Port Noarlunga Bowling Club & Cardijn College Student Winter Lawn Bowls Program
Story from Peter Schwennesen and the coaches at PNBC
For five weeks ten volunteer coaches from Port Noarlunga Bowling Club (PNBC) assisted 77 students learn the basics of Lawn Bowls over 10 x 75 minute sessions.
Following the removal of restrictions adopted during COVID, Cardijn College reached out to PNBC in early May to run a program for two Year 10 Physical Education classes with the majority of students being 15 years old. PNBC responded and within a few days had developed a program and coaching roster.
For many years PNBC has provided programs for local schools ranging from Year 11 & 12 Physical and Outdoor Education SACE units to recreational/fun based sessions for younger students.
In the beginning students were a little out of their comfort zone and wondering what they were in for. After a short introduction and demonstrations about the basics of lawn bowls the students were split into groups with their own coaches on each rink.
During each session new skill sets were introduced with the focus on using the basics correctly. The bi-weekly sessions went smoothly as students continued to increase their understanding and knowledge of the sport. Students showed great enthusiasm and began to reserve the same set of bowls they had used previously and lined up behind their coaches before each session began.
The final session saw the students organise and run a game in Triples format with scoring cards and an emerging knowledge of the rules of Lawn Bowls.
Most of the students developed a sound routine whilst demonstrating the foundations of “comfortable grip, balanced stance and smooth delivery”. Some of the students were very talented and wouldn’t look out of place in the State Junior Program with only a few more coaching sessions. The students were a credit to their school, their teachers and themselves.
