COACHING AND OFFICIATING

Coaching

Over the course of the last twelve months, the Nationally distributed Coaching Newsletter has dramatically increased its readership. The Newsletter has also had contributions from many more coaches than in previous years.

The Coaching Forum was attended by more than 60 coaches at Mermaid Beach BC on the Gold Coast. Sessions were delivered by Gary Lasky, Danny Simmons, Britt Jago, Mark Gillett and Ben Twist and Dennis OToole.

Three Advanced Coach courses were run over the reporting period with more than a dozen new Advanced Coaches now in circulation.

The work has all but finished on the new self-paced learning version of the Selection Module allowing bowlers across the country to complete the module in their time. The module will be available late 2022.

Club Coach Course self-paced learning has been completed and published. The task of training suitable on-green presenters is now underway in several states. New chapters in the course include gambling awareness, and a structural training tool called SAAFE.

Work has started on the new Team Coaching module and it is anticipated that the module will be available in late 2022.

Our thanks to the outgoing members of the National Coaching Advisory Group, Clay Parker, Neil Gray, Gail Page and to the current members Sharyn Renshaw, Michael Wilks (Chair) Matt Ottobre, Jacqui Hineman and Dennis OToole.

Officiating

The National Officiating Advisory Group (NOAG) has met online five times iduring this 12 month period, with one meeting incuding State and Territory umpire chairs.

The use of ZOOM meetings has meant that NOAG has met more regularly.

During the past 12 months an online delivery of umpire accreditation has been designed and trialled and is close to publication. Each State will have two or three presenters trained to be able to run online courses.

Face-to-face training remains the designated delivery of the National Officials Accreditation Scheme. To complete any online accreditation, candidates are still required to complete on green training and assessments. Bowls Australia is continuing developing a self-paced, online umpire accreditation platform this will also include a variety of other topics. The self-paced learning module is also close to completion. Both online delivery packages will occur in 2022.

NAOG with consultation of all States have prepared a document for the World Bowls Laws committee for the consideration of a range of suggested changes to the Laws of the Sport. This document was well received and many of our suggestions have been supported. The final document will be approved after the 2022 Commonwealth Games from which Bowls Australia will publish the next version of the Laws of The Sport.

Other NOAG roles include responding to emails clarifying laws of the sport and conditions of play, approving measuring equipment, approving footwear and providing advice to the CEO, Neil Dalrymple and the Bowls Australia Board.

NOAG acknowledges the valued voluntary work of State and Territory Umpire chairs, National Presenter and Assessors, District and Regional Umpire chairs and the continuous commitment made by local markers, measurers, and umpires across Australia.