Coaching 18. The second.

Practise game for this unit.
Click on the bowl.   All about consistency. What a second needs.

 

Coaching.   The Second.

The second is the anchor man.
* mastery of all shots – draw to drive and especially line adjustments.
* always up to the head or target.
* ability to change hands frequently.
* ability to play to any point on the rink.
* must play as directed.
The second needs a positive attitude as there may be the need to save if the lead fails.

The second is the most important player in the team

All team members:
* be positive.
* be compatible.
* act and play as a team.
* believe in each other.
* set team goals – together
* don’t argue on the green – sort it out later.

Remember! Remember! Remember!

The lead and the second build up the head.
The third and skip protect and add.

Don’t drop big scores through being smart!
A thorough understanding of the changes is required in bowling line and weight for playing positional, trail or through the head shots and in particular for playing into short bowls to push them in for shot or through the head.
Wait behind the mat until your skip gives you directions.
If the lead has done his job the second can be called upon to play position bowls – and they can be the most difficult to play.  If the opposition lead has two on the jack the second may be called upon to play a firm shot to open up the head.
So, the second has to be very versatile or his bowls will be wasted.
He has to have command of the draw shot with little or no preference for either hand. Your job is to be the backup for the lead especially if he has failed so almost all the second’s shots will be draw shots.
Remember that the object of each end is to have more bowls close to the jack than your opponents.  Practice routines should therefore be mainly the draw shot at different lengths.
He must be the possessor of a good firm shot.
He must have accurate positional play.
A second must never be short unless otherwise directed. An overdrawn bowl has a better chance of counting than a short bowl. A back bowl is insurance against movement of the jack so practise bowling position bowls, particularly to the edge of the ditch.
Make sure you at least reach the head with all your bowls, even up to a metre behind.  However, if asked for a firm shot, do not lose your bowl in the ditch.  A bowl on the bank is useless. In addition to playing the game the second is responsible for keeping the correct scores on the scoreboard.
Any player that can live up to the above has a very important role to play in any team.
Coaching practice for seconds.
A second should be able to play every shot in the book. The most likely shots are—draw to the jack, draw to offset jacks, draw to position and up-shots. In every practice session divide the time available into segments which are then allocated to each of the disciplines. The draw shot forms the basis of every type of shot except the fast drive. Do not neglect it – particularly drawing to a spot between 30 and 90 cm behind the jack (a position bowl). The greatest sin of a Second is short bowls. To practice off-set jacks put a jack on each side of the centre line about 50cm in from the boundary line and deliver two bowls – outside in — to each jack. After your allocated time slot move on to practise up-shots. Get a flapjack and put a jack about 1.5 to 2m behind the flapjack and about 1.5m to the side. Try to get your bowl passing through the flapjack and finishing near to the Jack. Anything finishing short of the flapjack is a no-no. Also going well past the jack is considered a failure particularly if it goes into the ditch

Rules.   The Second’s Duties.
The second does not keep a record of all shots scored for and against his team and retain possession of the score card whilst play is in progress. This is now the job of the skip.
He may still keep the scoreboard for every alternate end.

Etiquette.   The customs and rules that govern social interaction; about our behaviour on the green and around the club.
The unwritten or conventional rules of courtesy between players.

When changing ends walk down the centre of your own rink. If a consultation is necessary between thirds and skips it should be done on the head.

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