The Bowls Academy

🌱 HOW DO WE ATTRACT THE NEXT GENERATION TO LAWN BOWLS?

We often hear clubs say, “We need more juniors.” But attracting young people to bowls is only the first step, the real challenge is creating an experience that makes them want to come back.

Our latest TBA coaching blog looks at practical ways clubs can build successful junior development programs, including:

✅ Making first sessions fun and engaging
✅ Turning practice into games and challenges
✅ Keeping juniors active instead of standing around
✅ Creating social connection and a sense of belonging
✅ Getting parents and families involved
✅ Giving juniors a pathway to develop and progress
✅ Looking beyond numbers and focusing on long-term retention

Whether your club already has juniors or is thinking about starting a program, there are plenty of ideas you can put into action.

👉 Read our latest coaching blog:
https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/blog/growing-the-next-generation-how-to-attract-and-retain-junior-bowlers-at-your-club

💬 What is your club doing to attract and retain junior bowlers? Share your ideas in the comments.. there may be something another club can learn from.

📩 Want more coaching and development resources like this?

Join the TBA community of over 10,000 bowlers and receive our latest coaching blogs and Around the Greens newsletter directly to your inbox.

👉 Join the TBA Community:
https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/opt-in

🔄 Know a coach, club committee member or bowler passionate about growing our sport? Tag them or share this post with their club.

The Next Generation: How to Attract & Retain Junior Bowlers Practical ideas to help bowls clubs create successful junior development programs, attract young players and keep them engaged in the sport.

🎙️ WALOB EPISODE 81 IS LIVE!

Listen Now... https://open.spotify.com/episode/7aWG3Dl18SUqXZrADe5k1o?si=af6059247b3f4610

Bowls clubs around the country are investing huge amounts into new greens, covered facilities, lighting and club upgrades…

But are we investing enough into the actual bowlers?

That becomes one of the big conversations on Episode 81 after DJ gives us an update on the massive redevelopment taking shape at Maitland City.

We discuss what clubs could be doing around structured coaching, purposeful practice, player-development programs and simply understanding what individual bowlers actually want to achieve from their game.

But there's plenty happening Around the Greens first 👇

🟢 NSW v Victoria Test Series
🟢 Australian Indoor Championships
🟢 Ben Twist takes the men's title
🟢 Another Australian Indoor crown for Kelsey Cottrell
🟢 World Champion of Champions heading to Club Barham
🟢 Queensland Premier League moves to FOUR rinks
🟢 Some seriously stacked QPL teams
🟢 Maitland City's huge MakMax redevelopment

And we finish with a good debate from the UK…

💷 Should you have to PAY to watch a bowls livestream?

Bowls England is charging to stream its National Finals after losing its previous livestream sponsorship.

Fair enough to cover production costs?

Or should we be doing everything possible to get MORE eyes on our sport?

🎧 Episode 81 of What a Load of Bowls is out now.

Have a listen and tell us what you think particularly on the two big questions:

Are clubs investing enough in player development?

And…

Would you pay to watch a bowls livestream?

🏆 FOUR GOOD BOWLERS DON'T ALWAYS MAKE A GOOD FOURS TEAM…

Fours is the ultimate team discipline in lawn bowls.

You can have four talented players but if roles aren't clear, communication breaks down or individual egos creep in, the combination can quickly struggle.

In our latest TBA coaching blog, we break down:

✅ Building a team-first culture
✅ Understanding the lead, second, third & skip roles
✅ Better on-green communication
✅ How to build an end rather than chase the jack
✅ Why the best teams leave ego off the green

We've also included a simple 5-minute team discussion you can use before your next competition.

👉 Read our new coaching blog: https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/blog/lawn-bowls-fours-strategy-5-keys-to-building-a-winning-team

💙 Want more coaching and development content?

Join the TBA community of more than 10,000 bowlers and get our latest coaching blogs, resources and Around the Greens newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

👉 Join here: https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/opt-in

Tag your fours teammates below 👇
Which position do you play?

Lawn Bowls Fours Strategy: 5 Keys to Building a Winning Team Learn five key lawn bowls fours strategies to improve teamwork, communication, role clarity and tactical decision-making and help your team win more games.

🎙️ EPISODE 80: BEHIND THE MIC AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES DjDil - WALOB

DJ is back from Glasgow after commentating at the Commonwealth Games and Simon has taken over the introduction to remind him where his international broadcasting career began!

In this episode, DJ takes us behind the scenes of the commentary box and reveals:

🎧 The imposter syndrome he felt during his first game
🎧 What the producers were saying through his headset
🎧 How live commentary is timed around graphics and broadcasts
🎧 The reality of covering up to six games a day
🎧 How he survived while slowly losing his voice
🎧 The tactics and performances that stood out on the portable rinks
🎧 Why shortened sets play could be the future of major-event bowls

DJ also discusses Gary Kelly’s outstanding Commonwealth Games, the preparation of England and Malaysia, Australia’s performances and whether this style of bowls could work at a future Olympic Games.

🎧 Listen to Episode 80 now:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1RnWKSqtQ56ydURLyrZCL4?si=0b5d9a83140e4466

Follow What a Load of Bowls on your preferred podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Are you playing triples as three individuals or as one team?

A strong triples combination is not simply made up of three talented bowlers.

The lead must establish the platform.
The second needs to connect and build the head.
The skip must manage the situation and make the right tactical decisions.

Our latest TBA coaching blog explores five practical strategies to help you win more triples games, including:

✅ Understanding each player’s role
✅ Building pressure from the opening bowl
✅ Improving communication
✅ Knowing when to attack or defend
✅ Scoring multiples while limiting the damage

Whether you play two-bowl or three-bowl triples, every bowl should contribute to the team’s plan.

👉 Read the latest coaching blog via the link below and tag your triples teammates below.
https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/blog/lawn-bowls-triples-strategy-5-keys-to-winning-more-games

📩 Join the TBA community of more than 10,000 bowlers to receive every new coaching blog and our fortnightly Around the Greens newsletter directly to your inbox.

Join here: https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/opt-in

Lawn Bowls Triples Strategy: 5 Keys to Winning More Games Triples success requires more than three talented bowlers. Discover five practical strategies covering player roles, building the head, shot selection, communication and controlling the scoreboard.

🎙️ EPISODE 79 IS NOW LIVE!

The Glasgow Commonwealth Games are here, and we complete our athlete interview series with one of Northern Ireland’s biggest medal hopes - Gary Kelly.

Gary joins DJ ahead of his fourth Commonwealth Games to discuss the preparation, travel and sacrifices required to compete at the highest level.

He also opens up about:

🟢 His outstanding recent form
🟢 Preparing for Glasgow’s indoor carpet
🟢 Controlling the controllables
🟢 The shortened sets-play format
🟢 Representing his family, friends and country
🟢 His ambition to bring home Commonwealth Games gold

After the interview, Simon and DJ break down the complete men’s and women’s singles and pairs draws.

Which sections are the toughest?

Who are the leading medal contenders?

And should a Commonwealth Games gold medal really be decided by a one-end tiebreak?

We also celebrate What a Load of Bowls passing 20,000 downloads. Thank you to everyone who continues to listen, follow and share the podcast.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen
Spotify... https://open.spotify.com/episode/2SCqLFVqW0Mb5Hm61K7CHN?si=Lht3Nmq3RDymfluM1HQtcA
Who are your Commonwealth Games gold medal predictions? Let us know below.

🌿 Stay up to date with what’s happening Around the Greens!

Every fortnight, we send our Around the Greens newsletter to the TBA community, bringing bowlers a mix of:

📰 Lawn bowls news from Australia and around the world
🎯 Coaching tips to help improve your game
🎙️ Updates from the What a Load of Bowls podcast
📅 TBA events, resources and player development opportunities
🏆 Community stories, competitions and more

It is a great way to stay connected with the wider bowls community and pick up something useful for your own game.

Join the TBA community and receive Around the Greens directly in your inbox every fortnight.

👉 Subscribe here: https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/opt-in

Already subscribed? Tag a bowling mate who should join too!

🎉 Congratulations to our TBA Survey Winner! 🎉

A big congratulations to Sue Evans, who has won a free TBA Remote Delivery Analysis simply by completing our recent TBA Community Survey.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts and feedback. Your responses will help us continue developing practical coaching resources, services and player development opportunities for bowlers around the world.

Our Remote Delivery Analysis service allows you to have your delivery reviewed from anywhere. Simply record your delivery and send us the footage, and you will receive personalised feedback covering:

✅ Delivery observations
✅ Areas affecting consistency
✅ Practical coaching corrections
✅ Recommended drills/focus points

Whether you are experiencing a specific issue or simply want to better understand your technique, a delivery analysis can provide a clear starting point for improvement.

Learn more about TBA Remote Delivery Analysis here:
https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/player-development

Congratulations again, Sue Evans! 👏

🎉 5,000 Followers… Thank You! 🎉

What started as a passion for helping bowlers improve has grown into an amazing community of over 5,000 lawn bowlers from around the world.

A huge thank you to every single person who has followed, liked, commented, shared our content, listened to the podcast, read our blogs, downloaded our coaching resources, attended a coaching session, or simply supported The Bowls Academy along the way.

Our mission has always been simple:
Help bowlers of all levels improve their game through quality coaching, practical drills, and trusted development resources.

This is just the beginning. We have plenty more coming, including:
✅ New coaching blogs
✅ More Purposeful Practice Drill Packs
✅ On-Green Player Development Sessions
✅ Remote Delivery Analysis
✅ New podcast episodes of What a Load of Bowls
✅ Even more coaching resources to help you unleash your potential.

🙏 Want to help us reach even more bowlers?

Please:
👍 Like this post
💬 Tell us where you’re from in the comments
🔄 Share this post with your club, teammates, and bowls friends
👥 Invite a fellow bowler to follow The Bowls Academy

Every share helps us reach another player who wants to improve their game.

Thank you again for being part of The Bowls Academy community. Here’s to the next 5,000! 💙