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MEN'S SATURDAY PENNANT TEAMS FOR 25th February 2012

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EXTREME WEATHER POLICY - HEAT RULES - PENNANTS SEASON 2011 - 2012

This season will see the introduction of the Heat Rule being applied by the "UMPIRE OF THE DAY" at each venue rather than the previous blanket ban based upon the BOM forecast and radio broadcast on behalf of Bowls WA.

To this end it has been a requirement of every club in the Metro area to have an approved temperature station comprising, at minimum, a thermometer mounted approximately 1.2m above the ground in a shaded area, clear of structures such as brick buildings and steel posts etc, with clear air flow around the thermometer. A Stephenson box housing the thermometer is the most acceptable form, however not absolutely essential if the thermometer is mounted as described above.

The new conditions of play states it is the sole decision of the UMPIRE OF THE DAY and it is this requirement that could cause some concern for Umpires, so the Bowls WA Umpires Committee recommends the UMPIRE OF THE DAY adopt the practice outlined below and to recite or read the statement below, firstly to the managers, out of courtesy, THEN to all the players BEFORE the trial ends, so as to avoid any subsequent ill feeling over decision/s made in accordance with this rule.

Michael Goble-Garratt
Chairman Umpires Committee Bowls WA

UMPIRES STATEMENT TO MANAGERS & PLAYERS REGARDING TEMPERATURE RULE

RECOMMENDATION FOR THE UMPIRE OF THE DAY TO READ OUT TO THE MANAGERS AND PLAYERS PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF TRIAL ENDS ON ANY DAY WHERE THE FORECAST IS FOR HOT WEATHER:

THE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN FORECAST TO REACH 37 / 40 DEGREES (LADIES / MEN'S PENNANTS), THEREFORE , IN ADDITION TO MY NORMAL UMPIRING DUTIES, I AM REQUIRED TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE ABANDONMENT OF PLAY SHOULD THAT TEMPERATURE BE REACHED AT ANY STAGE DURING THE GAME.

IF THE SHADE TEMPERATURE IS REACHED AT OR ABOUT THE 42ND / 56TH END - THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF ENDS FOR A SIDE GAME OF 3 RINKS / 4 RINKS FOR A RESULT TO BE DECLARED, I WILL ALLOW THE ENDS CURRENTLY BEING PLAYED, OR ABOUT TO BE PLAYED TO ACHIEVE THAT RESULT TO BE COMPLETED AND THEN CALL ALL RINKS AT ALL GRADES OF THE GAME OFF THE GREEN/S FOR THE TIME BEING - UP TO 1 HOUR, UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE DROPS.

IF THE SHADE TEMPERATURE DOES NOT DROP BELOW THE 37 / 40 DEGREE MARK, ALL PENNANT GAMES AT THE VENUE WILL BE ABANDONED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULE. OUR INSURANCE WILL PROBABLY ONLY COVER US IN THE EVENT OF SOMEONE SUFFERING FROM THE HEAT IF - AND ONLY IF - WE ADHERE TO THE RECOMMENDED TEMPERATURE RULE, OTHERWISE WE MAY BE DEEMED JOINTLY AND/OR SEVERALLY WITH THE CLUB RESPONSIBLE.

I WILL BE CHECKING THE THERMOMETER AT REGULAR INTERVALS DURING THE GAME, REMEMBERING THAT I AM ALSO A PLAYER AS WELL AS UMPIRE OF THE DAY.

I WILL NOT BE INFLUENCED IN MY DECISION BY CONTINUED BADGERING EITHER WAY. ONCE THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO ABANDON THE GAME, THE DECISION WILL APPLY TO ALL TEAMS/SIDES AT THIS VENUE, AND AN APPROPRIATE "UMPIRE OF THE DAY REPORT - CANCELLATION OF PLAY' FORM WILL BE COMPLETED AND FORWARDED TO BOWLS WA.

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