Being now between computer repairs (using a Window 7 while desktop awaiting Computer Shop visit) I have these two comments from a reader last week and decided to make a blog just to explain as my Microsoft (blogger) interface does not support my Windows.
The first comment reads "I felt guilty as a Coach because the point which was taught certainly was not well communicated. Even if the lead had forgotten, the skip should have told his lead of the need to stop the continual strong lead's control of the game by his bowl placement and how it affected the head was build. Could you please explain this in a little more detail please, I'm unsure what you're saying?"
First, In 2nd year coaching after the new member has had a year of club games the coach should re-visit the value of the "Lead's Bowl" placement. When I suggested that too often what "was taught certainly was not well communicated" I am referring to the coach's teaching about a good lead bowl placement; is all new because the first year was building technique. After 6 months of no "club Bowls" the coach when, teaching the value of Bowls placement in the head; forgots that this is a new topic or point of view from the previous year's lecture on the need to understand and control the opponent lead's bowl placement. We must remember that most of the techniques of the first year coaching is how to do a proper and smooth delivery. Now after a year's Lawn Bowls (4 or 5 months) the 2nd year member has forgotten their performance and bowls placement because they were more concern on a good delivery than the bowls final placement in the head.
A well plan Coaching lecture is broken into two parts. a lecture by the coach and a on-the-green action as new members attempt to apply what was discussed. In explaining the role of the Lead the coach's lecture should often reference what "A good Skip" expect as a new head is started with the first 4 bowls (two of the club member and 2 of the opponent's lead). Too often the only communication that the 2nd year student receives is the skip is critizism of a bad shot. A coach should understand and explain how the student felt the previous year when without regard for experience they had been placed in the "Lead" position during club games.
A serious Lead wants to be have his performance evaluated as to what the coach had explained as a good placement of their bowls and believe that the skip whom they played with also had the same expectation. The coach should always involve the Skip's communication when explaining what is expected of a new member in the Lead position.
What is wrong is that the on-the-green coaching in Bowls is of major importance and can not be excluded from the coach's lecture and how-to-do control the opponent's building of the head. Instead of instructions on techniques maybe a game video with comments by the coach would be a better first bowls placement in the coaching session.
An example - The coach explaining that the skip from years of experience probably knows the opponent's bowl if in a certain location in the head and how it will affect the opportunity to develop the head for his team. If the evaluation of the opponent lead has discovered the lead is lefthanded then the first bowl in the left frontal slot (7 or 8 o'clock position) forces the opponent lead to switch to back hand. Forehand is easlier for new members but the lead must see their bowl placement as making the less experience (lead) do difficult shots and not get control of the head. (Control can be on the jack or in the frontal position)
Yes, the skip asked for a certain delivery (forehand or backhand) but also the coach should explain how the skip choice has affected the game. Has it forced the opponent to use a difficult to read part of the green?. Has the bowl placement forced the opponents players to follow the lead's delivery side of the rink ? And the coach should explain how the opponent's lead bowls also affect the student's team play as the end progress.
Secondly "Even if the lead had forgotten, the skip should have told his lead of the need to stop the continual strong lead's control of the game by his bowl placement and how it affected the head was build." is best to be explained clearly. An experience "Lead" knows that their bowls in the head, if well placed; have a major control over the remaining part of play of that end of play. Rather than doing well a little of a big task, it is better if the skip instructs the Lead to do the same simple thing every end of play until he instructs a different task of Bowl placement.
Sometime the information given to a Lead is not as complete as a long time player or a skip who after many years has developed a strategy of play. As an example. There is a though of Bowls called "Game Section of Play" which divides a 12 or 14 end of play into 4 section of Strategy. Section 1 (the first 4 ends is information gathering as we learn the green speed and strangeness and study the opponents strength and weakness) This section is not a point gathering task but when a big end of points occurs the 1st Section is finished even if only the 1st or 2nd end of play.
The fight for points or to keep points begans with the 2nd Section of play as the data of Section 1 is used to find and use weakness of opponent and strenghts of team mates. (Four ends of risk taking or careful action as a reasonable point spead is developed or protected) This section may be consider the "Risk-Taking" section because before midway through the game any mistakes can be recovered in the last ends of play.
The other 2 sections of play are "Tight restrain Section" to keep the points gained or "Team Union Section" to gain lost points before too late to be able to recover the game. The Forth section or "Wrap-it-up" Section is the last 2 ends (if 14 ends of play) are to be very careful as both team now know the draw weight, the line of delivery, and can make any number of unique actions. Like a jack-roll to collect 4 or 5 points,
If the lead had been told to put a bowl on the jack and then control the easy draw side of the head and he can do it without too much effort then at one point the skip must explain that they "need to stop the continual strong lead's control of the game by his bowl placement "
When the lead believes their task is to control the head building and Section 1 has ended quickly because "a big end of points occurs. The skip must know that as he changes his strategy and approach to game play so also does the lead.
Some basic of Lead's bowl Placement. With three bowls of play by the lead there should be "First Priority" a very tight point bowl. If this bowl is better by the opponent than the other basics of the "Lead's Placement" will wait as the lead then regains the lost point. If the 2nd comes to the mat and must perform the "Lead's Placement" "First Priority .requirement than that will be the 2nd role. If it is 4 bowls pairs (not triples) the fourth bowl is usually considered a "Free Bowl" which the skip will use by requesting to balance the head or even collect another few points.
It is here that communication is important from the skip to his team as he must change game plan or strategy due to a surprise. All team members including the Lead must follow this instruction from the Skipl
As the Skip attempts to regain the lost point and depending upon the signal from the skip the Lead regaining the shot will either be a "Draw" or "Bit-over". If the shot is regained and the Lead can move on toward his other placement requirement than Section 1 of 4 end continue until the end of End 4. The signal for a "Draw" has always been "Show Bias choice and "Swing arm pointing to the jack" mean "Use this bias and "Draw" to the jack".
"Bit-Over" draw usually means a foot or 18 inches over weight and often indicates the wish of the skip to have the oppoent bowls moved back several inches while your bowl stays there where it made contact with the opponent's bowl.
The photo (right) from BowlsQLD.org Sept 15,2024 in their Test competition against Victoria; show the skip signal for a Bit-over draw. The draw bias is forehand (righthand used for signal) and weight of delivery is to draw to the skip's foot position. (open hand means it is acceptable to roll the jack. As if the open hand will catch the jack) So the skip show the Bias, the weight to be played and the Strategy of accepting a "Jack roll" (because the blue/orange bowl behind the jack is the team's bowl.
In this game (Video on Queenland site, The Victoria's lead miss read the signal and his bowl finished off-line.I said "Miss read" because the weight to draw to the skip's feet is about 2 complete rolls more of the bowl. However, the lead thought of the shot as a take-out shot and changed line for a heavier shot which does not curve as much before getting to the jack/bowl position. I would have added one more signal to the skip's instruction. (keep your line) which is signal by open hand slicing downward slowly or walking over to show the line (fast slice movement of open hand would indicate a takeout shot)
The latter part of the comment is of major importance as " how it affected the head was build", A skip would accept a lead with good understanding how his bowls affect the building of the head later when the 2nd and skip comes to the mat. Under ideal conditions the skip will get the point and control the strength of the opponent's draw. If the skip is not giving the choice of the bias of the draw he wants he is still searching for the best point. When satified the skip will probably close the draw approach of the most accurate side of the green unless a player with a strong draw is to be blocked and then that player's draw preference will be the blocked side.
As the game develops the lead should be watching how the opponent players and skip are building the head and how it affect his own teammates especially his skip and his time on the mat. All team members should have the same insight in how the strategy progress. I believe that the reader is suggesting from his experience the need for the lead to apply this play differently over the 4 section of the game.
The skip may be happy with the control that the lead head building has established and maintain the bowl placement instruction the same throughout the 4 sections of the game. Of course, the 2nd and the skip will use this "Lead's Head" with the new strategy in the other sections of Game play.
The 2nd comment reads "Good post. As a dedicated lead at the age of 72, I find it a very exposed position to play. Have a great game and your team wins, struggle and so does the whole team? Due to lack of bowlers in most club, too many less experience members gravitate to playing skip, long before they have learned to draw a good bowl. I found most skips only contribute with weighted shots ps will get an additional shots when you're holding... In practice games I do skip sometimes, but playing lead in comps gets me picked most times. Love the blog, keep going."
This is the type of Comment which keep us coaches and lovers of our sport busy online and blogging. Thank you .
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