What a busy start to the 2018 season this has been.

Fund raising for the new garage has been going very well as we have pointed out in previous news reports; the new greens equipment has all been purchased and delivered; preparations are well underway for the Ontario Mixed Pairs Championships and we have held two successful coaching clinics. This is all in addition to three open and three in club tournaments.

Coaching

You have already heard from Janet Taylor and Nan Hendren about the coaching clinics that were run by Mary Lou Richardson. Building on what we learned from that and from a “Detect and Correct” clinic which I attended Nan Hendren and I held a clinic on Friday June 8th which was attended by 16 members and the reaction from them was very positive. Once the June new bowler evenings have finished we will look at setting up a clinic for new bowlers. There has also been a suggestion that we run a session on Rules & Regulations. I think that would be of great value even to experienced bowlers. In the meantime if anyone would like some “one to one” coaching using video analysis please contact Nan or me.

Ontario Mixed Pairs Championships

Members have recently received an email from President Carol Dewey about this and the need for volunteers to help so I will not cover the same ground again. However, I would like to add to what Carol has said. Not all members will be able to volunteer but please try to find time to come out and support the bowlers. It makes a difference to the bowlers to have lots of spectators and improves the atmosphere.

The gold medal game will be played on Sunday July 15th at 9.00 am and a big turnout for that would be appreciated. It’s not often that you get the chance to watch the best bowlers in Ontario on your own door step so don’t miss the opportunity.

Horizons for Seniors Grant

The final piece of equipment purchased with the grant was delivered in June. We took delivery of a new greens mower. The particular model we bought has interchangeable cartridges and we purchased two cutting cartridges and a spiker. Different types of cartridge can be purchased for this machine which makes it truly multipurpose. Members of the greens crew (and the President) were on hand to learn all about it and there are some photos at the end of this article.

Jitneys

Ken Bevan and Gerry Wilson lead the way in the standings. Click on this link to see the full standings after week 6

Good Bowling
​Bill Arthur
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Garage Fund

This update starts with news of the garage fundraising. The headline is that to date the fund stands $22,238.64 and our target is $30,000. But what we want to draw your attention to is the small things that are being done which all add up to bigger things.

At the end of May $84 had been raised by members donating their loose change. Some members have been paying extra jitney fees and together with the regular jitney fees $105 has been raised. Some members have also donated 50/50 prize money and tournament winnings. We have heard comments that it is easier to donate small amounts in this way rather than make one off larger donations. Finally Vince Tamburello has been selling asparagus from his garden at $2 a bunch and has raised nearly $100.  Well done Vince, we look forward to the next produce from your garden!
 
All these small items add up and the President and Treasurer wanted you to know how effective these measures are.

Coaching

Last week we published an article by Janet Taylor about coaching. Several people have said how good the article (and the coaching) was. However, it would be helpful and give us better feedback if you commented on articles by clicking the comments button at the bottom of any article. This week we have an article by Nan Hendren on the coaching clinic.

This is what Nan had to say:

"On Friday, May 25th, the Club held a Player Developing Coaching Clinic, open to all members.  The day was divided into 2 sessions.  The morning session was on Weight, Aim and Delivery and then an afternoon session was a clinic for Vices, at a cost of $10 per session or $15 for both.  The clinic was presented by Mary Lou Richards from Cosburn Park LBC, who is a certified coach and member of the OLBA Coaching Committee.
 
The day began with a short classroom discussion on grip, foot placement and delivery, then out onto the green for a series of skill testing shots.  Participants rotated through a series of 7 stations, including:  natural weight (caterpillar) shots; draw through a port backhand; draw through a port forehand; draw to short and long jacks; draw to long and short jacks; draw to the ditch over the centre line; and draw to within 2 feet of the ditch. Players were awarded poker chips for every successful shot with prizes awarded for the most chips (including the privilege of writing this article!)
 
The afternoon began with a classroom session on the various responsibilities of the Vice with a focus on the importance of communication with the Skip.  Mary Lou explained the how the Vice must give the Skip the information they need as to the count and any other information they asked about but to refrain from indicating the status of every bowl in the head and to be subtle about the score – especially if down by more a lot.  Mary Lou showed the different type of measures and explained when they would be used, how to determine if jacks and bowls are out of play and proper etiquette in the head when deciding who has scored, explaining that “points are given, not taken.”
 
Participants then took to the green and were given the opportunity to measure various set-ups including bowls that were in the ditch; almost touching the jack; on their side about to fall and equidistant, using the various types of measures and wedges.
 
Players then tried a series of more challenging but typical Vice skill shots, including a rest shot; a push of your own team’s bowl; a take out of the opposing team’s bowl;  a draw within a circle of opposing bowls; and a draw to the ditch.  Again chips were awarded for the most made with Janet Taylor taking the afternoon honours.
 
All participants enjoyed the day and felt it was a very worthwhile clinic.  The Club is planning to hold a similar clinic using some of these ideas on Friday, June 15th from 10 am to noon, open to all members at no cost.  There will also be an option to have your delivery on video for an on the spot Detect and Correct opportunity.  There is a sign-up sheet on the Tournament board for those interested in this clinic"

Ontario Open Fours

In an earlier Article Bob Bates dreamed that he, me, Ben van Steijn and Carl Ferguson might be in Regina in August as one of two Ontario Fours teams competing in the Nationals. Alas it is not to be. Unfortunately we lost Ben from the team as the Ontario Fours coincided with his graduation ceremony (Congratulations Ben) and we replaced him with one of Bob's buddies, Al Ferguson. We played 5 round robin games  and finished with a record of 1-4. I like to look on the bright side though and apart from the first game where we faded badly in the second half our games were close. The gold medal winners were in our group and we only lost by one to them. I could go on with other excuses but I won't bore you with them. BUT hope springs eternal and Bob and I will start again this weekend to try and qualify in the pairs. If only we didn't have those Steffen brothers in our District!!! Baylee van Steijn and Louisa Arthur will also be competing in the ladies pairs in the playdowns. Time to start dreaming of Regina again.

Good Bowling

​Bill Arthur

On Friday May 25th we held two excellent clinics that were run by Mary Lou Richardson of Cosburn Park. Mary Lou is a member of the OLBA Coaching Committee. The first clinic was on Weight and Line and the second was on vice (you know what I mean).

We received comments on the clinics from Janet Taylor who said:

"I am writing the review on the second clinic as the weight and delivery clinic is a lost cause; I am a Hail Mary kind of bowler.
 
Being a vice is a tough job.  I takes communication, courage and determination, to make the decisions necessary to influence your skip.  You have to identify and remember the location of the bowls and jack, determine any changes in the head, and get out of the way of the opposing vice in a timely manor. In other words, you can't sit on the bench.  You have to pay attention and you cannot be distracted by what is happening on the next green.  A vice also makes hand signals to the skip without revealing too much information to the opposition.  Another duty is measuring the end result and it is an art in and of itself.  Measure from the jack to the bowl.  Use calipers when the bowls are very close to the jack. Always make sure that both vices agree on the score before clearing the head.  Read your rule book once in a while.  

 
Vices also are asked to make great shots.  Let's face it, by the time the skip gets up to bowl, there are a bunch of bowls surrounding the jack (hopefully, belonging to your team) and the skip is either trying to protect the head, or, trying to find a way into the head win the end, or to reduce the damage.  
 
The practice exercises in the last half of the clinic were a great way to end the day.  Several greens were set up with bowls and jacks and each had a different purpose.  For instance, resting your bowl between the jack and your opponent's bowls lined up behind the jack. Mary Lou provided several scenarios that hopefully, can be incorporated in some coaching sessions or practices at our club.  
 
Whether you are a lead, vice, or skip, these kinds of coaching clinic are great.  If for no other purpose, they give the bowler a different way of looking strategy, delivery, and an enjoyable interaction with your team mates.  The skip can't do it all.  This is a team effort!"

Thanks to Janet for that. It would be useful if others who attended the clinic(s) could provide feedback.  You can do this either by writing to me (Bill Arthur) or by clicking on the comments button at the end of this article. Those of you who attended may be interested to know that Mary Lou was a member of the ladies silver medal team at the Ontario fours this weekend and her team will be one of two representing Ontario at the national championships.

The Executive Committee will be considering what further coaching to provide during the season; so, as they say, watch this space!

There is a slideshow of photos from the day at the foot of this article.


Jitney results at the end of week 3 are attached. Just click to open the file. These will also be posted in the club house. Ken Bevan leads on the night time results and Bozana Brick on the daytime results. 
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