What a Load of Bowls
81 | Build the Facilities… But Are We Building Better Bowlers?
Episode 81 - Build the Facilities… But Are We Building Better Bowlers? What a Load of Bowls is back for Episode 81 and DJ is firmly back in control of the intro! After apologising for Simon taking advantage of his Commonwealth Games jet lag last episode, DJ and Simon get stuck into another big fortnight from around the greens. The boys wrap up the tightly contested New South Wales v Victoria Test Series , including the Open, Development, Senior and Para events, before looking at the Australian Indoor Championships , where Ben Twist claimed the men's title and Kelsey Cottrell continued her incredible indoor record with another Australian crown. There’s also a look ahead to the World Bowls Champion of Champions at Club Barham and the newly formatted Queensland Premier League , which kicks off with a triple-header and a move to four rinks per side. Then the conversation turns to club development. DJ gives an update on the huge redevelopment underway at Maitland City , including the new MakMax canopy, covered greens, electronic scoreboards and a massive screen which leads into a bigger question: Bowls clubs are investing millions into new facilities, but are we investing enough into developing the players who actually use them? Simon and DJ discuss structured coaching, player development programs, understanding individual goals and why the next generation of bowlers may expect far more coaching support than previous generations. Finally, there’s some controversy from the UK, with Scotland charging spectators to attend its National Championships and Bowls England introducing a paid livestream for its National Finals. Should bowls remain free to watch online, or is paying for professional coverage simply part of taking the sport forward? Plenty to unpack in Episode 81. PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY The Bowls Academy Unlock Your Bowls Potential. Play With Confidence https://www.thebowlsacademy.com SSA (StarSub Apparel) Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events. https://www.starsub.com.au Follow on Instagram: @starsubapparel ️ MakMax Australia The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia. https://www.makmax.com.au Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies Newcastle Car & Truck Rental Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses. https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au ️DACCA Architecture The experts when its comes to club renovations, re-fresh and new builds - Speak to Tony and the team https://daccaarchitecture.com.au/ CONNECT WITH US Got a question, topic idea, or want to get involved in the show? We’d love to hear from you! Simon Lyttle – simon@thebowlsacademy.com DJ – dj@thebowlsacademy.com Explore our full range of coaching content, blogs, and gear: https://www.thebowlsacademy.com https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com HELP US GROW THE SHOW! If you enjoy What a Load of Bowls : ⭐ Rate and review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Share the episode with your teammates and bowling friends Send us an email or tag us with your feedback — we might read it on the next episode!
