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.
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.
| jitney_results_summary.pdf |