The first coaching session for players of the Levin Bowling club was a huge success with 20 plus from beginners to more season players. Julie Stichbury one of the two co-ordinators said, “we were thrilled that so many turned up for our first coaching sessions which went back to the basics. How to stand on the mat, hold your bowl etc.” The coach Kerry Geertson asked participants to write down on a sheet of paper answers to the following questions and talked about always being positive and committed to the coaching. “Be on time: Remember if you are not early, you are late”. He believes one of the most important ways to improve your game is through training based on development of skills.
- Why do you play bowls?
- What do you like about playing bowls?
- What are your aims for next season?
- What are your long term aims, ie. (say) over the next 5 years?
- What do you believe are your strengths in the playing of bowls?
- What do you believe are your ‘needs’ in the playing of bowls?
- What do you think makes a good bowler?
- What do you think ‘high’ performance means?
- Do you want to be part of a ‘high’ performance group in the club?
Kerry firmly believes that the club coaching staff and selectors should communicate. The selectors should seek advice on individual players from the coaches and advise coaches what skills individual’s need to improve so they can climb higher in the selection rankings. He went on to say that it is important that the club selectors have good quality data on players performances and he is developing software to record this very useful information.
Club secretary Shoota Ballinger said he is excited about the club, this year we regularly had over 50 players at mid-week rollups and the club men’s handicap and open singles had two full greens. “With all our new bowlers the club competitions and atmosphere has been brilliant and now that we have had two very highly skilled and experienced people just recently join the club in the area of coaching and greenkeeping, next season will continue being a boomer for our members. And let’s not forget the young talent Samantha Sweeney who’s selected for the regional under 18yr team to play in Victoria Australia. She too has just recently jointed our club.”