How To Teach Your Kids To Bowl

There was a time when children were expected to be seen and not heard. But in this day and age that certainly is not true.

The youngsters of today are the bowlers of tomorrow. They will be supporting our great game in the years to come. And bowling will be giving them all the fun and thrills it now gives us.

There are excellent establishments all over the country, maintained by people happy to devote hours to making it possible for youngsters to enjoy themselves.

There are now junior programs at practically all the lanes in the country. When the owners of the lanes failed to see the advantage in teaching youngsters, the American Junior Bowling Congress stepped in to give them the idea. The whole thing has pyramided into a gigantic program for the benefit of the young set.

How can your youngster best be taught to bowl correctly? Actually, it is no great problem. You might be surprised to learn that the owner of the lanes where you bowl is an outstanding teacher himself and has a fine junior program going. If this is true, don't hesitate. Make it possible for your Johnny or Mary to bowl - NOW!

Is it difficult to teach youngsters to bowl? Is it more difficult to teach youngsters than adults? The author put these questions to scores of bowling authorities - guys and gals who have been teaching bowling for many years. The consensus is that the only difference in teaching youngsters and adults rests in one word: psychology.

Milwaukee, my home, is a fine city for bowling. It has many superior establishments, fine instructors, and has long been considered outstanding as a producer of good bowlers. As a result, we were able to obtain some interesting thoughts concerning instructing youngsters.

No youngster knows who you, the instructor, are to start with. Actually, until his first visit, the child probably didn't even know there was such a place as a bowling establishment.

Most of the time, mothers and fathers want their children to have fun bowling.

So they take them down to the lanes. This is the first step and - like the pushaway in your delivery - it's the point of no return.

If the youngster shows real interest, he or she should be turned over to the manager of the lanes immediately. Most children will learn quicker from some one else than from their parents.

The youngsters of today are terrific on the lanes. The author has watched many very closely and is completely sold on them. They are certain to be tremendous assets to the game. They bowl right along with you and give you as much encouragement as you give them in piling up strike after strike.

This should not be taken to mean that junior bowlers (those under 21) should necessarily be permitted to bowl in adult leagues. That is another problem entirely. But it does mean that by the time they have added a few years of experience as junior bowlers they are going to be real credits to the game regardless of where they bowl.

It might be well to consider the American Junior Bowling Congress and its functions. Charles Hall is the new executive director of the AJBC, which has headquarters at 3925 W. 103rd St., in Chicago. Hall took over from Milton Raymer.

What does the AJBC do? This is the way "Chuck" Hall explains it:

Bowling among youngsters is making rapid strides, as a physical and recreational activity, as evidenced by the 450,000 youngsters bowling under the banner of the American Junior Bowling Congress.

The AJBC is dedicated to giving all youngsters an opportunity to learn the skills of bowling and to participate in organized junior bowling programs. A primary purpose of the organization is to provide rules on environment and supervision so that all boys and girls may participate under ideal conditions, and may protect their school athletic eligibility and amateur status.

So encourage your child to bowl, and you may have a champion in the making.

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