03 Jun BCGBA Coaching Course 20 May 2022

Training of Huddersfield’s newest bowling coaches started at Lindley Bowling Club with the course being led by the CEO of BCGBA, Mark Bircumshaw. During the day, the attendees came to realise that there’s a lot more to coaching than technique and tactics. Safety and the welfare of the people being coached are also significant parts of their training.

We originally had 15 bowlers identified to attend the course, but we had some 11th hour cancellations and some simply ‘didn’t turn up’. But, by mid July we should have 10 fully qualified coaches and Huddersfield Bowls Development will be announcing their new qualifications, and launching a “Come and Have a Go” bowling events, led by the new coaches.

Mark Bircumshaw pointed out during the day that bowlers registered with BCGBA are essentially in the older age group, and that it would be especially beneficial if we can attract 35 to 55 year olds into the sport. This will have the added advantage of bringing along juniors and even grandparents.

Without doubt, all attendees found the day extremely useful, many of them realising that they had acquired a few bad bowling habits over the years.

They completed the day with a list of exercises to be completed and written up in their portfolios before part 2 of the course in July (that’s homework to you and me!).

And finally, our sincere thanks to the members of Lindley BC who made our day very comfortable.

Organised and written by Phil Warbrick of Honley Cons.

The HVBA would like to thank Phil for his inspired suggestion which formed the initial initiative of Huddersfield Bowls Development’s aim of increasing participation in bowls from the whole spectrum of our society.