Why do we play bowls?
La Trobe research unit investigates. In 2012 Bowls Australia commissioned La Trobe University to undertake research into participation rates in lawn bowls.
Professor Russell Hoye led the project team, which included Associate Professors Kevin Brown and Matt Nicholson, Dr Emma Sherry and Tom Clement from La Trobe University’s Centre for Sport and Social Impact.
The findings, titled ‘Building an evidence base to increase participation in Lawn Bowls’, were the result of a two-stage process and many months of personal interviews and paper surveys across a range of bowls club members. The first stage consisted of face-to-face interviews based on collecting data relating to seven major themes:
• Reasons for playing
• Mental and physical health benefits
• The ‘bowls’ experience
• Bowls formats
• Changes in the bowls experience
• Why people stop bowling
• Club survival challenges
4000 club members across 100 clubs took part in the second stage, a paper survey focussing on motivation, satisfaction levels and commitment to bowling.
Bowls Australia Chief Executive Neil Dalrymple was happy with the findings of the research project and the insights identified for the future growth of the sport.
“It is extremely important to BA and our State and Territory Associations and especially all bowling clubs around Australia to know more about our participants and what motivates them to play and stay playing,” Dalrymple said.
Click here to read a two page snapshot of the findings.
