Disrespect - Your gun to Save Bowls

 Let me give you the gun needed to kill Disrespect, which is slowly killing Lawn Bowls and Lawn Bowls Clubs. As culture changes with new generations and new technology creating  a society of total disrespect, so also does this disrespect affect our sport and fellow player. What we accept in daily life results in changes of our more agreeable character strength. A sincere respect for others.. 

First lets understand why the recent "Lost of Respect" in society has reached the point where the U.S President attacks and name calling of individuals as well as disrespect attacks on countries and allies is acceptable. Today, with our the computer and cellphone we are at a distance from the individual behind them. On a bus everyone is with their phones and like reading a newspaper or watching TV, it does not concern other around them. But it does, because as it is introduced into our society and daily life it also bleeds into our the sports. 

In this week World Cup Soccer play a "Red Card" was given to a player for putting his hand over his mouth. He was expelled from the game and could have been expelled from the tournament. WHY ?. Because it is ok to swear, insult and attack others, as long as you are not caught. It is ok to rob a Bank as long as you are not caught. In Lawn Bowls where we has rules (much like laws) and controlling individuals like umpires (much like Police) and club executives we do and accept things which are now ok in our daily life... If we are not caught.

My wife uses the computer to play Scrabble and when I saw 5 games of scrabble on her gaming website, I asked "Why 5 ?" to which she replied "I have had as many as 10 waiting to be played. She explained that sometimes she will wait several days for a player to make a move.  Disrespect to those you're playing with.  I play Domino late at night and often someone of the 4 players to a game has moved and then gone off to do something else. We sit and wait for several minutes for them to move. Disrespect for us waiting and for the game administrators as when the game is over and we have all left the table; those individuals are still sitting at the table 10 ro 20 minutes afterward because they are away from the game..

Last year while coaching a Novice doing her first Novice Single Finals I was not aware that the Provincial Federation President and the Provincial Chief Umpire sitting within a few feet of this Novice Player on the mat;  were doing a loud discussion or private conversation. Both of these individuals are elite players and know the rules of the game. But their lack of  "Respect" for the player on the mat directly in front of them only show that they neither paid any attention to how their interruptions affected her game and performance. It show the total lack of respect common in society and our sport and toward fellow players.. In the photo (right) from "Youtube video " of the New Zealand Regional Single's Final, where are the spectators. A lot of empty seats behind the two players (Look down at the 2nd photo (below) and check out the video (of that screen capture) and see all the peoplepresence but off to the left and right of game play.

When after the game she explained this problem I explained that although they were provincial exectives deserving of respect, she should have confronted them. How ?.. Take her Bowls Gun and Blast them. What Bowl's Gun ? Answer - "The Mat"  The player has 2 minutes to perform their delivery and if in stepping off the mat because of a distraction the time limit is exceeded; their coach should expect an extension of the game time limit. Also the player should expect the game officials and club executives to address that problem if they are watching the game..

I explained to her that she should have step off the mat, turned directly to them and waited until they stop talking and then return to the mat and do her best delivery. I explained that if the game umpire saw her standing there it would be the responsibility of the umpire to come over and address the two individuals and warn them that they could be requested to move or leave. Yes the  Game Umpire is expected to do that.

The "Mat" is the Gun to kill "Disrespect"  In our game as new members see a total lack of respect for fellow players by club members, we find their opinion of our club and our sport also lacking; and being proud individuals, they would seek out another sport the following year.  It is the same if sitting at a table with an individual who is always using foul language (Fuck, Shit etc) as  we eventually would get up and avoid those people. (my use of those two words caused a reaction in You, so also an incident of disrespect causes a reaction and opinion of our sport).

 The rules of the game of Lawn Bowls request that the club executives and game officials (club and umpires) not allow spectators within 3 meters of the boundies of the game in play or the mat location, and that all players respect the player who is on the mat in the middle of a performance.  Even players who are on neighbouring rink but in the Line of Delivery of a player on the neighbouring rink is expected to not move.   When you are on the mat and your delivery is interrupted by something you should step of the mat and redo your Pre-Mat preparations. Very often the skip is giving instructions to a player while they are doing their delivery. This lack of respect by skips is the same as a player having done a good delivery and moved the jack to give their team a point or two not seeing the skip give an indication of a "Great Shot". (if not verbal then with a sign of point gained or body language)

Yesterday while travelling home I was told of an incident where the skip was talking to their players between ends of play and a player from the neighbouring rink (or green) came over to their rink and said "Would you two stop talking so much", I explained that this individual is a winter curler who bowls during the summer and expect the same rules of respect applied in both games.

 However, I believe that in the sport of "Curling' it is the club or rink  administration  that is addressing this problem. In Lawn Bowls the  game rules expect the umpire to address the problem. In another sport , Petanque, because France wants the sport of Petanque in the next Olymaptic in Paris, they have introduced the Red, Yellow and Green cards. (Green is used for a stop timer)

Because in this incident of  a "Club Invitation Tournament"; there were a lot of newer players doing their first year of club game play and the not knowing about the respect expected by experience lawn bowler; may have done things as a distraction. Also the clubs need to build this education as a part of their bowl's education. However, the method and words of the offended player also show a lack of respect.

Muscle Memory, the Lawn Bowls Computer (AMem)

 To understand the use of "Muscle Memory" in Lawn Bowls by an athlete who has created a performance with precision, we must compare the athlete's Brain actions (conscious and subconscious) to what we

understanding of Home Computers. Like an action requested on the home Computer to go get your "Email" by the click of a mouse. The computer program executes all the necessary actions and we wait for the mail to appear on the screen.

Also, if the Lawn Bowls Student after much practice has creates an action of a delivery of their bowl to the "Jack"; it is eventually  a subconscious action which when activate by the individual, will action the expected performance. Instead of a click of the mouse, the "Lawn Bowl Athlete" simply activate the trigger action (like imagines their bowl beside the "Jack") and allow the brain's Instinctive mind to perform the action which is called "Muscle Memory".

Have you ever been watching a Lawn Bowls Competition and the "Lead" in throwing the jack to start the end of play, threw it badly and it went out of bounds. So the opponent received procession of the jack and placed it at their distance. But this continues to happen in the next two or three ends as they win the points and procession of the jack again.

The game has been started and you can not change the position of the Players to have a new "Lead". (In the french game of Petanque it is permitted to change the Lead) All you can do is continue as is and hope to win the points and jack each new end of play. 

.However, afterward I certainly hope that the skip works with the "Lead" to help fix the problem. It is a common problem as several years ago when I started my Lawn Bowls at the club we had a Husband and Wife who went to the Canadian Nationals almost every year and He could not throw a straight jack. As he got older and no longer a club skip he tried a game or two as a lead but with their age both stop playing and we have not seen them for years. 

So, with this player of many years (maybe 10) who can't throw a straight jack is a great club skip but what can be done to correct this problem. The solution is the same as you would do with your home computer. You reload the program and fix what is causing it to not perform as expected. Yes, you reprogram their Delivery "Muscle Memory". First, understand what is wrong and Second to reprogram what the Brain is expected to do.

I would like to do this blog in two parts as this problem is an "Advance Member" (AMem) problem. So as a second blog (part 2). I will address the important of teaching correctly new member to throw the jack in another blog.

Understand the problem. As this individual learned to do their delivery, they developed a routine of going to the mat, looking up the green at the "Jack" and after some sort of "Distance identification" simply performed a perfect "Bowl Delivery."  Sometimes this action is trigger by stepping on the mat which is the first action of the delivery. The athlete is surprised of their performance and precision which is usually to within inches of the jack and any of several distances.

With this incident, listed above, which happen in the third "two hour long" game, the skip was heard to yell down the green "Did you have wine to drink during the break ?".With everyone laughing.. a serious tournament but a fun moment of sharing a mistake in the game.

 Yes, the 'Team Lead " who in the previous two game has maintained a good focus on her game and her delivery; was now relax (because of the wine) and  was now allowing the "Muscle Memory" or instinctive delivery to do what appears to be a "Bowl Delivery" of the jack. Yes this can  happen and shows how much power "Muscle Memory" has

. In many of the bowls which  this lead played in the previous two games, the bowls often finished within inches of the jack but now when she step to the mat the subconscious say a request to do what is a "Delivery" and as for the "Jack roll; she simply looked up the green and saw where she wanted the jack and threw it.  In the same manner, her looking at the jack and imagine her bowl beside the jack.  The muscle memory did with the jack throw the same it does with the Bowl delivery. Ir took the needed line of delivery needed for her bowls to go to the center line , calculated the distance to the jack position and did a "Delivery". (as if it was a bowl's delivery).

 The jack was thrown on the actual Delivery line and out of bounds. The brain saw the stepping to the mat as a request of a Bowl delivery and did all the necessary corrections for a bowl to arrive at the jack on center line.  (happens to a lot of relax players)

Now knowing the problem how do you fix it. First, the brain has to be trained to not think that because you are on the mat, that it only apply to a Bowl Delivery. A different routine when on the mat will indicate what is expected and coming. The following exercise of 20 minutes performed for four or five sessions will re-program the brain because now it has different  trigger actions. (looking at the jack in hand, looking at the foot of the skip).

Lets look at this from the Home computer example. The mouse clicked "Gmail" and the computer went and got the program and all the mail in the storage website of Gmail. A different mail like Yahoo Mail would be the same example as the Bowls / Jack problem, How then would you go about to create and access the mail of Yahoo Mail.  You would register as a user with Yahoo. (with the brain you would identify the jack and bowl routines differently).  Yahoo Mail would registered you then open your mailbox and created a "Link"  for your "Yahoo Mail" (with the brain now seeing different routines and similar actions, when the jack is to be thrown the "Muscle Memory" does a different routine but still use similar data)

The following exercise is done with 4 or 5 jacks for four different distances (up and down the green) for about 20 minutes.  It is important to rest after the exercise for 10 or 15 minutes as with the Yahoo you had to wait for Yahoo Mail to register and identify you; so also the brain stores your training. Part of this problem is also the fault of the skip as most often the raison for the wrong thrown jack is when the skip does not indicate a wanted distance. (often the skip lets the lead choose their jack distance,)

In the photo (right) the skip is not indicating where he wants the jack (white spot drawn in) and it is important for the jack throwing player to aim at the shoe of the skip. (otherwise they are imagining where the jack should be) and seeing the jack for a bowl delivery and seeing an (imaginary) image of a jack are the same to the subconscious mind, So in the exercise the lead will practice throwing the jack to a shoe on the green.

In the second part of this blog for the teaching of the Jack roll to new members it will indicate the important of the Pre-mat routine for the Jack as it would suggest teaching the new member a Pre-mat routine for Bowl delivery.

Exercise: (seems stupid but it works)

A mat, 5 jacks,a timer (20 min) and a bowling shoe. If a coach is offering assistance, Then the shoe can be on the foot of the coach standing where the jack is to be thrown.

Logic of Exercise: Because the communication of this player to their Muscle Memory during a "Delivery" is her (his) image of their bowl at the jack; it is necessary to build another image which tells the "Muscle Memory that it is a "Jack roll". With two different routines the subconscious (Muscle Memory) will not use stepping to the mat as the trigger action.

 Since a new member learning to bowl would be shown the skip standing with their foot sideways where the jack is to be delivered; part of this problem is a club which does not teach new members about the start of an end of play. (mat placement, jack roll, skip instructions, etc.) For the lead, the seeing of a foot on the green is bio;d as the image (with the jack in hand) which becomes the visual image to work with in practice while developing the Muscle Memory .

Now the 5 jacks exercise - The practice should be to hit the shoe (of the skip or lone shoe on the green). This distance should be only a few meters at the start of each practice. (The jack distance from the mat.)  Finish your 5 jacks, take the mat and go to the shoe and pick up the jacks. turn the shoe for the return direction and go place the mat at double the distance that you just practice.  Roll the jack to the shoe for this longer distance.

 Each time you roll a jack you look at the jack in your hand, you look at the shoe on the green and like a bowl roll you do a false jack roll swing of your arm and then do a actual jack roll to the shoe (or skips foot). In practice you are building the routine while in a game you allow "Muscle Memory" to execute after your false jack roll swing.

Important - You are building an image of the shoe as object to hit

This exercise will creat over a week of practice an image for a jack roll which when on the mat and  looking at the jack in  hand and aiming up the green at the skips foot your "Muscle Memory" will use all it information which is used with a Bowl Delivery (like actual distance and arm energy needed for that distance) and do a good jack Delivery.  

Prior to this modification of "Muscle Memory" actions, the bowler just lets it happen, which is why the jack was thrown out of bounds. Now, as one learns to communicate changes to "Muscle Memory" and still allow it to be an instinctive performance; the athlete can make changes. Always let the subconscious perform without a thought of doing an action. When the conscious mind see a request for a muscle performance it take control.

Now with two performance images as triggers to "Muscle Memory" don't mix them. Allow your performance to better by knowing what you want to change as a result.  (As an example, the jack you bowl to, can be an imaginary location (for a block) or along a path on your Bowl's bias (like a jack roll); as long as you allow "Muscle Memory" to perform un-interrupted. All new possibilities of performance. 

No Burnt Ends Discussion (NMem)

 Over the last 15 years of Lawn Bowls Blogs some older blogs keep getting a surprising large volume of Views/Visit. The photo of Barefoot bowls (Australia) is the relax bowls rules and social side of Lawn Bowls. But a competition should always be as per Lawn Bowls rules. Social and Competition are different and with respect to the players involved should each have their own standards of respect.

This is a redo of a 2012 Blog where probably at a club coaching session it was discussed and drew a lot of visits by New Lawn bowls members. 

 In a club Tournament play, the term "Burnt ends" means that if the "End of play is not "nil point end" or the bowls are "of equal distance" during a final measure; it must be allowed to continue and replayed unless because of a condition which does not allow for it return to play. Maybe there was a situation where "all of bowls to be replaced (as near as possible to the original position) and then play continued". 

Sometimes the bowls can not be returned to as-it-was prior to the stop of play. Very often this happens by error. When the jack goes out of bounds during play, and it can be spotted on a "Re-spot" as per the 'Condition of Play" and afterward the game play is allowed to continue. The condition of play are required by World Bowls Rules to be announced by the tournament Direction, or written in the "Condition of Play" prior to the game. Very often in the announcement of  the Tournament 'Condition of Play" it simple says - "No Burnt Ends" and "Single Re-spot" or "Duel Re-spot".(which is frequent for indoor bowls). Under these conditions a "Burnt End",  must be replayed and the jack re-spotted as per rules.

   Now, I present a situation of the weekend Triple (social-wise) Tournament.  I say social wise because, although organized and presented by the Provincial Bowls Organization, it did not have an on-greens official and it was made up of 12 teams with several Social Players.  (Social, in that they seldom play in the organizated tournament games)
 

  First, a Burnt end usually means no score and is considered to have been played.  How do you replay an end of play ?? It could played as "continual play" which continues in the next direction of play: or It could be, that all the bowls played are returned to the starting "Mat" position for replay. (This usually happens when there are still bowls at the mat to be played)  Yes, onr would think that "a replay end"  usually happens when the jack is knocked out of bounds.  However,  a "Burnt end" occurs when the score is 0 for the measurement and at this time the scorecards are so been marked. Most accident or actions of play which resulted in the End being restarted and replayed can be performed without problems by using the re-spot or the skips agreeing on a solution.  (ex: An opponent player interfered with the jack movement during a jack roll) Generally, the skips do not agree on a solution like where to place the jack or bowls and therefore that end of play is simple replayed.

Situation as it occurred.    Our neighbouring "Green" team called for a Umpire and there was no Umpire allocated to the game. Because ny opponent skip was an Umpire, he was asked to make the decision  but because he was playing in our game; he said.. "No I don t get involved when I am playing in my game"  So the organizer did the measuring.. She just had an eye operations a few weeks earlier and not being able to make a decision and no umpire available; she declared  that the measure was the same.

 When asked about not able to make a decision by one of the skip, "Do we we replay the end" to which she replied; "No just mark zero on each scorecard"  (This decision by the organizing person would have  cancelled a " No burnt end"  condition of play which was generally used in Provincial competition. If a condition of Play announcement had stated "No Burnt Ends", then to mark a Zero for an end in a tournament would have created a problem.

There may occur times that you have to  mark a "burnt end".(mention above) Generally, when a jack  is not  playable for some reason there is an indication of how or when the game will be restarted.. (If weather was to have stopped play without the instructions of how to stop) Often the stopping of a game for lighting or storm will be followed by  "Finish your end" or "Leave Bowls and Stop Play Immediately". Such actions happen and identify how to stop play for the moment.

I advised, after the game, one of the skip involved,  that he had the right to ask for another official (or individual if no official was available) to measure; when the person could not defind the actual point..  Of course, suggested  that at the time of measure,he word his request like "Do you mind if I ask ...so and so... to measure?"  Also, I suggested that it was not a burnt end and should have been replayed. (which has always in the past been the condition of play for these tournaments)

In the asking of an umpire, it is automatically recognized that it means the acceptance of the decision by the umpire at the end of the measure. Otherwise any decision must be agreed by both skips if no umpire is available or defined by the organizing committee of the tournament.

  However, in no umpire is available, and the organizer, in attempting to do their best to solve the problem has overstep their role as organizer; the skips discuss that decision and know that they can refuse that person as umpire and ask someone (experience skip) to measure, 

Bowls Bias and Off-Bias Delivery (AMem)

About 20 years ago when I was coaching the Blind in Lawn Bowls I crossed a common problem  of the 90s where coaches believed that there was only one way "Method" to holding and the delivery of the bowl up the green to the Jack.  My first blind student had been instructed by a National athlete who was also a coach. Many individual with a visual handcap also has other physical difficulties and I was surprise to find that this blind student had been build a wrist strap to keep her delivery hand straight.

If it had been a weak muscle problem and this leather wrist band was created to offer a muscle support, it would have been easy to accept; but it was more a "keep your fingers straight" instruction of the coach device. Yes the way the bowl is held in the had make for a good and natural delivery. My self, having come to lawn bowls from archery and over those 15 years, when I had developed my archery and my arrow release; created wrist muscles changes.  Although I won gold at Nationals competitions, the Arrow release and arror grip had resulted in a wrist "Relax Muscle" of  a 45 degree angle. Therefore, my lawn bowl delivery wrist and holding of the Bowl  required me to develop a "Bowls Release" much more like a common United Kingdom bowl grip and delivery.

The common mistake, this coach made, is to try to change the natural delivery of the student to what the coach would call " the perfect textbook delivery grip". By using this leather wrist brace, what the coach had done to that blind student, was, in my opinion, WRONG. Instead of finding a proper delivery with the physical limitation, but natural wrist limitations; the coach showed the limited view of her role as an instructor.  Very often as we encounter problems on the green and we attempt to change what we feel is wrong; instead of understanding the difficulty of the student and then creating a "Bowl's Performance" for them, which accepts or uses that physical problem.

Back to the topic of this blog. " Bias and Off-Bias Delivery". Since we can only alter the bias of a bowl in our hand in one direction, we often hear this called a "Reverse Bias" grip.  One of the most common problems in a delivery performance is a "Ridge" or "Slope" which seems to  pull the bowl quickly off line or across our normal "Delivery Line". In other blog I explained "Line of Delivery is the direction you aim your bowl for it's delivery: while "Line of Delivery" is the direction your bowl actually rolls up the green as it leaves your hand. (This line is what you see as your bowl begins it roll and is part of a Post-Delivery analysis of your delivery)

As a solution to having a Ridge or Slope influence on your bowl as it rolls up the green in your "Delivery Line"; we can sometimes "Walking the Mat" for those few inches needed to have our bowl pass just inside (our outside) of the problem area of the green.  When beginning to play that direction, the next time when placing the mat, we can bring it up from the "Mat Line" a few feet which will not change the "Line of Delivery" for the  Jack positioned on center line. But, then again there are times that a  "Ridge" or "Slope" can not be avoided.  And for me it does not help being a left-handed bowler, as my right-hander opponent delivers their bowl almost two feet further right. I guess this same happens on other occurances when being lefthanded avoids areas of play which the normal righthanded playes can not actually avoided. 

Then again, I love my old 1960's Hensilite Classics IIs with their wide bias (#3). Always perfecting my deliveries, over the years I have developed an "Off-Bias Draw" Delivery which some years I seldom  needed to use.  But this last weekend, it was a end-green on which I did my local competition. Normally as an "End-Green" which gets a lot of traffic because of Mat palcement; it would run to the ditch if a wide bias was to take the bowl outside of the "out-of-bounds Line. But this green was so bad that as my bowl roll which needed to approach the out-of-bounds limit (on the "Ditch side" ); my bowl returned, then crossed "Center Line" and continued and finally stopped on the opposite "out-of-bounds" line. Ofcourse, although rarely used I had my ability to use the "Off-Bias" Delivery.  I was glad to have developed my "Off-Bias" Draw. (A Off-Bias Delivery may slow the bowl's delivery speed ( a light wooble), and it is there important to know this weight loss and adjust needed for it to be used correctly)

This Delivery type allows my bowl run Straight for 2/3 the distance to the jack before it has slowed enough to begin the bowl's Normal Bias to the jack. In the past the use of this delivery allowed me to work around rises and falls of the greens in early spring. Often referred to as  "Ridge" or "Slope" by players, the normal bias of a bowl without a "Straight Bias";  often fights with the green in spring and might need at least a three feet off the jack line . In an earlier blog I had show how to "Finger Jack" my new line when wanting to know if the new jack position has creates a  delivery line which must run through a  "Ridge" or "Slope". In this case I did not have a the same problem but the Ditch beyond the limit was to be avoided. I could not simple play a Out-of-Bound and return Delivery.

This trick is not for beginners but allows a player to know their new "Delivery Line" after a jack had been moved.   I would want to know that my bowl would still pass inside of the "Fall to Ditch" limit.(ultsded to see if "Line of Delivery" allowed the Bias "Shoulder" to start 2/3 distance up the green. I ofcourse,have a visualize image of where the bowl's bias takes the it's "Shoulder" of the Bowl's Bias. (The belly is the first start of a Bowl's Bias swing which I wanted to avoid having to use.(as it would have taken my bowl to the Ditch.)  A bowl which runs Off-Bias" can avoid  the top of a ridge and is staying straight because the "Reverse Bias" is forcing the bowl to stand straight and eventually when the speed is slow enough to pull the Bowl onto it actual Bias Line. This trick to see the new line, if done properly will not be seen by others but will allow you to know how your bowl will run with that line you are expected to use. Otherwise, we would roll a bowl as a "Trial End Bowl" and waste it to know something needed for the performance. (A wasted bowl which be saved as most problems can be thought-out and adjustment properly made.

I would want the Bowl Delivery Line to show that my bowl will actually pass straight toward that  "Ridge" before the bowls speed becomes slows enough to work the Shoulder of the Bowl's Bias. By using the Off-Bias delivery, you would want to have your bowl stay straight for about 2/3 of the  jack distance which would then passed the top of the ridge .  Also because the off-bias draw will wobble for that 2/3 "Reverse-Bias", you must know the lose of  speed due to the bowl's wobble. A 1/3 Reverse-Bias has less delivery speed lost because it only is attempting to re-position it's apex (center) before beginning it bias to the jack.  To know how much more weight is needed is a lesson to be learn on the Practice green as you still want a good draw to the jack with your off-bias draw,

In using the finger diagram above, to know the new line after the jack has been oved is for each individual to find their own reference on their hand.  Myself, I go from halfway between thumb and kunkles and just to the bend of last joint. Someone else might use upper joint/wrist or tip of finger. As it is just a reference of the new Line of Delivery", you don't need to hold your hand up as if finding a point of aim. It is your knowing your bias of your bowl to the jack and the purpose is to know if the ridge or problem area of your "Delivery Line" needs a worry as your bowl rolls up the new green. It is a trick which maybe will be used only one or twice a season, but better than wasting a bowl guessing the affected by the  "Ridge" or "Slope" you are wanting to avoid.

For the beginner wanting to understand "Bowls Bias",  I suggest the Colemans Hatch Bowling Club web page from which I took the following Bias Chart and edited by removed several bowls to explain the different types of Bias. For the Youtuber there is also a "Everything you want to know about Bias. video which is 

helpful. The Bias Chart (suggested) has be modified with a 2nd chart  added  to show the  three bias of bowls. On the older manufactured bowls this could be seen by the circle lines on the outside of the bowl, but several of the newer bowls are now appearing without these lines. 

I have not seperated the chart bowls into Outdoor and Indoor Bowls bias although the straighter bowls may be consider indoor carpet bowls. The last time I had to use the Off-Bias Draw was on a boundry green. Normally with my wide bias Hensilite Classic I had to go from mat-line to the out-of boundry line for the bowl's bias. But on this competition my bowl after approaching the Out-of-bound Line would swing back, cross center line and even go out-of-bound on the other side.  My only choice was to use my Off=Bias Draw and after moving as far right (lefthanded me) as possible on the mat I check if my line stayed inside the top of the ridge. The inside side of the rink was often blocked as it was used to attempt to get a bowl near the jack.

When you arrive to start a game, you should take the time to know the bowls of your teammates and the Opponent. Most all manufactures make three types of their bowl's Bias. Although certain manufactures have a bias with less Finish or Shoulder the principle is the same. Narrow Bias bowls of the Name type are usually with very little shoulder or finish and intended for fast greens or indoor bowls. The bowls Bias Chart will show the "Medium" bias of their bowl and may even be marked with MB in the "Stamp". The "Wide" bias bowls are seen to have a good shoulder and finish and if you find a older bowl (Henslite) of the 60s you may even see a "Candy Cane" type bias which swings more then today's Bowls.

As per the photo of the bowls (right) we see three different bowl's Bias and two Manufacture. (white Aero and Black Henslite). The Narrow Bias bowl (white) will have some bend but only about 4 to 6 inches and not finish. This bowl of Aero is usually a good bowl for a lead as no bowls are yet on the green to prevent a direct line to the jack. The brown bowl (top) with two lines is a Medium Bias and if you look at a Bias chart for the manufacture this bowl's line will be what is shown. It has some finish. The Black bowls (bottom) with three "Bias Lines" show a more wider swing as the shoulder swings almost a foot to 18 inches of the center line. Also with a green of good speed (16-10) or an indoor carpet it will have a good finish curve as it stops.

Below is photo of my grip which is not standard because of muscle changes from Archery over many years. The white lines drawn on the photos is to indicate the bowl is in it correct line of delivery.  The edges of the bowl or the nipples or sides of the bowl should be such they parallel the sides of the arm. The photo below show the delivery grip I had to adapt and use for a smooth delivery. It is to indicate that without changing everything in a student or new members delivery style; a good delivery is possible.

 Also a photo of my 1/3 off- bias delivery grip. The 1/3 makes reference to what part of the bias which is being removed by the delivery. One third of the total length to the jack is not much of an "off-bias" and the bowl will roll of the mat with very little wrobble. But there is still some bias in the "Straight" of the bias.  

Where  the wobble and action of the "Off-Bias" Draw is noticable is on a 2/3 Off-Bias draw (not shown). Here you will see the wrobble more as the bowl rolls up the green. A 1/3 off-bias would be used for a shorter jack, and a 2/3 Bias Draw for a longer distance to the jack. The greater the noticable wobble the more delivery weight that will be lost. You will see the bowl  roll almost straight and then take the last two parts of the Bias after nearing the jack.. A full off-bias delivery (3/3 of the distance is all the way to the "Jack"; and is usually used for "Runners" and very heavy takeout shots. Remember, the bowls Bias starts at a very slow speed and with a runner it will spend all it green time attempting to re-dress to the standing Bias position. 

In Video of "Heavy Over-Draws" you will often hear the expression of "Let your Bowl Work the Bias" which is very important in planning a "Off-Bias Draw". It is certain in times of slow greens (spring, Rain, Dew,etc) the "Finish of the Bowl" will be very little as a good "Finish need time to work"  which will only happen on a fast green. Bowls is a "Draw, Draw Game" and these once in a difficult time performance skills are there when you find that everything else has failed. A good smooth roll delivery is always the best results to be expected.

 Very Strange stats yesterday.. Glad someone is asking the right questions.

Beginners' Youtube Learning (NMem)_

 For the Bowls Season 2026 I will attempt to do shorter blogs addressing one theme or principle. Today, the new lawn bowler can find almost any instruction of Lawn Bowls on Youtube by very knowledgeable coaches. Over the last 10 years my blogs have captured many of the un-taught skills that you can develop. 

The blog stats this last week show a one day visit of over 800 readers and the topics they found of interest. Such selected items are usually because a club coach has suggested that their members check out that particular blog.

Last "Thursday Practice" after the game play I told Jim that I was impressed to see his performance and that I expected he would learn fast. He replied that his "Off-the-Mat" Preparation was from a YouTube video he had viewed and that his "Down Low" Delivery was easy because of his winter  sport of Curling. For several years I have suggested to club executives and here in blogs that new members needed more than two or three session of coaching. The future of Bowls and the life of the club depends upon these new members who are interesting in Lawn Bowls.

The four blogs listed above are a reference to the type reader, The "Tina Meter" is a blog about the green speed changing 3 times over an hour and of interest to skilled athletic who are seeking a trick to save a bowl rolled badly and corrected afterward. The second blog "Measuring which bowl is shot" looks at various tricks vice (Mate) can use to decide which bowl is shot. The other two blogs are an opinion of a "Timeout Rule" which in a time game where the umpire has wasted time and it has prevented the team from getting that extra end of play completed. The "Successful Percentage" is being able to read the head and seeing an almost impossible to miss play.  Of the 180 blogs almost everything is covered and discussed. (sometimes too long)

In the past 10 years. I have seen club coaching of new members move from a "Detail Course" to a "All in Three" Course.  When I took my Coaching Instructor Course we were shown what was a "Detail Coaching" Course. At that time, in the late 90's, new coaches were given the layout of a 10 session introduction of Blowls for a new member. Everything from the delivery performance to the local and National Sport organizations. It was usually about 5 weeks and probably 2 sessions a week with each session having a guided practice session.

The guided practice session started with warm-up exercises and one-on-one coaching using club volunteers. Now, here in Canada East we find more of a  "All in Three"  Course given to new members. No way, in my opinion,will three short 2 hour sessions build within that new member a love of bowls which will prepare them for a meanful first year experience. Every spring, we recruit new members but it is only this one chance to created a life time Bowler and member.  Our sport can only survive with a 75 percent long-time membership and 15 percent new members learning Bowls and returning the next few years. Also all clubs have a 10 percent visiting membership as activities and facilities draw from other clubs.  

Yes, there is "Support Coaching" during practice or Game play, for many years club games had forbidden coaching during play. A new type of "Game Practice" has in recent years developed where "Team Coaching" is part of the game.  The objective may have switched from detail teaching of the basic to a  "Get them to the Green" with "Team Coaching" now offering new members the needed help while learning from actual play. The problem with this structure is now everyone with more than a few years experience is an expert and advising on the mistakes made by the new members. The old method was.. "Schooling" and "Play" as to now the whole two hours of game play is all the time having someone telling you what you are doing wrong. Not much fun if you have experience such a game.

 Is this a better coaching ?  No, I don't believe so because as an athlete advances to another level of ability they need qualified coaches for that type of support.  I still see Coaches I know who were certified and even one or two "Level 2" coaches but for the other three level of coaches they are rare in local clubs here in Eastern Canada.

 When Coach.ca, the Canadian multi-sport federation for coaching needs an instructor for a Level 2 or Level 3 instruction seminar they go to Soccer, Hockey, or Baseball to find their Level 4 instructors. (Level 2 is Correction Coach, Level 3 is Competitive Coach while Level 4 is International Coach, they are the most knowledgeable. A Level 5 coach or Sport Psychologist working with the Medical support staff exist in Australia and United Kingdom but certainly does not exist in Camadian Lawn Bowls. Actually, a few years back Bowls Canada brough from Australia their best coach Steve Glassor for the Canadian team training.

The life of our clubs which now are seldom able to celebrate a 50th year of Activity because they have lost the municipal control of their facilities and slowly  move  closer to the club's last year, The allociation of sport facilities end up being allocated to a new sports. These last few years the introduction and fast pace of advancement of "Pickle Ball" has been hard on Lawn bowls membership and Tennis courts are now being changed to  municipal  Pickle Ball courts and their membership are our often our lost Lawn Bowls members.

This new "All in Three" Coaching structure is actually more an "Item Teaching" where bowl grip or Delivery Line was an item explained in light detail with suggestion to check certain Youtube videos.. Today, often my blog have  the coach will suggest that there are good YouTube videos and may even give a list to the new member.

 In watching recebt "curling Videos", I was surprise to hear talk about "Muscle Memory" as part of "Introductory to Curling" to new members . Point being made ?... YouTube has become the Level 2 coach of clubs of several sports and most of the teaching  to new members is left for the finer points to be explained online.

In the previous blog I suggested that clubs had to consider a "Post Novice" program of coaching to keep the second or third year member interested in their development. Yes, a learning club member can find good instruction video on Youtube but it is that one-on-one coaching that is missing with video learning. The major problem with game coaching is the quality of how to explain an error or fault by a volunteer coach may develop a bad delivery which will stay with the Lawn Bowler for many years to come.

Post Novice Course and Coaching

Session one - Day one Gathering of participants and Description of the Course. Becaise these students have been playing for several years, this first session should awaken a taste for all that they don't know. There is an expression "Because you don't know what there is to know you don't ask to be taugth it". The things mention below are just to catch their interest. If time permits I will lay out the 4 other sessions.

 Because over the years my experience in several Lawn Bowls' Clubs; I believe there are many clubs throughout the world that are much like those we have here in Eastern Canada, New members come to learn the sport and because of lack of qualified (Certified) coaches we all use volunteer coaches to teach bowls to these new members. And with club volunteers  also being paid members and wanting to participate, these new members are quickly abandon to learn the rest by them self.

These Novices, or New Members,  receive a few courses  2 or 3 hours teaching before being pushed into club games; and during the remaining of their first year, if  they are lucky, they may find their instructors watching and suggesting mistakes they are making. With limit time, the volunteer instructor is busy in end of Bowls season competition and too occupied with the new members. 

Come the e 2nd or 3rd year  these members as novice are now being guided by comments from the club members who as  experience players believe they are helping them. How long would you remain as a paying club member with this experience where the suggestion  of improvement come from people whom have their own opinion on how to bowl. The Novice is doing the best they can but without a Post-Novice Cource they will continue learning wrong advice. When 20 years ago we were educated as coachs, we were told that teaching was not how to do it but the information of why to do it that way. Many clubs loses thes members.

as the Mat stays always in the same place

First, we, the coaches or volunteer instructors should realize that what the new club member gets in basic instructions is usually limited by the want of their instructor to get them on the green as quick as possible. 

Often The older club members and executives (green keeper) are more concern with mistakes which damage the greens than mistakes the Novice will carry for the next three or four years. If we believe that the new member has join the club to play bowls we should also conclude they want to learn enough to be satifity with their abilities. We as club exectives or coaches also should want to see them coming back every year and become a contributing member of the club..

. However, like a toddler learning to walk, the new member is allowed to fall (fail in their attempts) as club coaches and volunteer instructors believe it is by making mistakes we learn.  So we see the toddler of two years walking with their security blanket and maybe even in their mouth the Pacifier, and our new member is also with is security item (a point of aim on the bank) and his Pacifier (guessing at the jack distance).

In looking for the proper spelling of "Pacifier" I hit upon the dictionary description of "Purificatory"  which is really what this course attempts to do. Purificatory is defined as " A Purificatory practices remove bad thoughts and feelings from someone so they become pure (= morally good)".

 Hopefully these few sessions will remove incorrect information and feelings (of failure or success) which prevent a Novice from advancing beyond the "Basic How to Bowl" ideas and begin developing their own "Pure (good) Delivery". 

The idea of a delivery being an exercise in "find the right line and weight for the jack distance" is a false pacifier (keeping the new member quite for a while). The Introductory course when dealing with their physical performance like delivery; should have introduce the new idea of "Get your body position on the mat right and do a delivery with proper weight for the jack distance .  In this way, thinking only of one thing and your security blanket will be replaced by what all athletes know as "Muscle Memory" (explained in Session 2) and a sport psychologic term called "Self-Talk" (explained in Session 3).

After which the Post-Novice course moves into the third  and final session of how the equipment and Lawn Bowl rules influence their delivery performance. You, the Novice or the instructor, will begin to see the purificatiory ideas will build a performance which is smooth and with body balance. Ideas like "if our body position is correct on the mat. no matter how much delivery weight we use our bowl will come back to "Center Line".

 If not then something other than a mistake occured which made the bowl perform like it did. Maybe it was an envirormental condition. w equipment, or even mental like tired that caused the change. You will learn what the writing and symbols on your bowls mean as it indicates your bowls's bias, size and weight. However, every manufacturer mades a different type of bowl but all bowls perform the same way. The bowl goes straight until it's speed slows to a point where it's weight and bias cause it to swing to the jack. You will learn about wind, rain, sunshine, or even the conditions of grass cuts, only a few of many other influence on your bowl.

This knowledge is more to remove from the new bowler (novice), the idea that did something  wrong and  they must now make a  change. ( your line, your weight, your balance, your attitude). The photo right show the five bowls made by the manufacturer " AERO", but each bowl has three types of Bias, four or five largeness and three (sometime) weights- In a similar nature there are such a Bias Chart for each of the 5 major Bowlmanufacturers..  You will over time and practice know what happen when your bowl does not perform as you though and this course is to give you facts on how to know or analysis such errors and make necessary adjustments in performance or equipment..

 Somethings like "Walking the mat" or "Changing your bowl Bias" are individual skills which you decide to use or not. There are many tricks all athletes use at certain times and some are very complex and take year to develop and other is just knowing the real facts. Last month, I heard a athlete who had done several Canadian national Competition tell a visitor "The bowl has a weight on one side which makes it fall and curve inward" (very false).

The fifth and last session will answers and show how the game can be very interesting in strategy, mental development, and psychological skills. Your confidence and ability to "Focus"; must be build upon having that knowledge to analysis and apply changes during the right time. Changes will lead to the success you want to achieve whether in that delivery, in that game or over the next year. No development is quick as like the practice you have done, so many skills worth perfecting take time to be developed them from knowing what to do and actually doing it corectly. The ideas will be given and you will often think back or research how you progress to the point you wish your bowl career to go. Club champion or Provincial or even international.  Myself, to day when I see a great bowler I just can wait to match play them to see what are their weakness and if I give them a good game or even outperform them. We learn everytime we play someone better than us. 

This introduction of the course should finish with a Question and Answer time where the instructor question what the particpant want to obtain from the course and the Novice reflecting on the difficult they have and how the five session will help them progress in a path to what they expect from Lawn Bowls.

Because the Post-Novice Course should be a part of every club's support to new Members; it should be given evey second or third year. For this reason the course should be open to all club members who are involved in helping new members so when this years course instructor is not available they have an understand of the contents. No two instructors will give the same information but the important fact is that there is advance information being given after the "New Member Introduction " course.

June 10,2026 - Now into my first month of summer Lawn Bowls I don't have the time to Blog. I will attempt a few 3 or 4 page blogs on AMem subject. Last Month (stats above after 2 weeks) went to 10,000 read visit and the last blog on Off-Bias Draws had a 3,455 visit/read a few days later.  It probably was because a strong country like Australia or United Kingdom having a coach read something and mention to others. It is of great satification to know it is appreciated.  Take care as at my age I think this will be my last year to do this level of competition I expect.  Enjoy.

What and Why a Post Novice Course

 I open my desktop computer to do a blog on why Lawn Bowls Clubs should do Post-Novice Courses and the beautiful Screen photo of my Login was Purcell Mounrains.

I know my country but never saw that view of Canada so I looked up it location. Just west of Lethbridge Alberta. I had visited Lethbridge when my sister-in-law lived there and surely saw the montains but not from the view of that photo.. Why, this subject??. That is whom I am, "Learn something new and do a bit of research to better understand it.". Each person is unique in their character and likewise has their own raison for joining the club and trying Lawn Bowls.

The Post-Novice Course must promote the unique raison why the new member of a year or two ago joined the club and  if done properly the instructor will find that the new member ends up becoming a long time club member and eventually an executive or president. Yes this Post-Novice is to help the new member make correction to their physcial performance or knowledge. It will also supply the club executive knowledge of new member's satification. If their decision and expectation were not as they thought; very likely they will not register next year.

. Maybe social structure. or maybe their interest in our sport  was like me wtth the photo(above), they just want to know "What is Lawn Bowls". Just talked with a Novice this evening and her work is extremely detailed so she joined Lawn bowls because; she said about her satification of her game, "I think of nothing when I am lawn bowling, it is so relaxing".

The first lesson of the course is always to define and layout the material to be taught or discussed and it is important to not think every new member wants to be the next Canadian Lawn Bowls champion. The Post-Novice course is to complete the teaching of the sport but each person has a different level of interest in the prefection of the game. The Post-Novice course should be a place to ask questions and learn about the sport, the club, the work of lawn bowls organization and the people whom are old club members and may have even been a Canadian Team members. If a new member finds their expectations of the sport or activities at the club were what they expected then  they will return each year; if "NOT", we have lost them to another club or another sport next spring.

Course layout - After the welcome and greeting those present, the instructor can explain the international structure of coachs and world wide Lawn Bowls organizations. The course should explain what was just written (above). A summary statement of the Course objective might be "It is hoped that after the 5 weeks of a session ever Tuesday afternoon, you have  received suggestion on where you can improve and develop in your Lawn Bowls abilities. Maybe this year maybe over the next few years. And if  you had a different expectation, maybe your suggestions will help us make our club more of the  interest to members that it should be. It should be a place you come to relax and meet friends and your  level of Lawn bowls abilities can be developed to what you wanted."

 For this reason the Post Novice course should not be a fee course but a "Question and Answer" course where members and club both learn what is needed to improve the sport and the club. Some novice will only want to improve their abilities to the point of playing club games, others, who may  have a winter sport of a similar nature, may wants the similar and common logic and strategy of both sports. But the instructor should make it clear that no one is expected to want to become an world class champion or an elite player. Each has their own expectation of the club and the executives. But we will always find in the new member, those who develop their love of the sport and eventually become more caught up in their performance. It is the members who build and save the future of the club and it is the new members who has to define to the club where to grow."

Why a Post Novice course - The Club coach normally, who is teaching new members is doing an introduction to the game and although attempting to not introduce mistakes into their performance; there will always be disappointment and dissatification by new members to learn fast enough. These evaluation of the club can only lead to the new member not returning the following year. It is the time to listen and act. Yes, maybe slowly but they must have hope in the club.

 But there is always a problem at all sport clubs where new members do not return the following year. It is to capture and hold as many as possible while they are with us. Maybe, some older members have to accept a place for these new members. All clubs have a problem with having enough coaches or them having the with time needed to teaching and still look to the needs of Novices. A lot of clubs don't do Post-Novice courses. That is why I think this blog is important to define what should be offered to Novice who after a few years of practice and games, still wants to improve their performance. As we welcome change we also guild a future for the club. Every year, like in many sport clubs we see after the members have gone so also goes the club..

Bowl given to a scotish player (in photo)
 was found in P.E.I. (with his great-grand son)

In the March 2013 blog on the Diary of the "1906 British Tour of Canada"  which was re-published by me in August 2024; the players and their families who came to Canada in the summer of 1906, visited a  Lawn Bowls Club in Valleyfield Que. (just outside of Montreal); But today this club does not exist. The following Diary extract from the Archive.org  gives a description of that Lawn Bowls club they visited; a club that was build for the  Valleyfield Cotton Co  employees  ( extract Page 89 of the Diary) 

"The clubhouse contains a library, six billiard tables, and a skating rink, in addition to the bowling green. The Britishers were not only very well pleased, but somewhat astonished at its commodious and well- furnished appearance."

Yes, This club is gone. Build for the 3000 employees of a small cotton mill town (Valleyfield) in a town of maybe only 10,000 residence (1906) at the companies expense.  So many great clubs like this are of the past and even today Lawn Bowls all over the world fight to stay strong and not be added to the long list of Clubs which have been lost. 

Many the long time members of lost clubs, like myself, are still doing competition at a new and different club. My old club in New Brunswick (Photo right), I believe was destroyed to build a 2nd skating/ Hockey rink when membership dropped below 20 members. Our club and green was just across the street from the Riverview arena. 

We get those new members and if we don't work to keep them their departure means the lost of our club too. Yes some members who only want a Lawn Bowls service and we hear them say " I pay to play and that is all I want to do"; are still important to the future of the sport and our present clubs.

Course Layout - A five session course of 2 to 3 hours with a week setperation to allow the participants to practice and try what was taught. Nothing is going to be perfected in the month and half course but it says to the Novices that we are interested in their opinion and progress. The course is more than a "Do it this way" course but if instructor shows a sincere interest most likely the participants will be back the following year. If the club has a Level 3  Coach, teaching techniques and correction for those wanting to begin competitions; even better.

 Also the instructeur should know that their role is not to perfect the coaching of the first year coaching but also to accept some new members will never go father than draw bowling at the club or interclub games.  There are members for the fun and if one day a Level 3 Coach give a detail course on competition play and these members show that they are not interested; all is good.

Day 1 - Introduction to the 5 basic sessions.  To expand on the Beginning Course and maybe help correct some errors which were not addressed. The beginning course was to teach enough to get the new member into playing and having fun.This first session should mention a lot of unknown facts which draw the interest of the Novice. What is Walking the mat, What is tricks to put on extra weight. What was that competiton that was played last summer between several countries. More a evening of "What did you always wanted to know but did not know it could be taugth. We don't know what we don"t know so we don' t ask.

Day2 3, and Day 4-with each day, will be covering in detail one of the three basic knowledges of  which has an influences on the Lawn Bowl Performance. First Day is the Novice's  Performance and Variables like Getting Weight, or Line when the jack has just been moved. Various tricks like "Finger Line",can be explaineD. Although  a seldom seen tricks ri kicate kube after tge hack is moved; for each individual it is important to your your pointing line. "A" or  "A2" can be different for each person.  *t 8s a tr8ci t9 find the new line. The jack is moved and do you waste one or two bowls to find the line or do you "Finger Line" and know your line. (because you practice it).

 Practice using the "Finger Line" and know your point of line A to B or A2 to B, or something else; depending on their bias or style of delivery. But rather then guess at the new  change of location of the jack this trick helps get a close line of ami (if you are still using a line of aim); saving a wasted bowl of gussing where the line is. All little tricks learned or seen over the years which will help a Novice improve their Physical Performance, 

   Day 2 (being developed) is on the Conditions of play like Rain and Wind and even how to know if the green speed has changed. A blog on a Montreal Lawn Bowl Club showed that in early spring the green speed had changed three times in only four ends because of the end of day temperature change. ( Photo below or See how once can measure changing green speed in blog My Tina Meter on Changing Green speeds)   the effect on the game from the equipment like your bowls, the greens conditions, the conditions of play and even the rules.

Lawn Bowl Club on Waterfront

This year World Bowls is introducing three 3 jack positions and 3 Mat positions for the Commonwealth Games in 2028;  how it will change bowls at a club level.  Or what difference does changing your bowls make with bias, bowls size, bowl weight to a Performance..

 And Day 3 -  Questions and knowledgeable answers. Like "I was told, that I should take a mark on the green for my line because the back board is far away" or "Should I change bowls because the Bias does not do for me what I want?"  I wss surprise to hear a fellow competition player who had been at the Canadian Nationals several times tell a visitor that the "Bowls have a weight inside which make them fall to one side"

All the 5 days should have been structure with 10 minutes instruction, 10 minute practice or correction of a fault and 10 minute rest and discussion. (all new players shold be taught that too long a practice in to good and destroys what could have been learned The fifth day should be a Look at the future and example of what quality coaching (level 3 and Level 4 (Competition Coach) even sport psychology and problems like fears or stress or selftalk. Not to teach it but to let the particants know that level of development is there in the future if they decide to become the next club Top Player..

 The firth session which is a summary and  some correvtion of material missed in the other four days; it should be structure for.Question like "What is the best bowl for a lead" or "What strategy is used in Singles ?" should have instructive videos to teach how some of the greats play or answer those questionsé The instructor must understand that each course participant is not going to go to the same level of development. Some will learn about the problem but not make any change, other will attempt to make corrections but will always be asking advice and other participants will make a plan and decide certain traits of their performance will be what they work on for improvement.