1. Why have we gone down the Open Gender path?
Given bowls is not a sport in which strength, speed or stamina play a role, legislation requires that Bowls WA’s highest level competition be available to all to play in. The highest level competition has been deemed to be the Saturday pennant competition.
2. Why the big change this year?
There isn’t a big change this year – the changes essentially amount to one division on a Saturday, and a raise in the Tuesday and Thursday competitions by one division. Lower Saturday grades have been playing Open Gender for the last few years now, with very little complaint coming through to Bowls WA.
3. Why not just make everything Open Gender? Is that not the fairest way?
As we have explored Open Gender eligibility, Bowls WA has regularly received complaints from women’s teams that are “forced” to play against full teams of men. The fear in going completely Open Gender is that it will likely hinder the development of female bowlers who may not be placed in back-end roles of teams. This is often a numbers game as our current cohort of bowlers is dominated, in numbers, by men. Hence, again we have maintained a female Saturday competition, and put limits on Tuesday to continue development.
4. Why is there still a Saturday Women’s Competition as well as an Open Gender competition?
Clubs voted significantly in favour of retaining the Women’s Saturday competition, which has been the strongest growing competition of all Metro competitions over the past few years.
The “Men’s” competition has been progressively moving to Open Gender over the past four years without the loss of many players to the sport. Prior to the introduction of Open Gender, there was a steady decline in team entries – this decline has settled under Open Gender. In fact, Open Gender may well be getting people a game of bowls that might otherwise be missing out.
Feedback to Bowls WA has been strong in indicating that female players would leave the sport if the only option provided is to play with men. This does not appear to be the case for men required to play alongside women. As per question one, there is no automatic right to a single gender competition, but these can be offered if there is appropriate demand – through survey feedback from clubs, the demand is there for the Women’s Saturday competition.
5. How do we select sides for the Open Gender Saturday competition?
Selectors need to select sides the same way they have always done – select the best combinations you can from your available pool of players. Your available pool of players has changed – it now includes both men and women.
6. Why didn’t I get a say?
It is impossible for Bowls WA to collate the thoughts and views of every individual in the sport. Therefore, clubs are asked to bring their members’ thoughts to Bowls WA through surveys and forums so decisions can be made based on collated feedback.
It is also impossible for every member to get the exact competition that suits them perfectly. Some level of compromise is always required, and is normally possible. All decisions must be made with the future of the sport foremost.
7. What is the end goal here?
The end goal is to have sustainable competitions. Both Tuesday and Thursday competition numbers are boosted by allowing a level of Open Gender play, but maintaining the traditions of women’s Tuesday bowls and men’s Thursday bowls. This may change over time, and the numbers entering each of the competitions will dictate that, as will the numbers for the Women’s Saturday competition.