LBNS Announces Launch of Bluenose Bowls Academy

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).

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