48. REFEREES OF THE GAME

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)).

moving a ball in accordance with Law 34; or
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.

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.

THE LAWS OF ASSOCIATION CROQUET