Coaching
Like any sport, Bowls takes minutes to learn but a lifetime to master. Coaching ensures that new bowlers get the right grounding in bowls delivery before they start playing in ballots and matches.
Coaches can also help more experienced players with their action and their general play. A coach will work with a player to identify any inconsistencies in their action and offer guidance on how to eliminate issues including advice on practise routines and skills challenges.
Purley Bowls Club Coaches
All of our coaches have been formally certified to analyse any players’ bowling technique and delivery action.
At Purley Bowls club we have 5 certified coaches. They are :
- Liz Fry (Head Coach)
- Jane Seymour
- Elaine Applebee
- Tony Gallagher
- Paul Dobbs
New player coaching
The platform that new bowlers start from is critical to their success and safety at the club. That is why we give all new players a number of coaching sessions before we release them to play regularly on the green. This coaching ensures that the new player understands the essentials of the bowls delivery, the basic rules of the sport and it also ensures that every player is safe on the green.
Our qualified coaches deliver a progressive set of learning sessions to new bowlers and, as bowlers progress, the coaches will continue to work with bowlers as they move into Ballots and beyond into competitive bowls.
New Bowler Taster Sessions
At the start of the season we host our open day events with large groups. Throughout the rest of the season we are happy to arrange small group or 1-2-1 taster sessions.
If you’ve never played bowls before and you want to find out more about bowls our coaching team can help you book a taster session. Only certified coaches can lead these taster sessions so you know you will always be in the best hands.
What is the “Buddy” system?
The “Buddy” system runs in partnership with the formal coaching system. The “New Bowler Coaching” process takes a new player who has never bowled before through to the point when they can play in ballots and then onto full membership of the bowls club.
The “Buddy” system pairs up new bowlers with experienced bowlers after they have completed the coaching process, to help the new player through their first season of bowls and their integration into the club. The buddies are experienced players who, whilst not trained in coaching techniques, are very able to assist new players with all aspects of bowls including delivery and shot selection using their experience as a guide.
Where a new bowler is having persistent issues with delivery, line or length then the “Buddy” can suggest to the new player that further coaching with a trained coach would help them and then suggest that the new player refer themselves back to the coaching team.
I’m already a member can I have some coaching ?
As a general rule coaches will not approach an existing club member to suggest that they need coaching. A coach will only provide assistance on direct request from the player who wants some specific coaching. Our coaching team can provide analysis and advice on any aspect of a players delivery action.
We also have coaches with advanced qualifications who can assist with improving your ability at reading a bowls head, understanding the impact of different types of bowls shot and also on how to execute shots with multiple potential outcomes to minimise risk and maximise scoring opporutinties
Our coaches have already helped a number of club members to improve their game at the member’s request so dont be shy. If you think you would benefit from coaching of any type, speak to one of our coaches.
Can I be helped by someone who is not certified as a coach?
We have a vast range of experienced bowlers at Purley Bowls Club and they can all help you. It is important to recognise that only the coaches are trained to properly analyse a bowlers action and delivery however many experienced bowlers know instinctively what a player needs to work on for a smoother more accurate action.
Also during matches experienced players can help new players to understand the head and different shot types. All players can learn from talking to our most experienced bowlers, asking them questions and watching them perform.
