Lawn Bowls

A strategic target sport where athletes with a vision impairment use touch, communication, and consistency to deliver bowls accurately​​​​​​​.

Overview

Lawn bowls is a target-based sport where players aim to roll bowls as close as possible to a smaller target ball called the jack. It is well suited to athletes with a vision impairment, with adaptations that focus on alignment, communication, and consistent technique.

“Bowls” is often used as a general term, but in practice it includes two main formats:

  • Lawn bowls – played outdoors on a grass or artificial green
  • Indoor bowls – played indoors on mats

While they share similar skills and rules, they are delivered through different clubs, competitions, and organisations. This page focuses on lawn bowls, which has a national and international pathway in New Zealand.


NZ Athletes:

Key points: 

  • Players deliver bowls from a fixed mat position toward the jack
  • A director (assistant) assists with alignment, direction, and distance using verbal instructions, tactile maps, or physical cues
  • After delivery, the director provides feedback on the result
  • Players focus on delivering the bowl themselves and rely on communication with their director and repetition of technique
  • Start by developing consistency in movement, with a focus on line, orientation, and the bias of the bowl

Equipment used:

  • Bowls (weighted balls with bias)
  • Jack (target ball)
  • Mat (fixed delivery point)
  • Communication with a director
  • Tactile grid or map layout for feedback (DIY versions work well).
  • Club setting

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Pathway Information

Community: Lawn bowls can be accessed through local clubs across New Zealand, many of which are inclusive and welcoming of athletes with a vision impairment.

New Zealand Blind Lawn Bowls (NZBLBA), a member organisation of Blind Sport NZ, is a great starting point. You can connect with them via their website, Facebook page, or by email. Bowls New Zealand also provides a range of great information on their website and socials.

Regional organisations such as Halberg, and schools may offer Have a Go sessions with a focus on Ten Pin Bowling. You can also explore opportunities through Disability Sport Aotearoa (formerly the Parafed Network).


Development: Athletes can build skills through club-based play, developing consistency, control and communication. 


Competitive:  Lawn bowls has a well-established competition pathway for athletes with a vision impairment in New Zealand, with opportunities to progress from club and regional play through to national and international competition. The sport is also part of the Commonwealth Games programme.


Classification: 

Lawn bowls uses  B1 to B4 classficiation categories. These classifications are applied consistently across national and international events.

See our page on classification and Paralympics NZ


International Federation: 

International Blind Bowls Association (IBBA)

World Bowls


NZ National Sport Organisation: 

Competitions include:

  • New Zealand Blind Lawn Bowls National Championships (annual event, hosted in different regions)
  • Regional and interclub competitions across New Zealand
  • IBBA World Championships (typically held every four years)
  • International tours and invitational events
  • Commonwealth Games (para bowls included)

Please check the international and national sport organisations for current information. 

Check out other sports: