Coaching, Pennant

Coaching (Circuits)

From getagameofbowls.com

ROUTINE ONE (start session)

Four targets between one and two metres apart.

Bowl one bowl at each, longest to shortest

COACHING COMMENTS

This is a good way to start any practice session. Without a jack put down your four bowls trying keep each bowl shorter than the previous bowl. This quickly establishes the speed and green.

It is also a good practice routine to use sometimes alone or with one other person. It will help you get fine control of weight. So often your skipper will tell you to take off or add a metre.

By using this routine you can know what you have to change in your delivery to achieve this.

ROUTINE TWO (draw bowling practice)

Two targets about three metres apart one way, two mats about three metres apart the other way, bowl two from long first

COACHING COMMENTS

This routine is what all bowlers should use as a standard draw bowling practice. In a game of bowls you normally deliver two bowls on the same side to any one target. It is bad draw bowling practice to bowl four bowls at the same length – you do this only when practising a specific skill. .

When you practice by yourself or with others use three targets on the same rink. One way you deliver two bowls to a long target on one hand, two bowls to a shorter target on the other hand. On the way back two bowls from the mat placed in front of the shorter jack, then move the mat and bowl two bowls on the other hand from in front of the longer jack.

The shorter mat. If you use a point on the bank to aim your bowls, the aiming point does not change wih the length of the end. However as the mat moves up the green the aiming line must remain parallel and hence the aiming point moves in. Two determine how much the point on the bank moves in stand in a normal mat position. Find the point the line to your normal bank point passes the front of the mat. The distance from the centre of the front of the mat to this point is the amount your bank point moves in. For a full mathematical explanation and diagrams click here.

ROUTINE THREE (do not cross the head)

A jack and two markers 30 cms from the line and 50 cm behind and in front – use the back marker as your jack.

Your four bowls should between the markers and none should cross the head

COACHING COMMENTS

For a skipper or third it is very often important that you do not cross the head. This is a practice of control which works for all bowlers.

When you are practising by yourself occasionally try to put down 20 consecutive bowls without crossing the head.

ROUTINE FOUR (get around a bowl)

A jack or marker with two bowls (or rebound bowls if you have them) short and well inside your drawing line. Another marker jack high 20cms away.

Draw around the bowls and finish within 60cms of the jack

COACHING COMMENTS

When asked to get around a bowl most of us get the shakes – from the other end of the green it always looks harder than it is.

To practice this by yourself the clue is to set club bowls up well inside your draw and practise it lots of time – then you have the confidence to do it in a game when your skipper asks.

If you use a point on the bank you can move to the inside of the mat and aim at the same point

ROUTINE FIVE (the jack high bowl)

A bowl or rebound bowl on or just behind jack high and a marker a metre behind the jack.

Your aim is to replace the jack high bowl with your bowl, but if you miss you should not finish more than a metre behind the jack.

You do this by drawing to the marker behind the jack

COACHING COMMENTS

When there is a bowl jack high your skipper will often ask you to play to it or remove it. This is a controlled weight shot and your bowl should remain in the head. This is one method of practising ‘yard on shots’ which are the most important bowls for those other than leads.

Every bowl except a drive is a draw shot – in this exercise you are drawing to the marker behind the jack

ROUTINE SIX (the yard on shot)

A marker 20 cm jack high, a rectangle of markers .5 to 1.5 metres behind the jack.

Your aim is to move the jack towards the back markers. The jack high marker gives you a guide to the line.

You make the 1 metre marker your kitty

COACHING COMMENTS

This is an important shot to learn if you want to play third or skipper. Remember it is a draw shot.

If you practice this often enough when you are asked to play this shot in a game you will know just how much to narrow your green and increase your weight to achieve your aim.

Do not get discouraged. The best of bowlers will move the jack less than 25% of the time. If you play it correctly your bowl will be still in the head and a counter if your or another member of your team gets the shot right after you. If you are a metre short you might be in the count anyway

ROUTINE SEVEN (drive and draw)

Drive two bowls between two markers 20cm apart (or at a target of a rebound jack and ebound bowl) and then draw one bowl to each of the off centre markers

COACHING COMMENTS

If you succeed with a drive you must then be able to settle back into the draw immediately.

Practice at bowling to off centre jacks can be set up in a lot of different ways , but it should be a part of every practice session for thirds and skipper.

These shots are normally played “outside in so the off centre markers on the wide side of the rink – one a little short and one close to the ditch

ROUTINE EIGHT (target mat drawing finish session)

Draw two bowls on each hand to each target mat and keep your score. A coaches prize for the highest score for the day

COACHING COMMENTS

Players like to finish a circuit with a definite activity.

If you do not have target mats draw to a scoring zone