Stump the Ump: Bowls Canada explains a towel-deflected bowl

Bowls Canada has shared its answer to a Stump the Ump scenario involving a towel that deflects a bowl during a pairs game.

In the scenario, a delivered bowl knocks a resting bowl out of the head. That displaced bowl is then deflected by a folded towel accidentally dropped by the opposing lead.

In its published explanation, Bowls Canada treats the towel as an extension of the player’s equipment and cites Law 37.1.2.2. Its answer gives the opposing skip a choice: place the bowl where they believe it would have stopped, or leave it where it finished.

Read Bowls Canada’s full scenario and published answer in English and French.

Image and umpiring explanation: Bowls Canada Boulingrin.