Free Indoor Vision Impaired Bowls
Venue: Brixton Recreation Centre, 27 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8QQ
Date : Every Thursday, Starting the 6th October 2016 to the middle of April 2017
Time: 4pm -7pm
Cost: FREE
Nearest Station: Brixton Train Station
If anyone is tempted to join us or just wants to know more about the game, please get in touch with Eric Gallacher Contact: Ericgal@blueyonder.co.uk or call 0208 985 6245
Eric has asked if any Member or partners would like to help the bowlers at a station collections or volunteer at the bowling sessions, they would be warmly welcomed. Contact Email Ericgal@blueyonder.co.uk or Phone: 0208 985 6245
Bowls is a very suitable sport for totally blind and partially sighted players, as only some very minor adaptations need to be made. The visually impaired bowler can play singles, pairs, triples or in a team of four.
There is no reason why VI bowlers can’t play against fully sighted players and they often do. It is a sport for people of all ages.
Although this skilful and fascinating game has been around for centuries, it was not until 1959 that the bowls started rolling for the blind, in Scotland.
Today, we use the ‘clock method’. The ‘marker’, who is stationed beyond the ‘jack’, indicates to those at the mat end, at what angle and distance from the ‘jack’ the bowl has come to rest. The ‘jack’ is the centre of the clock. So, six o’clock would be in front and twelve o’clock behind, with all other positions being relative to the clock. From the information given by the ‘marker’ the player can build up a mental picture of the ‘head’ (area around the jack), knowing exactly the position of each bowl.
The only small concession made to blind players is that a fine white centre string runs under the mat and is fixed at both ends. This is to help the bowler to judge the angle for the amount of green required.
These minor variations enable blind and sighted people to play together as they do not alter in any way the basic game (or the Bowls England rules).
Metro activities
Metro has helped to send many of our bowlers to the tournaments arranged all around England, the UK and abroad, through paying tournament fees; and subsidising accommodation, travel and kit.
On an annual basis, Metro bowlers undertake several collection days at major London mainline stations. These collections have contributed between £5k and £6k to the Metro coffers each year.
From the beginning of May until the end of September we play out-doors on grass, then for the rest of the year we play in-doors on carpet.
Want to know more about VI Bowls! read more… or Contact us
Bowls Contact: ericgal@blueyonder.co.uk or call 0208 985 6245
