32 BOWLS INTERNATIONAL November 2017 http://www.bowlsinternational.comCOACHING|By Tony Allcock
A
T the beginning of a bowls season
we commit to competitions, leagues,
tournaments, club games and perhaps
the occasional game of social bowls.
This is all well and good but I question whether
anyone actually takes a rain check and assesses
what is happening to their lives in respect to playing
bowls.
It’s about being fair and brutally honest with
oneself... this will probably reveal that each player
has an unrealistic and totally naïve expectation that
they will be able to play to their acceptable level
without preparing themselves at certain junctures.
What better time to do this prior to a new season?Bowlers are generally too hard on themselves –
they turn up to the club, place their bowls on the
edge of the rink, deliver a few bowls on the trial
ends and then immediately place demands on
themselves to play to their required standard (and
above), without giving it a grain of thought.
Preparation is not just to get ‘ahead of the game’
at the start of any playing season, it’s also about
paying attention to some fundamental elements
which will inevitability ‘bite’ you as the season
progresses.
This is particularly pertinent to indoor bowls
which demands fine motor skills and where muscle
power and strength is surplus to requirements!By Tony Allcock
Essential player
maintenance
‘A new playing season not only requires preparation; it demands
player maintenance in order to produce consistency and success.’
As many embark upon the new indoor season, let’s take a look at the
demands placed upon the player. The bowls calendar is so hectic these
days that for many the opportunity to participate in both competitive
and social bowls is available 12 months of the year. Yet most people
work, have family commitments, have additional interests in sports
and recreation- there are time constraints and we are all only human.TECHNICAL
REQUIREMENTS
It is essential that the player identifies
a period of time dedicated to a simple
review of themselves as a bowling
machine.
Those working bowlers will be
unable to play during the daytime,
although lunchtime is a possibility
providing the club location is near to the
workplace.
It is so important just to take some 'time
out with oneself' before engaging straight
into competition play and try to book any
rink which may be available. I would not
advocate anyone else to be present.
This is self-examination in the purest
sense.
Delivery causes so many problems for
players in transition between two codes,
it does take some adjusting which again
will come naturally through playing on a
regular basis.
There is however one aspect that the
player needs to do on a fast green, and
that is to reduce the body weight on and
over the bowl.
Years ago experienced bowlers would
recommend that players take a shorter
step, this is far easier said than done.
There is one simple and effective way in
which smaller steps, shorter back swing
and control of body weight over the
bowl is achieved and that is by thinking
SLOW.
By slowing delivery it will reduce the
body weight rushing forward and arrest
the need for the body to take a wide step
in order to balance.
Conditioning into a slower delivery
might just be helped by the player
mentally repeating 1-2-3 very slowly.
Should the player meets with delivery
problems later in the season, they have
a recourse to visit and to get back into
the delivery rhythm which was once
producing those great draw shots.
In reality, if players were to look
at their delivery in the middle of an
indoor season and compare delivery to
the one utilised in the early season of
outdoor bowls, the overriding difference
between the two deliveries will be body
movement and speed coupled with a
shorter step.
This doesn’t happen naturally. Those
that have difficulties in ‘coming to terms’
with the fast indoor carpets will definitely
benefit from recognising the essential
need to learn about their own delivery
and how they themselves have learnt to
adjust.AIM AND TARGET
The third essential technical requirement
which needs careful thought is the aiming
point.
Remember, unlike many other sportsDelivery changes are necessary as
players move between codes.
Pic by John Church32-33_BI_ALLCOCK_Nov17_Craig.indd 32 12/10/2017 14:57