It's the Body Language that Matters

I saw something recently on the green that worried me.

All lawn bowling journey's start with that first trip to the club, that first roll of the bowl is what usually hooks people, it certainly hooked me. But the reality is that like anything new lawn bowling takes time to figure how to play. And there is only one way to do that...and that is to play. It is only by playing that you make your mistakes, learn new techniques and adapt to game play.

What new players really need during this time is support and encouragement. I remember my first real 'game'; I was a bundle of nerves.

What do I do with the mat again?

How do I centre the jack properly?

What's the difference between forehand and backhand?

What if I have to measure?

THEN, I actually had to play the game. It was not an epic debut.

Thankfully though I had great skips, who not only tolerated my wayward shots but applauded the things I did get right, that kept me coming back.

I was recently watching a game which took place at the beginning of the season, that's primetime for new players to join clubs, and I was discouraged. Two new players were playing with two seasoned vets, one skip encouraging, the other let their body language tell a different story. I felt for that new player and wondered what he must have been feeling as shot after shot failed to meet the skips expectations. The energy of both players really spoke for itself. The desire to win seemed to get in the way of shepherding a new player through the travails of learning a new sport.

To be clear, the skip in question never said anything negative. In fact he never said anything, but he didn't have to, the body language spoke loud and clear. This phenomenon is not only felt by the new bowler, I was recently playing in a tournament and saw first hand how the lead I was playing against let his body language drag his team down. They lost that game to my skip and I handedly.

I am mindful of where I put my energy when I am on the green and have seen first hand the impact that can have on our fellow players and my own game.

Stay positive, keep it fun, reap the rewards.