Bowls

Primary Competition Rules

• Match Schedule

  Expand Match Schedule

  A Pre-Championships Briefing is held for all teams prior to the first round. Refer to the Bowls Draw on the SSV website for specific times.

  • Arrival & Briefing: 10:00am – 10:30am
  • Round 1: 10:30am – 11:15am
  • Round 2: 11:25am – 12:10pm
  • Round 3: 12:20pm – 1:05pm
  • Final: 1:20pm – 2:05pm
  • Presentation: 2:10pm

• Match Format

  Expand Match Format

  Team Structure: Two-bowl triples with two sides per team (6 players total).

  Duration: 7 ends or 45 minutes. If time elapses, the end in progress is void.

  Scoring: The team closest to the jack scores one point per end. The combined score of both rinks determines the winner.

  The Jack: The jack is placed, not rolled. If knocked out of bounds or into the ditch, it is re-spotted at the ‘T’.

  Bowling Order: A1, B1, A1, B1; A2, B2, A2, B2. The Lead and Second stay at the bowling end while the Skip remains at the head. After the Leads and Seconds finish, all players swap ends for the Skips to bowl.

  Points: 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss. Results are decided by 'ends won'.

  Round Robin Winner The two teams with the most points advance to the final.

  • If tied, the head-to-head match result determines the winner.
  • If still tied, ‘ends won’ is used, followed by percentage.

  Grand Final If the final is tied, one additional end is played to determine the winner.

• General Sport Rules

  Expand General Sport Rules

  Competitions follow the SSV ‘General Conditions of Competition’, ‘Codes of Conduct’, and ‘Participant Behaviour Policy’.

  Matches follow Bowls Australia rules unless otherwise stated. Refer to the SSV Primary Schools Resource Manual for further information.

• Team Size & Substitutes

  Expand Team Size & Substitutes
  • Standard Team: Six (6) players (three per side). Teams may be boys, girls, or mixed.
  • Substitutes: Up to two (2) substitutes per team (one per side). Maximum team size is eight (8).
  • Rotation: Substitutes can play any position (Lead, Second, or Skip) but must enter before an end begins. There is no limit on total substitutions.

• First Aid

  Expand First Aid

  Schools must provide their own first aid kit and are responsible for injury treatment.

  • Strapping: Students/teams must provide their own sports tape and perform their own strapping.
  • Note: State Final First Aid Responders are not permitted to perform preventative strapping.