BOWLS WA REPORTS - HIGH PERFORMANCE Although the 2020 Nationals were not played in October due to Covid restrictions, the Bowls WA High Performance Committee took the opportunity to develop its strategies to improve the culture and performance of all selected Western Australian teams.
bowlers both metropolitan and country and the best way to develop those identified players.
in the previous twelve-month period. The Men’s Open Coach and Selector and Under 18 Coach positions will now be declared open in November 2021 with the remaining positions open in November 2022.
As the High-Performance Committee continued to look for ways to challenge Western Australian players, an event called the Bowls Blitz was set up to take the place of State trials between May and August. The event involved all Open State Squad members playing in eight different teams with the members of the HighPerformance Committee taking on the selecting and coaching responsibilities of a team. Nominations were also requested
A major part of the future player development program is the Bowls WA Academy under Head Coach Linda Warburton. Linda has continued to assess and invite metropolitan and country players to take part either on a full-time basis or a trial basis. Linda continues to use not only her abilities to up skill players Pieter Harris but also invites leading State Players to give talks and take part in sessions. Those players included but were not limited to, Kristina Unfortunately, due to personal reasons Ross Krstic, Cody Packer, John Slavich, Clive Adams, Dempsey was unable to continue in his role Shane Knott, Noelene Abe, Lee Poletti and as the State Selection Panel Chair. Although Kelli Wray. not long in the role, Ross had already made a valuable contribution to the Committee, and A number of other changes were enacted we wish him and his family well in the future. to bring all state squads together. While there was not an official Over 60’s squad, As a very able replacement, Kerry Andersen nominations for players interested in taking was selected to take on the role of Chair of part was requested with a healthy number the Selection Panel and was given a three- of individuals putting their name forward. year term. Kerry will take on the task of Unfortunately, while not all nominations selecting the Men’s and Women’s Open received an invite, games were set up between Teams, Under 18 Boys and Girls Teams and Over 60’s players vying for team selection the Over 60’s Men’s team. Due to Kerry and the Open State Squads. This gave much wanting to be available for selection in the needed competition for all concerned and Over 60’s Women’s team, Open team selector gave selectors opportunities to view players Therese Hastings will work with the Over 60’s under pressure against quality opposition. selectors to select the Women’s team. Members of the Under 18’s were also invited As well as Kerry’s appointment, all selectors to compete against and with the Bowls and coaches had their term extended for one Academy players as they strived for selection year as no teams were required to be selected in the Under 18 teams.
During the season the High-Performance Committee reformed and met to discuss the future of High-Performance Bowls in Western Australia. A major part of those discussions involved how we better identify talented
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