Let’s start knocking on Olympic doors!

In my early days of learning the great game of bowls at Constantia – or is it called Lawn bowls ? I picked up all manner of clichés and old wives tales. Apart from –the lead is the most important person in the team – which we won’t go into again, there was a rather intriguing topic that cropped up at times. It stated that Bowling will NEVER get on the Olympic programme because in many ways it is a game of chance with far too many fortunate (ok, let’s call it lucky) occasions.

I’ve kept my lid on this subject because as ALL leads and Seconds know, that guy Rik o Shay on the opposing team will ALWAYS wreck your best Woods. Especially if they have white chalk marks on them.

Actually the subject is up for debate after witnessing the number of LUCKY occasions during the World Cup games.

I’ve been fortunate to attend 4 games and watched the others on the TV. All of them, Yes ALL of them had large chunks of luck and good fortune for the match winners.

All pro footballers are now fully paid up members of the – Dive with agony club – they are cheats, and some are very convincing with the act.

Referees have been too hesitant in showing yellow cards to offenders. The player has been LUCKY to get away with it. His team has gained an advantage.

In the Netherlands v Brazil game – the diving score was 8-4 to the Dutch divers – Robben getting away with four.

The England V Germany game was a diabolical piece of LUCK for the Germans – England had the ball over the line by the proverbial mile and would have gone on to win.

I know this for a fact, because I dreamed last night.

Why am I telling you all this?? Well, it’s because, if the so called most popular game in the world is built on luck, chance, poor control and darn right cheating, how on earth can the Olympic Committee

deny BOWLING the opportunity to compete in their games. Let’s do something about it NOW and start knocking on the Olympic doors.

Skills remains the key factor

Skill remains the key factor for bowls success, but continuing with the stress factor, Dr Doug Coghlan insists accuracy required depends upon one’s brain effectively controlling the muscles.

To perform the brain relies on chemicals and hormones to allow neurons to operate efficiently. For the body to produce these hormones/chemicals depends upon nutrition and rest. But if there are insufficient recovery periods the endocrine system cannot maintain supply.

Bowls requires concentration, recovery periods permit a player to become refreshed and eager to compete; playing non-stop effects creep up on one.

Coghlan points out such stress leads to an effort to maintain concentration; decision-making is impaired, accuracy lost, performance becomes inconsistent, and matches are a chore, rather than enjoyable and challenging experiences.

But, are we talking about top semi-professional bowlers?

Not at all says Coghlan: “Many lower divisions players are in actions almost every day of the week.” There are WP events on Sundays, league events on Saturdays, club championship events, all-day tournaments, classics, local events such as friendly leagues and championships, sponsored events, sevens, under-45s, nationals, All Capes, and so on.

Many coaches and selectors want bowlers to attend structured training, squad training (not any more in WP, as convenor of men’s selectors Alan Lofthouse has announced), but assessments and matches against strong opposition means extra sessions.

A shortage of calendar space was pinpointed by several delegates to the WPBA’s council meeting last weekend. Speakers said clashing dates, no time to recover, not a weekend to spare and pressure on administration, greens and players was overwhelming.

Even the coaches’ and technical officials’ standing committees found it more and more difficult to find slots to conduct clinics at clubs

And, says Coghlan, add demands of families, work, travelling in heavy traffic, and all the rigours of modern life and one realises adaptation energy is sapped. Is it any wonder, he asks, that performances drop at major events.

Perhaps it is also a pointer to why it is so difficult to find club committee members, technical officials or coaches? Next week: Possible solutions.

Twenty eight clubs were represented (of 42) at the WPBA council meeting held at Jaggers. Treasurer John Edwards indicated 2010/11 budget deficit as reduced, with deregistration from VAT, savings on district players travelling/accommodation fees and a return to the 2008 affiliation fee (R20 a head increase) a plus. Clubs were asked to return with a mandate on all men’s events being on a KO basis and the cluttered calendar was given an airing – no solutions forthcoming. The retirement of greens guru Fred Downing was a blow, as was disclosure that WP greens had deteriorated, with multiple grasses a problem; only half of all greens assessed passed muster for top events. A dearth of qualified green keepers (three Level 1s in the WPBA) was blamed for this and was a “wake-up call” commented president Ron Delport. Council was informed the WPBA was to move to Pinewood before the end of July; leading perhaps to creation of an academy and bowls centre.

The R18 000 19th CP Nel Oudtshoorn Trips, co-sponsored by Warwick, August 19 – 21: Men’s or women’s sides, from any club; best women’s side’s prize; no mixed teams; 48 sides only; entry R990 (am tea/coffee/rusks; mid-morning tea/sandwiches, lunches, green fees) before July 31. Next year: Separate women’s event. Entertainment, food every evening” entry to Rodmile Motors (Pty) @ FNB Bank Acc: 53230019763, code: 210414, (skip’s name as reference); fax deposit/entry form.

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