Carla’s Corner – Edition Eight
Dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist and world champion Carla Krizanic continues to share her insights in her eighth column for bowls.com.au, as she eagerly awaits the arrival of her second child.
We talk a lot about bowls being a sport for all ages and I’ve never understood this more than now as a mum to a toddler.
We often mention there are not many sports like bowls that a child can play alongside their parents and grandparents, but it can start even younger than this age.
I’m a mum to a 16-month-old with another on the way and I can assure you, my little guy, Axel, is just as much a member of Club Sunbury as I am.
My club has been such a family friendly environment by welcoming him from the first moment he entered the facility and supporting me as a parent to be able to play around my new responsibilities.
Whilst my Axel is quite a few years off being able to play bowls, he absolutely adores being at the club and interacting with all of the members.
He enjoys having a run on the green and even having a go rolling the jack or some of the foam bowls from the Rookie Rollers set. Admittedly his favourite part of the bowls club is the bowl of hot chips he gets after watching me practice but it’s all part of the fun of being in the club environment.
Some of the greatest moments are seeing all the kids out on the green after pennant having a go at playing or just enjoying the open space.
I can assure you the weight of a child running around on the green is not going to cause it any damage, and with the Rookie Roller set now available through Bowls Australia, they can have a go at bowling safely right from toddler age.
I truly believe that encouraging children to enjoy the bowls club environment is what is going to set them up in the future to want to actively participate in our sport.
Sure, Axel might not want to play bowls as a young child or a teenager, but the memories he has enjoying himself at a bowls club might be what sparks his interest in playing bowls as an adult or encouraging his own children to play.
As bowlers we all have a responsibility to help our sport to continue to flourish so the next generation can enjoy it as much as we have.
Next time you see a young family at your club please welcome them with open arms, that little bub in the pram might be a future club champion or the parent pushing the pram might just be looking for something new to try.
Take care and stay safe,
Carla Krizanic.
