I totally agree with Dean on this. Promotion is the key. Graeme at Newcastle Superstrike spent the money and hired someone to just take care and promote junior bowling. Maralyn is in 5 days a week and has built a very solid academy. 4 or 5 bowlers from the Northern Shield team has come either directly or indirectly from Newcastle Superstrike. Maralyn and Sharon also took a squad of almost 30 down to last years Nationals, and are on course to send the same amount this year.
It is a combination of the centres spending a bit of money promoting, and the promoter that is hired seeing and promoting the value of competition bowling onto the parents of the children bowling. That is the real secret. I believe a lot can be learned from the Newcastle model.
Sydney has the most bowling centres in a concentrated area in NSW. Yet there is minimal if any, promotion of the sport, and the value of competition bowling. This problem with junior bowling starts at centre level, and can be fixed again, at centre level. The true problem is that perhaps proprietors don't see the value in their players actually going to other centres to compete.
For this sport to grow, we all have to have an honest look at what we are doing to this sport. Championships are graded, which means they are open to anyone. President Shield for the juniors, is an opportunity for ANY child that meets the prerequisites, to roll-off for the chance to represent. It is not a club, and it is definately not a right. You want players, get the proprietors excited about it. They are excited if there is benefits for them and their players.
These are just my thoughts. I love this sport, and I hate seeing what is happening, actually happening. Bowling has played a part on becoming who I am. there are a lot of kids that deserve to grow from the game and have that opportunity, like I did.
Regards,
Dennis Rigney