School holiday bowls programs a hit across ACT and NSW
As kids return to school for a new year, many will be heading back with new skills in the sport of bowls having been involved in one of the many school holiday programs across NSW and ACT.
In recent years, school holiday programs with Sydney councils and clubs have boomed with the clubs and councils working in partnership with Bowls Australia to see new juniors attend sessions, being active, learning new skills and making new friends.
The concept is now growing outside of metro Sydney with regional councils and clubs looking at the school holidays as a great time to get kids involved in the sport.
New programs have sprung up in Batemans Bay & Tomakin, Goulburn and in the ACT where junior coach Patrick Robertson was the host of four junior ‘Come and Try’ days hosted at Yowani Bowling Club, promoted by Bowls ACT.
Not only were the sessions open to juniors to come learn the game, but also gave an opportunity to bring together members of the ACT elite junior squad to show off their talents to a new generation of juniors and having some tailored skills training to further develop their game.
Eurobodalla Council were the first time hosts with two sessions with Batemans Bay OOSH, each with about 25 primary school aged kids starting out with Rookie Rollers equipment, before progressing to using real bowls at Tomakin Bowling Club.
Tomakin has already benefitted, with two of the program participants returning for more coaching and wanting to play.
The council is very supportive of bowls and has plans for co-hosted sessions at Moruya and Narooma in the next school holidays.
In Goulburn, the local council, Goulburn Railway Bowling Club and Bowls Australia all partnered to deliver a program for local high school students which saw kids from 12 to 17 take to the green for the first time with skills developing and some keen competition.
Goulburn is home to Jackaroo Ellen Ryan and there might be some more talent to come from the home of the Big Merino as the kids are all keen for another turn in the next school holidays with the council looking to expand further with more sessions during the school term.
Contribution by Nick Hind – Regional Bowls Manager (South East NSW & ACT)
Regional Bowls Managers can help facilitate this conversation between clubs and councils. Contact your RBM to find out more.
Photos: Kids enjoy their time at the Goulburn Junior Program.
