|
|
‘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) |
||||
‘… thinking hard or hardly thinking’ |
||||
|
(edition 71 - 2003 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls) Over these past two weekends as coach I have watched the three gals perform to their best in the state under 25 titles with Jessie coming runner up, Victoria losing the semi to the champion (Claire) and Anna losing in the quarters. All of us had a training session immediately after the final with three senior squad ladies joining us; the session focus was solely on discipline in decision making and it is in the decision making department that I would pose that these gals train to think hard, not hardly, for them to advance to the next step of elite competition. Trouble shooting in ‘battle’ ( that we continue to train and prepare) Some observations of the games from my vantage point included § draw for second shot when the opposition holds shot(s) § minimise lapses by concentrating positively and only on the very next delivery · Seeing is believing…..a bowl wide or short or long needs adjustment and your eyes tell you the appropriate detail….register and correct and retain the revised picture § if a delivery is short, visualize and physically aim the next one to finish longer § never underestimate your opponent, remind yourself you are in good company § when your opponent has bowls beyond the head, cover the shots for insurance § force your opponent to change hands § losing a sequence of single shots may not require change, if, you always had more shots in the head yet lost a single; the score will turn in your favour § use of the drive delivery to mentally dominate the opponent § when holding shot with your one bowl to play, always add shot § when your opponent wastes a delivery, add another to the head or score to make them pay § choose the delivery that gains another shot or forces the opponent into reduced options § don’t widen the head when holding § play their shot before they get the opportunity (to convert) § the first battle is to get the mat and determine/ dictate the (length) strategy § change a losing game – thinking hard(ly) § RISK is driving with only one bowl in the head § calculate the risk prior to you attacking- use a margin for error when you attack § where opponent has first delivery as a resting toucher, simply draw a close second shot § or, widen the head if opponent holds resting toucher · Push bowls plug holes- push up short bowls or plug holes to disallow opposition entry · if losing concentration, watch for signs such as excess talking or eyes wandering, · and have remedies to use to get back into the next deliveries and the remaining game; set objectives say for every 3 ends or every 10 shots to keep up the level of concentration § if a poor starter in events, prepare physically and mentally prior to the game and use the ends roll up to be ‘in the game before anyone else and set objectives say for the first 3 ends § if too many bowls are short, narrow or wide, use your ‘red alert’ mechanism when it is two in a row to take action THEN to reduce the number of mistakes § singles: walk to the head after the third bowl every end (good enough for David Bryant then good enough for us ) Congrats to Claire Duke on back to back State titles Lachlan Tighe
|
||||
| Previous coaching columns by Lachlan Tighe (in case you missed the last column or would like to peruse the previous years). |
|
