Every club which works hard to promote bowls has developed an athletic whom made their National Team.
We are so proud of them as fellow club members, but if we have coached them a small bit it is even greater satisfaction. If not, we wait hopefully for that one day when they ask us to bowl with them, so we can learn from them.
The last Canadian Nationals I watched, 2011, a young lawn bowls student which I was proud to have worked with was still on the Provincial "Fours" Team. He had gone many times to the Nationals on "fours", since that first time at 18 when he played with the club's national team member. As a new bowler, he was given the chance to play as lead on the club's "fours" entry and although he lacked experience, his team won the provincial Roll-off and qualified.
In Lawn bowls we make the Skip a "god" and let him play his game. { I used a small "g"in "god" because many skips take too much importance in being BOSS and not enough in their leadership role. In the rest of this Blog I will attempt to show how a skip can delegate responiability, especially in the Bowl's Game of "Fours"; and devolop a great team and still play his greatest game.
On the mat, where performance counts, we have to do our best and the skip is probably the most skilled bowler of the team. But strategy is also playing a great game "off-the mat" and most skips only analysis the Bowls game from the "Head" A good skip develops his team with all having a part in the " Game strategy"
On the front end, as Lead and Second, (if given the responsibility by the Skip), these two players with their four bowls should work together to analysis and to give the same head as the "lead" in a Pairs competition.
- Analysis the preference of the opponent and discuss the opponents skills
- Bowl placement which control the opponents access with counting shot that are also short blocks.
- Close the short side unless it is an opponent's weak back hand or your teams preference draw side
.
- Move the mat (within a few feet) to give their partner members the best Bowl's receiving area. This requires knowing your team member's delivery receiving area. (center line, along side of mat, out a bit). Look at the delivery style in the photo (right) and how the front foot placement and bowler's weight can make for hard and bumply receiving area)
- Choose the most advantage first bowl delivery hand (forehand or backhand) as per lead's confidence.
- Balance the head with matching bowls and leave one in the back and on the "Jack Catch Line" area.
- Analysis the weakness of the "Lead End" of the opponents and communicate it to the Third to permit the skip/Mate to make decisions and strategy change. (Jack length, called faults)
- Show the maximum sportsmanship and team spirit. Most important, when the mate (3rd) comes to the mat the head belongs to your team and is well balanced.
On the Back end of "Fours", both the Mate and Skip, should know the forces and weakness of all players. To me the best 4 is a skip with unbelievable draw ability with nerves of steel and a 3rd with good complex skills set. (Complex shots like tap-back, jack roll , blocks tight draws passes done regularly).
The 3rd is the moving communication which keeps the team fine tuned. He can be playing the green with the "Lead End" and the Skip/Mate End (in the house)/ Believe me, in the "fours", a 3rd makes or loses the game by his ability to keep the team working as a team. As the Skip stands alone in the head, he know his work is with the Front End.; to the three players in the head as the skip bowls. He is always makeing the team strong. The 3rd, should insisting the lead and second are in the head during the final bowl roll.; and be asking the opinion and reason that the lead is making decisions of bowls and draws. If the 3rd is really communicating, the team will win as a team. There are a lot of facts that can be analysis and seen by all four players and although the skip has the final decision;. a good "fours" skip will use that gathered information.
I remember in a national competition, the Second told the Third that on two previous occasions that the mat was short of the Mat line. Third told the skip and two end away from the game end, the skip read the sign of the 2nd for a short mat and called the official on it. The umpire gave the position of the mat to us, as a illegal delivered jack (strange call), and our skip, redefined the jack distance and picked up an advantage. (yes it was a physiological point, and not very sportmanlike, you say, but it teached the 2nd to know and correct these sort of problem)
Actions of the Third in helping the skip.
- Reading the head, seeing the balance of bowls, knowing the weakness of opponents and balancing the strength and weakness of each position. Does the opponent lead (or second) out bowl the team's player ?
- Suggestion of Offensive or Defensive actions to build and win the game.
- Keep the three pats of gameplay together (first 4 ends to analysis, next 4 to build lead, and last four should be such prefection of play that it means a win.) A third becomes a third because he now everything.
- Take of the shoulder of the skip the pressure of a great shot by decreasing the lost to one point.
- Communicating the wishes of the skip to the Lead/Second in a manner which keeps team harmony.
- Building support for the skip when that great shot did not happen. Keeping the team spirit.high.
"Fours" are the most team spirit game I know and it can be a very strong game. Four minds each respected for their ability to see and analysis aspects of the game which is best suited to their position.
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| Notes the "Fours" and sign of "down Four" Hong Kong international Danny Ho |
The last Canadian Nationals I watched, 2011, a young lawn bowls student which I was proud to have worked with was still on the Provincial "Fours" Team. He had gone many times to the Nationals on "fours", since that first time at 18 when he played with the club's national team member. As a new bowler, he was given the chance to play as lead on the club's "fours" entry and although he lacked experience, his team won the provincial Roll-off and qualified.
In Lawn bowls we make the Skip a "god" and let him play his game. { I used a small "g"in "god" because many skips take too much importance in being BOSS and not enough in their leadership role. In the rest of this Blog I will attempt to show how a skip can delegate responiability, especially in the Bowl's Game of "Fours"; and devolop a great team and still play his greatest game.
On the mat, where performance counts, we have to do our best and the skip is probably the most skilled bowler of the team. But strategy is also playing a great game "off-the mat" and most skips only analysis the Bowls game from the "Head" A good skip develops his team with all having a part in the " Game strategy"
On the front end, as Lead and Second, (if given the responsibility by the Skip), these two players with their four bowls should work together to analysis and to give the same head as the "lead" in a Pairs competition.
- Analysis the preference of the opponent and discuss the opponents skills
- Bowl placement which control the opponents access with counting shot that are also short blocks.
- Close the short side unless it is an opponent's weak back hand or your teams preference draw side
 |
| A Canada Day Social Bowls (Usually Fours) |
- Move the mat (within a few feet) to give their partner members the best Bowl's receiving area. This requires knowing your team member's delivery receiving area. (center line, along side of mat, out a bit). Look at the delivery style in the photo (right) and how the front foot placement and bowler's weight can make for hard and bumply receiving area)
- Choose the most advantage first bowl delivery hand (forehand or backhand) as per lead's confidence.
- Balance the head with matching bowls and leave one in the back and on the "Jack Catch Line" area.
- Analysis the weakness of the "Lead End" of the opponents and communicate it to the Third to permit the skip/Mate to make decisions and strategy change. (Jack length, called faults)
- Show the maximum sportsmanship and team spirit. Most important, when the mate (3rd) comes to the mat the head belongs to your team and is well balanced.
On the Back end of "Fours", both the Mate and Skip, should know the forces and weakness of all players. To me the best 4 is a skip with unbelievable draw ability with nerves of steel and a 3rd with good complex skills set. (Complex shots like tap-back, jack roll , blocks tight draws passes done regularly).
 |
| Look at team spirit (red team) and 3rd High 5 to skip |
I remember in a national competition, the Second told the Third that on two previous occasions that the mat was short of the Mat line. Third told the skip and two end away from the game end, the skip read the sign of the 2nd for a short mat and called the official on it. The umpire gave the position of the mat to us, as a illegal delivered jack (strange call), and our skip, redefined the jack distance and picked up an advantage. (yes it was a physiological point, and not very sportmanlike, you say, but it teached the 2nd to know and correct these sort of problem)
Actions of the Third in helping the skip.
- Reading the head, seeing the balance of bowls, knowing the weakness of opponents and balancing the strength and weakness of each position. Does the opponent lead (or second) out bowl the team's player ?
- Suggestion of Offensive or Defensive actions to build and win the game.
- Keep the three pats of gameplay together (first 4 ends to analysis, next 4 to build lead, and last four should be such prefection of play that it means a win.) A third becomes a third because he now everything.
- Take of the shoulder of the skip the pressure of a great shot by decreasing the lost to one point.
- Communicating the wishes of the skip to the Lead/Second in a manner which keeps team harmony.
- Building support for the skip when that great shot did not happen. Keeping the team spirit.high.
"Fours" are the most team spirit game I know and it can be a very strong game. Four minds each respected for their ability to see and analysis aspects of the game which is best suited to their position.
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