I heard an interesting story recently.

Team A concluded that Team B preferred a short rolling style game after a few ends.

Next time Team A got to throw the jack they chose to have a longer end across a rougher part of the terrain. Most people would suggest this is a reasonable strategy and within the sprit and rules of the game.

Team B called the umpire to confirm that the jack was not more than 10m it was measured at 9.8m

Meanwhile team B have redrawn the circle.

Team B now ask the umpire to measure the size of the circle and the circle is measured at 52cm and is declared invalid.

Team A point out that the circle has been interfered with and is not the circle that they originally used.

What action should the umpire take?

Why have Team B withdrawn the circle if the jack had already be measured at 9.8 metres?

Team A say the circle has been interfered with. Then they say it is not the circle they originally used?

If I were the umpire, I'd tell them to get on with it.

Suppose for a moment that you are the umpire. One team ask you to measure the circle. You do and your measure show that the diameter is 52 cm.

The circle is not legal, of course. One team says black while the other team says white (I know, this is not what they say, but who cares, all you see is a circle whose diameter not legal).

So you go from what you see, not from what they say or may say.

Guy

I think, at that point, BOTH teams should be disqualified for being petty. Maybe make them play bocce as punishment...

I meant redrawn and not withdrawn... also, as our club always uses circles (either home-made or official), I had just assumed that these had been used in this instance. Anyway, I now agree with another person's comment... both teams should be disqualified for being so petty.

Certainly it seems reasonable that the umpire can only make a decision on what he can observe.

Clearly it is impossible to tell if it was the intention to get the end declared invalid by redrawing the circle.

I would have them replay this part.