How early is too early?

[star wars geek]

My son is 4 year old, and he loves bowling.  He doesn't like us 'helping' him anymore, and he doesn't bowl with the ramp OR the gutter protectors.

He bowled a 40 on Saturday, and wants to do better.

I am considering getting him into some lessons soon, but was wondering what the right time frame would be?  How old should one be before starting lessons?

Anybody have any ideas?
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The only balls in my hands are Brunswicks.

[MC]

My guess would be when he wants to... but I would talk to the coach first and see if they were comfortable in giving lessons to a 4 year old.
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[Grayson]

I see problems in the physical game... still my oppinion as early as possible as best... as it is with everything imho.

If he wants to do it and if he can throw a ball why not?
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[shelley]

I don't see why you couldn't start getting him lessons but the trick will be finding a coach who has a lot of experience with young children.  It's one thing to coach youth when they're 12 or 15, dealing with a 4-year-old is an entirely different thing and I wouldn't think that coaching one would be at all like coaching teenagers.

I'd take him back to the alley a few more times and bowl with him yourself before finding a coach, though.  Kids can be kinda flighty, and he may have been real excited about bowling a 40 but he may want to give it up when he bowls a 25 next week.

SH

[dizzyfugu]

I think that you should give him a try as long as he wants to. Age of 4 is IMHO O.K. A 40 at that age is not bad, I have seen older children with less success.

Check if you have a youth coach around, that might be helpful.

For a ball, I'd suggest a light polyester ball without holes - he might swing it between the legs with both hands. Given a ball's size, relative to a child's body, and the much easier control at that age (with less frustrating gutter shots...) this might be worth a try - it can still be punched up.
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[star wars geek]

Yeah, we're getting him his first ball in August for his birthday.

We take him every weekend...and have (about 85% fo the time) ever since he was born.  I don't see him losing interest.

He even watches bowling on ESPN!  He likes to watch golf, too.

I just don't want to put him in a situation where he will injure himself, you knwo?
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The only balls in my hands are Brunswicks.

[BowlingWolf]

quote:Yeah, we're getting him his first ball in August for his birthday.

We take him every weekend...and have (about 85% fo the time) ever since he was born.  I don't see him losing interest.

He even watches bowling on ESPN!  He likes to watch golf, too.

I just don't want to put him in a situation where he will injure himself, you knwo?
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The only balls in my hands are Brunswicks.

Are you a bowler yourself?

If so, you know mechanics.

I have 3 children, and I thought them from a young age (younger than your son) how to swing the ball.

The thing to remember is that at his age, he is too young and small to be taking steps with the ball swinging by his side.

I would have him place his slide foot near the foul line, his push foot behind his slide foot (a good stride behind it), and with his bowling hand fingers in the ball and the other hand under and in front of the ball, have him swing (rock) the ball once or twice and just let the ball get off his hand onto the lane (naturally he's going to need a light ball with holes that pretty much match his hand size).

Delivering the ball this way will give him a feel of what it feels like with the ball in his hand, will place his hand under and behind the ball (even if he breaks his wrist when the helping hand comes off), and what the bowling fingers feel like when the ball exits the hand.

As he gets older, probably another couple of years, you can show him a four or five step approach (I recommend 4 due to the fact that it's easier to learn proper timing), and he will already have the know-how of what it feels like to have the ball come off the hand, although at the beginning his ball reaction will be perhaps quite different, naturally, but in due time he'll begin throwing the ball much to his (and your) satisfaction. And if you are unable to teach him during this stage of his bowling development, than this would be the time to get the services of a good and qualified coach.


Edited on 1/3/2008 10:46 AM

[star wars geek]

Yes, I am a bowler when time permits.

Those sound like good ideas.  I was never coached at all, but I utilize a 4 step approach because I'm of the school of thought that if htere's less movement, there's less of a chance for misalignment.

We only let him use a 6 pound ball, and he stands at the line and throws it with two hands off to his right side, twisting his body to throw it down the lane.  

When I can tell that he can hold a small ball, we'll work the one hand approach.
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The only balls in my hands are Brunswicks.

[1MechEng]

Do what I do with my 6 year old ... let him bowl for fun now. We're in a father/son league. You can make little points with him while he bowls, but it won't come across as pure instruction because of the fun and excitement of the league.
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Dan
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Engineering * Bowling = a fun and practical application of rotational kinematics.

[star wars geek]

That sounds like a great idea!  Is there an age limit on these leagues?
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The only balls in my hands are Brunswicks.

[1MechEng]

Check your local house. It might be league specific. I know your child can't be older than 16 or 18, but I don't think there is a minimum age.
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Dan
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Engineering * Bowling = a fun and practical application of rotational kinematics.

[star wars geek]

I think that this is a must!
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The only balls in my hands are Brunswicks.

[ThongPrincess]

As a coach in a Youth league, I would definitely put him into a youth league.  Most centers will group the kids by age.  Talk to your local center, the amount and type of youth leagues varies center to center.  Some cater to the older kids, some have a wide range of options.  

One thing I would ask is if they have certified coaches.  My reason for this recommendation is I've seen youth leagues where parents do the coaching and, while they may have the right intentions, they do more harm than good to the kids.  

I would also advise the Junior Director that your son already bowls without bumpers.  Most 4 year olds are started in the Bumper Leagues so they can learn the basics without the penalty of gutter balls. As the child relies on the bumpers less and less, he/she is moved up to the next level of league.  In my area most of the leagues for the little ones are non competitive.  They keep score and bowl 2 - 3 games, but in the end all the kids get trophies of participation with no league champions.
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[star wars geek]

Thanks for the help, guys.

I really appreciate it!
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The only balls in my hands are Brunswicks.

[coltfoet5]

Our local alley gives free lessons, you just pay for games.  See if any alleys around you do the same.  If you can get free lessons it would be worth it, paying for lessons probably wouldn't be that valuable just because it would be very basic stuff.
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