Survey2: Half of bowlers ready for April start

Bowling News

A second interim report on responses to our 5-Question survey indicates a growing number of bowlers that are gearing up for an April return to bowling. The survey shows that 49% of the 115 responses to date say that they are prepared to bowl in League competitions from the beginning of April. The alternative view of this is that 51% of bowlers are not ready to bowl from the beginning of April so ruling out any thoughts of leagues starting their seasons then.

A further 28% say that they will be ready to resume bowling from the beginning of May with 16% indicating that they are not prepared to bowl in a competitive match until June. That still leaves 6% of bowlers that are not prepared to bowl before July at the earliest. Some have given up on bowling for this year altogether.

If you rule out an April start then when? With 78% of responses to the survey saying they will be ready to bowl from the beginning of May leagues have the decision to make if their clubs can function in the League missing 22% of their bowlers. Maybe thought should be given to using May as an opportunity for holding Individual KO competitions where involvement is optional and without the pressure of bowlers feeling obliged to bowl to support shortfalls in team numbers.

It is worth noting that 97 (84%) of the 115 responses were from bowlers aged 60 or over. Of these 81 state that they bowl in the Veterans League.

Numbers that play in each of our local leagues have also been collected with the leading numbers showing

81 from players in the Veterans League 61 Huddersfield Saturday League

30 Works League

26 Mirfield League

22 Ladies Afternoon League

21 Ladies Evening League

19 Dearne & Don League

17 Liberal League

16 Ladies Works League

13 Heavy Woollen League

Once the survey closes the results will be made available to each League on request of how the bowlers who play in their League have voted.

You still have time to enter the survey before it closes at 5.00pm on Sunday and all the results will be published online next week. Thank you to everyone who has already entered their thoughts on the survey.

Here are a few more responses from the total of 81 entries to the survey question 'What concerns you about returning to bowling in 2021?'

• Not everyone will have had a jab for whatever reason

• People not sticking to the rules. Those that have made their minds up they are not having the vaccine. The vaccine is not a cure just makes covid not as aggressive and whilst we've been sticking to the covid 19 rules why jeopardise everything for a game of bowls. If the government wasn't lifting restrictions till say June/July we wouldn't be bowling at all. To be honest its a tough one.

• Maintaining social distance during the game.

• Happy to play in Vets league after 2nd jab. Open age leagues definitely a no no until much later in the year, if at all.

• Absolutely minimal risk of catching it on bowling green especially with Vets

• Away matches if car sharing is not an option to begin with

• Nothing as long as we're all sensible.

• Nothing at the moment so long as everyone is careful I don't see a problem but I can understand how some bowlers feel and don't want to start

• If we follow the guide lines at the time of starting then all should be okay

• Some bowlers have poor personal hygiene

• People not distancing also club facility not adequately set up

• Clubs not being prepared

There is still time to enter the survey below before it closes at 5.00pm on Sunday. Please take a short time to consider each of the 5 questions in the survey form below and then provide your honest response as to how you are feeling on each issue at present. The survey is completely anonymous and you can skip any questions you prefer not to answer. Thank you.

Any problems using the form below please click here to use an online form instead.