‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

(a new weekly edition, commenced 12/9/2001, of thoughts, observations and commentaries on developments for bowls coaching and competition)

‘...shifting culture in and through coaching’

(edition twenty six, 6/11/2002, of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Melbourne Cup evening 2002, walk off the green having supervised a training session on measurable skills with John McCarron a 14 y.o. recently selected in the Victorian U.18 state team.

Joined his dad, Craig, a premier league skipper and listened to Craig lament his teammates level of commitment toward undertaking a skills test as set by Barry our club coach. So Barry goes to the trouble to assist these players skill development without suitable reaction, yet these are the players in the ranks where we metropolitan bowlers model ourselves and aspire to.  What hope has young John if that is the level of role model.

Our best pennant players live in cuckoo land.  Have’nt they heard of Schuback, Yates or Bryant.  All three men were world  champions; all three men knew their technical skills level by precise measurement in lengthy training sessions.

Schuback knew 65% of his draw shots were within two feet of the jack.  Bryant too knew 93% of his draw shots were within a yard of the jack on any pace green.

Talking to Ian (Schuback) in Manchester he believed the (good) bowlers lacked the patience and persistence to literally score and measure their skill in training so that they were full of talent but lacked the work ethic to move from good to champion level.

So, here is our earnest club coach providing players with scoring sheets and finding out exactly what ‘Shooey’ knew…no patience, therefore no development. In premier pennant levels I might assume 10- 15% of those players have any notion of what is diligent training and hard work.  Like kids, most of the players play games and call it practice.

I have to say I will work overtime with Craig’s support to ‘protect’ young John from the comfort culture prevailing around premier league standard so as to see him move into a national level of diligent training and preparation even at his young age.

Our sport needs to shift its competitive culture at all elite levels. The 10-15% of players who I inferred might be doing it right should lead the charge and seek out a personal coach they think can help take them further.  The question is are the coaches around wanting to take on this role – I have no doubt we have capable coaches at clubs; the personal coach in lawn bowls is still a relative novelty and it should be a regular factor in national player development.

In weeks to come I will explore the role of the personal coach and especially the opportunity for the level two coaches to move in this direction for the benefit and betterment of our sport.

regards.

Lachlan Tighe

"....it is just not cricket!"

"...tactical analysis of or in competition"

"How do you assess the performance of a Coach"

"... no Limits"