Instantaneous Penalties
Bowls Victoria, like all States and Territories operates under its own Constitution, Clause 2 (c & e) states that all Bowls Victoria events and competitions adhere to the Laws of the Sport of Bowls and Bowls Australia (BA) policies.
One such BA policy is the Instantaneous Penalties Policy.
This policy outlines Bowls Australia’s position on how to manage situations where players do not conduct themselves in a polite and sporting-like manner and where there is no penalty specified in the “Laws of the Sport of Bowls” for such actions by a player.
Law 60, (“Laws of the Sport of Bowls”, Crystal Mark 4th Edition, Revised May, 2023) is clear that no Controlling Body or individual has the right or power to contract out the Laws of the Sport.
The Instantaneous Penalty Policy states, that:
If an umpire, by observation or on appeal by the Controlling Body, a coach/manager, a skip or an opponent, decides that a breach of any Law or Rule has taken place, or any action by a player (where there is no penalty specified in that Law or Rule), such as:
a) Acting in an abusive, threatening or intimidating manner.
b) Using obscene, offensive, abusive, threatening or intimidating language.
c) Threatening any person with physical violence or assault.
d) Assaulting any person.
e) Deliberate cheating.
f) Smoking or drinking on the green or in unauthorised areas.
g) Abuse to any official.
An Instantaneous Penalty can be applied to manage the above situations.
But how does it work?
A first warning should be issued for minor matters only. Generally, smoking and drinking on the green or in unauthorised areas, and offensive language, would be initially managed by giving a warning.
If any such minor actions (smoking, drinking or cursing) have occurred after a warning, that is as a second offence, or the behaviour is considered serious as a first offence, then the end shall be immediately regarded as completed. For example, a player warned not to smoke repeats their action or a player warned about using offensive language continues to do so.
The opponent of the offender shall be awarded as many shots as there are bowls in use by the opponent in a singles game, or opposing team in a team game, or team in a side game.
You would not offer a warning to a player who has assaulted another person or vilified or threatened them. In this case the first offence would receive the Instantaneous Penalty as described.
Upon a second such offence (or third offence if a minor breach) by the same player or a similar offence by any other player playing in the same team, the player and team will be excluded from taking any further part in that game, according to Laws of the Sport, Crystal Mark 4th Edition, April 2022, Revised May 2023.
This means that if a member of a team receives an instantaneous penalty the entire team is considered to have been warned, therefore any repeats of same action would be the second offence, and the game would be over.
Should an Instantaneous Penalty be applied to an individual, no replacement or substitute player will be allowed for his/her team. In a team game the defaulting team will forfeit the game to their opponent.
In February 2025 this approved BA Policy included two new categories, abuse of an umpire and deliberately cheating.
An example of deliberately cheating could be a player deliberately stopping a bowl from disturbing the head. Other examples could include deliberately stomping on the green to make a leaning bowl fall over or a player found to be using illegal bowls (i.e. no WB Stamp or Serial Number).
Umpires of our great game are important volunteers. Without their assistance we could not proceed as a sport. The duties of an umpire are set out in Law 43. The umpire’s decision is final in all circumstances, except those relating to the meaning or interpretation of a law, in which case there would be a right to appeal to the Controlling Body, (Law 43.2.6).
There is no excuse for abusing an umpire in any manner and this simply must not happen. If it does, then an Instantaneous Penalty will be applied, and the player/s would be reported to Bowls Victoria for further investigation and possible penalty.
Any incident involving an Instantaneous Penalty requires the Umpire of the day to complete the Instantaneous Penalty report form (available from the BA website). This form must be returned to the Controlling Body and the relevant STA within seven (7) days of the incident.
Let’s play our game in the spirit it was designed, and we will not need to apply any Instantaneous Penalties – only the Laws of the Sport.
January, 2026
THE LAWMAN
John Roberts
Co-Chairman
Officiating and Laws Committee
