Guidance for markers
The Purpose of these guidance notes is to achieve consistency in the way club competitions are marked. Remember a good marker can make a game, a bad marker can ruin it. Keep the game flowing.

Before the Game
Make sure that you have the necessary items with you

• Measure
• Chalk
• Pen/pencil
• Wedges
• Coin (toss for the mat)
• Score card
• Umpire's kit is available at the green
  (The kit is in the Mens Changing Room)

Be familiar with the requirements of the game i.e. 21 shots, 21 ends, handicap, who is the challenger?

Starting the game
Before the toss for the mat, explain to the bowlers:

• You will check that the mat is centred before the jack is delivered. If the jack is delivered before the mat is centred, ignore it and centre the mat first.
• You will chalk a toucher, or remove old chalk from a non-toucher, as soon as it comes to rest.
• You will update the score-board on alternate ends. The bowlers can update the board on the other end if they are happy to do so. This is to save time and keep the game flowing. Except for Two Wood Singles, you will not be recording the number of ends on the score-board. This is a singles game and the ends are not counted.
• For trial ends they can use any number of bowls up to the number they will be using in the game.

During the game

• Walk quickly to the other end down the centre of the rink (this will discourage them from delivering the jack before the mat is centred). Stand at the end of the rink in front of the number and centre the mat.
• Move to one side of the number and wait for the jack to be delivered and then centre it.
• Take up a position 1m to the side and 1m behind the jack. Make sure any shadow does not fall on the head area. If a wide head develops move further out so that you are not obscuring bowls likely to be in the count.
• Answer any questions clearly an concisely. Do not walk into the head to check the position of the bowls, look from outside the head. If it is a possible measure say so but do not indicate that you favour any bowl.
• Do not talk to spectators.

At the finish of an end

• When all the bowls have been played, move to one side of the head and wait for the bowlers to agree the score. Repeat the score back to them. Do not give any opinion on which might be shot etc. Do not leave the head before the bowlers have both confirmed the score.
• Make a quick note of the number of shots scored on the score-card then move quickly to the other end. The remainder of the score card can be completed whilst the mat is being placed or the jack is on its way up. The same applies to the score-board updating.
• If asked to measure, be clear what you are measuring. Ask for any bowls not required for the measure to be removed from the head.
• If the distance to be measured is less than 10 inches or greater than 1 yard, call for the Umpire, if present. If no Umpire is present, use callipers for less than 10 inches and ask for assistance for long measures. The Club's Umpire's Kit contains everything you will need.
• When the Umpire is on the rink, move down the rink, well away from the head, unless required to assist with the measuring. The Umpire will indicate which bowl is shot by turning it out, so pay attention.

At the end of the game

• Offer congratulations/commiserations to the bowlers.
• Note the finish time on the card and get both bowlers to check and sign the card.
• Hand the card to the Umpire, if present, for checking. Otherwise place the card in the collecting box.