To do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19, Dartmouth Lawn Bowls Club is implementing a Return to Plan play guided by BCB and LBNS guidelines to ensure the safe operation of bowls at our club during the public health emergency.
Keep in touch with this page and our
COVID-19 Updates page for up to date information as we navigate this unprecedented time for our sport and our community. 
To navigate this page, click on the heading on each section to open up the information for it.
The full DLBC and LBNS Phase 2 Return to Play Plans can be found by clicking on the headings below:
Phase 2:
Club Operational Safety Procedures- Phase 2
Common Operational Safety Procedures- Phase 2
LBNS Bowls Participation Rules- Phase 2
​Phase 3:
DLBC Phase 3 Return to Play Plan (As Of September 3rd)

Before you bowl........ have you:

1. Signed up for DLBC using the membership form? If not,  click here to be directed to the form. Note- Any members transferring their dual-member status to Dartmouth must ensure that the appropriate forms are signed and both club's Safety Officers are informed.
2. Filled out the appropriate Waiver Forms and Declarations and have them ready when you come to the club? If not, click here to be directed to the forms.

Bowler ExPEctations

• If you are feeling unwell, regardless of symptoms, stay home.
• Safe distancing is expected at all times. Posters will be put up at all clubs reminding all about this.
• Masks must be worn on entry and exit of the club. Bowlers may take off the mask during their session.
• Pre-determined substitutions may occur as long as these changes are communicated to the Club Scheduler at least 24 hours in advance. Any of these changes will be communicated to the monitor in advance of the session.
• Use your own set of bowls (either one that you own yourself or have borrowed from the club)
• Bring your own water. Water fountains will be closed.
• Please bring home any waste when you leave.
• Schedule with our Club Scheduler (either directly or through the online booking platform) to book a time to play. If you don’t pre-schedule, you will not be permitted access. Do not bring any visitors to your scheduled bowling timeslot.
• Arrive no more than 10 minutes before your session. Wait for the monitor to allow access (either in your car or in the designated waiting area). Do not loiter in other areas of the parking lot before or after your session.
• Each participant will agree to adhere to the club protocols during their block session (Declaration of Compliance waiver signed).
• A monitor will ‘check-in’ participants and indicate assigned rink, record time, and proceed with ‘check out’ at the end of one hour. Stick to your assigned rink and maintain physical distancing. Do not visit other people.
• Do not shake hands or high five.
• Draws and tap shots are anticipated, drives are not, to avoid crossing into another rink.
• No games, tournaments or competitions will take place during Phase 1 of our Return To Play plan. (Modified games and other formats of play will be re-evaluated for later phases.)
• Do not touch someone else’s bowls, jack, or towel. Kick the bowls in or pick up your own bowls. Don’t share any equipment.
• When not delivering a bowl or directing the head, stand on the boundary of the rink or in the adjacent rink at least 2 metres from all other players.
• Jacks should be centered by nudging the bowl by foot.
• Games may be played during Phase 3. Scoring may take place as long as it is done by a single participant without sharing materials. No club scorecards will be provided.
• Measuring is permitted by one measurer at the completion of the end with the bowler's own measure and ensuring to not touch the bowls or jack. Reminder that since these are not formal "games", if measuring can not be easily due to the position of the bowls- don't measure in this case. Don't use a towel to separate scored shots during measures.
• Dead ends are not replayed or respotted. Continue play with the same lead throwing the jack in the following end.
• Bring your own chair instead of using benches if possible.
• For each draw (unless the Summer Worker is available)- a bowler will need to volunteer to sanitize the rakes and store them. Otherwise they will not be used for the draw.

TO BOOK A RINK

During Phase 3 of our COVID-19 related reopening, anyone wanting to play on Dartmouth's greens needs to book in advance. Requests to bowl during the month of September are now being taken for Phase 3 activities. Substitutions to the schedule are allowed as long as the Scheduler is informed at least 24 hours in advance. The monitor of the session will then be informed of the changes. For more information or to potentially schedule a time, contact Heather Salmon.

TO borrow Equipment (Bowls/Lifters)

During Phase 3 of the COVID-19 reopening of the Dartmouth Lawn Bowls Club, our Return to Play plan recommends that bowlers use their own equipment such as their bowls, a set of bowls borrowed from the club and or any other bowls related equipment a bowler may need. If a bowler needs to borrow a set of bowls or a lifter, fill out this form and the request will be directed to DLBC Provincial Match Chair Debbie Tower to follow up with you.

TO VOLUNTEER as a monitor

What to know about COVID-19

Symptoms

• Fever or Cough (new or worsenning)
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Headache
• Shortness of breath

Some symptoms can show up up to 14 days after exposure to the virus. For more information, visit the information page on the Public Health Agency of Canada here.

Equipment use info

• Club mats can now be used during Phase 3 as they will be sanitized in advance of play. After the conclusion of your bowls, place them in the sanitizing container for it to be prepared for the next session.
• Rakes may be used during Phase 3 as they will be sanitized in advance of use. One person should be designated to use the rake at each end regardless of who scores during an end. Important to note that if the monitor doesn't have a volunteer to assist in sanitizing the rakes (except if the Summer Worker is working and is available to assist), the rakes would not be used for the session.
• Two jacks, one for each end, may be used on each rink. Designate one person to use and set each specific jack if to be used. You can use Tennis balls or half tennis balls as long as they are provided by the bowler and brought out after the session. If used, jacks will be cleaned and sanitized before and after use. When done your session, a designated area for used jacks will be available for used jacks to be disinfected before being used again.
• No scoreboards will be used during Phase 3.
• Measuring is allowed as per the LBNS Phase 3 Return to Play Plan as long as the bowler does not share equipment and physical distancing is maintained.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM DLBC

• The Clubhouse, Washrooms, and Closed-in spaces (ex. bowls room) will be closed during Phase 2 to comply with public health guidelines. This may be reevaluated for later phases.
• Signage will be posted at all entrances with safety protocols.
• Water taps and fountains closed.
• The club will provide hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes in common areas.
• The number of people on a rink is a maximum of 6 players during Phase 3 (Triples Play). Follow Public Health physical distancing guidelines by staying a minimum of two metres (6 feet) away from each other, on and off the green. As DLBC are operating under Phase 3 protocols, rinks have been expanded to 5.5 metres in width to allow for physical distancing with games next to each other.

NEWS and updates

For updates from BCB, LBNS and DLBC- click here to go to the COVID-19 Updates page which will be updated regularly with information regarding COVID-19 and our sport's Return to Play during this Public Health Emergency.

ANY QUESTIONS?

Have any questions regarding anything regarding our COVID-19 related measures and the Return to Play during the 2020 season that hasn't been answered on this page? Use this form to send your questions and we'll do our best to answer them.

Washroom Use during Phase 3

• The member wishing to use the bathroom will first put their mask on and then go to the middle club door to see if the bathroom is occupied. 
• If unoccupied the member will change the sign to occupy before entering the clubhouse.
• Before entering the clubhouse the member will review the sign posted outside the door outlining the procedures for using the bathroom and sanitization procedure.
• After leaving the bathroom the member will return the sign to unoccupied.
• The monitor will record the names of all who use the bathrooms.

Bathroom Use and Sanitization (Sign posted outside the entry door and in bathrooms)

• Always wear your mask when using the bathroom.
• Avoid touching your face when using the bathroom.
• Lower the toilet lid when flushing.
• Do not turn off lights when leaving the bathroom.
• Do not close the entry doors to the bathroom.
• Wash hands thoroughly after use following the directions on posted Hand Washing Poster.
• When you have washed your hands take one of the provided sanitization wipes and wipe down flat surfaces in the wash sink area, faucets you have used, and locks for opening and closing the toilet door.
• Discard your sanitization wipe in the trash in the bathroom.
• When leaving the clubhouse change the sign to unoccupied.
• Report any concerns to the monitor.
• Monitor will record the names of participants who use bathrooms.

Phase 3 Conditions of Play (Bowling Operations and Arrangements for Intra-Club Competitions)

• Skips may go to the delivery end at the beginning, to retrieve and reset their bowls in the designated team spot.
• The mat is to always be placed at the 2-metre mark (in this way only one lead would need to place the mat, regardless of who’s team won the last end)
• The jack is to be pre-set by the skip; use 2 jacks, one at each end (in this way the leads would never touch the jack and reduce the use of shared equipment)
• Skips can centre the jack with their foot or lifter so they do not touch the jack with their hands. Consider designating one skip to set/centre the jack for the entire game, regardless of who won the end (in this way, only one skip would ever touch the jack).
• Each lead is assigned their own mat and jack (in this way, equipment is not shared between leads)
• Touchers must be marked by a member of the team that delivered the bowl (or a marker). Spray chalk is recommended in order that nobody else touches the bowl, or it may be nominated as a toucher.
• Live jacks and bowls in the ditch should not be indicated with any shared equipment. A player may use their personal bowls cloth, placed on the bank, to indicate the position of the jack or bowl.
• For triples play, the mat and/or the jack will be set at the 3-metre mark instead of the 2- metre mark, for the game, to allow for adequate space behind the mat/jack to maintain physical distancing and still observe the play.
• Agree with your opponent who will rake, do the measuring for the game (if applicable). Physical distancing should still be maintained while measuring takes place. For longer measures which require two people, the primary measurer holds the measure at the jack, the secondary person holds the pointer-end. This ensures the main part of the measure is not touched by the secondary person. In all instances where a measure involves two people, both measurers should immediately sanitize their hands and the measure itself after completing the measure.
• If rakes are used for games except Aussie Pairs- a lead will be identified for raking the bowls at each end regardless of who scores the point or points. For aussie pairs each team will designate a player to use the rake at each end of the rink, regardless of who scores a point or points.

 
Arrangements for Intra-club Competitions/Tournaments
The Dartmouth Club Match Chair and committee members will oversee and organize any Intra-club competitions/Tournaments/Jitneys upon approval and recommendation of the Executive Committee.

• Sign up will be done via email or telephone.
• Club members must register to play prior to an announced entry deadline.
• Entrants will be asked to provide their name, contact information, position (if applicable) and names of other team members (if applicable).
• Entrants must be asked to confirm the following: That they have completed the pre-screening tools prior to arriving at the club and will adhere to club protocols and physical distancing measures during the event; That they are not practicing or competing at any other clubs during Phase 3; members of multiple clubs should choose one club to participate at.
• Bowlers can arrive no more than 20 minutes prior to their scheduled start time to register and receive further instructions.
• A record of each person who arrives at the club and identify their arrival and departure times. This record should be virtual/digital if possible, to avoid multiple people using the same book/log. The online scheduling tool can help with this process.
• Tournament competitions will include only singles, pairs, triples and Jitneys. Skips may visit the ‘head’ at the completion of an end to retrieve and place their bowls for the start of the next end, while maintaining distancing from other teammates and opposition.
• If coaches are present they will maintain physical distancing practices, and should not share equipment with participants (including bowls, jacks, and mats). Coaches must adhere to all RTP). 
• Trial ends will be at the discretion of the controlling body and should be included within the established time limit (if applicable).

 
Regarding Spectators for Club Tournaments
Registered Club members, those having completed the insurance waiver and Declaration of Compliance, and having registered with the club Safety Officer, may attend a club tournament, jitney or other competition as a spectator.
All spectators will:

• Wait outside the gate to enter the facility until all participating bowlers have moved to their assigned rink, then are signalled by the monitor
• Wear a mask throughout their ‘visit’ at the facility, except where social distancing is maintained.
• Answer all pre-screening questions asked by the Monitor
• Have name recorded as an attendee for that draw, including time of entry and exit
• Be seated, if permissible on club bench or their own chairs, on opposite sides of the green from the direction of play.
• Maintain 2 metres physical distance from all, including competitors (except family members)