How a Skip Can Help New Lawn Bowlers During a Game

 

New lawn bowlers usually get their first exposure to competition playing lead in intra-club triples matches. What can a skip do to improve that experience and at the same time achieve a useful result for the team?

I have found that the following works both to improve line and weight.

Before the game starts the skip can tell the beginning bowler to deliver  the bowl, aiming precisely at the skip’s nose with a velocity as if engaged in tossing a softball in a gentle arc back and forth.  The skip then stands on the anticipated aim line, but 5-7 meters forward of the jack position.

What I have found is that this instruction causes the beginning bowler not only to be freed up from learning the correct aim line but, surprisingly, to more often get the weight correct.

Why is this? I don’t know. Furthermore, it doesn’t work for everybody.

It works best for reducing the weight for new players who are chronically too heavy. Apparently, this is because you have moved the target (yourself) closer to the bowler on the mat. Line consistency is improved because you can say, “After the release of the bowl, your fingers should be pointing at my nose!” 

This assistance is totally legal. The person directing the head may stand in a position in advance of the jack so long as he/she retreats to a position behind the head once the bowl is released. The pertinent rules from Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark Fourth Edition are:

• 12.1.3  As soon as a bowl is delivered, a player who is controlling play from a position that is either level with or in front of the jack, must take their position as described in law 12.1.2.
  
• 12.1.2  Players at the head-end of the rink and who are not controlling play must stand: 
• 12.1.2.1 behind the jack if they are members of the team which is in possession of the rink

Some new bowlers may not want or require this assistance. Often, its is better to allow a new bowler to bowl unassisted for the first few ends, until you see clearly that the player is struggling. Then, ask whether you can provide some guidance for line and length.