The
players act as referees of the game in the absence of a referee in
charge and thereby incur duties as well as rights (see Law 48(b)).
In doubles play, all four players act as referees of the game.
A player
is not obliged to watch the game when he is not the striker but he
ceases to be a referee of the game while he is not so watching.
CERTAIN
SPECIFIED DUTIES OF A REFEREE OF THE GAME As a referee of the
game the striker must immediately announce any error or interference
he believes or suspects he may have committed. Likewise, the adversary
must immediately forestall play in accordance with Law 23 in
relation to any error or interference that he suspects or of which
he becomes aware, notwithstanding that it may be to his disadvantage
to do so. Further similar but not exhaustive examples are:
subject
to Law 23(b), a player must immediately draw
attention to a misplaced clip;
if the
adversary observes that the striker is about to leave the court wrongly
believing that his turn has ended, he must inform him that he must
complete his turn by playing another stroke or deeming it to have
been played (see Law 35(a));
in handicap
play, if the striker announces his intention of playing a half-bisque
or bisque before he has played all the strokes that he is already
entitled to play, the adversary must similarly inform him (see Law 37(e));
a player
must on request give the adversary any information concerning the
state of the game (see Law 47(b)).
CONSULTING
THE ADVERSARY The striker must consult the adversary before:
playing
a questionable stroke without calling a referee; or
temporarily
removing a ball in accordance with Law 3(c)(2) if
it is in a critical position; or
testing,
otherwise than by an unaided ocular test, whether a ball has scored
a hoop point, is in position to score a hoop point, is off the court
or is entitled to a wiring lift.
QUESTIONABLE
STROKES
A questionable
stroke is a term applied to the striker's next stroke if either he
or the adversary suspects that its fairness or effect may be doubtful.
Examples include but are not limited to a stroke in which a fault
might be committed, an attempted roquet of a ball in a hoop, a distant
attempted peg-out and any stroke that might cause a ball to leave
the court when the striker is unable to ensure its accurate replacement
in a critical or potentially critical position.
Unless
the striker has already called a referee, he must consult the adversary
before playing a questionable stroke and, unless the adversary agrees
otherwise, must arrange to have it specially watched, preferably
by a referee or other independent person if available, or, failing
these, by the adversary.
It is
the striker's duty to take the initiative in this respect but if
he fails to do so the adversary should forestall play (see Law 23(c)(1) and,
if the striker fails to cease play, Law 32).
However, if the adversary fails to forestall play before what he
should have recognised as a questionable stroke, he may not appeal
other than on a question of law, but should remind the striker to
take the initiative in having any further questionable strokes specially
watched.
THE
STRIKER AS THE ACTIVE REFEREE The adversary must not follow the
striker round the court and should allow most decisions to be made
by the striker without reference to himself. If, however, a close
decision has to be made and the adversary is in at least as good
a position to give that decision the striker must consult the adversary
before continuing to play.
WHEN
THE PLAYERS' OPINIONS DIFFER If a ball has to be replaced because
of the carelessness of a player, the offender should normally defer
to the opinion of the other. When the question is whether a ball
has been hit or has moved, the positive opinion is generally to be
preferred to the negative opinion. If there are any reliable witnesses
present the players should agree to consult them to resolve any differences
but no player may consult a witness without the express permission
of the other. Either player may request that a referee adjudicate.