Singles Game 1: to become accustomed to perceived pressure
One player with 2 bowls, other with 4
Player with 2 bowls delivers first and last of the 6 delivered bowls
Score as normal
Play 2 ends like this and then swap having the 2 or 4 bowls
Singles game 2: exaggerated lead and skip roles
One player bowls all 4 bowls and leaves in place
Opponent delivers their 4
Score as normal. (Note who wins the end, ‘lead’ or ‘skip’)
Alternate each end who goes first
Singles game 3: ‘4, 3, 2, 1’
Play as for singles but shot bowl scores 4; 2nd 3; 3rd bowl 2 and 4th bowl 1
First to score 21 wins the game (Every bowl matters – no resting on laurels when get excellent ‘shot’ wood; playing for second wood can be important; requires strategic placing of bowls)
Singles game 4:
Play as for singles but once end is completed remove bowl that is furthest away.
(Next end one player will have 3 bowls, one 4)
Continue until you get a winner
Score: Points for remaining bowls (+3 for winning?)
(Be penalized for poor bowl and poor concentration!)
Singles game 5: Chase the jack
3 bowls each Strings mark the rink boundaries
Jack is delivered anywhere within the rink (although it MUST be minimum length. Can go right up to the ditch and each edge)
Singles game 6: ‘Snakes and ladders’
Normal game but score as for 100 up (4 for 1st bowl; 3 for 2nd bowl; 2 for 3rd bowl; 1 for 4th bowl)
Put score onto snakes and ladder mat (Do you avoid a snake or climb a ladder?)
(You may need to try and manipulate what you score!)
Pairs game 1: ‘Toucher’
Normal pairs game (but mat and jack could be fixed at certain length)
Each ‘toucher’ scores 3 points (– 6 points if kill the end)
When the leads have finished whichever ‘pair’ is holding at this point scores 3
Score as normal when the end is completed. First to 50 to decide winners (Can decide to swap leading and skipping after so many agreed ends)
OR At the end (as well as 3 for ‘touchers’ and 3 for whoever is holding after the leads have bowled score 10 for shot bowl, 5 for second and 3 for third. Getting shot bowl rewarded! With 18 shots possible each end scored can change very quickly – great fun
Pairs game 2: ‘Snakes and ladders’
Pairs game but score as for 100 up (4 for 1st bowl; 3 for 2nd bowl; 2 for 3rd bowl; 1 for 4th bowl)
Put score onto snakes and ladder mat (Do you avoid a snake or climb a ladder?)
(You may need to try and manipulate what you score!)
(Can decide to swap leading and skipping after so many agreed ends)
3 Player Game 1: 2 v 1
Each player has 4 bowls but 2 team up against 1
Take it in turns to bowl. (Team of 2 always start the end)
Score as normal
To win singles player has to get 5, pair 15
3 Player Game 2: Chase the Jack
3 bowls each Strings mark the rink boundaries
Jack is delivered anywhere within the rink (although it MUST be minimum length. Can go right up to the ditch and each edge)
3 Player Game 3: ‘Snakes and ladders’
Individual game but score as for 100 up (4 for 1st bowl; 3 for 2nd bowl; 2 for 3rd bowl; 1 for 4th bowl)
Put score onto snakes and ladder mat (Do you avoid a snake or climb a ladder?)
(You may need to try and manipulate what you score!)
0s and Xs
Teams can be of any size and not necessarily of even number
Aim of the game is for a team to score a line of 0s or Xs
Each team take it in turns to bowl: Unsuccessful bowls are removed; successful ones marked
(Decide what happens if a bowl lands in an already claimed square: whether this bowl doesn’t count; it removes opposition’s marker; it removes opposition marker and adds your own)
Using 3×3 grid number each square 1 – 9.
First player to 31