Lawn Bowls Nova Scotia is establishing “The Bluenose Bowls Academy” high-performance program to the benefit of all LBNS members.
The foundation elements of this initiative are to build a bowls’ performance program, which includes the development of coaches, the training of athletes following the Bowls Canada LTAD model, and coaching for excellence in performance.
Today’s announcement is an invitation for athletes who are interested in a program that supports regular practice and play, and continuous recording of all practice and competition results, for personal performance and skill development leading to excellence.
Program Goals
A key goal of “The Bluenose Bowls Academy” is that athletes are able to train at their own clubs as much as possible, ever-striving to learn and improve on their personal best, “NEVER SETTLING” for less effort or result.
The Academy aims to create a structure specifically offering services to develop and maximize the potential, for coaches, umpires and especially players seeking to seriously enter, commit and succeed at the elite level.
Training Team
The coach-driven training squad, “Bluenose Bowls Academy”, for those who have the passion and perseverance, will be supported by Coaching Lead Kathy Myketyn, N.S. Head Coach Terry O’Neil, a coaching consultant and the LBNS Coaching pool.
Objectives include:

• Setting (higher) standards of development to benefit Nova Scotia bowlers.
• Providing practical training programs to develop skills to elite level.
• Creating tactical, mental skill development programs for coaches, bowlers.
• Initiating the best use of IT for the sport.
• Identifying and liaising with all Nova Scotia clubs to exchange ‘best practice’ approaches to continue to improve the standing of the clubs.

Benefits include:

• Increase participants in bowls, especially female and youth.
• Market an integrated approach to delivering the sport of bowls.
• ‘Train the Trainer’ programs for the coaches and umpires.
• Athlete talent identification for resources and programs.

Regional benefits might include:

• Links with sport science facilities located within the region.
• Sport education development.
• IT and multimedia development and opportunities.
• Cross sport exchanges and programs.

BASELINE SKILL ASSESSMENT:
Each Academy member will create a coach-supervised private baseline skill assessment of the 11 key bowls’ deliveries, played forehand and backhand from the short, medium and long lengths.
Success in each attempt is based on how many draws out of 10 land within a mat length of the target, be it the jack, a bowl or a position on the green.
The results are recorded and challenged in the next delivery audit as athletes strive to improve their personal best score.
Following initial baseline measurements, athletes will engage in regular training sessions, utilizing both block and random form.

Other features will include learning tactics, reading the head, when to attack and defend, position play, the importance of delivery routines, singles and team play, drawing, debriefing, conversion shots, reading the green etc.
Coaches will endeavour to provide immediate feedback through observation and athlete-shared understanding, in some cases using video analysis to improve on or define a goal or focus. A series of training exercises will be introduced for independent practice.
To Register for “The Bluenose Bowls Academy” contact LBNS Head Coach Terry O’Neil (terryoneil504@gmail.com).

​Congratulations to both the Dartmouth Lawn Bowls Club and Wanderers Lawn Bowling Club on completing the first two stages of the Belonging in Bowls Program! The program is a great way for clubs to benefit from national best practices (currently beginning in Safe Sport but expanding in the future to many different sides of club operations). For completing the program, Dartmouth and Wanderers receive some great marketing benefits to promote their clubs going into 2022 from Bowls Canada Boulingrin. Want to learn more? Message us (via our Marketing and PR Chair John Siteman) or contact BCB to get started! https://bowlscanada.com/.../programs.../belonging-in-bowls/

At yesterday’s Fall General Meeting, the delegates officially elected our Board of Directors for the 2021-22 term! Please welcome our new Board of Directors:
President- Cameron LeFresne
Vice President- Jackie Foster
Treasurer- Janet Kelly
Past President/Coaching- Kathy Myketyn
Provincial Match- Braeden Campbell
Greens- Don Murchy
Marketing and Public Relations- John Siteman
Provincial Liaison- Ann Marie Siteman
Junior Development- Lena Cameron
Head Official (Updated- February 2022)- Paul Knox
We are still searching for volunteers to step up for any of our three vacant positions (Secretary and Trophies). If you are interested in serving in any of these capacities- feel free to reach out to any LBNS Board Member for more details.

​It was a fun day yesterday at the Bedford Lawn Bowls Club for the final scheduled event of the 2021 season- the Late Owl Mixed Fours! The tournament had teams competing in the event playing 6 Games throughout the day (2 Games of fours and 4 Games of Pairs). Congratulations to the team of Cameron LeFresne, Lindsay LeFresne, Luke Gouthro and Lena Cameron who captured this year’s title. Thanks to Bedford for hosting the event as a great conclusion to the 2021 competitive season here in Nova Scotia.
Full results:
1st Place- Cameron LeFresne, Lindsay LeFresne, Luke Guthro, Lena Cameron (5-1)
2nd Place- Braeden Campbell, Tammy Foster-Veinot, Jackie Foster, Liam Campbell (5-1)
3rd Place- Milton Graves, Wendy Gurney, Donald Meade, Debra Meade (5-1)
4th Place- Doug McLearn, Carolyn Reeves, Peter Boudreau, Betty MacAlpine (5-1)