‘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)

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

(edition sixteen, 16/1/2002, of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

I was talking recently to cricket’s national development and training manager, and he gave me a copy of the ACB review of the future of cricket (coaching) and it is interesting to parallel the approaches to issues that also prevail in lawn bowls.

Here is a select summary of some of the issues facing cricket, the best national sporting side in sport in Australia, and the pertinence of these issues and approaches to bowls coaching development:

The salient point is that coaching is the central driver to broader game development at all levels

A current weakness is the inability to allow youth coaches to develop a specialisation as a youth coach

There is a need to have a specialised stream of study in skills of the game, thus undertaking an area of specialisation in batting, spin bowling, wicketkeeping- equate that in bowls an example .. either playing positions, differing game formats, different delivery types

Cricket, and so too bowls, need to defend the role of coaches in a broader cricket development sense, as coaches are the shopfront for cricket with the potential to shape and foster the attitudes of players at all levels

The AIS program expand its objectives to become the centre and focus of elite coaching consistent with the aim of preparing aspiring cricketers

And, within the ACB establish a cricket coaches association to recognise and encourage cricket coaching excellence in Australia at all levels. Those of us in Queensland and Victoria know all about the merit of a coaches association in lawn bowls.

I will get back to tactical topics when next on the weekly column treadmill. In the meantime those bowls coaches ought take heart that a national icon such as cricket is only moving into full recognition of the role of the coach in their sport, so we can fast track from their experiences.

Welcome back to the web

"Good Bowling"

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

"...tactical analysis of or in competition"

"How do you assess the performance of a Coach"

"... no Limits"