It’s been a little while since the last blog - would you believe I've been doing some bowling? I won't mention results and from that you will deduce that I have mainly been losing games! I'm quick enough to tell you about wins but will happily gloss over the rest.
Anyway the website is now up to date and for a full round up of the recent news click here to read my Northumberland Today article.
It will be a busy weekend with Braden Saunders and Ben and Baylee van Steijn competing in the Ontario junior championships; Bob Bates and Pat Bylok competing in the District 14 mixed pairs play downs and (weather permitting) our club Canada day tournament. How wonderful it is to see over 50 entries for the Canada Day tournament. I think that is the biggest entry I have seen since I joined the club in 2010.
I mentioned in the last blog that a few of us had attended an OLBA player development camp and I thought it would be a good idea to pass on a couple of the thoughts on communication from that camp (thanks to OLBA Head Coach, Dave Burrows for these thoughts) These messages are aimed primarily at skips but are relevant to all members of a team.
NO BOWL IS A BAD BOWL
How many times do you hear “You're short/long/wide/narrow” from your skip and/or your teammates? You know what you've done and you don't need anybody else to tell you. No one purposely delivers a “bad bowl”. So, skips, find something positive to say by encouraging the player and letting them know you're on their side. Good line, good spot, good back bowl for example. And when they are next ready to bowl tell the player how much weight to add or take off (eg another four feet please) or just say “tighten it up a little” or “just a bit wider
NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION (body language)
Always try to be positive. A thumbs up, a clap, an arm raised in triumph are well received by your team. On the other hand, turning around and looking at an imaginary airplane will send a very negative response. Always be POSITIVE
CLEAR VERBAL COMMUNICATION
“Take this side” or “Get one in here” are not really helpful communications. Be as concise and as clear as you possibly can. For example “Raise this bowl two feet on your forehand” and “Draw to the middle of these three back bowls” are clearer and indicate clarity by the skip in shot selection and game plan.
I have more notes that were provided at the development camp and can copy them for anyone interested but these are just a few things to consider and implement (if you don't do them already) when playing this weekend.
Good bowling and enjoy yourself - that's the most important thing.
Happy Canada Day
Bill Arthur
Anyway the website is now up to date and for a full round up of the recent news click here to read my Northumberland Today article.
It will be a busy weekend with Braden Saunders and Ben and Baylee van Steijn competing in the Ontario junior championships; Bob Bates and Pat Bylok competing in the District 14 mixed pairs play downs and (weather permitting) our club Canada day tournament. How wonderful it is to see over 50 entries for the Canada Day tournament. I think that is the biggest entry I have seen since I joined the club in 2010.
I mentioned in the last blog that a few of us had attended an OLBA player development camp and I thought it would be a good idea to pass on a couple of the thoughts on communication from that camp (thanks to OLBA Head Coach, Dave Burrows for these thoughts) These messages are aimed primarily at skips but are relevant to all members of a team.
NO BOWL IS A BAD BOWL
How many times do you hear “You're short/long/wide/narrow” from your skip and/or your teammates? You know what you've done and you don't need anybody else to tell you. No one purposely delivers a “bad bowl”. So, skips, find something positive to say by encouraging the player and letting them know you're on their side. Good line, good spot, good back bowl for example. And when they are next ready to bowl tell the player how much weight to add or take off (eg another four feet please) or just say “tighten it up a little” or “just a bit wider
NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION (body language)
Always try to be positive. A thumbs up, a clap, an arm raised in triumph are well received by your team. On the other hand, turning around and looking at an imaginary airplane will send a very negative response. Always be POSITIVE
CLEAR VERBAL COMMUNICATION
“Take this side” or “Get one in here” are not really helpful communications. Be as concise and as clear as you possibly can. For example “Raise this bowl two feet on your forehand” and “Draw to the middle of these three back bowls” are clearer and indicate clarity by the skip in shot selection and game plan.
I have more notes that were provided at the development camp and can copy them for anyone interested but these are just a few things to consider and implement (if you don't do them already) when playing this weekend.
Good bowling and enjoy yourself - that's the most important thing.
Happy Canada Day
Bill Arthur