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INTRODUCTION

Leadership: Success in leadership depends ultimately on how well and how effectively the skip interacts with the team. Leadership in its simplest sense is the capacity of the skip to direct and coordinate the positional abilities of the team by the use of tactical manoeuvres combined with the employment in attack, defence and recovery. It is essentially a position of power, but in lawn bowls demands consent and compliance from talented and highly individualistic bowlers. Leadership style will vary according to the personality of the skip and the playing standard of the team.

The skip presentation: Skips must have the affection and respect of their team. Affection and respect to some, does not come easy and must be earned; they must present their team with a sound game plan before each event, have access to the coach who has a sound training programme with well planned and organised practice sessions.

The fallacy: Many skips, and selectors who select them, consider that the only knowledge needed to be able to lead a team is success in their games. However team skips are usually involved in competitive situations where winning is important not only to them but also to the team. It is in the competitive situation that many skips seek to play out a role; to fulfil an image, and that image is based often on the stereotype skip e.g. the tough man or woman who uses punitive measures; who dominates bowlers, who demands and expects absolute obedience usually in a loud way to embarrass offenders and for everyone to hear. There is rarely a game plan and you are expected to know what they intend to do.

Winning: This article will hopefully dispel any idea that playing the game is in itself sufficient preparation for leading a team. A knowledge that pleasure and enjoyment are sustaining, winning is not the be all and end all. The pleasure of playing their best with others is paramount, if they play to the best of their ability they will most likely win.

Limitations and strengths: However, skips not only need to know the game, they need to know the players and be able to relate to them. More importantly, they also need to be aware of their own personality and the effect it has on others. Just as individual differences occur among members of a team, skips also differ in personalities. Some are quiet, others loud and effusive; some are dynamic, others deliberate and thoughtful. Each skip reacts differently in any given tactical situation, but more importantly each interacts differently with members of their team. Knowing and self-recognising one’s own limitations and strengths is a complex task for it is never easy to be objective about oneself; only about others! Most skips tend to overlook their shortcomings or justify themselves in one way or another.

CATEGORIES

Review and effects: There are three identifiable categories of skips and these are outlined by their advantages and disadvantages of each in regards to handling an individual, or team, these categories apply to women or men. While it would be foolish to suggest that all skips will fit into one or other of the categories, it might be useful to review the three predominant types and observe the effects that they have on their team members. These skips are as follows;

Dominating skip: This is the stereotype as mentioned above and is probably the most common skip type particularly amongst teams. It is characterised by their intense energy, with an emphasis on discipline and aggression. These skips often lack composure in what would be termed as “do-or-die situations”, but are able to win admiration and respect from players for an almost fanatical devotion to the sport of bowls. These types of skips are well organised; plan thoroughly to what they want to do, demand attention to detail by all team members and is severe in handling players who make mistakes.

Advantages: An atmosphere of discipline is conducive to success, producing, as it obviously does, a sense of dedication and purpose.

Disadvantages: They tend to evolve the tactical play of the game around their type of play and not the ability of the individual positions of team members. Game plans are not discussed and they tell you what they want and how you should play. The team can be prone to dissension when they suffer a series of losses. When firm convictions and confidence are shattered it is difficult to rebound with the same degree of enthusiasm and desire. Sensitive introspective, thoughtful players are turned off by the critical dominating approach and usually seek an alternative team or skip.

Personable skip: This is the nice guy approach. The skip is personable, well liked by all members of the team, flexible and creative in approach, and deeply concerned about the welfare of all team members as individuals. Team members feel at ease with this type of skip and appreciate generous compliments when things go well or tactful criticism when things go poorly.

·        Advantages: An atmosphere of respect and mutual good feeling encourages team cohesion and members of such a team often produce results beyond that expected of them; mainly because they work towards an adaptable game plan, conduct team debriefings and correct their weaknesses during training and practice sessions. Enjoyment of the group involvement is obvious. Victory is enjoyed and shared, and defeat never seems irreparable.

·        Disadvantages: Sometimes the skip’s flexibility and openness to suggestion by all and sundry will appear to be a weakness, particularly if the team is on a loosing streak. While difficult players are probably best handled by personable skips there are some who would take advantage of their good nature.

Casual skip: This type of skip is easy-going to the extreme and is relaxed, passive and detached about any involvement. This gives the impression of having no real commitment to the team. The skip is not well prepared or organised, usually operates off the cuff and is often viewed as a consultant type skip.

·        Advantages: Bowlers develop a sense of independence rather than depending on a single individual. A relaxed atmosphere prevails with no real pressure on the team to perform. Great for social games.

·        Disadvantages: Training is often inadequate for the serious participant. There is no overall development plan and mental, game and physical fitness levels are not high. While bowlers are less dependent on this skip, they are often unsure of what to do. Game plans are non existent and debriefings never occur.

THE CONTINUUM

Meaning: The meaning of the word continuum is “a coherent whole characterised as a collection, sequence, or progression of values or elements varying by minute degrees e.g. good and bad etc.”

The solution: The act of solving the varying approach of skips to team members can be viewed on the skip’s behaviour or style continuum, there is a modern trend to shift the approach towards the centre of this continuum where the skip and the team members both have an opportunity to share in decision making, while at the same time allowing for some variation in approach according to the relationship between the skip and the team, the sporting situation, the purpose for which the bowlers have come together, the age and experience of both skip and team and the period of time which they have been playing together.

Adoption: In keeping with these points it should be understood that while a particular type skip would be more effective with certain players, all skips can be effective with each player through insight and thoughtful consideration. Finally it should be remembered that the most effective skips are a combination of all three types and can adapt accordingly to any situation as it arises. Consequently they will have a style that is reflective of their personality; not an image of somebody else.

Communication: In lawn bowls it is a custom of the sport that team members never interrupt the skips tactical thoughts during the game and it is not etiquette for thirds to express their views on the situation unless the skip asks.

Briefings and debriefings: To overcome the communication problem these types of sessions are designed to prepare the game plan for the next event and allow team members the opportunity to share in decision making. It is done as a whole with every member attributing to determine the strengths and weaknesses for follow-up training and practices sessions. This should, if possible, include the coach as a technical adviser. Any team that goes into a game without a game plan is only looking for disaster.

Training drills: These drills teach the do not know factors, and are organised and conducted by the coach so that every team member knows the next tactical move by the skip.

Tactical training: These sessions are also organised and conducted by the coach so that every team member knows the skips next move. It teaches the team to read the head for defence attack and recovery.

LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

Analysis: The attribute analysis of the skip characterises the nature as belonging to or distinguishing the qualities that must be present and used in the management of the team. When analysed and used by the skip they are the qualities that distinguish character with respect and the team’s accomplishment or attainment of the superiority or distinction required within the competitive arena. There are fourteen attributes which are as follows;   

1. Self-control: A skip must be sufficiently stable emotionally to remain in control during the highly charged environments that often surround competitive bowls. An unstable skip that lacks composure under pressure will carry stress to the team whose performance will be negatively affected.

2. Intelligence: Intelligence is developed as a result of knowledge and experience gained from a multitude of sources. The skip must have a capacity for understanding and for other forms of adaptive behaviour with an aptitude in grasping the reality of truth, facts and meaning.  Be a creative open-minded adaptable leader who can appraise a tactical situation quickly and accurately. Each experience should be viewed as an opportunity to learn more about the team and the game.

3. Mentality: The skip should have the mentality; with integrity, sincerity and a discipline attitude to the task. The courage to try approaches to training is a desirable character trait. Significant progress in bowling performances has often been by team members who have tried preparation, planning and training e.g. being prepared with a game plan and the conduct of debriefing to prepare the next game plan for the next event to prevent the possibility of failure.

4. Confidence: Successful leadership involves having confidence in oneself and in training and instruction methods being employed. A consistent approach to the task is indicative of someone who believes in the system being used. While this should not rule out some degree of flexibility in handling individual bowlers, incorporating too much change too quickly can erode team member’s confidence in both the skip and the system.

5. Knowledge: The skip should have a thorough knowledge of the rules of the game; by-laws, tactical manoeuvres, and team management etc. This is often the main basis for deciding the credibility of the skip. Modern day bowlers ask many questions and unless they can be answered factually the standing of the skip is placed immediately in jeopardy. Knowledge is gained by being prepared to listen to others, watch others at work, read widely and attend lectures and seminars on selected aspects of the sport,

6. Compulsion: The skip by compulsion cause and guide the movement of the team to make an effort to reach or obtain the aim. Be an achievement-oriented leader, who tries to make things happen rather than waits for them to occur.

7. Persistence: It must be understood that failures are an inevitable experience at some stage of a bowling career and should be seen as only a temporary set-back. Skips must have the fortitude to persist in the face of adversity and frustration. Mistakes or the inability to achieve success in a particular event should be used as part of the learning process.

8. Patience: The skip must have a calm and uncomplaining endurance because team leadership involves working methodically and systematically towards improvement in all aspects of performance that are sometimes a little resistant to change. Improvement in team performance, particularly concerning tactical strategies, remembering change is often frustratingly slow and skips should not set unrealistic high expectations that can have a de-motivating influence if not rapidly achieved.

9. Enthusiasm: An enthusiastic and vital approach to team leadership that shows obvious enjoyment for the task is an essential ingredient for team leadership success.  Consistently show a genuine emotional commitment to the role and draw a positive response from the team.

10. Responsibility: The skip is the standard-setter and must try to meet all the demands of an exacting work situation. The quality and quantity of a commitment is terms of time, thought and effort displayed by the team is often directly related to the attitude exhibited by the skip,

11. Decisiveness: The skip must be capable of deciding the best approach to take in pursuing both short and long term goals when a decision is to be made it should be adhered to until sufficient evidence shows that it was incorrect. A different approach taken each week can undermine authority and confidence. In the heat of competition the skip must also be prepared to make hasty decisions. An essential quality of successful leadership is not only what decisions to make but when to make them. The right decision can become the wrong one if it is not carried through at the appropriate time.   

12. Organisation: The well organised skip is efficient in time management and has the ability to organise the team to remain on the path to established objectives. Training and competition procedures should provide a predictable, stable environment in which team members can perform optimally. Team members feel secure in an atmosphere where planning and organisation is evident. In order to ensure the effectiveness of a practice session, the plan should be communicated, either verbally or in written form, to the team before its commencement. Efficient organisation involves maximum participation of team members, immediate availability of facilities and equipment and minimum time spent in discussion about what to do next.

13. Preparation: The well prepared skip should know the training plan in advance of the event. Sound preparation involves investing time, thought and effort in the planning stage. In almost all circumstances, preparation and planning provides the platform for successful team leadership and optimal bowling endeavour.

14. Sense of Humour: Relaxed and confident skips relate positively to lighter side of training and competition and can also enjoy a moment when the joke is on them. The reaction of different skips to these situations often serves to classify them in the minds of bowlers as being human or not.

 ATTRIBUTE GRAPH (example only)

ASSESSING YOUR ATTRIBUTES

How well would you score on the fourteen attributes given above? If you are interested read each one carefully and then ask yourself “Does my leadership actions conform to this attribute?” Score one to five on each item e.g. one point for a low score and five points for a high score. Being realistic, good skips score approximately 52 to 70. Average skips are nearer 30 to 40. Poor skips or those for whom the athletes have little respect only score in the 20’s or less. If you compile the following graph example it will show your low and high ratings and relate to you the subject matter you require to work on.

ATTRIBUTE GRAPH (example only)

SELF							ATTRIBUTES								COLUMN
RATING	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	TOTALS
5’s →							5								5
4’s →			4		4					4				4	16
3’s →	3			3					3			3			12
2’s →		2						2							4
1’s →						1					1		1		3
SUB TOTALS	3	2	4	3	4	1	5	2	3	4	1	3	1	4	40

KNOWLEDGETo give you some idea of the depth required for distinguishing qualities that must be present and used in team management; lets us now assess attribute No 5 Knowledge from the Leadership Attributes above. This type of knowledge is often the main basis for deciding the credibility of the skip. This attribute example is as follows;1. Team management,2. Team harmony,3. Team motivation,

4. The Laws of the Game,

5. The current by-laws,

6. The availability of training facilities and assistance,

7. The conduct of team briefings and debriefings,

8. The construction of a game plan before and after the game,

9. Tactical manoeuvres, attack, defence and recovery,

10. Communication; hand signals and positive verbal instructions.

KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT

Again being realistic, how well would you score with your present knowledge on the ten subjects listed above? If you are interested then ask yourself “Does my knowledge conform to the criteria required for skip leadership?” Score one to ten on each subject e.g. one point for a low score and ten points for a high score.

· Good skips approach a score of 75 to 100 points,

· Average skips are approx 40 to 70 points out of 100,

· Poor skips are those who score 30 points or less.

If you compile the following graph example it will show your low and high ratings and relate to you the subject matter you require to work on.

KNOWLEDGE GRAPH (example only)
SELF				SUBJECT MATTER							COLUMN
RATING	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	TOTALS
10’s →
9’s →
8’s →
7’s →									7		7
6’s →	6		6				6				18
5’s →						5					5
4’s →		4						4			8
3’s →										3	3
2’s →				2	2		2				6
1’s →
SUB TOTALS	6	4	6	2	2	5	2	4	7	3	47

Note: To improve your knowledge the key is to work on your lower levels first so that when you make your follow up analysis the graph figures will level out. It is then and only then should you attempt to improve your upper levels of knowledge.