Bowls (also known as Lawn Bowls or Lawn Bowling) is a precision sport in which the goal is to roll slightly radially asymmetrical balls (called bowls) closest to a smaller white ball (the "jack" or "kitty" or "sweetie"). Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively BALL ( Biochemical Algorithms Library) is a C++ library containing common algorithms used in Biochemistry and Bioinformatics. It is played outdoors on grass or artificial surfaces and indoors on artificial surfaces.
Bowls is related to bocce and pétanque. Bocce (or Bocci, or Boccie) is a precision Sport belonging to the Boules sport family closely related to Bowls and Pétanque Pétanque (petɑ̃ːk in French is a form of Boules where the goal is while standing with the feet together in a small circle to throw metal balls as close as possible It is most popular in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and in other Commonwealth nations. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located
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It has been traced certainly to the 13th century, and conjecturally to the 12th. William Fitzstephen (d. William Fitzstephen (died c 1191 was a servant of Thomas Becket, witnessed his murder and wrote his biography about 1190), in his biography of Thomas Becket, gives a graphic sketch of the London of his day and, writing of the summer amusements of the young men, says that on holidays they were "exercised in Leaping, Shooting, Wrestling, Casting of Stones [in jactu lapidum], and Throwing of Javelins fitted with Loops for the Purpose, which they strive to fling before the Mark; they also use Bucklers, like fighting Men. St Thomas Becket (c 1118 &ndash December 29, 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170 London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. " It is commonly supposed that by jactus lapidum, Fitzstephen meant the game of bowls, but though it is possible that round stones may sometimes have been employed in an early variety of the game - and there is a record of iron bowls being used, though at a much later date, on festive occasions at Nairn, - nevertheless the inference seems unwarranted. The jactus lapidum of which he speaks was probably more akin to the modern "putting the weight," once even called "putting the stone. " It is beyond dispute, however, that the game, at any rate in a rudimentary form, was played in the 13th century. A manuscript of that period in the royal library, Windsor (No. Windsor (ˈwɪnzə/ /ˈwɪndzə is a suburban town and tourist destination in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. 20, E iv. ), contains a drawing representing two players aiming at a small cone instead of an earthenware ball or jack.
Another manuscript of the same century has a crude but spirited picture which brings us into close touch with the existing game. Three figures are introduced and a jack. The first player's bowl has come to rest just in front of the jack; the second has delivered his bowl and is following after it with one of those eccentric contortions still not unusual on modern greens, the first player meanwhile making a repressive gesture with his hand, as if to urge the bowl to stop short of his own; the third player is depicted as in the act of delivering his bowl. A 14th century manuscript, Book of Prayers, in the Francis Douce collection in the Bodleian library at Oxford contains a drawing in which two persons are shown, but they bowl to no mark. Francis Douce ( (1757-1834 Antiquary, born in London, was for some timeemployed at the British Museum. The Bodleian Library ( the main Research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in England Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, Strutt (Sports and Pastimes) suggests that the first player's bowl may have been regarded by the second player as a species of jack; but in that case it is not clear what was the first player's target. In these three earliest illustrations of the pastime it is worth noting that each player has one bowl only, and that the attitude in delivering it was as various five or six hundred years ago as it is to-day. In the third he stands almost upright; in the first he kneels; in the second he stoops, halfway between the upright and the kneeling position.
As the game grew in popularity, it came under the ban of king and parliament, both fearing it might jeopardise the practice of archery, then so important in battle. Statutes forbidding it and other sports were enacted in the reigns of Edward III, Richard II and other monarchs. Edward III (13 November 1312 &ndash 21 June 1377 was one of the most successful English monarchs of the Middle Ages. Richard II (6 January 1367 &ndash ca 14 February 1400 was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399 Even when, on the invention of gunpowder and firearms, the bow had fallen into disuse as a weapon of war, the prohibition was continued. The discredit attaching to bowling alleys, first established in London in 1455, probably encouraged subsequent repressive legislation, for many of the alleys were connected with taverns frequented by the dissolute and gamesters. The word "bowls" occurs for the first time in the statute of 1511 in which Henry VIII confirmed previous enactments against unlawful games. Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of By a further act of 1541 - which was not repealed until 1845 - artificers, labourers, apprentices, servants and the like were forbidden to play bowls at any time except Christmas, and then only in their master's house and presence. It was further enjoined that any one playing bowls outside his own garden or orchard was liable to a penalty of 6s. 8d. , while those possessed of lands of the yearly value of £100 might obtain licenses to play on their own private greens.
In 1864 William Wallace Mitchell (1803-1884), a Glasgow Cotton Merchant, published his "Manual of Bowls Playing" following his work as the secretary formed in 1849 by scottish bowling clubs which became the basis of the rules of the modern game. Young Mitchell was only 11 when he played on Kilmarnock Bowling green, the oldest club in Scotland, instituted in 1740. The Scottish Bowling Association was the very first one to be established in 1892, although there had been a failed attempt 1n 1848 by 200 scottish clubs. Today the club is played in over 40 countries with more 50 member national authorities. The home of the modern game is still Scotland with the World Bowls centre in Edinburgh at Caledonia House,1 Redheughs Rigg, South Gyle, Edinburgh, EH12 9DQ.
Lawn bowls is usually played on a large, rectangular, precisely leveled and manicured grass or synthetic surface known as a bowling green which is divided into parallel playing strips called rinks. A lawn is an area of recreational or amenity land planted with grass, and sometimes Clover and other plants which are maintained at a low even height In English garden history, a bowling green is a finely-laid close-mown and rolled stretch of flat Lawn for playing the game of Bowls, a fashion in In English garden history, a bowling green is a finely-laid close-mown and rolled stretch of flat Lawn for playing the game of Bowls, a fashion in An indoor variation on carpet is also played. In the simplest competition, singles, one of the two opponents flips a coin to see who wins the "mat" and begins a segment of the competition (in bowling parlance, an "end"), by placing the mat and rolling the jack to the other end of the green to serve as a target. Once it has come to rest, the jack is aligned to the center of the rink and the players take turns to roll their bowls from the mat towards the jack and thereby build up the "head".
A bowl may curve outside the rink boundary on its path, but must come to rest within the rink boundary to remain in play. Bowls falling into the ditch are dead and removed from play, except in the event when one has "touched" the jack on its way. "Touchers" are marked with chalk and remain alive in play even though they are in the ditch. Similarly if the jack is knocked into the ditch it is still alive unless it is out of bounds to the side resulting in a "dead" end which is replayed though according to international rules the jack is "respotted" to the center of the rink and the end is continued. After each competitor has delivered all of their bowls (four each in singles and pairs, three each in triples, and two bowls each in fours), the distance of the closest bowls to the jack is determined (the jack may have been displaced) and points, called "shots", are awarded for each bowl which a competitor has closer than the opponent's nearest to the jack. For instance, if a competitor has bowled two bowls closer to the jack than their competitor's nearest, they are awarded two shots. The exercise is then repeated for the next end, a game of bowls typically being of twenty one ends.
Lawn bowls is played on grass and variations from green to green are common. Greens come in all shapes and sizes, fast, slow, big crown, small crown etc.
Scoring systems vary from competition to competition, with some being the first to a specified number of points, say 21, or the highest scorer after say, 21 ends. Some competitions use a "set" scoring system, with the first to seven points awarded a set in a best-of-five set match. As well as singles competition, there can be pairs, triples and four-player teams. In these, teams take turns to bowl, with each player within a team bowling all their bowls, then handing over to the next player. The team captain or "skip" always plays last and is instrumental in directing his team's shots and tactics.
The current method of scoring in the professional tour is sets. Each set consists of seven ends (nine ends in a final) and the player with the most shots at the end of a set wins the set. If the score is tied the set would be halved and two more sets are played. If the score is one set each then three tie-breaker ends are played to determine a winner.
Bowls are designed to travel a curved path because of a weight bias which was originally produced by inserting weights in one side of the bowl. Bias is a term used to describe a Tendency or Preference towards a particular perspective, Ideology or result especially when the tendency interferes This is no longer permitted by the rules and bias is now produced entirely by the shape of the bowl. A bowler determines the bias direction of the bowl in his hand by a dimple or symbol on one side. Regulations determine the minimum bias allowed, and the range of diameters (11. 6 to 13. 1 cm), but within these rules bowlers can and do choose bowls to suit their own preference. They were originally made from lignum vitae, a dense wood giving rise to the term "woods" for bowls, but are now more typically made of a hard plastic composite material. Lignum vitae is the Heartwood of species of the genus Guaiacum, the trees of which are also called Guayacan.
Bowls were once only available coloured black or brown but they are now available in a variety of colours including a range of fluorescent hues. They have unique symbol markings engraved on them for identification. Since many bowls look the same, coloured, adhesive stickers or labels are also used to mark the bowls of each team in bowls matches. Some local associations agree specific colours for stickers for each of the clubs in their area. Provincial or national colors are often assigned in national and international competitions. These stickers are used by officials to distinguish teams. An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it in an Organisation or TEAMS ( The East African Marine System) is an initiative spearheaded by the government of Kenya to link the country to the rest of the world through a submarine Fibre
Bowls have symbols unique to the set of four for identification. The side of the bowl with a larger symbol within a circle indicates the side away from the bias. That side with a smaller symbol within a smaller circle is the bias side toward which the bowl will turn. It is not uncommon for players to deliver a "wrong bias" shot from time to time and see their carefully aimed bowl crossing neighbouring rinks rather than heading towards their jack.
When bowling there are several types of delivery. "Draw" shots are those where the bowl is rolled to a specific location without causing too much disturbance of bowls already in the head. For a right-handed bowler, "forehand draw" or "finger peg" is initially aimed to the right of the jack, and curves in to the left. The same bowler can deliver a "backhand draw" or "thumb peg" by turning the bowl over in his hand and curving it the opposite way, from left to right. In both cases, the bowl is rolled as close to the jack as possible, unless tactics demand otherwise. A "drive" or "fire" or "strike" involves bowling with force with the aim of knocking either the jack or a specific bowl out of play - and with the drive's speed, there is virtually no noticeable (or, at least, much less) curve on the shot. An "upshot" or "yard on" shot involves delivering the bowl with an extra degree of weight (often referred to as "controlled" weight or "rambler"), enough to displace the jack or disturb other bowls in the head without killing the end. A "block" shot is one that is intentionally placed short to defend from a drive or to stop an oppositions draw shot. The challenge in all these shots is to be able to adjust line and length accordingly, the faster the delivery, the narrower the line or "green".
Particularly in team competition there can be a large number of bowls on the green towards the conclusion of the end, and this gives rise to complex tactics. Teams "holding shot" with the closest bowl will often make their subsequent shots not with the goal of placing the bowl near the jack, but in positions to make it difficult for opponents to get their bowls into the head, or to places where the jack might be deflected to if the opponent attempts to disturb the head.
There are many different ways to set up the game. Crown Green Bowling utilises the entire green. A player can send the jack anywhere on the green in this game and the green itself is more akin to a golf green, with lots of undulation.
Singles, triples and fours and Australian pairs are some ways the game can be played. In singles, two people play against each other and the first to win to either 21, 25 or 31 shots (how many bowls of ones are closest to the white jack or kitty are shots). The controlling body sets the game to either 21, 25 or 31. An additional scoring method is set play. This comprises two sets over nine ends, an end being the completion of both players delivering all their bowls. Should a player win a set each, they then play a further 3 ends that will decide the winner.
Pairs allows both people on a team to play Skip and Lead. The lead throws two bowls, the skip delivers two, then the lead delivers his remaining two, the skip then delivers his remaining two bowls. Each end, the leads and skips switch positions. This is played over 21 ends or sets play. Triples is with three players while Fours is with four players in each team and is played over 21 ends.
Bowls are played by the blind and Paraplegic. Blind bowlers are extremely skilful due to their extreme sense of hearing and feel. The world's best are a match for the best club level sighted bowlers.
Bowls is popular in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and parts of the United States. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The United States of America —commonly referred to as the It is also gaining momentum in Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Because of its competitiveness, skill and the fact that it is a non-contact sport, suits people from teen years through to their nineties. However, there is a considerable professional competition with many younger men and women playing. Since the early 2000s, the sport has developed in Denmark as well. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe The World Championships held in the UK annually is a £100,000 competition and is watched by 3 million viewers via BBC TV.
Another phenomenon is barefoot or corporate bowls, where established clubs in Australia open their greens to paying customers who are organised into teams for a social few hours on the green.
Bowls is played at the Commonwealth Games; the last being held in Melbourne Australia, where Kelvin Kerkow (Australia) and Siti Zalina Ahmad (Malaysia) won the singles Gold Medals. The Commonwealth Games is a multinational Multi-sport event. Held every four years it involves the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. 2010 sees the Games in Delhi, India. For the film see 2010 The Year We Make Contact. For the book see 2010 Odyssey Two. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country
| 1979 | David Bryant | England |
| 1980 | David Bryant | England |
| 1981 | David Bryant | England |
| 1982 | John Watson | Scotland |
| 1983 | Bob Sutherland | Scotland |
| 1984 | Jim Baker | Ireland |
| 1985 | Terry Sullivan | Wales |
| 1986 | Tony Allcock | England |
| 1987 | Tony Allcock | England |
| 1988 | Hugh Duff | Scotland |
| 1989 | Richard Corsie | Scotland |
| 1990 | John Price | Wales |
| 1991 | Richard Corsie | Scotland |
| 1992 | Ian Schuback | Australia |
| 1993 | Richard Corsie | Scotland |
| 1994 | Andy Thomson | England |
| 1995 | Andy Thomson | England |
| 1996 | David Gourlay | Scotland |
| 1997 | Hugh Duff | Scotland |
| 1998 | Paul Foster | Scotland |
| 1999 | Alex Marshall | Scotland |
| 2000 | Robert Weale | Wales |
| 2001 | Paul Foster | Scotland |
| 2002 | Tony Allcock | England |
| 2003 | Alex Marshall | Scotland |
| 2004 | Alex Marshall | Scotland |
| 2005 | Paul Foster | Scotland |
| 2006 | Mervyn King | England |
| 2007 | Alex Marshall | Scotland |
| 2008 | Alex Marshall | Scotland |
Wins by country: Scotland (16), England (9), Wales (3), Ireland (1), Australia (1)
This Championship is for the predominately outdoor sport, between national bowls organisations affiliated to World Bowls Ltd.
First held in Australia in 1966, the World Championships for men and women are held every 4 years. Tony Allcock MBE (born 1955 is a British Bowls player Born in Leicestershire, England, he is twice world outdoor singles champion (1992 and Robert Weale (Born 3 April, 1963) originally from Presteigne and educated at John Beddoes School, is a Welsh Bowls player Mervyn King (born 4 January, 1960) is a lawn bowler and 2006 World Indoor Singles Champion From 2008 the men's and women's events are held together. Qualifying national bowls organisations (usually countries) are represented by sides of 5 players, who play once as a single and a four, then again as a pair and a triple. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each of the 4 disciplines, and there is also a trophy for the best overall 5-player side — the Leonard Trophy for men and the Taylor Trophy for women.
The next World Bowls Championships will be held in Adelaide, Australia from 24 November – 9 December 2012. Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia with a
| Year | Venue | Singles Champion | Fours Champions * |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Kyeemagh, NSW, Australia | ||
| 1972 | Worthing, England | ||
| 1976 | Johannesburg, South Africa | ||
| 1980 | Frankston, Victoria, Australia | ||
| 1984 | Aberdeen, Scotland | ||
| 1988 | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| 1992 | Worthing, England | ||
| 1996 | Adelaide, South Australia | ||
| 2000 | Johannesburg, South Africa | ||
| 2004 | Ayr, Scotland | ||
| 2008 | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Year | Pairs Champions * | Triples Champions * | Leonard Trophy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | |||
| 1972 | |||
| 1976 | |||
| 1980 | |||
| 1984 | |||
| 1988 | |||
| 1992 | |||
| 1996 | |||
| 2000 | |||
| 2004 | |||
| 2008 |
* Team order is Skip to Lead
** George Adrain played as a replacement
| Year | Venue | Singles Champion | Fours Champions * |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 1973 | Wellington, New Zealand | ||
| 1977 | Worthing, England | ||
| 1981 | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 1985 | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| 1988 | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| 1992 | Ayr, Scotland | ||
| 1996 | Leamington Spa, England | ||
| 2000 | Moama, Australia | ||
| 2004 | Leamington Spa, England | ||
| 2008 | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Year | Pairs Champions * | Triples Champions * | Taylor Trophy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | |||
| 1973 | |||
| 1977 | |||
| 1981 | |||
| 1985 | |||
| 1988 | |||
| 1992 | |||
| 1996 | |||
| 2000 | |||
| 2004 | |||
| 2008 |
* Team order is Skip to Lead. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.
| Country | Men |
Women |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 9 | 16 | |
| 4 | 9 | 13 | |
| 9 | 3 | 12 | |
| 5 | 7 | 12 | |
| 6 | 4 | 10 | |
| 4 | 6 | 10 | |
| 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 1 |
Sir Francis Drake is famous in bowls folklore: he is said to have insisted on completing his game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe before setting sail to confront the Spanish Armada in 1588. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Norfolk Island ( Norfuk: Norfuk Ailen) is a small inhabited island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand Papua New Guinea (or ˈpæpjuːə in Tok Pisin: Papua Niugini) officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral, (c 1540 &ndash 27 January 1595 was an English Privateer, navigator, Slaver, and politician Plymouth Hoe, referred to locally as the Hoe, is a large south facing open public space in the English coastal city of Plymouth. The Spanish Armada ( Spanish: Grande y Felicísima Armada, "Great and Most Fortunate Navy" or Armada Invencible, "Invincible It is unsure whether he won or lost this game of bowls, but he did go on and defeat the Spanish Armada.
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone