Club Connect places Students in the Game
By Tenpin Bowling Australia
Feature Image – Calamvale Primary’s Club Connect Bowl Patrol at ZONE Bowling Mt Gravatt, QLD.
Sport Australia’s new Club Connect initiative is opening more opportunities for students to enjoy tenpin bowling. Learning can be fun with funding covering programs like Bowl Patrol, using Roll n Strike equipment, having a qualified Tenpin Bowling Australia coach and more!
In addition to Sporting Schools, the Club Connect program seeks to engage the local association in delivering the sport and providing a direct link from parent/carer to the local sports club. The ultimate goal of the process is to establish and build relationships with local sporting clubs.
Tenpin Bowling aims to do this by using local coaches, hiring association or centre owned equipment to the school and encouraging the school to visit the centre as part of their program. Some schools are happy to do their whole program in the local centre, like Calamvale Primary in Queensland and Silvan Primary in Victoria.
Opting for Bowl Patrol at ZONE BOWLING Mount Gravatt, twenty students from Calamvale Primary visited the centre for six sessions along with their teachers, local Lane Ranger coach Graeme Bannion and the wonderful staff at the centre. Centre Manager Lisette, who shares our passion for inclusion of all abilities, along with Assistant Manager Minnie and Technician Dave, have made quite the team!
Another Club Connect program in Victoria was Silvan Primary, learning to bowl with Bowl Patrol at Oz Tenpin Chirnside Park. Centre Manager Robyn and Lane Ranger coach Natalie and Terry Silva have been brilliant in supporting the school. Teacher Damian Tirchett has been just as excited about seeing his students enjoying their school sport this term.
TBA has observed participation records in Term 4, and we are so excited to see the increased interest and excitement for our learn to bowl programs.
The link initially made through the Club Connect initiative increases the chances of follow up activities. Ideally, we’ll see many of these students visiting their local centre outside of school in the future. Involvement in additional learn to bowl opportunities and junior leagues are vital for our sport to capitalize on the growth – and keep these students bowling!
To find out more, head to the Bowl Patrol or Club Connect websites.
