The Bowls Academy

01/10/2026

🎙️ WALOB EPISODE 84 IS HERE!

Simon’s back from Canada and straight back into DJ’s firing line! 😂

🏆 Girl power at the Dubbo Fours
🔥 Queensland Premier League finals
🌍 World Champion of Champions predictions
⚪ Could your foot placement be affecting your line?

🙌 A big shout-out to our sponsors, MakMax, DACCA Architecture, Newcastle Car & Truck Rental and SSA Apparel, for helping keep WALOB rolling!

🎧 Search “What a Load of Bowls” on your favourite podcast platform.
Listen now on Spotify for FREE... https://open.spotify.com/episode/0JfrsmCfTOTS5bgpoRoxjZ?si=7cec5508f1b64f0d

30/09/2026

24/09/2026

NEW COACHING BLOG: Are You Stepping in the Right Direction?

Recently we looked at foot placement and alignment on the mat. Now we take the next step - literally.

Your setup might be aligned correctly, but if your stepping foot moves across your body or away from your intended line, it can affect your balance, arm swing, release and overall consistency.

In our latest coaching blog we look at:

✅ Why the direction of your step matters
✅ What can happen when you step across or away from your line
✅ How step length can affect balance
✅ A simple practice drill to check your movement
✅ How video can help identify what’s really happening in your delivery

Your feet establish the line. Your step should support it.

👉 Read the full coaching article here:
🔗 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/blog/lawn-bowls-delivery-are-you-stepping-in-the-right-direction

Want more lawn bowls coaching content?

Join the TBA Community and get our latest coaching blogs, player development resources and Around the Greens newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

👉 Join the TBA Community:
🔗 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/opt-in

💬 Do you ever consciously think about where your stepping foot finishes during your delivery? Let us know in the comments.

Improve your lawn bowls delivery by checking the direction of your step. Learn how better alignment, balance and step consistency can support your intended line.

17/09/2026

🎙️ WALOB EPISODE 83 IS HERE!

Simon couldn’t make the time difference work from Canada… so DJ found someone in Canada who could! 😂

(Bowls Canada Boulingrin) Canadian international John Bezear joins us to talk Aussie beginnings, World Championship medals with Ryan Bester, Glasgow and fresh ideas for coaching and club selection.

Listen Now.... https://open.spotify.com/episode/2eHTseJh4qrA3LH9YnWf0w?si=d47f4620f2fc4eae

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or through The Bowls Academy website.

Could better performance data improve selection at your club? 👇

10/09/2026

Want a more consistent lawn bowls delivery? Start with your feet.

This week’s new coaching blog looks at one of the simplest areas of your setup to check.. foot placement and alignment on the mat.

If your position changes every delivery, you’re adding another variable into your technique. A consistent starting position, with your bowling-side foot aligned towards your intended line, can help create a more repeatable delivery.

✅ Same position on the mat
✅ Adjust the angle of your feet to suit the intended line
✅ Remove unnecessary variables from your delivery

Read the full article here 👇
🔗 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/blog/lawn-bowls-foot-placement-one-less-variable-in-your-delivery

And if you’re not already part of the TBA Community, join over 10,000 bowlers receiving our latest coaching blogs, development resources and Around the Greens newsletter direct to your inbox.

🔗 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/opt-in

Improve your lawn bowls consistency with better foot placement and mat alignment. Learn how a repeatable setup can remove one variable from your delivery.

03/09/2026

🎙️ NEW WALOB EPISODE

From practicing on carpet in school corridors… to representing the Falkland Islands at the Commonwealth Games. 🇫🇰
Falkland Islands Bowls Association

In Episode 82, we’re joined by Oliver Thompson to talk about one of the most unique journeys in bowls.

With only around 3,600 people in the Falklands, limited facilities and a small playing population, Ollie’s story is a brilliant reminder that you don’t need the best facilities to build a strong bowls community.

🎧 Listen to Episode 82 of What a Load of bowls...
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vLwv6hD4MybFvZ0diYYoC?si=9edf2c68d77f4649

26/08/2026

🌱 HOW DO WE ATTRACT THE NEXT GENERATION TO LAWN BOWLS?

We often hear clubs say, “We need more juniors.” But attracting young people to bowls is only the first step, the real challenge is creating an experience that makes them want to come back.

Our latest TBA coaching blog looks at practical ways clubs can build successful junior development programs, including:

✅ Making first sessions fun and engaging
✅ Turning practice into games and challenges
✅ Keeping juniors active instead of standing around
✅ Creating social connection and a sense of belonging
✅ Getting parents and families involved
✅ Giving juniors a pathway to develop and progress
✅ Looking beyond numbers and focusing on long-term retention

Whether your club already has juniors or is thinking about starting a program, there are plenty of ideas you can put into action.

👉 Read our latest coaching blog:
https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/blog/growing-the-next-generation-how-to-attract-and-retain-junior-bowlers-at-your-club

💬 What is your club doing to attract and retain junior bowlers? Share your ideas in the comments.. there may be something another club can learn from.

📩 Want more coaching and development resources like this?

Join the TBA community of over 10,000 bowlers and receive our latest coaching blogs and Around the Greens newsletter directly to your inbox.

👉 Join the TBA Community:
https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/opt-in

🔄 Know a coach, club committee member or bowler passionate about growing our sport? Tag them or share this post with their club.

Practical ideas to help bowls clubs create successful junior development programs, attract young players and keep them engaged in the sport.

20/08/2026

🎙️ WALOB EPISODE 81 IS LIVE!

Listen Now... https://open.spotify.com/episode/7aWG3Dl18SUqXZrADe5k1o?si=af6059247b3f4610

Bowls clubs around the country are investing huge amounts into new greens, covered facilities, lighting and club upgrades…

But are we investing enough into the actual bowlers?

That becomes one of the big conversations on Episode 81 after DJ gives us an update on the massive redevelopment taking shape at Maitland City.

We discuss what clubs could be doing around structured coaching, purposeful practice, player-development programs and simply understanding what individual bowlers actually want to achieve from their game.

But there's plenty happening Around the Greens first 👇

🟢 NSW v Victoria Test Series
🟢 Australian Indoor Championships
🟢 Ben Twist takes the men's title
🟢 Another Australian Indoor crown for Kelsey Cottrell
🟢 World Champion of Champions heading to Club Barham
🟢 Queensland Premier League moves to FOUR rinks
🟢 Some seriously stacked QPL teams
🟢 Maitland City's huge MakMax redevelopment

And we finish with a good debate from the UK…

💷 Should you have to PAY to watch a bowls livestream?

Bowls England is charging to stream its National Finals after losing its previous livestream sponsorship.

Fair enough to cover production costs?

Or should we be doing everything possible to get MORE eyes on our sport?

🎧 Episode 81 of What a Load of Bowls is out now.

Have a listen and tell us what you think particularly on the two big questions:

Are clubs investing enough in player development?

And…

Would you pay to watch a bowls livestream?

13/08/2026

🏆 FOUR GOOD BOWLERS DON'T ALWAYS MAKE A GOOD FOURS TEAM…

Fours is the ultimate team discipline in lawn bowls.

You can have four talented players but if roles aren't clear, communication breaks down or individual egos creep in, the combination can quickly struggle.

In our latest TBA coaching blog, we break down:

✅ Building a team-first culture
✅ Understanding the lead, second, third & skip roles
✅ Better on-green communication
✅ How to build an end rather than chase the jack
✅ Why the best teams leave ego off the green

We've also included a simple 5-minute team discussion you can use before your next competition.

👉 Read our new coaching blog: https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/blog/lawn-bowls-fours-strategy-5-keys-to-building-a-winning-team

💙 Want more coaching and development content?

Join the TBA community of more than 10,000 bowlers and get our latest coaching blogs, resources and Around the Greens newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

👉 Join here: https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/opt-in

Tag your fours teammates below 👇
Which position do you play?

Learn five key lawn bowls fours strategies to improve teamwork, communication, role clarity and tactical decision-making and help your team win more games.

06/08/2026

🎙️ EPISODE 80: BEHIND THE MIC AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES DjDil - WALOB

DJ is back from Glasgow after commentating at the Commonwealth Games and Simon has taken over the introduction to remind him where his international broadcasting career began!

In this episode, DJ takes us behind the scenes of the commentary box and reveals:

🎧 The imposter syndrome he felt during his first game
🎧 What the producers were saying through his headset
🎧 How live commentary is timed around graphics and broadcasts
🎧 The reality of covering up to six games a day
🎧 How he survived while slowly losing his voice
🎧 The tactics and performances that stood out on the portable rinks
🎧 Why shortened sets play could be the future of major-event bowls

DJ also discusses Gary Kelly’s outstanding Commonwealth Games, the preparation of England and Malaysia, Australia’s performances and whether this style of bowls could work at a future Olympic Games.

🎧 Listen to Episode 80 now:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1RnWKSqtQ56ydURLyrZCL4?si=0b5d9a83140e4466

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