

Several of our clubs are fortunate enough to be surrounded by beautiful parks and gardens. Sometimes this can cause a significant amount of leaf litter to appear on the greens. Prior to play our greenkeepers do a great job to ensure the surfaces are litter free.

During a game it is possible that after a heavy wind gust a significant amount of leaf litter may re-appear. So, can a leaf blower be utilised during a game?

There are no laws regarding the use of leaf blowers. However, the Foreward of the Law Book describes that in any situation not covered by the Laws of the Sport, players, markers and umpires must use their commonsense and spirit of fair play to decide on the appropriate course of action.

A leaf blower can be used during a game of bowls. The person about to operate the machinery needs to inform both Side Managers, who would then stop the game while the clean-up takes place. The use of the blower must not take place while play is occurring – not even one rink at a time.

Any bowl or jack displacement caused by a leaf blower would be considered as being caused by a neutral object (Law C.24.2.1) and Appendix C.1.1.2 would apply.

Metropolitan and Regional Pennant Conditions of Play

Play cannot commence if the temperature at the club’s designated BOM weather station* has reached 36°C or above, (this temperature may vary in rural Regions) at the scheduled commencement time of the game, play will be suspended for up to 1 hour. If at any stage after play has been suspended the temperature falls to below 36°C, play must be commenced. If the temperature fails to fall below 36°C within 1 hour of play being suspended, the game is to be abandoned.

If play has commenced and the temperature at the club’s designated BOM weather station has reached 36°C or above, (this temperature may vary in rural Regions), play will be suspended for up to 1 hour. It is the responsibility of the Side Managers to record the time that play is suspended. If at any stage after play has been suspended the temperature falls below 36°C, play must resume immediately, with no time given for side or team meetings. If the temperature fails to fall below 36°C after play has been suspended for 1 hour, the game is to be abandoned.

Every effort must be made to complete any ends in progress prior to leaving the green.

Midweek and weekend pennant games that are interrupted, will be abandoned after 5 hours from the scheduled start time. For example, if play started at 1.00pm, and play is interrupted, it must conclude at 6pm.

*To identify your club’s designated BOM you need the BOM App on your mobile phone. Simply add the club’s postcode into the search.

INCLEMENT WEATHER OTHER THAN HEAT: Clause 7.2, BV Conditions of Play

Using the examples of heavy rain, dust storms, tornados, etc.

If play cannot commence at the scheduled commencement time of the game, play may be suspended for up to 1 hour. If after 1 hour of play being suspended, the game cannot commence, the game will be abandoned.

If play has commenced, then after 1 hour of play being suspended the game cannot continue, the game will be abandoned.

It is the responsibility of the Side Managers to record the time that play is suspended. Every effort must be made to complete any ends in progress prior to leaving the green. Lightning being the exception.

Points to consider when deciding whether to stop or interrupt a game of bowls:

You CAN play bowls in the rain.
Is water pooling on the green?
Has the rain made it unsafe?
Consider the risks of falls and slipping – on and off the greens.

LIGHTNING: Clause 7.3, BV Conditions of Play

Clause 7.3 states that if lightning is present then play should be immediately suspended if the time between seeing a lightning flash and hearing a thunderclap is less than 30 seconds, which indicates the thunderstorm is within 10km of the venue.

This includes outdoor covered greens. Only venues that are completely closed in can continue play while there is lightning present. Players should go inside an enclosed building and stay inside until 30 minutes after the last sight of lightning.

Bowlers’ arms, bowls lifters and umbrellas should not be handled when lightning is present.

Clearly the two most important issues become:

What is the difference between an INTERRUPTION to play, and STOPPAGE of play?

INTERRUPTIONS

SCENARIO: Pennant is progressing satisfactorily and then suddenly the weather takes a turn for the worse, e.g. a heavy shower, and players run for cover.

Law 33.1 states that a player or team cannot leave the green unless their opponent agrees, and then for no longer than 10 minutes. While this can relate to bathroom breaks, it also does relate to inclement weather breaks.

In this scenario, the heavy shower passes quickly, and players return to the green after just a few minutes. This is clearly an interruption to play.

When there is an interruption to play (a break of less than 10 minutes) the game continues, and the ends are not declared dead nor replayed. (Clause 7.3, BV Pennant CoP).

STOPPAGES

After 10 minutes has elapsed from commencement of an interruption to play as determined by the Side Managers’ agreement, or the umpire of the day or greenkeeper, the interruption becomes a stoppage, as per Law 33 (Clause 7.6.3, BV Pennant CoP).

If a stoppage of play is called and all the required bowls have not been played, the end in declared dead (Law 32.2). If all the required bowls have been delivered then the result of the end must be declared before the game stops (Law 32.3).

A stoppage can also be made by the Controlling Body (Law 33.1.1), or an umpire, after an appeal has been made by the players (Law 33.1.2) without an interruption occurring.

The Laws of the Sport allows games to be continued on the same day or another. Incomplete ends must be declared dead (Law 33.1).

Bowls Victoria allows pennant games that have been stopped on a Friday night to be continued on the next day. However, Saturday games must be completed within the set time. Pennant games cannot be played on a Sunday, finals being the exception.

Hopefully the weather will not have too much of an impact this pennant season. May the rainbows cover your greens with fun and success for the 24-25 Pennant Season.