Lawn Bowls

A Game for all Ages and Abilities

It is up to each of us to promote the sport in a more effective way and to give people the opportunity to share with us the enjoyment of playing lawn bowls. Most clubs have not changed their structure or ideas since the days when there were waiting lists for club membership (1960's). This information is designed to guide clubs in the recruitment of new members. There is no reason why your club cannot apply the guidelines and succeed. In many ways, this is a do-it-yourself kit with step-by-step suggestions, procedures and various documents that you can use. Some sample promotional material is also provided for your use. We hope that most clubs have a website by now. This is one of the cheapest most efficient ways for people to find you. If you want some assistance getting started please do not hesitate to ask us, and we will point you in the right direction.

Included in this document

Information related to:

Aim and Objectives of Recruitment

Establishing a Club Membership Committee

Recruitment Ideas

Setting up an Open Day

Open Day Process

Twilight Bowls and Process

Corporate Days and Packages

Social Bowls Ideas

Summary

Documents to assist recruitment including an Open Day Template and Volunteer Briefing

Notes etc, are available on the Women's Bowls NSW website.

Club Membership Committee

This group will act as mentors for potential new members, to organise and run recruitment related events. Members of your working group need to be: Enthusiastic, hardworking, capable, energetic men and women, who have a "can do" attitude, good management skills and who are can bring a fun element into the activities. It is helpful to add the following to your Club Membership Committee: a coach, if available (a pivotal person in your recruitment and retention of bowlers) members with special skills and experience e.g. advertising, marketing, sales

This committee or Working Group is responsible for: Developing a membership recruitment program Implementation of this program Promotion Organising/Planning Event appraisal

Possible Recruitment Ideas

Open Days - Cheaper membership for the first year for those who sign up on that day

Twilight Bowls - Limed, shorter versions of the game Corporate Competitions - Nurses vs Teachers, Business vs Business

Family Bowls - Generational games where teams must be related

Special Day Bowls - Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Australia Day, Gala Days, Charity Days, etc

Community Group Partnerships - CWA, Probus, Playgroup, Travel Groups, Golfing and/or tennis teams

Social Theme Events - Tradies vs Ladies, Sunday Sinners, Roll & Roast, Bowls & Bubbles, Girls on the Green, Neighbourhood or Street events, Southside vs Northside, shirts v skirts, Bring a Buddy etc

Junior Bowls / School Bowls - See separate information, available on request or from the Women’s Bowls NSW website

Recruitment / Open Days

Enjoyment is the key to success AIM: To host a program to attract new members and promote your club GOAL: To give your guests a feel for the sport of lawn bowls by creating a welcoming relaxed, enjoyable and FUN atmosphere. TO ACHIEVE THIS YOU NEED TO: Establish a sub committee (Membership) Timely planning run on weekends, preferably Sundays or early evenings in the

summer Good advertising Use enthusiastic volunteers Free sausage sizzle or Gold Coin Donation Follow up plan Have a wet weather strategy

Come up with an eye-catching flyer to distribute to all your club members both social and bowling as well as businesses, houses,schools & shops in your local area

A small article in

the local newspaper is always a winner

Word of mouth

Get each bowling

member to bring along 1 friend

Take a phone inquiry

Fax or Email Info Flyer

Take firm or tentative

bookings Confirm catering

needs Advertise on the club

TV, several weeks before the event

Coordinator and Volunteers organised and/or sought. Remember to recruit the most friendly and sociable members to get involved on this day

Transfer date to greens diary Discuss rink and green

needs with Green keepers

Provide details to Supervisor for Bar

Staffing Make shopping list for

ordering &/or buying

3-4 Days Before

Confirm Volunteers Confirm catering Confirm

arrangements with supervisor

Food ordering &

purchasing

Day Of

Set out mats & jacks Set out bowls

accounting for numbers, format & gender

Sunshades,

umbrellas, tables & chairs if required

Food preparation

Greet guests Give them a sticker

to write their name on & wear

Commence

Introduction including: objectives, history, safety, rules, delivery explanation & demonstration

Promotional

Coaching – Remember short,

sharp and fun experience needs to be had by all

Practice & play an

actual game of bowls Perhaps a spider at

the end of the session

Provide catering

Thank the group for coming

Provide written info

about bowls Provide a club

membership form Tell them when they

can come back, e.g. “like you are welcome at any time and our next bowls day is…”

Sort & pack up bowls Pack away mats &

jacks Put away sunshades,

umbrellas, tables & chairs

General tidy-up of the

area

Catering Clean-up

Promotion Planning Preparation Set – Up Event

Enquiry / Booking

Conclusion & Tidy Up

Twilight Bowls

A popular summer activity because it’s often cooler and more importantly provides working people, school & university students the chance to play bowls at a time convenient to them. Players wear casual clothing (mufti) and play a time limited game, usually lasting 1.5 -2 hours.

SUGGESTED FORMATS:

Traditional: 15 ends or when the bell rings – played as pairs or 2 bowl triples

Sets Play: 2 sets of 7 ends with a 1 end shoot out if tied – played as pairs or 2 bowl triples

Fast ‘n’ Furious: 30 ends of 1 bowl fours – or when the bell rings

Equal Pairs: each pairs team shares 1 set of bowls, no skip, alternate turns, alternate jack placement – 15 ends with 10th end double shots

To your own bowling club members

To other clubs Make sure the

working member finds out what’s happening, be it a letter, phone call, Email or word of mouth

Take phone enquiries and place names on the booking sheet

Have a permanent booking sheet on display at all times for people to sign up to this event

Decide on a particular format for the twilight season either:

- Traditional - Sets Play - 5 Aside

Advertise your twilight bowls both internally and at local shopping centres and local halls.

Use you club contacts to put up flyers or posters inviting new bowlers along.

Day Of

Do up the draw and write cards

Food Preparation

Greet bowlers

Read and hand out the cards

Decide who is the winner for the night. Pull a tag from the hat be it:

- Highest Margin - Lucky Rink - Winning Position - Lucky Loser - Jackpot - Out of the hat name

Promotion Planning Preparation Set – Up Event

Enquiry / Booking

Conclusion & Tidy Up

Corporate Days

An opportunity for your club to increase participation in the sport of lawn bowls, therefore increase club membership. Come up with a Corporate Bowls Team – mixed personnel. The Team will be

responsible for signing up Companies, Social Clubs and the planning, preparation, set-up and completion of the event

Look at the demographics of your club alongside the business district

Obtain a business directory for your local area

Plot out possible companies that would benefit from a Corporate Bowls Day

Put together a pack. A cover letter explaining what you are offering, packages available and prices, the Corporate Card.

Ring each company and make an appointment to see the General Manager

Take a firm or Tentative Booking Follow up

Advantages of Corporate Days

The advantages of a company participating in a corporate bowls day are: Bowls is an inclusive game for everyone

Promotes great team building activity

No specific skills needed - after 10 minutes everyone is playing

Its social, highly rewarding and affordable

It needs to be fun

As a guide have a minimum of 1 volunteer for every 8 participants

 

Corporate Package Ideas

OPTION 1: All Day Event including: Morning Tea, Conference Room, Facilities, Lunch, 1½- 2 hours of Bowls, Green Hire, Bowls Hire, Supervision OPTION 2: Bowls & Lunch Afternoon including: Lunch, 1½- 2 hours of Bowls, Green Hire, Bowls Hire, Supervision OPTION 3: Bowls Afternoon including: 1½- 2 hours of Bowls, Green Hire, Bowls Hire, Supervision DRINKS PACKAGE: Have wristbands to indicate those involved in the drinks package of Beer, Wine and Soft Drinks.

Alternate Bowls Ideas

Bring a Mate for a modified game in mufti dress Have a theme day

Have a family day Street teams

Local school fun day Year 6 farewell

P & C Fundraiser

Rent a rink - Christmas parties

SUMMARY

“ –

”

…provides a practical approach to membership promotion.

Most clubs will be able to find at least half a dozen people with the qualities, energy and commitment needed to meet the challenge of recruiting new bowlers successfully for the benefit of your club. Recruitment is a satisfying project that will appeal to people with the ability to "get things done".

Encourage others to love our game

For any further information or enquiries, please contact:

Membership Committee Suite 801, Level 8, 289 King Street, Mascot 2020 Phone: (02) 9267 7155 Email: recruitment@womensbowlsnsw.org

Notes: