Twitter as Blog Membership

There is so much to be said about a sport like Lawn Bowls without appearing like a overcharged expert.  However, when I started blogging, I was afraid that my little knowledge would be of little or not use to great players.
The level of play of those i see as followers are always impressive; as some very well known and great bowlers have decided to follow this blog and continue to follow at this time (July 2017).  Also, the participation from around the world is unbelievable for a sport that is active only 6 months of the year.  Of course, when North America is with greens under snow, Australia and S.Africa players are in full swing.

One week blog views March 07 to 14th

This photo of blogger stats shows me it is worth my efforts with the hits and the participation of viewers from all countries. I use Twitter to identify my new blog entries and the small 80 regular followers must be telling their friends.

The Internet can be great for sport news and following what is happening but sometimes it gives only so few pieces of the puzzle. Using Twitter and followers who take the time to spread the news, can be faster than trying regular site updates of news. 

Actual hits or views over last two weeks

 On the left we see stas over one week with several hits per day and some hits resulting in  as many as 10 pages being viewed.
 Remember, these hits have to be new hits as older readers or twitter followers have already scanned the pages and read the previous blogs.

Interesting from the distribution map on left is beside the strong Lawn Bowls Countries like Canada, USA, UK and Australia , one can be surprised to see countries like Brazil India and China views.  Last fall when The United States Open of Lawn Bowls  was under way, this type of viewer volume might be normal, however, now in March it is unique and reflects on new interest in Lawn bowls  Results of the US Open was posted on US 2013 Open Web page (Hosted by Southwest Division of Bowls USA) at the time of play.

Blog Articles being read over 2 week period

 Interesting is the titles being viewed. From Last years (March 11, 2013) blog on Measuring of a Bowl to the most recent (March 7th)  When in 2012, I did blogs on the Subconscious Mind and the Zone and Visualization, I never thought they would be so popular and continue to draw viewers.

Thank you all who follow or pass on the information or ideas, from these pages, to other Lawn Bowlers.  At 69, I find my love of Lawn Bowls now to the net and the appreciation of viewers like you.

And then as important as the views is the

Winning Bowls with Positive Thinking

The growing popularity of Lawn Bowls is that it is a game for everyone.  As a social game, it can gather friends and club members out onto the green for a friendly game.  No special dress, just a fun time.
(photo Teeswater Lawn Bowling 2012 , Photobucket,)

               These games can be fun and educational.  Some clubs insist that there is ¨No Coaching¨ to remove the seriousness. However, sometimes, we want to learn and perfect our abilities.     Here, in right photo, we find a serious played game where the rules all being applied and the athletics being clearly doing their best, wheather they are at the local club level, at a inter state (or province level in Canada) or at a international meet.

The difference is clearly seen as dress becomes parts of the presentation.  This blog is about the ability to enter into such a challenge and be proud of your performance.
    Often people refuse to develop into this level of the sport , but when we do enter into such a challenge, we sometimes feel that our game is beyond our present level of skill. In such games we don't have the choice of our opponent, and sometimes we are matched to what the club calles ¨their champion¨. Or we tell ourself that this opponent is beyond our skill level.   We often are beaten before we have rolled the first bowl.

             This negative and destrictive thought that the opponent is too good for us to WIN, leads us to enter into a acceptance of LOSE before we even start the actual game.
   The following story tells of one such occation where I was unaware of the strenght of my opponent and although he was the best of that competition group; I entered into my best performance and before long had had won that game.  The Positive belief that I surpassed his ability and with a preoccupation of a time limit; resulted in a "'Great Performance"


Petanque, the french game of lawn Bowls require pointers to
approach a jack (cochon) and all closer balls count. But
the playing surface is 10 meters and not 30 m as in lawn bowls

 I had entered a "Head-to-head" or "One-on-one" Petanque competition.  Where in Bowls the roll to the jack is always a questionable expectation of results;  In Petanque, the close to the Jack point may be removed with a "takeout" shot. Therefore, where Bowls is a Draw game, Petanque is a Takeout game and the successful takeout is a Carre (when the shooting ball remains at the point of Takeout contact)  Where in Lawn Bowls a takeout is a overweight type shot, in Petanque, the  throwing through the air ball, creates a different takeout strategy. (Shooting Competition on Youtube) In this video the ability to continually remove the ball is counted until the first miss.

  This game was with a Time limit of 20 minutes per game, so I was not aware of how tight this time limit would caused the game to advance;  I therefore, quickly stepped up to the pointing circle and quickly did my pointing shot or takeout shot.
 No strategy thinking or self confidence building pep-talk. I have learned that my experience of Petanque is good for Lawn Bowls perfection, because it develops a overall game strategy. As example, once,in Bowls, I discovered that the 4th point position was the opponents only bowl in the head, and if removed from play it gave me 6 points, Who, in Lawn Bowls, would bother to try a takeout of a far left of the head bowl.  We must always evaluate the options, and not just do the shot which seems so obvious. So often 3 or 4 point end is enough... but when it comes to the end of the game.. all the extra points count.
 Back to the game.  Routine was.. My turn,  Position myself,  Do the decision of shot,  Do the shot, and exit the Pointing circle. However, seem every shot I did was a perfect or near perfect execution of what was attempted. By the time the game was within a points of the finish, 13 points was game;  I discovered that only half of the time limit had been used.  No pressure was needed and I relaxed.  If I had known.. plenty of time for a good game. The game ended 13 - 2 with plenty of time.
     As the Competition continued through the other 5 players I realized that my opponent was one of the best. As the final games of the day approached, it was clear  he had won all of his games and I had to play him again because I was the only one who had beaten him. At this point he was not a stranger but a reconized good player... Pressure or just relax and go for the win


Same pointing system but balls thrown and
often played in sand or gravel

    Of course he won that 2nd game because I now knew of his great potential and skill, But in the first game, I had gone into the game thinking he was just another player and I could easily win the game. I knew most of the best players in the Petanque Elite group of the Montreal Petanque Scene. However, I had been out of the circuit for several yearts, during which time,.  Carl had made an impressive climb in the Elite circle. To me he was a no-body. If I had been playing Thomas, or Bruno whom I had seen in many international competitions, I would have doubted my abilities to give them a good game.
    I had created Positive expectation in the first game and I just performed without any baggage of how great my opponent was, had been, or could be. Memories of previous games, or other negative thoughts I would never have performed as well as I had.
   Going into a match with a Positive attitude means a lot toward the winning of that match. Terry Orlick in his book "In pusuit of Excellence" writes of a mental readiness.
    " Develop an action plan and a way of think that brings you to an ideal state of readiness is essential for... consistance high level of performance." 
  Also about the memories of your opponents or your abilities in generating Positive mental attitude is important as  Orlick writes.
   "The world's best performances ... depend upon positive memories and recall the feeling of previous success"  As a continual writer about the "Being in the Zone" Terry Orlick ideas are of interest.

Other blogs this week... Stewardship of Greens 

CLBC in Vancouver

Having an opinion is what Blogging is all about. It is not that we know it all; but more we are openly expressing it.  I don't think any Canadian Lawn Bowler can not be proud of the Canadian Lawn Bowls Championship in Vancouver.
 First, the "Bowls God" was good to the Planners with sunny weather  and great greens and beautiful clubhouse gardens. And with Bowls Canada first attempt to go streaming video this year; 

.we all were able to see the beauties and even  watch great bowls from our living room. This was Canada's First experience  with Streaming Sports and the several commentators did a great job.  Thank You all who contributed. Especially now with these games are  available for download.
   First opinion or Interesting Facts .
In order to complete the roster of 10 teams per game play, some provinces like host province BC  were allowed to put in a second or "B" Team .  Amazing in some cases (BC's Case) the "B" team did better than the Provincial Roll-off Winners.  Ex: BC Men's "B" team did  1st ("Fours") 2nd (Triples n Pairs) with  the "A" Team drawing into a second last position.. Why ? Was the "B" The Runner-up ?

 Second, from my news sources, the meals and transportation were impeccable  however, remember that the  Cost of Transporting to the  CLBC across 5,500 km  is the major expenses to team members.  One must asks just important the getting-there-cost is  to the quality of the team which participated.
  Some Provinces with large funding helped (or paid almost everything) for their teams. While the teams travelling the farest (Maritime Coast) saw several  player foot bills of more than $2000 in transportation.  Taxi or car rental in BC not included.
   Quebec who in the past has been a strong province, placed last in nearly all game structure. I would ask if this Financing had any part to do with it.   I hope a lot of clubs use the Game video to teach and upgrade their quality of club players, and their Provincial Lawn Bowl representatives at the National.  Not that they weren't the best.. They were.. but some provincial teams seems to have gone like the new Canadian National  Singles... Anyone could go if they want to and paid their way.

- Thirdly, the introduction of "Triples" this year at the CLBC seems to be great for BC whom performed well.

And as the Nationals come across Canada toward Nova Scotia (East Coast) in 2016 we will see if the larger Nationals  and Provincial Financial Support develops or destroy our great Sport 
Players from the East return for immediately return to the Atlantic Nationals where NS. PEI and NB will  travel to Quebec for four days of  Triples and Pairs.   Good thing about this travel is that this is within driving distance even if a good 12 to 14 hours.
 The development of Lawn Bowls in Eastern Canada, ( Quebec east) has seen the Atlantic Lawn Bowls Competition (Photo is Atlantic 2012 Moncton N.B.) played every year in one of the 4 Eastern Provinces. (Newfoundland which has a Lawn Bowls club can not participate because of the cost of travel.. Ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland can be over $500 just for the car per trip) Newfoundland, with a Provincial Association has seldom send CLBC  respresentives although they have always had a successful Blind Lawn Bowls athletic at Blind Bowls Nationals.
 

2013 Starts with Trail Ends

Within the hour the 2013 Canadian Lawn Bowl Nationals will start and run until Saturday (24th August) with sunny weather all week.

Nationals 8:45 waiting for Opening Ceremonies (minutes ago)

  Following the Opening Ceremonies the game will start following a "Trail End". (Rolling two bowls each player up and back down the rink you will be playing)

What do you do with your "Trail Ends"?  The Trail end so often seem to be a contest of rolling to the jack and worst of all, I have seen skips indicating the choose of Green and Draw side.

In "Fundamentals of LAWN BOWLS" by Albert Newton written over 50 years ago in Australia, says "Most bowlers are under the impression that the bowl starts to turn about 2/3 of the Distance between the mat and the jack. This is wrong. If a bowl is delivered on an  even keel for a draw, it will start to turn immediately...... depending upon the speed of the Green played upon."  

So "Trail ends" are to know the SPEED of the Greens and the BIAS of your bowl because as Mr. Newton says  "on heavy greens, because of the speed at which the bowl is delivered, the shoulder of the curve is much closer to the jack than on fast greens"

Yes, the Trail ends are for the bowler to know their Speed of Green and Bias caused by such a speed.  So it is an individual thing and the Skip should be reading the information and not dictating how a bowler does his trail end.

A Team should have a plan for the trail end which help to read the Natural distance (blog coming) of the team and opponent and cover the complete length of the Rink (blog coming)  All with the two bowls each direction.

2013 Canadian Nationals

This Blog  and its pages viewed  stats show a lot of interest

 from Australia, India, Russia and other non North American readers.  For this reason sometimes the blog will reference geographic detail which may be boring to us Canadian or American readers. Thank you for your patience.
 Scenario: This week in Vancouver,  British Columbia (Our Western most Province) the 2013 Canadian Nationals.will be played.

West Van Clubhouse (News photo Outlook)

Grouping  the best of our 12 Canadian Provinces lawn bowlers, for the title of Champion in Fours, Pairs and Triples a lot of Air travel leads to the 9am Monday morning (August 19th) start of play.
Over 100 years ago today, in 1906, 8 Rinks of British bowlers, and their wifes, were on a two month tour of Canadian Bowls Clubs. and  had just finished playing at Berlin Bowls Club (near Waterloo) and Arriving on train at Stratford-on-Avon. Compare their travel to those air flights of todays bowlers.
Yes, the Train actually waited while members ran to the hotel to get the sleeping player who had missed his wake up.  What a change in travel today.

"The British Bowlers in Canada, 1906. (From Archive.org) 

"FRIDAY, I7TH AUGUST.1906 
This is a delightful morning. We pay our bills and get packed up and ready for the road again. Some of the boys 
were late last night, being in different hotels and somewhat scattered. Most of us, however, are up in good time and asking after each other's welfare, how each slept last night, tc., etc. At the last moment, and just before getting on the car, it is discovered that one of our party is not accounted for. 
    This calls for a temporary halt, and two of our party are detailed to go on a voyage of discovery. They found the missing one fast asleep and utterly oblivious of the cares and anxieties of travel. His excuse, when awakened, was that he had thought that eleven o'clock was the hour for leaving, instead  of nine. The excuse was accepted with a smile, and helping hands soon had the drowsy one ready for the road. We get a most hearty send oft from the Berliners " Hip, hip, 
hurrahs " ringing in our ears as the train leaves the station, and some of them shaking hands as it begins to gather speed. Our programme for to-day is a rather lengthy one, and very divided, viz. : 

10.0 a.m. Arrive in Stratford, where the Mayor and Council and representatives of Bowling Club will receive party. 
Five rinks will be taken to Windsor, 1 Albion and Queen's Hotels, and three rinks will proceed to Mitchell by special train as guests of the Mitchell Bowling Club ; returning, leave Mitchell at 5.55 p.m., and reach Stratford at 6.20 p.m." 

Over the next week our provincial teams will play one or  two games per day until Saturday August 24 when the finals will decide on the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners. I am told the greens are fast (13 sec or more) as we begin getting our first news.  Vancouver Clubs' Rinks (see North Shore Outlook News)
The history of West Vancouver can be found on ilawnbowl.com.

Update added August 27th after Blog opinions on the results of the Nationals  and like everything that ends, I  close this blog with the Archives of 1906 departure of the  British Lawn Bowl Teams.  What a cost that must have been for them then......

"The British Bowlers in Canada, 1906. (From Archive.org) 

"FRIDAY, 31st AUGUST.1906 

FRIDAY, siST AUGUST

found our party all looking forward to their return home, as one looks at the photo of a friend within easy reach, and with feelings of pleasure ; in fact, we were jubilant, notwithstanding all the kindness that had been shewn us, the many friends we had made and met with, and the uninterrupted
round of pleasures we had enjoyed. Home again !
 What an attraction there is in these two words, even for those who have been absent only for a month or six weeks. You feel it in the very air you breathe, and every beat of the pulse seems to shorten the distance. Such were our feelings as we stepped on board the good ship Virginian, where we renewed
pur acquaintance with the stewards and others, whose unfailing attention added much to our comfort. As the ship moved off from the quay we could hardly repress a little sigh of regret at leaving so many warm-hearted

248

Safe at Home.

friends behind. They crowded the landing stage and cheered us to the echo, while hats, handkerchiefs and hands waved good-bye on either side. Will we ever meet again ? Ah !
who can tell. The game of life is slippery and uncertain, and all get bowled over sooner or later many sooner than they expect.

Slowly at first the good ship works her way out into midstream, then gradually getting up speed we are soon gliding along, every throb of the turbines lessening the distance betwixt us and our homes.

I Love "Bowls" So What?

 Do you have or wear a " I love "Something" " T-shirts ?

 No !  Not surprised.  A lot of us don't commit or express ours feelings anymore.  Well I plan to make a commitment and do something to show my love of Lawn  Bowls.  and my angel will look over my actions and see if it bears fruit.
    Scenario: Over the weekend, I showed a Youtube video to a lawn bowler friend, who told me she would be volunteering for their club's Monday night Blind Bowls. An activity I organized and administered fro that club for over 4 years.


Youtube Internation Blind Bowls Coaching

 I showed  her how a  Blind Bowls Night should be administered.  Showed, how to have Blind individuals enjoy Bowls.as a sport that can be "loved"  I knew the participants and how they had become serious about Bowls. Now a few days later, I ask my friend, how it went with her Blind Bowls Night.  I was told " OH we didn't do those things or like that."  "We just let them roll the bowls"  They are quite sociable so I talked most time with a couple of them" The club president was on the green with four of them.
    My opinion.  Instead of giving them a "center line" to know where the jack is; or using the distance indication markers so they knew how far to throw their bowl;  They were given the opportunity to exercise with Bowls.  They simply Rolled the Bowls to nowhere.
    Yes,  The blind participants were allow to bowl the bowls up the green for their exercise.
   Comment: When I coached and administered that club's Blind Bowls Monday Night, I had two car loads of Blind and from the age of 18 to 74.  That night there were only 5 and only 4 on the green.
Question:   If you believe Bowls is a great Sport and love your time on the Green,  why are you not bubbling over with excitement when you get a chance to show the sport to someone new?.  Why are you not excited to get a new club member?. 
    Commitment:   "I love Bowls" Like I play Billiards (pool) all winter and am amazed with all the effect I can put on a Pool Cue Ball;  I also am amazing how bowls can be so difficult, complex, or even interesting.  This year, this winter, I am blogging ever week on Bowls and My blogs will be short and to the point and a different one every two days. I am approaching 70 and want to thank all those who gave me this joyful sport.
   .

Fours as a Team

This Blog was written  10 years ago, in August 2015 and is being edited and updated now. Every club which  has works hard to promote Lawn Bowls has eventually developed an athletic whom made the Canadian National Team.

Notes the "Fours"  and sign of  "down Four"
Hong Kong international Danny Ho

  We are so proud of them as fellow club members, but if we have coached them a  bit it is an even greater satisfaction. If not, we wait, hopefully for that one day when they will ask us  to bowl with them, so we can learn from them.

 
      The last Canadian Nationals I watched, in 2011, a  young lawn bowls student of mind was playing at the National on our Provincial fours.. I was proud to have worked with him and even more proud of the team who started him and developed his knowledge of how to be a member of the Provincial "Fours" Team.  Since then he had gone many times to the Nationals on "fours", since that first time at 18 when he played with a club's national team athletic.  As a new bowler, he was given the chance to play as lead on  the  "fours"  and although he lacked experience, his team won the provincial Roll-off and qualified. Taking him to Western Canada for the Nationals.

     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

   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.