The 2nd half of this 6 blog group on Previsualization deals with Mind set. Being in the Zone, Confidence, Concentration and other aspects of theuse of your Subconscious.mind.
The Blind Lawn Bowls FaceBook Page came up this summer and it shows another interesting part of our sport of Lawn Bowls. Imagine bowls without your vision, would you bowl if you could not seeing the bowls. The header page is how a lot of visually impaired Lawn Bowler players (B3 and B4) see the head while the insert photo is an example of a coach having a blind Lawn Bowls player roll his shot.
I tackle this aspect of Lawn Bowls here because of the need for "confidence" by a visually impaired player.
If you do not read further but watch this video I have influenced your thinking. See This youtube video. PLSE.
How would you perform if you decided to blindfold your eyes and bowl a few ends. Really..would it be bad ?? You have the techniques down pat and with the exception of line you should really do quite well.
There is a story about Kitchener Ontario Blind Lawn Bowls champion who was doing a promotion for Blind Lawn Bowls and the sponsor offer $100 for each bowl hitting the jack in an end. She was suppose to have done 3 out of 4.. Yes totally Blind. I asked her, she laughed and replied..."Not really "
Photo (left) is President of Canadian Blind Lawn Bowls Association Vivian Berkeley with her Coach standing behind her..As a totally Blind (B1) Lawn bowlers Vivian has won GOLD for years..
. If you have not watched a Blind Lawn Bowls National competition, you owe yourself, your sport one game. They are great athletics and it will certainly change your ideas..
While talking to a club (visual) member I hear her say "Oh, I have only been bowling for 4 or 5 years, I am not that good" . After a complete 12 lessons of "New members Club Coaching" and a year of social lawn Bowls; every individual should have confidence in their shot. In my "Introduce to Bowl Coaching", a three hour teaching for interested individuals, my last end, and teaching, is to place a jack and without any comments; allow tis first time player to bowl. Often they are surprised as to what they can do.
Social Lawn Bowls is a gathering on the greens as the sun sets and like Darts or Archery is simply the fun to see how close you can get. ( to the jack) Nothing wrong with that, but forYOU, (if your reading this, and have read the previous 5 blogs); you want more than just "FUN" You want to prefect you delivery and also the to have the confidence with each shot..
Photo on right of Blind student receiving bowl or instruction from Coach (who is coach and who is bowler??) (from www.briarsatgreenlees.com.au)
Talking about confidence, concentration, and vision of the bowls performance, and thinking of Blind Lawn Bowls; we see the "Visually Impaired individuals" whom may not have an idea of things like color, distance and scenery.
Distance - For feeling the distance we walk them, on the green, up to the ditch, to know the 35 meters and talk about the bowl delivery to the jack .This way we creates an impression of the distance to the hog line, which is identified as we pass it, to the jack, and what distance it can be and how they will know the distance; and ofcourse the ditch. where heavy bowls end up.
Bias -Walking back down the Green we do the line of the bias of the bowl roll with the new blind bowler while explaining the distance from centre line..Here we must teach difference those players with different degree of visual disability. (example B3 and B4 who can see a bit of white for a distance. (like in the photo above) may have a second coach in white walking the centre line to show them the distance that the bias will take the bowl from centre line and back to the jack..
Line of Delivery.-. A centre Line of nylon is used and bending down and feeling at the edge of the mat they know here the jack is located. a Blind Lawn Bowls player know where the jack is in distance because when it is spotted by the jack coach the distance is told to them (identified by distance markers on the side lines). After position on the mat and adjusting his feet according to the delivery type. (forehand or Back Hand) he receives his bowl from his coach. Their Assistance coach stands in front (above Photo) or behind and is watching the arm movement of practice swings to establish line and for a proper and straight delivery "OK" is said and the bowl goes. Confidence in the coach's ability to see their line in their arm swing..
Bowl Speed - In the same manner,during the delivery and to show the delay of bowl rolling to the jack; the athletic coach's describes the roll of the bowl to the jack. Over time they learn and develop their mind set of what the bowl will do and how the game will be played.
photo (left) from qld.gvt.au is tiled "thelma-and-john" Here the coach is in front, (above the coach was behind the student).In this case, the visually impaired has some vision, and he may use things like the coach (white) foot as his line of delivery.
The coach is the eyes of the Blind Lawn Bowler. Standing within feet of the Blind Lawn bowler, As the bowl leave his hand; the coach is heard to say.
"Good delivery, nice roll, you got the line. Bowl has no wobble is rolling good.(Assurance of performance) "Now half way (to hogline,) it is beginning to turn, still 18 inches (from centre line). About 3/4 (to hogline), now cutting across centre line, missing the front bowls". "Going through "jack area" it is just a little heavy" His personal coach stops.. all is silence. the Blind Lawn Bowler still on the mat is waiting to see where his bowl has stopped. Yes see ?? He hears the Jack coach say from the head " 3 feet at 10 o'clock." The clock system being where 12 o'clock is behind the jack, 6 o"clock in front and 9 and 3 left and right. As the bowlers private coach, escorts him/her from the mat, we hear the coach doing confidence building. ." Very nice delivery. nice location, just behind the jack, Good to catch the jack, if rolled." Once the new bowler is on the mat all is quite except for that blind Lawn Bowls coach who repeats their inter-relationship of bowls,
Now, think of your own bowls.. do you talk to yourself and build confidence. Positive thoughts. Do you see it as not what you would have liked and step away from the mat upset or disappointed.
.
Each Blind Lawn Bowls player has a coach at their side to direct the line of their delivery. The blind student develops confidence in their coach. Is there any reason for that student to not believe that the coach has given the proper information. Confidence. Without confidence the next time on the mat this Blind Lawn Bowls player would not accept the coach's guidance as he prepare him for his line and delivery. Do you encourage yourself before going to the mat. Once on the mat... forgot and just do the proper bowl roll.
The Blind Lawn bowls coach will always be heard as leading his partner to the mat. "Last time you were a little in on your line, I am going to give more line. Same delivery and everything will be good." Yes Partner, like in Pairs, only one is the bowl delivery and the other is the eyes and guidance. A lot of retired Lawn bowls members accept to guide a Blind Lawn Bowls athletic to nationals bowls competitions. Travelling the world where they had gone many times before in their career. Now with a young but visually impaired Lawn Bowls athletic.
This summer, 2013, VIBE welcome International Blind Lawn Bowler to Worthing England.and Bowls England is calling on clubs, counties and individuals to help raise funds for the World Blind Bowls Championships being held in Worthing in 2013
I wish more countries could accept and apply Blind Lawn Bowls like Australia and England has done.
I tackle this aspect of Lawn Bowls here because of the need for "confidence" by a visually impaired player.
How would you perform if you decided to blindfold your eyes and bowl a few ends. Really..would it be bad ?? You have the techniques down pat and with the exception of line you should really do quite well.
There is a story about Kitchener Ontario Blind Lawn Bowls champion who was doing a promotion for Blind Lawn Bowls and the sponsor offer $100 for each bowl hitting the jack in an end. She was suppose to have done 3 out of 4.. Yes totally Blind. I asked her, she laughed and replied..."Not really "
Photo (left) is President of Canadian Blind Lawn Bowls Association Vivian Berkeley with her Coach standing behind her..As a totally Blind (B1) Lawn bowlers Vivian has won GOLD for years..
. If you have not watched a Blind Lawn Bowls National competition, you owe yourself, your sport one game. They are great athletics and it will certainly change your ideas..
While talking to a club (visual) member I hear her say "Oh, I have only been bowling for 4 or 5 years, I am not that good" . After a complete 12 lessons of "New members Club Coaching" and a year of social lawn Bowls; every individual should have confidence in their shot. In my "Introduce to Bowl Coaching", a three hour teaching for interested individuals, my last end, and teaching, is to place a jack and without any comments; allow tis first time player to bowl. Often they are surprised as to what they can do.
Photo on right of Blind student receiving bowl or instruction from Coach (who is coach and who is bowler??) (from www.briarsatgreenlees.com.au)
Talking about confidence, concentration, and vision of the bowls performance, and thinking of Blind Lawn Bowls; we see the "Visually Impaired individuals" whom may not have an idea of things like color, distance and scenery.
Distance - For feeling the distance we walk them, on the green, up to the ditch, to know the 35 meters and talk about the bowl delivery to the jack .This way we creates an impression of the distance to the hog line, which is identified as we pass it, to the jack, and what distance it can be and how they will know the distance; and ofcourse the ditch. where heavy bowls end up.
Bias -Walking back down the Green we do the line of the bias of the bowl roll with the new blind bowler while explaining the distance from centre line..Here we must teach difference those players with different degree of visual disability. (example B3 and B4 who can see a bit of white for a distance. (like in the photo above) may have a second coach in white walking the centre line to show them the distance that the bias will take the bowl from centre line and back to the jack..
Line of Delivery.-. A centre Line of nylon is used and bending down and feeling at the edge of the mat they know here the jack is located. a Blind Lawn Bowls player know where the jack is in distance because when it is spotted by the jack coach the distance is told to them (identified by distance markers on the side lines). After position on the mat and adjusting his feet according to the delivery type. (forehand or Back Hand) he receives his bowl from his coach. Their Assistance coach stands in front (above Photo) or behind and is watching the arm movement of practice swings to establish line and for a proper and straight delivery "OK" is said and the bowl goes. Confidence in the coach's ability to see their line in their arm swing..
Bowl Speed - In the same manner,during the delivery and to show the delay of bowl rolling to the jack; the athletic coach's describes the roll of the bowl to the jack. Over time they learn and develop their mind set of what the bowl will do and how the game will be played.
The coach is the eyes of the Blind Lawn Bowler. Standing within feet of the Blind Lawn bowler, As the bowl leave his hand; the coach is heard to say.
"Good delivery, nice roll, you got the line. Bowl has no wobble is rolling good.(Assurance of performance) "Now half way (to hogline,) it is beginning to turn, still 18 inches (from centre line). About 3/4 (to hogline), now cutting across centre line, missing the front bowls". "Going through "jack area" it is just a little heavy" His personal coach stops.. all is silence. the Blind Lawn Bowler still on the mat is waiting to see where his bowl has stopped. Yes see ?? He hears the Jack coach say from the head " 3 feet at 10 o'clock." The clock system being where 12 o'clock is behind the jack, 6 o"clock in front and 9 and 3 left and right. As the bowlers private coach, escorts him/her from the mat, we hear the coach doing confidence building. ." Very nice delivery. nice location, just behind the jack, Good to catch the jack, if rolled." Once the new bowler is on the mat all is quite except for that blind Lawn Bowls coach who repeats their inter-relationship of bowls,
Now, think of your own bowls.. do you talk to yourself and build confidence. Positive thoughts. Do you see it as not what you would have liked and step away from the mat upset or disappointed.
.
Each Blind Lawn Bowls player has a coach at their side to direct the line of their delivery. The blind student develops confidence in their coach. Is there any reason for that student to not believe that the coach has given the proper information. Confidence. Without confidence the next time on the mat this Blind Lawn Bowls player would not accept the coach's guidance as he prepare him for his line and delivery. Do you encourage yourself before going to the mat. Once on the mat... forgot and just do the proper bowl roll.
The Blind Lawn bowls coach will always be heard as leading his partner to the mat. "Last time you were a little in on your line, I am going to give more line. Same delivery and everything will be good." Yes Partner, like in Pairs, only one is the bowl delivery and the other is the eyes and guidance. A lot of retired Lawn bowls members accept to guide a Blind Lawn Bowls athletic to nationals bowls competitions. Travelling the world where they had gone many times before in their career. Now with a young but visually impaired Lawn Bowls athletic.
This summer, 2013, VIBE welcome International Blind Lawn Bowler to Worthing England.and Bowls England is calling on clubs, counties and individuals to help raise funds for the World Blind Bowls Championships being held in Worthing in 2013
I wish more countries could accept and apply Blind Lawn Bowls like Australia and England has done.
Yes, I know this is long. It is probably the only chance I will have to encourage and change attitudes toward Blind Lawn Bowls.. It is our sport shared by another group of individuals.
ReplyDeleteJohn