‘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)

‘...the programs that gave meaning to the philosophy’

(edition twenty four, 23/10/2002, of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Two programs particularly made the difference in the overall progress of the Malaysian lawn bowlers remembering every one of the 14 member squad improved on their ranking in their specific bowls event at Manchester 2002.

First and without fear of contradiction was the enthusiastic professional support given for 6 months by the Malaysian Institute of Sport( ISN).  The ISN professionals were available 5 days and nights per week, came out to training to observe and attended and filmed at specified bowls competitions.

These experts – fitness, psychology, nutrition, biomechanics, massage, sports medicine, physiologists, motor skills – advised, observed, analysed, reported, monitored, shared and enjoyed the spills and thrills with us and at all times were seen as part of the “team” and very much inclusive to the coaches and the team managers.  Even when Malaysia scooted over to Scotland for a brief training and evaluation program just pre the Games 2002 we had the benefit of the Scottish Institute of Sport providing a fitness professional to prepare our warm up program in that colder climate.  I am sure this extra attention was beneficial in Manchester when doing daily warm up exercises as a squad.

It is with great satisfaction I can report that lawn bowls in Malaysia is now regarded as the role model sport for ISN to document how other sports can use and benefit from the professional services of ISN

The second aspect of valuable programs was the drill and tactical training sessions created, devised, discussed and conducted by we three coaches with some application to what is called the ‘games sense’ coaching approach prevalent on other sports.  The training was a shift from the every day practice we se in our bowls clubs.

Repetition of certain drills, setting up heads to allow the bowlers to either have numerous attempts at a shot or to vary their shots at the same head was done if only to show the bowler what works and what does not given the result of the delivery on that set head. And it allowed us to place the squad bowler in ‘pressure’ situations so as to train them mentally as I wanted them to be smarter than other bowling nations.

In coaching the squad the standard expected in training was constantly reinforced, the effort and commitment exacted – it was their medal they trained for, not ours the coaches. And the workshops on tactical and mental skill training was integral to the practical on green program. It enabled us to focus and remedy team work spirit and cohesiveness by creating both the fun and stress that stretched the knowledge of a team.

By the Games 2002 the players influenced their own peer standards of training and competition and had the capacity to self coach: a quest that turned to reality

NEXT WEEK       "performance analysis: not simply a medal count"

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"