Liskeard Bowling Club
COACHING / TUITION.
Here at Liskeard Bowling Club, we have excellent coaches who are qualified at Level 2 County standard.
They are on hand to assist both new bowlers and experienced bowlers from placing the 'Jack', to 'Reading The Head', and will guide bowlers with, the stance, and the delivery.
If playing in a 'Rink', which consists of four bowlers, there is a 'Lead' who's role is to place the 'Mat', deliver the 'Jack', and bowl two woods (bowls) as near to the 'Jack' as possible. He / She is followed by the 'Number 2' who's role is to cover the lead's woods. If the lead has bowled short or wide of the 'Jack', then the Number 2 will assume to bowl his / her woods as near to the 'Jack' as possible, but if the 'Lead' has bowled their woods close to the 'Jack', then the number 2 will bowl to cover the 'Jack' from behind, being as near to the 'Jack' as possible. The role of the 'Number 3' is to aim to clear the opponents woods from the head or to try and block an entry into the head from either hand. It is the job of the 'Number 3' at the end of each round, to decide how many shots are available. If there is any doubt, then it is the 'Number 3's job to do any measuring. Finally there is the 'Skip'. The 'Skip' is in charge of his players and stands at the 'Head' where the 'Jack' has been placed, and will direct his team as to the best available shots into the 'Head' on either the Fore Hand or Back Hand. As he / she has been at the 'Head', then when it's their turn to bowl, they have a picture in their mind of how the 'Head' was left, and will bowl their first wood accordingly, being directed by the 'Number 3' if the situation has changed.
Please select any of the videos below for visual training.
BOWLING ETIQUETTE (i.e. Good Manners)
Below are a few useful pointers which may help your game run smoothly. (For the definitive rules, please refer to World Bowls 'Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark Third Edition').
To Members Old and New.
Bowls remains one of the few sports where common courtesy and etiquette is still prevalent. We should be proud of this and make the game as enjoyable as possible.
Bowling Green etiquette should be promoted to new members, and, as a reminder to us "Oldies" whose standards may have slipped.
Much of this is common sense, but here are some main rules of Lawn Green Bowling Etiquette.
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Dress appropriately for each game and allow sufficient time to change before the game. (For dress code, refer to the Match Sheet).
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Show respect to your opponents by arriving on time.
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If you are representing your club on another Green, remember that you are an ambassador for Liskeard Bowling Club, so behave appropriately.
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Enter and leave the Green safely.
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Do not walk across rinks that other bowlers are using without ensuring that they are not about to bowl. Wait until the bowl is delivered before crossing. (This also applies if you are walking around the perimeter).
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Introduce yourself and shake hands with your opponents both before and after a game.
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During the game, do not move around the head when your opponent is about to deliver his / her bowl. Stand well back and keep quite. Do not do anything that would distract your opponent.
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If you are at the same end as the player delivering a bowl, stand a minimum of 1 metre behind the mat, thus staying out of the players line of vision (they may wish to see rink markers and number. remember that on sunny days (and hopefully there are plenty), your shadow could be a hazard and fall across the 'Jack'.
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Observe the rules for possession of the rink. Possession of the rink belongs to the player or team whose bowl is being played. As soon as the bowl comes to rest, possession of the rink is transfered to the opposing team, alowing time to mark any 'touchers'.
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After delivering a bowl and before it comes to rest, you have two options. (1) If you wish to follow your bowl's progress down the green, you must be behind the head when it come to rest. In other words, you must beat it to the head without running. (2) If you don't follow to the head, you must leave the mat immediately your bowl comes to rest. This ruling is quite clear, but unfortunately, many players, including those who should know better, show disrespect and wander around in the head when the opposing side has possession. If your opponent is guilty of this, you should politely ask him / her to stop. Remember, they are in the wrong.
THINGS TO REMEMBER.
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Players should always be careful when stepping on or off the Bowling Green.
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Bowls should not be dropped onto the green, and every effort is made to ensure that the delivery is not causing scuff marks or divots.
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Do not stand too close to the verges
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Bowls must not be removed from the head until shots have been agreed, unless authorised by the Number 3. Kicking bowls away is discouraged to avoid them entering the head and disturbing the bowls being measured. Remove by hand.
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When shots are being decided, players not involved in the measuring should stand well back from the head.
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In all team games, the 'Skip' is in charge. Other players should plat the shot directed, even if they do not agree.
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Always encourage your team mates during a game and do not criticise them. Commend good shots and learn to accept that flukes are part of the game. Sometimes they go for you, some times against.
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Finally. After the game, it is generally accepted as good manners that the home player offers his / her opponent a drink.
To new bowlers.
We hope that the above Bowling Green Etiquette does not put you off the game.
Instead we say, go out and enjoy yourself on the green, and over a period of time, with others adopting the expected etiquette, all will come quite naturally and your game will be better for it, and hopefully, more enjoyable.