Winter League
Although the Winter League has grown 500% in size over the five years of its existence the format of the competition has basically remained the same. There is much satisfaction in that and shows that the early principles have stood the test of time. But sometimes I get the feeling that a short sharp refresh would serve the League fine.
I know that we are all pensioners and we naturally look towards stability in our later years and as a result we get a reputation for not accepting change easily. That reputation is probably justified although the fact that we bowl during the winter months suggests the opposite. That resistance to change is often sited as a reason for the demise of bowling in that we don't adopt change easily and that bowling has become stagnated and does not keep up with the times and demands of the younger gereation. I don't have a problem with that personally. I like the way that bowls works now and I don't really want it to change too much and if some younger bowlers want to tinker with the format then let them and we will carry on with our tried and trusted product. In fact I have an idea of a major shake-up of the sport that I will share with you one day that I think would be something that could serve the demands of all age groups. That's for another day let's just look at the Winter League for now.
The League is completing its fifth season which is remarkable when you remember the resistance there was, and still is from some, from many quarters to its formation just prior to the Covid years. The format has basically remained unchanged over that time. The League has expanded numbers-wise and competition-wise with the introduction of the Winter Cup and the Pairs KO this year. These have been additions rather than amendments and maybe the time has come to tinker with the format of the basic product to freshen it up rather than any radical change.
I suggested as much on the HuddWeb WhatsApp group recently when putting forward the idea of moving some of the host greens around. The example I gave was for the three divisions that all play on every Wednesday could swap host greens. Currently the lay-out is that Division 1 teams play every Wednesday at Milnsbridge BC, Division 3 at Springwood BC and the Division 5 teams are all based at Lindley Liberal Club.
There have been murmurings from teams getting promoted to the top division that they are disadvantaged in that they are meeting teams that have many years experience of playing at Milnsbridge. They say it is almost like playing a home team especially since the Friday League started up last year in which a number of the Winter League Division 1 teams play. The counterargument to that is the example that Cowcliffe have shown this season on their promotion to Division 1 and having an excellent first season and currently sit in second place in the table as I write this posting. Surely that negates that intent?
There have also been other murmurings from Division 1 bowlers that they want a challenge that a new host green would bring to their game. I don't just see any change being primarily about evening up the chances of any new teams in the top division but more importantly it is about keeping the competition fresh. Let's not fall into the age-old claim that we don't welcome and embrace change.
There is a lot of loyalty among teams in each division to the catering services that each host green provides. That is very evident with the Division 1 bowlers and the support of the excellent catering services and range of eatables available from the team at Milnsbridge and rightly so as they produce a wonderful range of soups, stews, cakes, savouries and more, all at very modest prices which are well regarded and supported by the bowling teams.
The argument for change extends beyond the catering services and it is not just about Division 1 teams. We are a bowling league and I get the feeling that some teams are too comfortable in their current surroundings and the challenge that would come with a new green to master would freshen up the competition.
Division 1 by its very nature of being the top level in the League sees minimal change anyhow. Only two new teams get promoted each year whereas all the other divisions, except the bottom division, have four new teams every season to freshen up the competition. That is half of the teams in those divisions change every year and that brings new challenges to all the teams in that division. So if you aren't getting the challenge of four new teams each season maybe the answer is to get a new challenge from the playing surface.
It is logical to keep teams playing on the same days of the week as much as possible as we know that teams can struggle to field their strongest and regular teams if their playing day in the week is changed. It doesn't make sense to swap the days that the host clubs have selected as these days match their capability to provide a team of volunteers to provide all the hosting services of league admin and raffle teams in addition to the catering side. That leads to the suggestion of swapping host greens that play on the same day of the week.
For example the three divisions that play on Wednesdays are the obvious prime target. It is possible to swap the divisions around so that Division 1 teams move to Lindley Lib, Division 3 teams move to Milnsbridge and the Division 5 teams end up at Springwood. Minimum disruption, major change.
When first suggested to the HuddWeb WhatsApp group there was a split reaction to the idea and I repeat the original suggestion and responses from WhatsApp Group members here for a wider appreciation. Please feel free to add your own views either to the Comments facility at the foot of this posting or by joining the WhatsApp Group. Let me know your contact number and I will add you to the group and send you the joining details.
Here is the original posting on the HuddWeb WhatsApp Group which invited comments on the idea of moving divisions to different host greens
Below are the responses to date to the suggestion
Please feel free to add your own views either to the Comments facility at the foot of this posting or by joining the WhatsApp Group. Let me know your contact number and I will add you to the group and send you the joining details.
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