Bowls club teaches Lonnie pupils to play

THE Point Lonsdale Bowls Club rolled out the sport to the next generation this year, introducing the Rookie Roller program to about 100 pupils at the town’s primary school.

Junior development officer Steve Tomming said pupils from Grade 2 to Grade 6 took part during November and December.

“The five-week program involved various bowls activities at the school that primarily focused on fun, team involvement and skill development.
“The final day had two groups playing on the greens for the first time.

“The pupils understood the skills involved with shot selection (bowling on the correct bias), weight of the shot (knowing how hard or soft to bowl) and bowl alignment (bowling to a selected marker on the green or bank).

“A number of our Rookie Roller bowlers showed enormous natural as well as developed talent over the journey and will become very good junior bowlers.

Supported by Bowls Australia, Rookie Roller is designed to enable students to learn to play bowls in an engaging format that is both fun and inclusive.

It can be played on almost any flat surface including greens, carpets, concrete and wooden floors, allowing easy access and an introduction to the sport.

The Point Lonsdale Bowls Club says its development program is designed to encourage and promote the sport with an emphasis on junior involvement.

The program’s aim is to provide the opportunity for junior players – both boys and girls – to harness the skills of lawn bowling and inspire them to actively participate within the various teams at the Point Lonsdale Bowls Club.

As part of its junior development program, the club is encouraging all local junior players to be coached both individually and within small groups.

Parents and/or guardians are encouraged to contact the club and discuss the program.

For more information, head to pointlonsdalebowlsclub.com.au.

The club is also holding family barefoot bowls on Australia Day, January 26, from 11.30am-6pm, with live music, food, bar facilities and fun.