We play a competitive sport.  Hence the need for selectors since teams don't select themselves.

Why then, when nominations are called for, do many of the "bowling aware" people step back and the social bowlers take a step forward?

The role of selector seems to be the most maligned of all positions within many clubs.  When you sit back and think about this, why do you think it is?Are these people really bad people?Do they really make bad decisions consciously?  Are they out to look after their themselves only?

In the main, the answer to all of the above questions is NO.  However, in many situations the selectors have a different point of view than many other bowlers in the club and maybe even the committee.  As a result of this,their decisions are sometimes questionable and the results may reflect this.

There comes a point when the selectors may lose the confidence of the side/s and disharmony follows.  Members are talking about selectors in a very derogatory manner and those members that may have once aspired to be a selector see the other side of the membership and quickly work out that being a selector is not for them.  In other words, good people become wary of taking that responsibility due to the efforts of previous selectors and the way in which the membership treated them.  Yet most of the nay-sayers, if pressed, would never volunteer to be a selector – it’s too easy to sit on the sideline and remain part of the problem rather than offering up a solution.

Selectors should enjoy the full support of the committee and feel that they can make decisions unimpeded by club politics.  On the flip side, selectors should be aware of the ramifications of their decisions and work to maintain a balance between harmony and success.  What good is winning a flag if your club implodes straight after?

When I asked our four selection nominees to attend some skills sessions between now and the season beginning, both as a participant and an observer to analyse the improvements of those making the effort, one nominee withdrew his nomination and gave me a spray?  Were my requests really that outrageous?

There is NO DOUBT that selectors in most clubs are the most despised people in the club.  However, I really believe that many of them bring such feelings upon themselves by treating Pennant and any other competitive side of the sport as an extension of mid-week social bowls and all the mateship and politics that comes along with it.  Hence those that could do an admirable job are scared off.

Of course different clubs have a differing levels of success with their selectors and the manner in which selectors are chosen varies from club to club.

Would you be a selector?  Why/why not?  Are you a selector?  What have been your experiences?

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