Leads, the first player on a Lawn Bowls Team have always had their position defined as "Do what the Skip asks". Being Smart, or using your Head, does not mean to out guess the Skip' but to make wise decisions.
The role of Lead is to Place the mat and delivery the jack as a new end of play starts. Each are of major importance.
Placing the mat is defined in the rules as being on the "Centre line" and being at or beyond the "Mat-line". Know these two terms and their meaning, even if a Green does not have a Mat-line marker on the side boards. Ex: How does the Mat-line apply when the green protecting "Screens" are being used.
Of course, when the mat is brought forward the "Centre line" can be hard to identify so ask the skip to verify it.
Placing the mat, allows some freedom of choice and after it has been placed (and before jack is rolled) take a look at the "Receiving area" where your team will be rolling their bowls. Do you have left or right handed playing teammates. Do they bowl from the "center-line" or are they bowling off the "mat's corner". Do they "Walk the mat" or have a delivery which is several feet in front of the mat. If the "receiving area" you have choosen are fine greens, and their bowls are rolled, there is a good chance they will delivery a good bowl.
"Rolling the Jack" means putting it where the Skip has asked for it. "Unless, he says "Your Choice" which means to put it where you can bowl best. Probably your "Natural Distance". It does not mean, Second guess the Skip and decide the distance best for the team or best against the opponents. Although, some competition teams will allocate these decisions to the lead.
The leads responsibility is to start a good Head, and sometime "Your Choice" means.. "Where ever you can start a good Head.
Watch the Jack roll, and read its changes in direction especially as it starts to stop. Your bowl will be played to the jack and eventually that small change in direction may be the change in the head you did not want.
Placing the mat is defined in the rules as being on the "Centre line" and being at or beyond the "Mat-line". Know these two terms and their meaning, even if a Green does not have a Mat-line marker on the side boards. Ex: How does the Mat-line apply when the green protecting "Screens" are being used.
Of course, when the mat is brought forward the "Centre line" can be hard to identify so ask the skip to verify it.
Placing the mat, allows some freedom of choice and after it has been placed (and before jack is rolled) take a look at the "Receiving area" where your team will be rolling their bowls. Do you have left or right handed playing teammates. Do they bowl from the "center-line" or are they bowling off the "mat's corner". Do they "Walk the mat" or have a delivery which is several feet in front of the mat. If the "receiving area" you have choosen are fine greens, and their bowls are rolled, there is a good chance they will delivery a good bowl.
"Rolling the Jack" means putting it where the Skip has asked for it. "Unless, he says "Your Choice" which means to put it where you can bowl best. Probably your "Natural Distance". It does not mean, Second guess the Skip and decide the distance best for the team or best against the opponents. Although, some competition teams will allocate these decisions to the lead.
The leads responsibility is to start a good Head, and sometime "Your Choice" means.. "Where ever you can start a good Head.
Watch the Jack roll, and read its changes in direction especially as it starts to stop. Your bowl will be played to the jack and eventually that small change in direction may be the change in the head you did not want.
No comments:
Post a Comment