Next Training Program
Date: April 26-27 (with 3rd date in May 2025)
Location: Dartmouth LBC (2 Mount Hope Avenue, Dartmouth)​
Who Can Participate: Must have at least two years of bowls experience, can attend both days and complete a Criminal Record Check and Respect in Sport Leader Training after the training.
Cost: FREE (LBNS and Sport Nova Scotia through Support4Sport will be supporting the group and individual costs of the training).
To register, contact LBNS Chief Umpire Joan MacDonald for more details.

Laws of the Sport/Domestic Regulations/Event Conditions of Play
The most up to date version of the Laws of the Sport of Bowls is the "Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark, 3rd Edition adopted in January 2019. It can be found by clicking here. Hard copy versions of the Laws may be available from your local club or be ordered directly from Bowls Canada Boulingrin by emailing [email protected].
Up to date BCB policies and domestic regulations affecting specifically Canadian play can be found by clicking here.
​LBNS Conditions of Play can be found by clicking here (for LBNS Provincial and Atlantic events), here (for the Bluenose Championship) or by contacting LBNS Provincial Match Chair Mark Robar.

Officiating Bowls in Nova Scotia
Lawn Bowls Nova Scotia (LBNS) facilitates courses to train and certify officials for the sport of bowls. There are two levels of certification that an umpire can receive in order to officiate the sport. For more information on how to become an official, contact LBNS Chief Umpire Joan MacDonald for more details.

Level 1 (Club) Umpire
This is an entry level training program designed to encourage bowlers to become umpires and gain experience at their local events.  Umpiring Candidates must have a minimum of two years of bowling experience. A Level 1 umpire is certified to officiate at all club, local and provincial events. The training process consists of:

• 3 Half Day Training Sessions (Laws of the Sport, which includes a 25 question take home exam which must be completed and marked before the third session), measuring equipment and techniques, and a measuring practicum). The sessions use the Laws of the Sport of Bowls, the Level 1 Umpire Training Manual and the World Bowls DVD on Umpiring and Marking Skills. The course will be taught by a certified Umpire Learning Facilitator.
• Evaluation – In addition to the written exam completed during the training, candidates must also successfully complete a measuring exam and an oral exam.  Candidates must complete the measuring practicum prior to taking the measuring exam. All exams are based on World Bowls standards. A mark of 90% or better is required for each exam.
• Apprenticeship - New Level 1 umpires must mentor with an experienced umpire for a minimum of 4 hours or 2 tournament games before they can officiate.  New umpires will receive a BCB Umpire pin upon completion of their apprenticeship.

Recertification

• New Level 1 umpires, who have taken the prescribed training and passed all exams, are certified for four (4) years. At any time during their second, third or fourth years, they may get recertified once they have 25 hours of umpiring experience and retake and pass the measuring exam. Upon achievement, they will become a certified Level 2 umpire, and may officiate for a further four (4) years before requiring recertification.

Level 2 (National) Official
A Level 2 umpire is certified to officiate at all club, local, provincial, and national events.
Level 1 umpires can qualify for Level 2 (National) status after officiating for a minimum of 12 months and after at least 25 hours of umpiring experience at club, local and/or provincial tournaments (including their apprenticeship). All umpires are encouraged to keep a log of their officiating activities so that they can demonstrate their experience. A Level 1 umpire must take a measuring exam and pass with a mark of 90% or better in order to qualify as a Level 2 (National) umpire.
Recertification
Existing Level 2 umpires are currently certified for a period of three (3) years. In order to be recertified, they should pass the measuring exam. In order to transition to a 4-year recertification period, Level 2 umpires will be asked to produce a log showing a minimum of 25 umpiring hours, and they must pass the measuring exam. In their three-year or four-year officiating cycle, any umpire must be recertified before the end of their last year in order to remain qualified. Exceptionally, at the end of their current officiating cycle, one year of grace is possible, allowing for recertification to occur during the following year. If recertification does not occur by the end of this extended period, then the umpire is no longer qualified to officiate. In this case, a former umpire can be recertified only after successfully completing the Level 1 umpire course.