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INTRODUCTION
Contention: Physical fitness in lawn bowls is very much a controversial subject because many have come to it with pleasant retirement dreams; thoughts of relaxation and enjoyment within its social bowling activities and the acceptance of physical fitness is not everyone’s kettle of fish.
Misbelieve: Contention arises because the ego of many bowlers believe that performing at club level with high levels of bowling skills they can also execute those skills in higher levels competition without the requirement of higher standards of physical fitness. Those who attempt to perform at these above levels without physical fitness will find it a hard course to grind and in many cases fail to meet their desired ambition.
Advantages: Physical fitness gives you the opportunity or means favourable to success as follows;
Mentally: improves your thinking, recall rate and inner feelings,
Physically: improves your playing skills, endurance and health factors.
Competitiveness: For most, competitiveness is a slow induction of discovering explanations for a set of particular rules and facts by estimating the weight of observational evidence in favour of a proposition to compete with fellow members of the club e.g. social bowls and club championships. Then as competitiveness increases they are subsequently introduced to District Pennants.
Capacities: The key to better physical performance in higher levels of play is; muscular performance in power, flexibility and endurance. Power is the results of the combination of strength and speed of muscle contraction; flexibility is important to enable a full range of movement; and endurance is related to the ability of muscles to utilise oxygen levels through the body. Bowlers require these characteristics in successful performance but the important of each, may vary in accordance to the condition of their body e.g. age, injuries, health etc. Basically, at club level, it is up to the individual to discover their own level of fitness, the level that they work and play with comfort, if your limbs or body muscles are stiff or sore, if you’re tired and/or agitated during or after the game then you are not physical and mentally fit for that level of play.
Comparison: For example fitness in other sports; the successful 100m runner is a powerful athlete, the gymnast requires flexibility, and the 150m swimmer relies largely on endurance. In lawn bowls it requires a lesser degree of these muscular performances at lower levels of the games. But at higher levels all these characteristics are all important and physiological capacities need to be supplemented by a higher level of skill with the correct psychological approach to competition.

STRENGTH
Proportional force: When we talk about strength we don’t mean a state of being strong bodily or muscular power, nor vigour as in robust health, but modally strengthening the arm, shoulder, body and leg muscles. Strength is the required muscular force exerted in a single effort of the pendulum swing which is the ability to demonstrate the required strength in the delivery of the jack or bowl. It is the proportional force exerted in the cross-sectional area of the deliver arm, shoulder body and legs.
Body physique: Large bowlers with extensive muscle bulk tend to have a high level of absolute muscle strength. Many small bowlers though have the advantage in terms of strength per unit of body mass. When an external object is to be moved absolute strength is most important, but when the body itself is to be supported or moved, the strength/mass ratio is a better guide to performance. Smaller or larger bowlers generally succeed in the required ability to control the body in the delivery action.
Skill and conditioning: The ability to produce a higher coordinated contraction of a muscle or muscle group is important in achieving the required strength. This indicates that the development of strength requires skill and practices as well as physical conditioning.

SPEED
Practice: When we look at speed we don’t mean great rapidity in moving but with the celerity of the arm ratio with the bowl distance required and the forward arm, leg and body movement. Speed is the rate of movement of a limb, the body or an external object. The ability to achieve the required acceleration and speed depends to an extent on the development of muscular force. This is obtained by the practice of the delivery skill.

POWER
Output: Power is the rate of doing work, and represents the efficient combination of strength, leverage and speed. The appropriate strength or force and speed or velocity of muscles contraction to achieve the required power output in the backswing.

FLEXIBILITY
Effectiveness: Flexibility is the range of motion as a joint or series of joints. In lawn bowls a moderate range of motion and leverage is effective for the delivery performance.
Static and dynamic positions: Flexibility is limited by the structure of the joints, and by the soft tissues which surround them. As the bony structure of the joints cannot be altered, the key to flexibility is the range of motion permitted by these soft tissues (muscles, ligaments etc. to enable optimum performance and to prevent injury, it is essential that a sufficient range of motion is possible to accommodate the static and dynamic positions associated with the deliver action

ENDURANCE
Workload: Muscular endurance is the ability to repeat contractions or movements, without loss of performance. Muscular contraction, even at relative light loads, result in a reduction of blood flow through the muscles, thereby reducing both the availability of oxygen for aerobic energy supply and removal of waist products from the resultant anaerobic energy release. When a bowls performance requires more than 40% of the maximum strength of that movement endurance will be markedly reduced, and high intensity contractions can be sustained for only short periods. One way of increasing muscle endurance is to increase muscle strength, for in this way the relative workload on the legs will be reduced, permitting a more extended performance.

ENDURANCE TRAINING
Energy considerations: endurance training is required by lawn bowlers who must stand for long periods, often in hot conditions, and maintain high levels of concentration. Being one of the less mobile sports bowlers require a form of endurance which is quite different to the norm because it does not require high levels of aerobic and anaerobic energy production that are simply not required in the lawn bowls. It is clear that the ability to play well day after day is more related to good general health, including a well-functioning cardiovascular system, a well balanced muscular system and good flexibility. As lawn bowls is played by many older people it is essential that attention is paid to these aspects of fitness if play is to be of a high standard. This is a good example to demonstrate that performers will benefit from endurance training.

FITNESS TRAINING LEVELS
Quality and quantity: Expressed in simple terms, endurance training is that which results in an enhanced ability to keep going. Such training will vary greatly depending on the particular level at which the bowler wants to play. Coaches usually describe their training programmes in the practical terms of quality and quantity of effort, and the degree of rest or recovery. However, the following classification may be useful as an additional checklist to ensure that all aspects of specific fitness are maintained.
Social: Game fitness is the in thing at this level because most bowlers play in a relaxed mode to enjoy the company and winning is only a part of the fun. Winning or loosing is never looked on as a major factor within the game.
Club competition: This is an area of bowls that can become very competitive and players do require increased game fitness and the introduction of all round fitness to endure a time period of four hours on the green. This is where the elements of endurance, cardiovascular and mental stress become first noticeable to the competitors and that the degree of rest or recovery becomes obvious at the end of the game.
District pennants and Zone Finals: This is the team competitive area and bowlers need a physical step up from club competition. When you nominate to play in pennants and are selected to play it is your responsibility to be physically fit or obtain a physical standard to play at that level. You have taken on the obligation to play for your Club to win a competition and to participate and train; for all round physical fitness, game fitness and mental fitness to withstand the rigors of the game e.g. stress, endurance, high level of concentration and possible extreme climatic conditions,
Events: Playing in events is a mercenary and monetary concern and depending on the prize amounts are attracted by some of the top line bowlers who are playing at State level or knocking on that door. Those who do not have that status are playing there for the challenging experiences to be against them. It requires a far greater mental and physical fitness than either District or Zone competition. Experience is vital to the pressure of mental factors and physical endurance is essential to survival. Relying on game fitness will not get you there.
State and National: Mental, game and physical fitness is the ultimate objective because status is the cream of their bowling career. They get there from sheer sweat and toil from winning or representing Zone and State Events. Perfection is the object of their play.

CONCLUSION
The obligation: Each bowler has a unique physiological profile which will determine the extent of success in a bowls performance. It is important for the bowler and coach to understand how this might be determined by inherent capacities and how it might be improved by physical training. In the bowling world at large, very few possess all the qualities for top competition. The coach has an obligation to identify the event for which bowlers are best suited, and to develop in them in those capacities essential for optimum performance.