Being A Lead player

First few paragraphs were updated Sept14th 2019 --
As my 75th birthday approaches I am beginning to look at my Internet blogging and the stats today (Sept 14, 2019) shows a continual interest in the role of  a Lead in Lawn Bowls  Competitions. Now Sept 18, 2023 I am doing another update as this blog of 2015 still is at the top of viewer visits. Here, in this update I ask "What is the role of the Lead" (I have placed new comments in italics bold)

Blog Stats 24 August 2019

No other player, not even the skip is more important than the lead as a controlling player of the team. The skip will be required to find the game strategy and make those shots as the last few bowls are played ; but the skip's only influence are his own bowls and his own performance.

During this year, I accepted to play "Lead" in a "Super League" because I found the participants were being attached to a "Dart Bowls" thinking.  Everyone, or as the skip request; shot toward the jack and at the end, like in darts the closest bowl to the center of the house was consided a good bowl. A "good Bowl to me depends upon how many opponent bowls it forces to be wasted or avoided. Also, at 78 now, I enjoyed the relax of Lead.

Yes we see skips who preach the "Do what I say" as the lead comes to the mat; but asking a lead to perform does not get the shot made. I tell my lead "Do you best to try and give what I ask" and then as we pass at center green, I explain how their great shot will resulted in the points on the scoreboard. When playing "InterClub Games" where my lead may be a club member of the club we are visiting; I simple request  "Put two on or near the Jack and we will see for the other"

 Lets for a minute look how "The Lead" has defined with the beginning bowls what the head will eventually look like. Long ago when Bowls 4s was played more frequently here in Canada; I was told "Your job is to put your bowls on the Jack as pressure on the opponents"  If the lead is taught the importance of his decisions and performance and how the final bowls in the head will change and result due to his actions.

Stats of Blog Sept 14 2019
We see the same stats week after week

One of the major important of the "Lead player" decision and his influence in the delivery of the following bowls by his placement of the mat as he evaluates the "Receiving Area".  To often the lead is a less experience player of first or 2nd year who has not been educated in the "Receiving Area". The small area of the bowling green in front of the Mat (or to the side) is the "Receiving Area" and  where all player will lays his bowl to the green. If you want your skip and players to perform great shots then they need a good clean "Receiving area" to receive their bowls as it starts it roll.

Do we teach that  Every player delivers his "Backhand bowl within a few inches of the centre Line (left or right handed players both). Think about this... Such a delivery means that the bowl passes over "Center Line " (a few inches from the mat) and then rolls outward and back toward the "Center Line" (at the Jack)  So if the mat placement gives a section of the green with a good "Receiving Area"; the start of the roll of the bowl as laid softly to the green will be as close to a perfect shot as the player can make.
A bit different on the "ForeHand Delivery"  where the bowl is anywhere from a few inches in front of the "Corner of the Mat" to even off to the Side and "Rolled parallel" to the mat and Center Line as there are so many different Forehand Deliveries..

So teaching a Lead to look at this small detail and then to move the mat forward or back a few inches to give the best possible "Receiving Area" only means their decision is helping make the best possible bowl roll.  (For both teams). Because of this instruction toward detail and responsibility of the Lead other questions become part of the Lead's role. Questions like " Does the team have a "Left handed " player ?" Or, "Does my team player or  the opponent Player in doing his "Forehand Delivery" roll differently from the mat". Does the "Team Skip get a good delivery ?"  (No.. Decisions of this "Mat Placement" might be seen as a strategy by the skip; but as a lead it is a responsibility " to give all players the best |"Receiving Area" for their bowl". When the skip asks that the mat be brought up, it still means to find a placement which gives a good "Receiving Area". They won't complain for a few feet difference, forward or back.

 What about the rolling the jack and eventually how the lead's first bowls arrives in the head. These decisions and the education of the Lead means that their first bowls is going to build the head in such a way. " What is the ideal first bowl" is often asked by a new player playing "Lead". Of all the bowls a "lead" can roll, the ideal first bowl is a good delivery to within a foot or 18 inches of the jack.

There is an interesting discussed principle of  the Lead's Delivery which states " If the lead's bowl is delivered within 30 seconds after the jack has been rolled and centered; that the muscle memory of the Jack roll becomes a part of the muscle memory of the Bowl Delivery. "Muscle Memory discussed else where is simply if you do something often enough, you will eventually do it without thinking. And what about the lead's delivery accuracy or can a beginning player develop a "Recall Memory" of their delivery weight (of the jack) and also apply it to their "Bowl Delivery" ? 

 Try this exercise... Take a Golf Ball, a jack and your Bowl and do three Natural Distance rolls (as if you are rolling your bowl).   Do they arrive at the same distance? If not how much difference. Certain laws of Physic says your Foot/Pound effort used with that delivery being the same; that the size of the object will collect the same force but that that force will result in the same distance, because the different size balls (Golf, Jack, and Bowl) will have less resistance from the greens.. Think about it... Try it.. Develop an ability to remember your roll force and apply it to your Bowl delivery.. Can it be done ?? This is what learning is. An idea, develop skills based upon the idea and then using them in Bowl's Play.

 Wheather by luck or because of a good delivery the "Lead's bowls  will defines how the head will be develop and the expected performance of his fellow teammates....... (END of September 14 Update)

When coaching players for the position of Lead I insist on them respecting the wishes of the skip and to apply their understanding of the decision of where the mat is placed as how they take their Line and which method of Delivery Line  is applied. Watch all  the players (team and opponent) and understand how your mat decision effect them .  Yes the skip may define the length of the jack but in placing the mat on the green the lead who had done his mat placement verification can mean the success or failure to his bowls and his fellow teammate bowls. All decisions should be to the advanage of your team.

Some Basics of Bowls delivery first. Lawn bowlers perform two types of deliveries. Forehand and Backhand.  And each bowl roll touches the greens in two completely different lines of delivery. The Backhand which is taught first to new students is placed on the green near the center line and rolls outward along the line of delivery and with the bias returns to the center line in front or behind the jack depending upon the delivery weight . This is taught first because you can not turn your wrist or bend your elbow when doing a Backhand Delivery.

(The following test is the original blog of  July 25 2015)

In the game of Lawn Bowls, especially in Pairs and Triples: the first player to roll their bowls

Youtube Video -  Nev Rodda

is usually called the "LEAD" or "LEADER". In building a good team, the lead's ability to place their bowls on the Jack is the major factor. Important enough that it may influence the team skips choice of a player's position. In "Social Games" the lead is usually the less experience player or newbie and they are told to simple do as the skip ask.

However, in competition play the value of the "Lead"  is more on their ability to develop the head of bowls with their beginning bowls. These first bowls in the head often define how the head will be developed and as a controlling factor against the success of the opponent lead.
 " The Lead (er) is the most important player on the team. I can t emphasizes that enough" explains Nev Rodda , author of the Youtube video "Lawn Bowls, What is the role of the Leader" 

 This blog attempts to expand   on this details of the leads important in pairs, Triples and Fours.

  Last weekend I watch a local "Provincial Play down" which is used to choose the representative of our province in National Competitions. I watched as the opponent lead placed 3 tight bowls on the jack in the first three consecutive ends.  Immediately, I knew the outcome of the game as I had coached the losing team on Game play and the responsibility of building a good head and the control the opponent lead's bowls.. As I watch the game, I understood how the mindset of the losing team was on  a "draw, draw, draw" performance. To the leads  this had become an individual competition between the two leads.  I later leaned that the  final score was  29 to 9 after 18 ends. Who was to blame.

I felt guilty as a Coach because the point which was taught certainly was not well communicated. Even if the lead had forgotten, the skip should have told his lead of the need to stop the continual strong lead's  control of the game by his bowl placement and how it affected the head was build.

(2019 update) This week (May 2019) teams from 25 countries on the Atlantic Ocean are gathered in Wales for the 2019 Atlantic Championships. (May 10 to 23th) and thankful to South Africa Facebook page, I had an opportunity to watch several games.  The photos left are from the Woman's Pairs Finals (South Africa and Malta) In the first end of play ( Photo 1) we see SA lead on the jack as Malta lead's (white bowls) a bit heavy. In the photo, the lead's 3rd bowl is requested by the SA skip to be placed behind the jack

where the touched jack will be send  (foot turned sideways). On the next bowl Malta lead made contact on the SA bowl and sends the jack back. However, the SA lead's bowl was not there.  Can you guess who won the game ? (end of Update)

 At this level of play, even in the first end of play; the need to quickly adjust is important.  Yes the skip could have let the lead throw the next two bowls into the jack but most important is each bowl is of value and the best position on the green for the Skip is what the lead should understand and attempt to do.

During the 2019 Australian Open on the Gold Coast )  in the Woman's pairs of  ( C.Krizanic / N.Scott S.Duffield / A.Haevecker. Section 7 Day 3  we see that the team lead of Carla Krizanic suggesting to her skip  Natasha Scott to play a long jack. Because they had won several points earlier on minimum distance jack and this is the last end of play, Because they disagree, they both meet in center green and discuss it. In order  to decide the different view,, used a child game of "Rock,Paper,Scissors" and  the lead won to decided  distance.
 Yes, in an international game of  world quality lawn bowls using this small child's game as one of their tools they were allowed for a decision without either disrespect. Respect in Communication is important especially in Team's discussion on play. And maybe even  more than skip obedience.

  However, it is clear in watching the game and their play on a short jack distance they have their ability to take-off weight down to a precision. We see in watching their play the two methods of removing weight.  Natasha stops her delivery arm forward movement and lets the bowl drop and roll forward while Carla does a stop of her forward delivery movement and waits until her bowl is on the green before continue to her forward step.  This weakness of the opponents abilities on short jack delivery; was probably detected in the early part of the game and kept or used occationally, Now it is of major important decision at the end of the game.

Of course they won 14 - 10 and moved on to the qualificators. Also we see them wisely use the short jack delivery distance and then return to a long jack to not allow the opponent to develop or perfect their abilities.

A mindset of  "I maybe can get a better shot than their bowl."  is not game tactics or play strategy but just hopeful wishing. The thought should be. "Oh, I see what you did to outplay me, It won t happen again because...."  In the above mention  video Nev say " Forgot about EGO, this is not about playing well, " this is about playing as a team " " and winning as a team." "Four players playing as one unit, four players working together to achieve an outcome"


HOWEVER, before a lead can control the head and make individual decisions for the team, the team has to agree that these decisions and developments are his responsibility as a team player."The Lead (er) is guided through the thoughts and wishes of the skip (per)" says Nev suggesting his decisions have been discussed and delegated before the actual game. (UD 2019 - In the above photos, the skip knew the need for the back bowl and the lead should have been able to place a near perfect bowl) When the skip suggests a jack length or a bowl delivery  to a certain position in the head; he is indicating a different in team strategy to the lead and the importance of not each bowl that is rolled need to be on the jack.. "The lead must think outside the confines of the game" and understand the meaning of the change in his performance that is being requested not just always put a bowl on the jack..

I was taught that a 12 end game has three parts of play (4 ends each) which should be used wisely.

The First 4 ends of play  (two up and two back) are to know the opponents and the Playing surface. The skip will see different things than you  the lead who is probably studying the opponent lead.  Yes you must collect points in each end but concentrate on reading and collection information that will improve your game is important as you play. (Even as team lead)  If the score is slow on the first ends, (4-2 after 4 ends) there is plenty of time to learn these important facts which are available. I remember a 4's game where the second said to me "The  opponent lead has a two foot less weight on his backhand" This meant that were 4 players (lead and seconds of both teams) were equal strength on the draws.. the lead was weak on his back hand.
 But if by chance, there is a big lost of points in the first or second end, than maybe the time for study of the opponent is over and the skip's decision will be to jump ahead and learn from the  2nd part of play  the " Fine Play" Section of the game.

In 7th end adding 3 to make 10 - 10 

Interesting photo of Score board.  The 2nd part of 12 ends of play (5th to 8th) is called "Fine Turning" because both teams know the line and got a feel for green speed.  In the photo we see that  after 20 points collected in 7 ends.one team has Fine tuned their performance faster than the other team  Must have been a few 1s and 2s and a few 4s and 5s, in this later section as we see a team collects 3 points to tie game. .

In this section the team against team strategy is begun and decided by the skip. If the team is front end heavy with their lead building a strong head the points will be collected by being concerned to stop this strong lead.  The mat will be moved, the lead bowls blocked, the jack moved anything to give the skip a even playing area when he comes to the mat.  No skip can save the game when he comes to the mat or with his last bowl with 3 or 5 points down.

The third section of play strategy "keep it together" is where we find that probably both teams have unique forces. Efforts to keep the game going toward a win may applied to maintain the lead or always recapture of the jack and take control of the game with a play of bowls controlling the opponent maybe with unique jack distance. It is nice to come pass the 8th end into the 3rd section with a near even score or a fair lead.  Remember after 8 ends of play the players know their ability and draw distance and line.  You are both at your best and the only way to win is to be at your best mental and physical.  And team harmony and communication best.

In a 18 end of play game the quality of the team is more closely studied as both are now trying to roll all their bowls with maximum efficiency and it becomes a game strategy of  attacks (offensives) on the weak point of the opponent or  build a strong defense. (Defensively)

In your 1st 4 ends "Learn and Build"  Section you should be asking question like
 - Does the opponent "Lead" favor forehand or just as good on both fore and back hand. ?
 - What is the Natural Distance of the "Lead"  how well does he add-on and take-off his weight.?
 - Is there a Narrow Green or Wide green and how wide are the bias of the opponent skip.? (To block a side of the head for the "Lead"  and not affect the draw of the mate or skip is useless tactics.
Remember your skip has his job and you have yours.  In fours you and the Second can talk and advise each other of your readings and findings.

Thank you.  Good Bowls.

As a new part of this blog I will at the end post the

Blog viewer Stats July 27th 2015

Viewer Statistics with comments on unique change in Views.  The following photo show that beside the regular English Blog viewers like Canada, USA and Australia we find Europe viewers in Ukraine India and of course South Africa.
Sometimes it is unique subject matter and not necessary bowls that draws the viewers. The search engine of Yahoo and Google may have picked up the "Subconscious Mind" aspect of the blog. But still interesting to see these views.