Questioning

Open and closed questions

Open questions explore thinking: “What did you want the bowl to achieve?” Closed questions confirm a fact: “Did it finish short?” Both are useful when chosen for a reason.

Before a bowl, an open question can connect READ, STATE and PURPOSE. After a bowl, a short closed question can confirm what changed before the player reviews the consequence.

Promote reflection

Ask about purpose, evidence and consequence. “What changed after that bowl?” or “What permission does this option give the opponent?” connects the shot to the head.

Avoid leading questions

A question containing the answer can produce agreement without understanding. Use neutral wording, then allow the player time to think. Silence is often part of the coaching tool.

Check understanding

Ask the player to explain the next decision in their own words. If they can state the purpose and likely Useful Miss, the coach has better evidence that the idea is understood.

What to try

After a bowl finishes narrow, ask “What did you see in the line and weight?” before saying what to change. The response may reveal perception, technique or a tactical choice that was never clear.

Coach: “You are one down with two bowls left. What is the job of this bowl?”

Player: “I need to draw close.”

Coach: “What happens if it misses short?”

Player: “It may still block the opponent’s line.”

This exchange connects PURPOSE, consequence and Useful Miss without supplying one universal answer. Avoid “Why did you do that?” when it sounds like blame, or “You should have drawn” when it removes discovery.

Questioning also helps check understanding: ask the player to explain the next choice in their own words, then allow a pause before responding. If safety or immediate clarity is needed, direct instruction may be appropriate; questioning is a tool, not a rule that replaces coaching judgement.

For example, “You were too wide, weren’t you?” leads the player toward agreement. “Where did the bowl finish compared with your intended line, and what might you test next?” invites observation, choice and responsibility. The player discovers a solution they can own and REVIEW later, independently, in practice.

Takeaway: questions should increase player ownership. Allow silence, check understanding and let REVIEW shape the next decision.