........ Under Development ...........
In 2015 I wrote a blog about being a good Lawn Bowls Lead
and it has remained a very popular blog and one of the regular Viewer's reads.
This blog "Being a good Lead" which received 2782 reads over the past 4 year is more about a few videos which may still be available on the Youtube Lawn Bowls search.
With the blog's anniversity with a few days I have decided to create a 3 part Blog series which will introduction the lead to Competition Games bowls and special the unique needs of the Lead's responsibility to be involved in a good head and saving time for the team..
What is the role of the Lead ?? The rule book (World Bowls Crystal Mark 3rd Edition) defines the role of the lead as:
In 2015 I wrote a blog about being a good Lawn Bowls Lead
 |
| July 21 Using the Head Stats |
This blog "Being a good Lead" which received 2782 reads over the past 4 year is more about a few videos which may still be available on the Youtube Lawn Bowls search.
With the blog's anniversity with a few days I have decided to create a 3 part Blog series which will introduction the lead to Competition Games bowls and special the unique needs of the Lead's responsibility to be involved in a good head and saving time for the team..
What is the role of the Lead ?? The rule book (World Bowls Crystal Mark 3rd Edition) defines the role of the lead as:
40.3 The lead of the team to play first in an end must:
40.3.1 place the mat as described in law 6.1.1;
40.3.2 deliver the jack and make sure that it is cented before delivering the first bowl of
the end.
40.4 Other duties
Along with the duties mentioned in the previous paragraphs of law 40, players can carry
out any other duties assigned to them by their skip as described in law 40.1.10.
To many competition players and skips, the "Team Lead" position is often considered the most important position. After reading this blog you may understand how the lead's bowls not only define the game strategy, but affects how the game develops from end to end.
Yes it is " The Team Skip " who controls and dictate the total game of Lawn Bowls, but unless "The Skip" involves all his team he will find walking to the mat in "Recovery Mode" When a team has a knowledgeable "Team Lead" , the "Skip" should have a list of responsibilities which can be called "Good Lead Usage List" (Another blog at a later date)
In Competition Play we may find that "The Skip" had delegated several duties to the lead (and Second in Fours). In the Lawn Bowls game of FOURS, the "Team Lead (First) and the "Team Second" work together to make a "Two Player Lead" and here the skip "MUST" assign different responsibilities to each player.
Yes it is " The Team Skip " who controls and dictate the total game of Lawn Bowls, but unless "The Skip" involves all his team he will find walking to the mat in "Recovery Mode" When a team has a knowledgeable "Team Lead" , the "Skip" should have a list of responsibilities which can be called "Good Lead Usage List" (Another blog at a later date)
In Competition Play we may find that "The Skip" had delegated several duties to the lead (and Second in Fours). In the Lawn Bowls game of FOURS, the "Team Lead (First) and the "Team Second" work together to make a "Two Player Lead" and here the skip "MUST" assign different responsibilities to each player.
In social clubs games, we often find the position of "Leads" being that new players or novice which is learning the game. But when we come to a competition game where the Rules Book must apply; the lead must leave the Mat with a successful build head or the "Second" or "Vice" must perform those duties.
It is unfortunate that in a club social games the learning stops for the Lead as he is explained the above "Rule Book Duties for the Lead : Every day on the grean should lead to more learning of the game and continue to development of this player's ability.
In Club Coaching the first 4 lessons sessions (2 hours each) often teach a new player how to throw the jack and roll your balls and the important of having and developing the line of delivery. In helping a new player and in a club social games we often see "The Skip" standing with a pointed foot indicating the expected delivery line. This is the Coaching which has worked it way into the "Club Social Game" however in the Lawn Bowls Rule 34 it says
" 34 Objects on the green - Under no circumstances, other than those described in laws 14, (bowl or toucher) 18, (Jack) 41, (Disability or blind accessories) 49, (Green boundries) and 56.5, (Green marks like a respot mark) must any object be placed on the bank, the green, in the ditch, on the jack, on a bowl or anywhere else to help a player"
In other words, unless a natural occurance element of the game, like the boundry markers; or the surrounding landscape; no object can be placed on the green to help the player in his delivery of his bowl. Certainly not during a Major competitions. Too often we see the "Team Skip" stand off center line to inidicate the delivery line. The "Team Skip" or :Team Vice" can move around the head and even give a indicated reference of his opinion of the delivery line; but when the player is on the mat doing his delivery the "Team Skip" is expected to be on center line in the head. Yes, the Skip can indicate the expected delivery line as a reference (wider or narrow) but can not place an object (his foot or bowling towl) on the green. Also it is forbidden to use placed object (bowls bag) on the side of the bank as an indication of :Delivery Line.
If during a competition play in the following games, there will be the changing of the "Centre Line" as the new area of play is changed; then all marks from previous games such a Center Line chalk marks must be removed as they can become Line indicators in the following games. Of course natural occuring surface damage or surface coloration is considered as a natural element of the playing surface.
It is unfortunate that in a club social games the learning stops for the Lead as he is explained the above "Rule Book Duties for the Lead : Every day on the grean should lead to more learning of the game and continue to development of this player's ability.
In Club Coaching the first 4 lessons sessions (2 hours each) often teach a new player how to throw the jack and roll your balls and the important of having and developing the line of delivery. In helping a new player and in a club social games we often see "The Skip" standing with a pointed foot indicating the expected delivery line. This is the Coaching which has worked it way into the "Club Social Game" however in the Lawn Bowls Rule 34 it says
" 34 Objects on the green - Under no circumstances, other than those described in laws 14, (bowl or toucher) 18, (Jack) 41, (Disability or blind accessories) 49, (Green boundries) and 56.5, (Green marks like a respot mark) must any object be placed on the bank, the green, in the ditch, on the jack, on a bowl or anywhere else to help a player"
In other words, unless a natural occurance element of the game, like the boundry markers; or the surrounding landscape; no object can be placed on the green to help the player in his delivery of his bowl. Certainly not during a Major competitions. Too often we see the "Team Skip" stand off center line to inidicate the delivery line. The "Team Skip" or :Team Vice" can move around the head and even give a indicated reference of his opinion of the delivery line; but when the player is on the mat doing his delivery the "Team Skip" is expected to be on center line in the head. Yes, the Skip can indicate the expected delivery line as a reference (wider or narrow) but can not place an object (his foot or bowling towl) on the green. Also it is forbidden to use placed object (bowls bag) on the side of the bank as an indication of :Delivery Line.
If during a competition play in the following games, there will be the changing of the "Centre Line" as the new area of play is changed; then all marks from previous games such a Center Line chalk marks must be removed as they can become Line indicators in the following games. Of course natural occuring surface damage or surface coloration is considered as a natural element of the playing surface.
This blog will be divided into three parts as I will look at three aspects of "Lawn Bowls" competition play
1. - Most competition games are timed games and all team players should know how to complete the total number of 14 or 16 ends of play without too much difficulty. (This Blog)
2. Although the role of the lead is the place the Mat, throw the Jack, and play the first set of bowls; there may be other aspects of competition Play and the game which now has become the responsibility of the lead and vice as they attempt to stay within the boundries of the Time Limit. (Blog "Vice and "Lead as a Team")
3. Defining a Lawn Bowls Competition requires the Organizing committee and the Skip to know the expectation of both as the "Vice or "Second" works to help the skip finishes all ends of play. This harmony of team players and expectation of the Officials may mean the understanding of "Being Placed on a StopWatch" Appendix 5 as a control of the playeers. Also it may mean how the Organizing committee defines the time indicators and end of play. Without knowledge of these a team may lose several minutes per end of play and result in not getting that last jack into play before the end of the time limit. (Blog "Timed Competition and StopWatch Rule"
In recent weeks I have had watched a five consecutive days of qualifying play as the regional teams attempted to qualify for the Atlantic Championships. These Playdowns have been a total of 10 teams ( five women and five Man) playing at the different Lawn Bowling Clubs around Montreal over five days to win the honour of the two teams which will represent our province Quebec.
When building a team to represent the province or participate at national or international games the decision of who will be the "Team Lead" is usually the most important choice in building the team. Not only should the individual have the skill to perform as a Competition Lead but should have the knowledge of who to assist the team toward it win. The skip must know and analysis the individuals ability and Knowledge. .
Being A Competitive Lead - A recent conversation with20 year veteran who has respresented our Province several time on the Canadian International scene; I heard him say
“I regret that I did not stay "Team Lead" long enough when I started Lawn Bowls at the club."
"They were meeding a "Team Second" and asked me, next thing I knew I was always dictated as "Team Skip".
"I wish that I had had five or 10 more years as lead before becoming Vice or Skip".
This is an all normal reference which skips make to their own development.
“I regret that I did not stay "Team Lead" long enough when I started Lawn Bowls at the club."
"They were meeding a "Team Second" and asked me, next thing I knew I was always dictated as "Team Skip".
"I wish that I had had five or 10 more years as lead before becoming Vice or Skip".
This is an all normal reference which skips make to their own development.
If the lead has the experience and moves into the position of second or vice they not only know what is expected of their lead but they also help their lead to develop into a good team leader game lead.
So the lead becomes vice and the vase becomes skip if you want to win at a national or international level. That would mean 7 to 10 years lead 7 to 10 years vice and skips have 15 to 20 years experience.
What is the best place to put my balls as lead. The lead should always have his balls on around the Jack however several things affect his ability to do this.
1. The jack distance should be the distance that the "lead"" is capable of doing a "Natural delivery"
2. The decision to go "Forehand" or "Backhand" should be based upon the leads performance and inability..
3. The skip should understand that by dictating a "Forehand" oor "Backhand" may not get the best performance from his "Lead" However if the skip has analyzes his leads ability, he may choose to go the opposite hand because the lead like everyone has longer or shorter "Backhand" or "Forehand.". It is centain the strategy put demands upon all the team, including the lead.
First "What to learn or do in each of 3 section of "Game play". The game can be broken into three parts of four ends each. First 4 ends are " a learning or study" ends where we read the green (line and speed) and study the opponents' strength and weakness. Also this is the time to develop our ability to work as a team. There is no "I" in team/
Next we have "4 ends of strategy" where we attempt to gather the big point ends (or find we lost big ends and we are trailing) as we attempt to apply the previously learned information. Each player should learn unique facts which allow themself to do their job and position. Lead should know how to draw tight to jack or out-bowl the opponent lead. Vice should be shifting from lead support to skip support. (Lead support is when lead does not get the tight head and vice (or second) must do the job.) Skip support may be anything from balancing of the head to blocks or jack-trails to create big point end. Hopefully when at the end of eight end the Vice and Skip know their abilities and are leading by 4 or 5 points or more. Bit everyone has bad ends and this Vice-Skip support allows for 6 bowls (in triples) to do the job needed.
The third end should be "Offensive or Deffensive" as you attempt to prevent losing the points by which you are leading or regain the points lost and now trailing.Remember by now most players have their line and weight so a off-centre jack may be the best gift from the "lead" or "Vice".Sometimes we find the last ends giving a big point win but it may be based upon a change of strategy (Sometimes I find an advantage (bad area to play) and wait to use it.).
In some championship games we see 16 or 18 ends and here we are working on the ability of the team to outperform the opponents when after having played for 2 1/2 hours at which time everyone is tired. In these games a "Fourth Section" exist where strategy and ability is tested or found to fail the team. Some teams will fall apart after the end of 2 and 1/2 of play while others are just be getting started and are at their prime.
Most serious Competitions are "Timed Games" and in the rule book there is a whole sections of rules
5A = Players must play without undue delay and in a way which does not prevent their opponents from being able to complete the required number of ends within the time limit decided by the Controlling Body
Ofcourse; the Rule 33 "Leaving the green during the course of play" only applies in a non-timed game.
33 33.1 No player must delay play by leaving the rink of play or their team unless their
opponent agrees, and then only for no more than 10 minutes.
Therefore If a skip or Coach feels this is not being respected they can complain and if the "Game Umpire" believes a team is causing unnecessary delay;( will also happen if the Controlling Body appeals as a result of its own observation) they can put that team on a "timed delivery" where all bowls must be played in 4 minutes. Which is checked by a timing umpire. The team may be allowed two time-outs as well as any delays by the umpire (measure) is also controlled. So the two teams should be able to complete the ends in 8 minutes or there about.
In the rule book there is a whole section on this and the use of a timing official to check the team guilty of delaying the game. Allowed two time outs this team loses their bowls if they do not delivery all their bowls in 4 minutes. An end is therefore expected to be completed in 8 minutes.
At this point = the umpire will tell the offending team that they are being
‘put on the stopwatch’ when any end in progress has been completed. (This (may) also
happen if the Controlling Body appeals as a result of its own observation.)
Once the offending team has been put on the stopwatch, they will be required to
deliver all their bowls in each of the remaining ends within a four-minute period
(timed by an official specifically allocated for that purpose).
2) In each end, timing will start as soon as the jack has been properly delivered and
centred (if the offending team is the first to play in an end) or as soon as the nonoffending team’s first bowl has come to rest
3)Timing will then continue whenever the offending team is in
possession of the rink, and will stop when the offending team’s last bowl of the end
has been delivered.
4) Timing will stop during any interventions by the umpire (for example, to check a short
jack or a line bowl) or any interventions by a coach.
5) A skip can call for a maximum of two time-outs during the period in which timing is
being carried out.
6) The timing official will tell the offending team when the time remaining in any end reaches one minute. 7) At the end of the four-minute period (five-minute or six-minute period if time-outs have been called) the offending team will forfeit any bowls remaining to be delivered in that end. (However, the non-offending team will deliver their remaining bowls to complete the end.)
Giving an example.. This weekend I watch a timed Playdown lawn Bowls game which was 14 end in 2.1/4 hours. The club, where the game was to be played; has requested the Organizing Committee to use protective screen. In order to get the best possible game, the skips of this particular game had decided to pickup the screens after delivery rather than has Screens in the Head during play.
However, when theend was finished and the point declared it was the winning team "Lead" who took the jack, went and got the "protective screen" and after placing it on the green' would return to placed the mat and throw the jack. Strange but the Vice did not hlep this Lead and the opponent lead and skip went about their tasks.
A clear indication of lack of co-operations between the teams and a complete waste of more than a minute to two per end ( over 30 minutes)
Also one of the skips had a habit of staying in the head while his opponent skip rolled his bowl (another minute wasted) and this same skip had an occational habit to go to the head before his last bowl. (another minute or two wasted)
Of course the teans ran out of time and never played all the 14th end. Because the score was tired they played an extra end. This game, which was the final game of 5 was to define the 2nd team to respresent the regional at the Eastern Canada Competition.
Nothing was said by the other skip.. You can be SURE that I would have been the first skip to communicate to the umpire of the need to ‘put on the stopwatch’ the ofending team in order ot allow both teams to finish all the ends of the game. My belief is that "If the organizing committee decides to have a timed game they have to be prepared for a skip to apply the rules and ask for the use of the rules and time the team causing the delay.
However, when theend was finished and the point declared it was the winning team "Lead" who took the jack, went and got the "protective screen" and after placing it on the green' would return to placed the mat and throw the jack. Strange but the Vice did not hlep this Lead and the opponent lead and skip went about their tasks.
A clear indication of lack of co-operations between the teams and a complete waste of more than a minute to two per end ( over 30 minutes)
Also one of the skips had a habit of staying in the head while his opponent skip rolled his bowl (another minute wasted) and this same skip had an occational habit to go to the head before his last bowl. (another minute or two wasted)
Of course the teans ran out of time and never played all the 14th end. Because the score was tired they played an extra end. This game, which was the final game of 5 was to define the 2nd team to respresent the regional at the Eastern Canada Competition.
Nothing was said by the other skip.. You can be SURE that I would have been the first skip to communicate to the umpire of the need to ‘put on the stopwatch’ the ofending team in order ot allow both teams to finish all the ends of the game. My belief is that "If the organizing committee decides to have a timed game they have to be prepared for a skip to apply the rules and ask for the use of the rules and time the team causing the delay.
In the beginning the offending team was leading 6 to 1 and although they did not win the honor to respresent the region; the incident shows how important it is to have knowledge of how a Timed Competition Lawn Bowls Game is played. In respect of the rules and in actions of all the involved players..
