Rules of Crown Green Bowls (Club Summary)

This page is a practical summary of the key playing rules for crown green bowls. For the definitive wording, please refer to the BCGBA Laws of the Game.

The Green and the “Crown”

• Matches are played on an outdoor grass (or artificial) green with a raised centre known as the crown. The surface is purposefully uneven to introduce breaks and run-offs.
• Play may proceed in any direction provided you do not endanger or obstruct other players and remain within the green’s boundary and ditch rules.

Equipment

• Bowls are biased; each pair is matched. A bias mark indicates the side the bowl will turn towards.
• The jack is the target. Its delivery must be a legitimate length and remain on the green to be valid.
• A small mat (footer) indicates the delivery point.

Starting an End

1. The leader places the mat within the permitted area and delivers the jack. The jack must be a legal length and remain in play.
2. Once the jack comes to rest, the leader delivers their first bowl; the opponent then plays, and deliveries alternate.

Length and Valid Jack

• Ends must meet minimum length requirements and finish within the green’s boundary (not in the ditch), as set out in the BCGBA Laws.
• If the jack is invalid (e.g., too short/long or off the green), the end is re-started in accordance with the Laws.

Scoring the End

• When all bowls have been played, the player (or side) with the bowl(s) nearest the jack scores one point for each bowl nearer than the opponent’s nearest.
• Typical league games are played to 21 up for singles: first player to reach 21 points wins the game.

Match Formats (Singles “Boards”)

• Leagues specify how many simultaneous singles count towards the team match (e.g., 1v1 up to 10v10). Each singles game is one “board”.
• At Queens Park, board counts and bonus rules are set in the league configuration and shown on the fixture sheet.

Team Points & “Aggregate / Count-Up”

• Each individual game win counts as 1 match point for the winning team.
• The team with the higher combined individual aggregate (count-up) scores earns an additional bonus (e.g., +2 points). Your league sets this value.
• Example (6 boards): If the home team wins 5 games and the combined shots are 121–90 in their favour, they take 5 (wins) + 2 (aggregate) = 7–1 match points.

Conceded Ends & 21-Limit Convention

• In singles to 21, if one player reaches 21, the opponent’s score is whatever they have at that point.
• Where league rules adopt a “winner on 21 / opponent capped below 21” convention, our system enforces it automatically in results entry.

Etiquette & Safety

• Give way to players delivering; avoid crossing their line of play.
• Stand at least 1 metre behind the mat/jack unless measuring or appointed to mark.
• Be mindful of other ends and the green’s condition; do not play unsafe lines.

References

• British Crown Green Bowling Association — Laws of the Game. (Authoritative rulebook)
• BCGBA — About BCGBA. (Organisation overview)
• North Lancs & Fylde County Bowling Association — nlfcba.com. (Local county/league context)