THE ROLE OF THE LEAD
Unless pre-determined, spin a coin to decide which team bowls first.
If
it's your turn, place the mat and roll the jack to the distance that
you require. Centre the jack in consultation with your skip. Try and
bowl your woods as close to the jack as possible. Ideally one just in
front, and the other(s) as close behind as possible. Once you have
bowled all your woods stand to the back, behind the mat, and cause as
little distraction to the other players, both on your and the rest of
the rinks, as possible. You can of course converse with members of your
team but not when a player of either side is on the mat. When all the
woods have been bowled and if it is your skips turn to bowl first
position one of his woods next to the mat in readiness for him to
prepare to bowl. Walk at a reasonable pace to the other end of the green
consulting with your skip if and when as necessary. Once at the other
end, other then controlled constructive consultation as appropriate with
your number two, or three, you KEEP QUIET. You do not bark orders to
your skip at the other end, it is not your job ! You do not have any say
when the number of shots scored is being decided. This is the role of
the number two. If you win the end then you retrieve the mat and jack
and position the mat ready for you to bowl. Roll the jack to your
preferred distance or to a distance agreed with your skip. If you have
lost the end your role is either to use the pusher or to help the rest
of the players 'kick' the woods back to behind the position where the
mat will be placed.
THE ROLE OF No. 2
Generally
bowls to the instructions of the skip. For example if you are holding
shot after the leads have bowled, the skip may ask you to bowl your
woods to a position behind the jack, or if the opposition are holding he
may ask you to take the wood out which is holding shot or to draw to it
to try and get second shot. Number two's are called upon to play a wide
variety of shots as and when required depending upon the state of the
head and as instructed by his skip. If no information is being fed to
you and you are not sure as to which shot to play, ask him.
You
are the only member of the team who talks to the skip when he/she is on
the mat. The general rule being is only offer advice when they ask you
to, or if the head changes dramatically and you feel they need to know.
At the end of each end it is the number two's role to be involved with
any measuring that is required and to decide with the opposition's
number two (nobody else) who won the end and by how many. After you have
agreed neither person can change their mind. You then inform your skip
as to the outcome Also you help to kick the woods back and keep the
scoreboard up to date and in some cases the scorecard, which is normally
done by the skip.
THE ROLE OF THE SKIP
The skip is the person who is in charge and normally has the scorecard. He/she is the person who gives out the orders, come this way, don't move the jack, put one at the back, you've got to be up etc etc. But most importantly he/she must use words and body language to encourage members of their rink to play their best and to help them feel part of the team. As well as, hopefully, being able to play,almost, every shot in the book he/she must be of a nature to make the people in their charge want to win as often as is possible, accept victory and defeat with equal measure and to enjoy the game whatever the outcome. Well almost !