Anyone for Lawn Bowls? Everyone for Lawn Bowls!
As in everything, to start anything an action must occur - to start a car we turn a key, in tennis we serve the ball, in football we have a centre bounce. In Lawn bowls, we 'Lay the Mat'.
'Laying the Mat' is an initiative from the Royal Victorian Bowls Association & Victorian Ladies Bowling Association, through the support of Sport and Recreation Victoria, that aims to increase junior participation in Lawn Bowls through working with both Primary and Secondary schools across Victoria.
Lawn Bowls is one of the few sports that is naturally inclusive to both young & old, abled & disabled, literally everyone can participate actively in the sport.
The philosophy behind this initiative is that people (in this case clubs and schools) are prepared to work together - its just a matter of providing what they need.
'Laying the Mat' aims to:
- Provide necessary resources to schools and clubs in order to make Lawn Bowls more accessible to both primary and secondary schools;
- Allow students to develop an understanding and appreciation of lawn bowls as a recreational pursuit;
- Provide students with some basic skills and knowledge of the game which will enable them to play lawn bowls at their leisure;
- Enhance the development of co-ordination skills and provide stimulating exercise for the students. As lawn bowls is a game of strategy, practice will also help develop strategic skills;
- Develop links between schools and local bowls clubs so that students and teachers can continue to play bowls as a form of recreation.
This site provides schools and clubs with resources by way of equipment, activities, contacts and other items that will assist the development of relationships and creating participation opportunities for primary and secondary schools.
New sets of '0', '00', 4" indoor biased bowls, and 30' mats available for borrowing!
For further information: projectofficer@bowlsvic.org.au - 9819 0758
Schools
Laying the Mat aims to expose young people to the sport of Lawn Bowls through a compilation of different activities, suggested lesson plans and school competitions.
Schools have a number of opportunities to participate in the sport depending on your requirements. If you are able to travel to a bowls club - Lawn bowls is your best option. If this is not possible - indoor bowls is a great option for you.
Lawn Bowls
This is the activity that over 80,000 Victorians of all ages participate in every week. Through taking your students to a bowls club, they get to experience the sport in its natural environment.
Clubs are more than happy to assist you in organising your classes - and will provide experienced coaches to provide guidance to the students. Generally these services are provided free of charge.
Contact your local Bowls Club or the Development Officer at the RVBA/VLBA on 9819 0757 / projectofficer@bowlsvic.org.au if you require further assistance.
Indoor Bowls
The only thing needed for indoor bowls is a large (flat) carpeted area in which children can participate in the various activities. To aid this both the Royal Victorian Bowls Association (RVBA) and Victorian Ladies Bowling Association (VLBA) have a supply of indoor biased bowls that can be borrowed by schools - along with a variety of other pieces of equipment.
Indoor biased bowls are a 4 inch bowl that simulates the actions of a ‘full sized’ bowl, that would be used on a ‘green’. This allows students the opportunity to develop an understanding of what the bias is and how it works.
Other Student Bowls Opportunities
Victorian Secondary Schools Sports Association (VSSSA)
Victorian Primary Schools Sports Assocation (VPSSA)
RVBA Schools Pennant: Please contact Doug Kneebone - dougandjoy@optusnet.com.au
Working with Children Check
In order to provide the best possible safety for Victorian Children involved in Lawn Bowls, the RVBA and VLBA would recommend that all clubs encourage their volunteers, coaches and alike, who come in regular contact with children to undergo a Working with Children Check.
The Working with Children Act 2005 aims to strike a balance between protecting children under 18 years of age, whilst promoting volunteering and safeguarding the rights of individual.
In 2006, the Victorian Government introduced a new checking system to help protect children under 18 years of age from physical or sexual harm.
The Working with Children (WWC) Check creates a mandatory minimum checking standard across Victoria. The WWC Check helps to keep children safe when they are being cared for or particpating in a range of activities, by seeking to prevent those who pose a risk to the safety of children from working with them, in either paid or volunteer work. The WWC Check applies to people engaged in 'child-related work' as defined in section 9 of the Working with Children Act 2005 (please refer to the Working with Children Act 2005). www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren
Applicants are checked to make sure their record does not include any criminal offences specified in the Act or findings by a specified professional disciplinary body (currently only the Victorian Institute of Teaching).
Criminal offences not specified in the Act can also be considered if there is a potential link to a risk to the safety of children and exceptional circumstances may exist that justify refusal of the application.
Passing the WWC Check is one measure of a person's suitability to work with children. WWC Check card holders who apply to work or volunteer in child-related fields will still be required to undergo a selection process and reference checking to determine their suitability for specific roles.
If you are unsure if this applies to you please contact the RVBA or VLBA for further guidance.
Resources
Activities Manuel (2.43 MB)
Certificate Indoor Bowls (864 k)
