Lawn Bowlsand the

Visually Impaired.

A guide forsighted clubs.

© David Stott

Team Manager – Visually Impaired Bowls England;

V.I. Coach – Disability Bowls England

January 2018

Introduction

For some sighted clubs, having visually impaired (V.I.) players is nothing new and partially-sighted or totally blind players are fully integrated within those clubs. For others, however, having a visually impaired player raises all sorts of questions. It is therefore the purpose of this brief guide to help clubs introduce V.I. players and, hopefully, actively encourage the visually impaired to participate in this great game of ours.

It is the intention of this guide to assist clubs with visually impaired members (or those looking to include the visually impaired) on two levels. Firstly, there are what might be described as the 'health and safety' issues and secondly what club members can do to assist the inclusion of visually impaired people in our great game. The author of this document is, himself, fully sighted and would in no way claim to be 'expert' in the field of visual impairment or, for that matter, Health & Safety. However, from his involvement with visually impaired bowlers, he has become aware of factors which will greatly increase the opportunity for visually impaired people to become involved in - and succeed at - bowls.

Visually impaired (VI) people are people whose sight is significantly impaired and cannot be further improved by 'regular' optical modifications (i.e. just getting a 'stronger' or 'better' pair of glasses). There are many causes of visual impairment and within the 'category' of visual impairment there are varying degrees of impairment. Without getting into technicalities, visual impairment can range from those who have distorted vision or limited field of vision at one end of the spectrum, to the totally blind at the other - but whatever the degree of impairment, VI people can - and do - play bowls to a high standard.

1. 'Health & Safety'. All bowls clubs should really have a 'risk assessment' in place which is designed to identify potential risks to members (and visitors!) and to put in place procedures to minimise those risks. Disability awareness generally is better these days and many clubs will have ramped access to their club houses. Some may have ramped access to the green or steps (fixed or portable) and, of course, these should be used wherever possible to avoid tripping on banks or falling into ditches! Walkways around the greens and corridors / thoroughfares in the building should be kept free from obstructions which could pose a trip hazard. A visit to many

a bowls club, however, will provide evidence that these things aren't always observed and there is many a time when a visually impaired person trips over bowls bags, 'pushers', carelessly left chairs in gangways - and even people's outstretched legs!

When welcoming VI bowlers into a clubhouse, it is always good practice to guide them around, pointing out any obvious hazards and indicating particularly useful facilities - the toilets and bar, for example!

On the green, there are two main hazards for VI players - tripping over bowls and falling into the ditch. A less common, but nonetheless important one, is being struck by a bowl or jack displaced from the head - on your rink or from an adjoining rink. It is good practice for all bowlers to indicate if they are going to play a very weighted shot into the head - and especially if there are VI players on the green.

Of course those with relatively good sight will not be at the same degree of risk as the more severely impaired and one has to consider the degree of independence enjoyed by VI people in deciding on what support to have on offer. As a general rule, however, I think it is good practice to ascertain what degree of support is required for the individual. I know of some totally blind bowlers who require little else than to be guided to the green, onto the mat, have their bowls handed to them and then guided to the other end of the rink at the completion of the end.

2. Supporting VI players. Support for VI players can vary from simply being welcoming of them, through providing 'guiding' support, to actually helping on the green (including 'marking' - calling 'the clock') and, ultimately, directing/coaching.

VI bowlers who are members of Visually Impaired Bowls England (VIBE - website: www.vibowlsengland.org.uk) will probably have a sight classification. To obtain this, one has to get a sight assessment from an optician (form available on the VIBE website) and then send it to the Sight Classification Officer at VIBE (currently Doreen Metcalf - address also available on the VIBE website). The sight category could be between B4+ (the least impaired) up to B1 (totally blind).

In some cases, bowlers up to even B2 may not require particular help - although there are some B4 players who require 'guiding'. As stated previously, the best thing to do is to ask the player how much help they would like.

'Guiding'. As the word implies, this means helping a VI person negotiate their way around. Ask the person how they would like to be guided (holding your arm / elbow, hand on your shoulder - at left or right) - and then do it. Describe up-coming obstacles (e.g. "We'll need to move left a little to avoid the litter bin." or "Three steps down coming up."

Helping on the green. The helper's job , apart from 'guiding' the player onto the green and up and down the rink, is to decide the number of shots at the completion of each end, to help gather up the woods (note that woods should be gathered to the side of and behind the mat), to help the player onto the mat (if required) and to pass the player his/her woods. This help could be provided by another VI bowler - assuming they have sufficient sight to do so. If the helper is fully-sighted, they can provide further help to the bowler by telling him/her where their bowl (and opponent's bowls) have finished in relation to the jack. If the helper is a bowler, they might offer advice as to what shot might be best to attempt and the helper is allowed to visit the head to get a clearer picture.

3. Aids for V.I. Bowlers. The following aids are permissible for V.I. bowlers in matches and club competitions:

A thin, white, breakable string running down the centre line of the rink from back to front ditch. ‘Pins’ marking the following distances may also be placed on the string from each ditch: (N.B. V.I. bowlers still tend to use Imperial measurements so these are given here. 23m is approximately equal to 25 yards) 2.17yds(2m) – for mat placement; 27yds – minimum jack length (usually referred to as ‘the 23m mark’); 32yds – to assist markers in determining jack length. Should light conditions (or the players sight level) so require, a white strip (e.g. a garden plant marker) may be placed under the string to allow the player to see it. Such an aid should be removed after a bowl is played.

The marker (or skip) should call back the length of the jack to the V.I. player. (N.B. this will be the paced-out distance from a reference point to the jack. E.g. “Jack length is six over.” This tells the VI player that the jack is six yards beyond the marker indicating 23m (25yds) from the front edge of the mat – assuming the mat is on the 2m mark. If the mat is ‘up the green’, the VI player (or his/her helper/director) will need to make adjustment for this. The VI player should be told what the ‘full length’ distance is, in yards.

If there is a 'marker' available, this person provides a really valuable service by being at the 'head' and calling back the position of each bowl as it comes to rest using the 'clock' system. (See 'Markers Guide' on the VIBE website: www.vibowlsengland.org.uk)

A helper (often called a director) may accompany a VI player on the green and may give the player information and advice on what shot to play. The director may also visit the head (with or without the player) as any sighted player can.

The VI player may use a monocular (off the mat and not in line with the string) to see where woods are in the head.

It will not always be the case that all VI bowlers require all the aids above – but they are entitled to use them, if desired.

For VI people new to the game, a Club Coach - with experience of coaching VI players - should ideally take the novice through the basics of the game. Some VI bowlers might benefit from 'front coaching' and Visually Impaired Bowls England will be pleased to provide 'Coaching for Coaches' on request and subject to being able to make mutually convenient arrangements.

If your club is looking to get VI players involved in the game - and assuming you have a Bowls Development Alliance-registered Coach - there may be funding available through the BDA to run introductory or 'taster' sessions for VI (or players with other disabilities). For more information, contact the BDA via their website (www.playbowls.org). Again, if you require coaching support for such an event, please contact Visually Impaired Bowls England and we will do our best to help.

If your VI bowler is looking to enter a tournament (be it VI-only or Open), they might well benefit from having a dedicated 'director'. Ideally this person will be well-known to the player and will have worked with them over time to develop joint understanding and trust. At National and International level, most bowlers have their own dedicated Directors - some of whom are highly experienced in coaching the visually impaired.

For VI players looking towards National or International standard play, they should first join Visually Impaired Bowls England and then enter VIBE tournaments (or others specifically organised for VI players - e.g. the Weston-super-Mare VI Singles Tournament, held annually in early May). Details of these will be found on the VIBE website.

Once the player has a tournament or two's experience, he/she might then consider entering the English National Championships and, if successful at that level, they may go on to be selected for representative National or International games.

If you require any further help or support, please contact the national Visually Impaired Bowls England Team Manager / D.B.E. V.I. Coach, David Stott, on 01934 625404 or 07769568680

email: stottvibe@aol.com / dstottdbe@aol.com