Bowls International — November 2017

http://www.bowlsinternational.com November 2017 BOWLS INTERNATIONAL 35

A NEGATIVE AFFECT

We have discussed the advantages of

playing against better opposition, but this

is only one half of the story.

Bowls is unlike other sports because

players frequently compete against

players that are at very different levels

to them.

For a superior player to do this

regularly is neither challenging nor

performance beneficial.

And if a game is allowed to run away

so much it can be questionable whether it

might have been better for

a player not to have played at all.

Some would argue that regularly

playing against weaker opposition will

have a negative effect on performance.

Why should this be the case?

One theory is that when people face

challenges, the part of the brain that

deals with fear is activated which

prompts the fight or flight response and

they play well because they are ‘up for’

the challenge.

If there is no fear- perceived or actual-

then it is hard for a player to perform to

anywhere near the best of their ability.

A huge issue in bowls is playing too

much.

There are a large number of

competitions and the top players believe

that they have to play in absolutely

everything to have a chance of qualifying

and consequently being seen by selectors.

In England there are more than 30

national competitions outdoors.

Many players bowl every day of the

week with the main four counties played

on weekdays, top club or club double

rink squeezing in to the remaining day

and county representative games and

mixed competitions filling weekends.

This is without taking in to account

club matches or international play at the

other end of the scale.

When can you possibly practice and

work on any weaknesses when this is the

schedule?

Playing too much bowls with not

enough rest can also have a negative

physiological impact.

Rex Hazeldine, retired senior lecturer

in Sport and Exercise Science at

Loughborough University, told Bowls

International: “As far as fitness training

goes, rest and relaxation are an important

part of the process.

“So for training we recommend train on

one day, rest the next. In simple terms for

strength training it is ‘train the muscle/

grow the muscle’.

“In endurance work you train one

day and as a result more capillaries are

developed which leads to better circulation.

So the training challenges the body

physiologically which responds by making

adaptations which improves fitness.

Left: Practice is

an essential part

of the sport, but

you must ensure

you are using

your time wisely

Below: With

so many

competitions

available it can

be hard to find

the time and

motivation for

anything else

“Rest and relaxation are similarly

important in allowing the body to

‘recharge the batteries’.

“If you look at structuring a programme

for an elite bowls player it is difficult as

the sport is competition-dominated.

“As a player moves from one

competition to the next at different

levels there is little time to work in

practice sessions or adequate rest and

relaxation.

“As a result there is little structured

technical practice done by even the top

players.

So possibly little real improvement over

time.

“Also with many other sports a top

player would only play against other

top players throughout in leagues/

competitions etc.

“But in bowls top players are in a range

of competitions playing against all levels/

standards of competition.

That is the bowls culture.

“Ideally you want the best regularly

versus the best as in some other sports

to keep the competition at that level as

sharp as possible.”

Practice versus Competition

H

ow much should we compete and how

much should we hone our skills to

achieve our maximum potential?

Competitive play: The best way to improve

technique is through constant repetition- this

is possible when leading in a match situation

but the nature of each game means that other

positions might be playing something different

with every bowl.

Games will help players tactically more than

rolling up because the situations that you find

yourself in are real and you will see the true

outcome of your shot selections.

You will also get to know yourself and your

team mates better during games.

Good players will rise to the psychological

challenges of games far more than they will

during practice.

But losses can also be very useful and if kept

in perspective, can provide valuable learning

experiences.

Practises: Well structured practice that is

geared towards technical development will

always aid a player.

Tactically, feedback is available in practice

whereas it is more difficult and less immediate

in competition.

Roll ups do not create the same level of

adrenaline as games do, but can have similar

psychological benefits as matches if they are

thoughtfully undertaken.

A sign of a good practice is when players are

so engrossed in the activities that they lose

track of time. If you become bored, you are not

doing the right things.

Conclusion: Games and practice are both

essential for players of all levels.

While matches are inherently more enjoyable

and can indicate progress more easily, too

many games can lead to burnout, loss of

enjoyment and faults developing and becoming

engrained.

Practice is necessary because we all need to

take stock and address individual strengths and

weaknesses.

34-35_BI_INSIGHT_Nov17_cc THIS ONE.indd 35 13/10/2017 07:31