Franklin supports Bundy coaches | Bundaberg Bowls | Lawn Bowls in Bundaberg

Noel Collin gets some coaching pointers from George Franklin (front) as Ashley Harris, Rex Clements, Dave Willsher, Carol Petersen and Koos Uildriks take note at the club coaching course held at Burnett Bowls Club on Saturday.

MAX FLEET

Bundaberg lawn bowls identity Gavin Law was scratching his head trying to think of 10 bowlers who might like to learn how to coach.

He needed at least that many to warrant Bowls Australia assessor and presenter George Franklin’s visit to lend his wisdom to the game he loves.

Law need not have worried, however, because 17 eager bowlers expressed their interest and Franklin was on his way to town.

“The response was amazing. To get that many interested really blew me away and it’s a great advertisement for the sport in Bundaberg,” Law said.

Franklin, who is based at Bribie Island, has toured Queensland extensively bringing players and officials up to speed with the development in the game.

As in all sports, he said bowls had changed over the years, and it was time for coaching to do the same.

“The regime is different today than what it was in the 1970s,” Franklin said.

“People think about the game differently, attack it differently and there are certainly different ways to approach coaching.”

Franklin said the coaching workshops were a new innovation of Bowls Australia.

“Basically I’m teaching people how to plan, present and coach a person, the types of questions you need to ask a player and how to get the best out of them,” he said. “It’s about trying to elevate coaches and give them the tools to coach those who already have confidence and ability.”

The 17 local bowlers completed two days of theory and practical assessment and are now on “rung two of their pathway” to becoming a top coach.

“If they can continue to improve as coaches, obviously that only benefits the bowlers themselves,” Franklin said.

Bowlers such as Gail Crompton and Kurt Brown are two obvious stand-outs to emerge on the national scene this year and, with a coaching institution such as this behind it, Bundaberg bowls will only grow stronger.

But Franklin is one of just two in his position in Queensland, which in his eyes is a problem.

“Logistically it’s difficult for me to travel everywhere. We need local guys to step up and co-ordinate things from within their area,” he said.

Mim Sinclair is doing just that and is currently awaiting her assessor’s accreditation.

“We need more people like Mim to put their hand up and take the pressure off a little bit,” he said.