When I started blogging in August of 2012, as a Lawn bowls coach I was interesting in helping new bowlers find answers to questions which I often heard from new players.
The blog.. "Team Head - Skip or No-Skip", my first blog was under a blog title of "Using the Head". As advice to leads on what to expect from their skips and also a warning about the instructions given by the team skip.
This first blog said " In some clubs new members are taught to do as the skip instructs. Also, in some clubs in large bowling areas, a skip is approved after many years of Lawn Bowls experience. Likewise, in the game of Bowls you will find good Skips and "Want-a-Be" skips. It is not because you have skipped a teams to a game wins; that you are a good Skip."
This advice is for the new player who is put in the lead position. Yes your skip is probably an great player with years of experience skipping games, but most of these players are club-game skips. Lets look at how this difference from a "Competition Skip" and his attitude to the game and his team-mates.
First, because Club games are usually practice games and for the enjoyment of play; several clubs have rules which control what coaching is done during these games. Sometime the only individual to correct a lead on his previous delivery is their regular coach. In my Home Club the many coaches are told "No Coaching" during Evening Games" which was installed so the new member could have fun without continual advice from others.
This week, I was visiting a neighbouring club and bowled a few ends while waiting for a player to arrive to complete the number of players needed. At one point I put my extended foot next to the opponent`s bowl and the skip on the mat (we were playing pairs) said "I don`t need "Green". I later explained to him when we measured for the 2nd point that that bowl (my foot was beside) was a measureable second and only different between our bowls was like an inch. In my communication in competition my skip would know I want it tapped back or drawn up to. (Or would have asked "Is that 2nd point ?"
Wnen picking a team member for a competition a "Good Skip will look for different qualities in his "Lead" and Second" or "Mate". The "Second" in "Fours" will be here consider as a "Second Lead". Remember the Team "Skip" will always be on the mat and his "Second" in the head as each end come to the final bowls for that end.
His "Second" should have his confidence of "Reading the Head" and able to "Communicate with his Skip". Long conversations from "Head to Mat" should always be avoided but if more than one bowl has been displaced by the last delivered bowl; such change in the Head should be told to the "Skip" on the mat.
A "No Change" comment or signal is best even if nothing has changed. (A good "No Change" hand signal is the " Same or Equal Distance Signal" - two palms down extended in front and moved left and right parallel to the playing service).
The "Second" should have had sufficent experience to be able to remember the bowls of their team and the opponent and able to do an "Up-Down" presentation if several bowls have changed or a runner has been thrown. (A "Up-Down" communication starts with the bowl closest to the jack and defined as Your team bowl (hand moved up to the chest meaning "Ours") or the opponents bowl. (Hand moved away from the body and pointing "Down") Then likewise doing the next closest bowl and not afraid to indicate as a "Measure" if the opponent bowl and yours are so close to a measure that it can not be clearly decided. (The most common "Measure Signal" is an action like you are opening a measuring tape and measuring.)
The earlier blog said, "It is because the rest of the team wants to follow you onto the green and has choosen you as leader; you (should) Skip this game.... Respect is not something which rules of play cannot define. If as a leader you inspire "Respectful Support" from your team mates; you are becoming a team leader and their Skip. "Self-respect usually generates team respect".
Here, I will tell a story about a Pairs game in which the opponent "Skip" and I had often "Disagreement" on what makes a "Good Skip" and as he was often telling how he played on the Scotland National Team. As we walked to out game green and joking as were passing the umpire; I said to him. "You know that when you do your runner you are "Foot Faulting" if your foot leaves the mat before your bowl has landed on the green".
In the 2nd or 3rd end he did a "Heavy Runner" and as we started the next end of play the umpire came over and spoke to him saying that he had foot faulted and that was his "Warning". During that end of play and the next two he complained to me about women umpires and the league should not use women umpires during money games. Halfways through the game his lead took a minute to talk to me and asked "What is the matter with Steven" and indicated that it was difficult to know what he expected of him as "Lead".
The point here was "respect for his lead" and he would have forgotten the visit from the umpire and communicate more. Instead, the skip got into all kinds of things that were going wrong.. "How the club president had asked a sub to replace him" or "Some people are not considered as having knowledge of Bowls". In all the skip lack of "respect" for his lead and other players changed his whole game.
Also the earlier blog wrote, "Use your head. Be wise. Those playing with you are there because they enjoy the game and are doing their best. A good and honest compliment when one is due, will build team spirit. Also, no matter how good you may be on draws or various types of shoots; you will make a mistake."
Again, the advice of the first blog was,
." Giving up a point after a hard fight is not easy; but to make a bad shot and give up several points. Be graceful, admit your bad judgement or bad performance. Yelling at players, Placing Blame, Not expressing satification when a game is going bad but all the team are playing well. The sign will show a good Skip as " the Head of the Team" and also reveal when there is an Ass on the green."
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