Coaching is an important facet in any club’s activities. It is necessary to give all new bowlers the best advantage when they first begin to bowl, so each club should have at least one qualified coach available to help beginners.

​Retention of members is a key element in strengthening club membership numbers. One of the best ways you can improve your club’s ability to keep new members is by providing them with personal coaching instruction when they join.

​For information about coaching contact coach@olba.ca

The NCCP is a training and certification program for coaches, offered across Canada in more than 65 sports. The program was designed to meet the needs of a wide range of coaches – from those who introduce beginners to sport to those who work with Canada’s high performance athletes.  The NCCP, which launched in 1974 and is delivered in partnership with the government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, and national/provincial/territorial sport organizations, endorses national standards in coach education and certification. The NCCP empowers coaches with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches.

Bowls Canada currently has three coaching programs that meet NCCP national standards:  Bowls Club Coach, Bowls Competition Coach​ and Bowls Performance Coach . The Club Coach program is offered in conjunction with OLBA.

All these programs are informed and in accordance with the Responsible Coaching Movement.

Club Coach: This is for experienced bowlers who want to help their clubs start new or novice bowlers on the right path for a lifetime of skilled bowls. The club coach clinic is designed to enable all new bowlers to be taught in a standard and consistent way.

This is a full day, practical training program. Participants are shown how to teach the standard grip, stance and delivery and are then encouraged to create and run drills to aid new bowlers.

If you are interested in attending a Club Coach Clinic or hosting one at your club, please email coach@OLBA.ca. Include your name, club and the specifics about what you are interested in.

• Line, Weight and Shot selection.  This is a one day clinic that takes untrained bowlers from an initial orientation session to a bowler able to participate capably in club jitneys.
  • Woodstock LBC,  Sun. June 29th, 2025  9:30 (registration closed)
  • Cosburn Park LBC, Sun. August 17th, 2025 9:30 (registration closed – full)

• Introduction to competition:  This is a new clinic that takes the trained, experienced bowler from jitney level to competitive levels in club tournaments.  Sort of an advancement from the previous level with more focus on shot selection, communication and strategy.

• High Performance clinic: This is for an experienced club tournament bowler who aspires to district and provincial (and National) competition.  Topics include: preparation and training, communication, nutrition and strategy.  More of a focus on the mental side of the game.
• Other clinics are specialized and may be suitable for club coaches to provide.  If there is an interest in these we might be able to provide presentation materials to be delivered at your club by your own coaches. They may include:
  • Role of Vice and Skip
  • How to practice: drills and games
  • Marking Singles
  • How to play Singles
  • Drawmaster training