Will Lawn Bowls Soon Be Extinct in Some Parts of the World?
June 25, 2010 by lawn bowls · 2 Comments
There seems to be almost nothing wrong about lawn bowling. It’s a relatively easy game to pick up, and when one becomes more advanced in the game, they can work on their strategy of using the bias to get the ball exactly where it’s going. Keeping greens maintained properly is also relatively inexpensive, when compared with other sports venues such as baseball diamonds or ice hockey rinks. But, there is one flaw in lawn bowls, and that’s in people’s perceptions about it. The most common assumption that comes with lawn bowls is that it’s only for older people who are retired and looking for a new hobby. And while that’s obviously not the case, this misconception could cause major problems for the sport in future years.
One of the biggest examples that this problem is found is within the United States. While countries and continents such as India and Australia are highly known for the amount of young people involved in the sport, there are almost none in the United States. And this is because young people in the States seem to have the idea that lawn bowling is not for people of their age. And while this doesn’t seem like a big problem, it could be when you look at the future of lawn bowling in the United States, and in other countries that have this same type of problem.
The problem is that if no young people are going to start getting into the sport, then it could become obsolete when the older people that are keeping the sport alive, are no longer here to play. And with no younger generations to pass the game onto, it does seem as though the sport is in danger of becoming extinct in countries such as the States. But the United States isn’t the only country that lawn bowling isn’t popular among other people. Countries such as China and Canada also don’t see a huge popularity in lawn bowling among young people.
It seems the only answer is to start engaging these young people in the sport now, and promoting the sport among young people. The game doesn’t need to change, it simply needs to be presented in a way that will be more pleasing to those who might be future up and comers in the game of lawn bowling. Otherwise, these countries may not be able to enjoy it for that much longer, and lawn bowling clubs all around the world might just have to fold. Which is undoubtedly a shame that no one wants to see.

