Written by Mal Evans, Bowls England Performance Coach
Following the development of Bowls England’s Performance Strategy in 2023, we have been able to secure funding from Sport England for four years to firmly embed and roll out a new Performance Pathway and Talent plan.
The chance to not only increase opportunities for young people to play the game, but also enjoy its benefits and fulfil their potential is seen as fundamental to increase participation, broaden the diversity of our player base and develop and expand our current workforce of pathway coaches and leaders.
Over these four years, the aim is to implement a recruitment drive aimed at prospective junior bowlers aged 12-15, support and develop already existing junior initiatives – such as academy centres within the counties – and establish new ones in the counties that do not currently have one.
We are striving to establish regional hubs across England, led by a qualified Level 3 performance coach and supported by a dedicated team of development coaches, deliver regional Talent Identification events around the country, culminating in an annual National Talent Development and Training Day at Bowls England headquarters in Royal Leamington Spa.
Bowls England will aim to work closely with participating affiliated clubs and County Associations to provide opportunities and positive experiences for participating junior bowlers.
In addition, the Bowls England Performance Team will also play a major role in ensuring that the new National Talent Pathway is effectively delivered.
In March, Bowls England appointed Mark Hoile to the part-time role of Pathway and Talent Development Manager.
Mark had an eighteen-year career in Olympic sport as a canoeist and has developed talent pathways for British Canoeing, as well as England Athletics.
He has also worked for UK Coaching, UK Sport, Sport England, British Rowing, Snowsport Scotland, Great Britain Taekwondo, UK Deaf sport to name but a few.
Mark will work closely with participating affiliated clubs and County Associations to provide opportunities and experiences for participating junior bowlers as well as working to support the Performance Team to embed effective and appropriate talent ID systems which will ensure high potential bowlers are identified, confirmed and supported, as well as identifying individual development plans for high potential players via a player-focused approach.
Mark will be supported by Bernie Hill, who will take on the position of Pathway and Talent Officer.
Bernie is well-known in bowls through her role as Secretary of the English Bowling Umpires Association and is currently Bowls England’s International Area Scout for the North region.
Her wealth of experience within our sport, connections across the bowls community and involvement in Coach Bowls will be a significant fillip for the Pathway and Talent programme.
Coach Bowls, the sport’s coaching arm, has already re-vamped and re-written a new syllabus for Level 3 performance coaching which has been accredited by 1st4sport.
Eight candidate coaches have already started their journey in performance coaching which will expand the workforce at this level if they successfully complete the course.
Mark and Bernie will liaise with the organization to ensure that further opportunities to expand the workforce will be part of the ongoing strategy and remain in place beyond the initial four-year term of the funding.
The aim is to create a clearly identified pathway for all players from their entry point into the sport through to opportunities with Team England at National level and on the World stage.
This is an exciting time for Bowls England in terms of being able to develop and nurture new talent within the sport.
The hope is that this initiative attracts new youngsters to bowls while at the same time expanding and enhancing the opportunities that are already available to existing bowlers.
Pictures: Sporting Highlights