Scoreboards

Have you ever wondered why, in nearly all cases, the numbers on a vertical pétanque scoreboard go from top to bottom?  It is far more logical to have a higher number above a lower number don't you think?

When I first joined the Diss Club, I noticed that their scoreboards went from 0 to 15 (bottom to top).  This makes perfect sense (although I don't know why it was 15 and not 13).  When the club moved in 2009, I decided to design better and bigger scoreboards with the following criteria... 1) the numbers could be easily read from a distance, 2) attractive looking, each one displaying a different colour and 3) posts to be permanent fixtures (less setting up).

I cut stencils out for the numbers and did the spray painting.  Mick Clarke did all the DIY and created pegs for scoring (not shown).  I also numbered them (using Roman numerals) but I don't think many people noticed! This is how they turned out...

A few years on and the posts are looking a bit weather-beaten but I think that it adds character.  In hindsight, perhaps some sort of plastic cover with vents may have helped.  Also the peg holes attract many insects and arachnids, which means almost certain death unless they set up home at number 13!

Since starting up a new club at Bressingham, I decided to make new scoreboards from mainly scrap materials. The scoring pegs are actually drawing board clips.  They don't stick out, so cannot be knocked off.  They slide up and down easily using a special technique.  If pulled off accidentally though, you have to use both hands to fit back on again.  Take a look below...

The picture is not the best and doesn't show up all the imperfections.  The stencils for the numbers were almost perfect but the spray paint somehow got underneath, spoiling the effect.  There is room at the top for the Bressingham Pétanque Club logo and I intend to incorporate smaller numbers at the bottom (0-7) when playing a specific number of ends (an experimental feature and possibly unique).  Poles will be added last.

Bressingham Pétanque Club

Saturday mornings from 10.30 at Bressingham Village Hall car park  Also Sunday mornings from 12.30 throughout February.

Equipment and instruction provided free of charge.

Coaching

Last year, after playing pétanque for around seven years, Dave and I decided we would like to learn more about coaching in the sport.  Previously, our only experience in that direction had involved three of us from the Diss club, volunteering to do a ten week after-school club.  We were introducing a dozen, 7 and 8 year-olds to the game. Keeping them interested between squabbles and toilet trips (them, not us), was indeed a challenge. After this initiation, things could only improve we thought!

If we were going to set up our own club, we were determined that new players would be taught the correct way of doing things, from the outset.  Unlike ourselves, who learned by imitating anyone who we thought looked good - leading to us picking up bad habits early on, which are very hard to break.

The ground at British Sugar, Bury St. Edmunds hosted the grade 3 training day and was attended by three other players apart from ourselves and the EPA head coach Brian Stote.  Although everyone else seemed far more experienced in the sport than us, they were all so friendly, we immediately felt at ease.  An interesting morning was spent in the 'classroom' learning about the history, rules, roles of a coach etc.

After the lunch break came the practical session, including demonstrations by Brian and individual assessments of our techniques.  I found that my boules, which I have been using for about five years, are slightly too big and heavy for me to grip correctly.  This is another area where beginners need advising, to avoid costly mistakes when buying their first set.  Day one over - that was the easy one!

Neither of us were looking forward to taking an exam again after a break of over thirty years.  I hasten to add that we were both very conscientious, revising in every spare minute and making up cards to test each other (note to my son Adam, doing his GCSEs - if I can do revision at my advanced age, then you have no excuse!).

July 2nd, 11am and the written test was over.  Normally known for my neat handwriting, my hand had been shaking so much when I started, I'm surprised that anyone could read my answers.  Despite this, I was quietly confident that I had managed to get the required percentage correct.  We both knew which part of the day we were least looking forward to....

Picking out pieces of paper from a box, tombola-style but instead of winning a box of chocolates, we had to 'coach' everyone present on the subject mentioned.

Nerves got the better of both of us - I immediately had a mental block and couldn't think of a single occasion when I would need to 'shoot out the jack'.  Dave rallied to my aid discretely but then froze in mid explanation of his own subject.  Things weren't looking too good.

Thankfully an improvement ensued in the second phase when Dave somehow managed to pick out the star prize - his favourite subject.  Any of you who are acquainted with Dave, will know that he could talk for England on 'the landing spot'.

The exam finished with us demonstrating our grips, stance, etc., alternating with finding any faults in our partner's techniques.  Whilst waiting for our turn in this, we took part in various challenges which would be useful in our future coaching sessions.

The two days were hard work but they gave us a wealth of information and hopefully the confidence to be able to pass it on to our keen beginners.

Now we are fully qualified, all we want to know, is where are you all??


Lindsay.

Building the terrain (part two)

We picked up a vibrating plate from Jewsons (£35).  These machines move about on their own with little persuasion.  With all the larger stones now out of the way, the area was compacted.  Knicker elastic was used for the dead ball lines.  It is very strong and has a lower profile than string but it sags over time.  I have since been back to the terrain on a few occasions to pull it taut again.

Whacker plate been and gone?

Next up was the sharp sand (one metric ton).  This was used to blind the tarmac surface which was a little tarry. It also looks nice and allows the surface a little give.  Allan helped with hammering in the wooden stakes to cordon off the area.

Keep off.

One tonne of golden yellow gravel (10mm down) soon followed and was spread (see below).  Not all of it was used as I didn't want it thick.  Aggregate price total was around £90 delivered by Whitton & Frost.

Almost ready for some action.

We still have to think about the timbers for the surround.  I am also in the process of making up a couple of scoreboards from bunk bed slats, which would have otherwise been chucked out.

Another angle.  

I am really pleased with how it has turned out.  Thanks go out to Allan and the rest of the committee, for letting me go ahead with the project.  Also Mick and Lindsay for lending me their tools.

  

Building the terrain (part one)

Location - Bressingham Village Hall car park, Norfolk.

The area was roughly marked out to allow for two games (shown in picture).  There was plenty of weeding to do especially along one edge and top left hand corner.  Most were pulled up easily (we avoided the use of chemicals) whilst others had to be dug out with my trusty old mattock.

In the beginning... there was a car park.

In-between weeding, the surface (mainly crushed road tarmac) was disturbed with some heavy raking.  I must admit, I went a bit crazy at first and ended up with a small crater.  The flimsy rake I was using wasn't up to the task and was rendered almost useless after only the first day.  Luckily, Allan let me borrow his heavy duty rake which was far better.

Would seed potatoes be the better option here?

The photo above shows a mound of small stones after sieving.  This was only the start as two more piles followed in the days ahead (and more weeding).   The bigger bits of tarmac had a heap of their own and were used later for filling pot holes in the car park.

No sign of Tony Robinson yet. 

The next stage was to disperse the smaller stone back from whence it came.  Can you see that puddle in the photo below?  Luckily it was only in one of the corners but it was at this point that Allan suggested I increase the length of the terrain at the top by one metre.

Bike not for sale.

I also decided to take out more weeds nearer the fence to create a better standing/observing area. There is also an option of using this extra width as an extension of the playing area to allow for more games.  That's the worst bit over with.  To be continued...

New pistes at Bressingham

The new terrain is situated in the village hall car park at Bressingham.  It has two pistes with the possibility of extending to three should we need to.  It is bright yellow and has slopes, undulations, and is (normally) a joy to play on.  We meet up on Saturday mornings, 10.30 onwards.