The legal (ab)use of the footer

Bowling News

I came across this interesting exchange of views on the legality of bowlers and their use of the footer.

Interesting feedback below from the Secretary of the British Crown Green Referees Society

Foot on Footer

The foot on the footer situation is one that I receive queries on at least three times a week.

As a referee I would never penalise a player for having their foot above the footer at the point of delivery. The main reason for this is the interpretation of "A player's foot must be placed on the footer when delivering either the jack or a bowl".

Does the word delivering refer to the actual split second that the jack or bowl leaves the player's hand or does it refer to the start of the delivery action. If the former then the only person who can make a decision on foot on or foot off is the referee and I don't believe that any referee would penalise a player unless the referee felt that the person was gaining an advantage.

Also it would be extremely difficult for the referee to watch for the point in time when the jack/bowl leaves the player's hand and to observe their foot at the same time. The only way that the actual point in time could be ascertained is by slow motion video evidence.

As a player I have no problem with my opponent not having their foot in contact with the footer unless the foot is to the side of the footer or no part of their foot is not at least over the footer e.g. observe the number of players who lift their heel off but it is still above the footer with their toes off the front of the footer.

Without video evidence a decision on foot on or foot off is a subjective view of an observer and therefore the only person who can make that decision is the referee. Individual players nor spectators can make that decision.

Match Referee

The question then arises of who is the referee in the vast majority of games where there is no official referee? Leagues should have rules governing who is the referee for games. My league has the following rule:

If there is no official referee, who is a member of the BCGRS, appointed to the match then the home team captain, or their deputy, will act as the referee to decide on any issue of the Laws, and as per Law 11 of the Laws of the Game their decision is final.

Tom Walker

Having commented on this before the rule is the commencement to bowl you have to be on the mat but people dont realise that starts with your arm swing so if you start by the letter of the law you can be two to three paces off the mat when releasing your bowl and that makes another good reason for a dispute