BOWLING AND TENNIS

Objectives: At the end of the lesson,

you should be able to:
1. Know the basic techniques in bowling
2. Learn the essential skills in bowling:
3. Demonstrate the proper stance and ball release in bowling;
4. Apply the correct ball handling;
5. Recognize the importance of bowling; and
6. Develop self-confidence during competition.

A. Brief History

The game bowling is surely one of the very oldest games in existence. Even in ancient times
similar games were played. The Polynesian Island people in the Pacific area played a game with small
round balls and flat round disks. They attempted to hit the disks with the balls.

Two thousand years before the first pyramid was built, the Egyptians, according to
archaeologists, played a similar game to ninepins. Ninepins is the game from which modern bowling
developed. It is interesting to note that people as far apart as the Nile River and the Pacific Ocean
played a very similar game.

In more recent years, German people knocked down kegels or pinsas part of a religious rite. If the

bowler was successful, it was thought indicate his state of grace. In the fifth century A.D., The

cloister of the cathedral was the bowling alley and many pious church member bowled in the

cathedral. In Germany, some popular expressions came into existence because of the game

bowling. For example, if it thunders in Germany, the old folks say that St. Peter is bowling.

From Germany the game moved to another part of Europe, Holland. It was also popular in
Italy one thousand years ago. There it was called "boccie" .Henry VIII popularized the game when
he was king in England. In France, a game called"carreau" played during the time of Charlemagne
 was also a kind of bowling. In Scotland where it is cold much of the year, the game took another
form. They bowled on ice and called it curling. Perhaps, early Filipinos also had a game similar to
bowling. The Visayan marble game,"dyolin", played by boys on dusty open spaces is a game of
rolling and careful aiming not unlike the skill involved in bowling.

In the last decade, the popularity of bowling as a recreational game has increased. All cities
and many smaller towns have bowling or tenpins facilities. It-is a sport in which men and women can
participate on a somewhat equal basis and it is an enjoyable co-recreational activity. The sport is rather
expensive, nevertheless, no doubt, keeps some people from playing it more often.

Bowling tournaments are conducted within various regions of the country and climaxed
by the selection of national champions. Filipino women bowlers have done very well in
international competition. In 1970, the Asian Women's Champion bowler was a Filipino.