‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘Ironman Hocking bites the bullet’ (Melbourne Age newspaper, August 1. 2001)

"…it was not until National league footballer Garry Hocking stood on the boundary line and drilled 1000 balls a night with his left foot to assistant coach Gordon Hynes that people developed an appreciation for the ferocious determination that would make him a truly great ruck rover, the greatest in the history of National league club Geelong’

Many a good bowler has got to the level of an equivalent state/ district/ county premier league by virtue of working hard at the traditional way of training in bowls

4 up, 4 back, etc, etc getting close and doing this for about an hour before someone joins in and you only do half the amount of activity in the time.

Instead of Garry Hocking, I could have easily used Tiger Woods, Pete Sampras, or Steve Waugh as our example.

Bowlers wanting to truly develop skill and for those striving to state/ county, national or international standard, should change their approach to training and do an equivalent ‘1000 balls’ style on a specific skill per session. And, under the eye of THEIR coach.

Now, there is a novel suggestion in our sport...…bowlers having a personal coach !!!

Time for us bowlers and coaches to borrow ‘best practice’ from other sports. More on this in future contributions.

Finally, for my squad I coach (which I called ‘Elbows’ ) I say to them the next time they hear other bowlers at their club pooh pooh their work ethic, think of Hocking and look at the bowler mouthing off and discount accordingly, and.....I also say the next time as a squad member you even hint of accepting mediocre standards in squad training, beware, ....think again !"

"A Great Team ... defined for bowls and to apply to pairs, fours, sides of 16"

"Weight Watching - Drills and Experiments"

'Torpedo Toward Victory"