Is lawn bowling suitable for inclusion in a school sport program?

During early school years, most children come into contact with several sports. There is no reason why lawn bowling cannot be one of them. Lawn bowls is a sport in which personal injury is rare and any injury is rarely severe. Children who are overweight do not have to spend time dieting before they can start participating competently. Dieting can be undertaken subsequently. Bowling offers only limited satisfaction unless a reasonably level and even surface is available. ‘Slick’ areas of concrete or wooden flooring require a matting or carpet to provide enough ‘drag’ to cause bowls to come to rest within a reasonable distance and time. Otherwise, they would continue rolling until obstructed by the confines of the area in use. On the other hand, an area of uncut grass should probably be mowed, and perhaps rolled, to avoid the opposite effect - i.e. the need for excessive physical effort. Club bowling greens, of course, are immaculately groomed playing surfaces. Some clubs cater for ...  more