‘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)

".....no Limits"

(edition twenty one, 20/2/2002, of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Let me introduce you to what I think is the true element of excellence; read this precised article from sailing and then I’ll summarise my applications to bowls.

‘..against all the traditional lore of not taking risks early in a series, Arthur Brett went on to win the world championship with his worst placing a third and without having to start in the last race.

For Brett, with his coach Lex Bertrand, trained to a philosophy that there are no boundaries to what a sailor can accomplish.

People said he was obsessed and different. His training did not entail conventional training drills. He was constantly pushing the boundaries of what he was able to achieve.

People remarked that Brett appeared to struggle in training and he agreed. The main thing was that he was struggling with the ‘no limits’ philosophy and not with the standard tacking and gybing ( in bowls read as getting the shot). The philosophy is his passion. The result does not matter so long as he performed to his maximum.

Bertrand noted that Brett did less formal training and more confrontation exercises making him more independent in the decision making in competition. He continued to say that Brett has changed his ideas on the whole scene of risk management and risk assessment ( in competition)’.

Last week Craig Fox, sports hypnotherapist, spoke to the ‘Elbows’ bowls squad and other interested bowlers regards the power of the mind ( in sport) and amongst other things the challenge of change.

Bowlers and bowls coaches have a quantum leap to make to reach the ‘no limits’ mindset. Having watched a tournament final in Melbourne and other premier league bowlers practice this past week I am even more convinced of the hindrance facing us with the fixed mindsets held by good bowlers. Change is not on their agenda.

However I noted with interest that a few attendees at the seminar were other premier league club representatives trying to gain insight in how to improve the performances of the good bowlers at their club. That change should lead to improvement.

Mind you their initial discussion centred around player pennant score cards, players faltering under pressure in pennant and the paying of players and coaches. I dismiss these as high priorities as the development of a culture of success in a bowls club is the first priority and these tools only support the culture. They are not the culture.

For me the answer for improved development is instilling a culture ( via leadership) that embraces the attitude of practising successful habits.......moving to Lex Bertrand’s stratospheric zone of NO LIMITS .

I hope one day to meet you in Lex’s zone. Thanks to the sport coaches like Lex I meet, thanks to all in ‘elbows’, and thanks especially to ‘nb’ & Spency two true believers over all these years.

 Signing off from Australia for now, regards. Lachlan Tighe

"Good Bowling"

As most everyone now knows Lachlan Tighe has accepted a coaching position in Malaysia - his stint there will be for the next 7 months and taking in the Commonwealth Games. Malaysia are wanting to perform well at the Commonwealth Games and see Lachlan as a Coach who will take their team to new levels in bowls.

On behalf of Lawn Bowls International and all the folk who read this column -  WE WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS LACHLAN! 

PS Lachlan informs us that he will be writing  his column from Malaysia when he has settled in (maybe 2/3 weeks) so stay tuned.

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

"...tactical analysis of or in competition"

"How do you assess the performance of a Coach"

"... no Limits"