‘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)

‘… leadership in coaches’

(edition 73  - 2003 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Last week I made reference to leadership in general.  So as a follow up I thought I would prompt readers by detailing what players / bowlers might look for as leadership reflected in the coaches who they seek out to take them further in their bowls career.

A question bowlers/ players ?  Is this what you seek in quality coaches:

·         Gives you or your team the vision

·         Knows how to translate the vision into reality and direction

·         Seek to develop an environment / atmosphere where you as an individual have the maximum opportunity to aspire to and achieve success

·         Understands the value of face to face involvement

·         Does not focus on memorizing techniques, or to a lesser extent, devising game plans – it is more about paying attention to people- believing in them, caring about them, involving them

·         Are people oriented

·         places great importance on the dignity of you and each player in the side

·         Shows interest in everyone’s single achievements

·         Demonstrates pride in the accomplishment of you and/ or the group

·         Uses the best professional practioners to add service to you / the team

·         Makes an impact, a difference

·         Works on developing both your, and their own, psychological skills, interpersonal skills, communication skills all invaluable in competition and personal success

·         Encourages feedback and provides constructive (critical) feedback

·         emphasizes positive reinforcement at training

·         you know what is expected of you as a player and team member 

·         you know what the coach expects from you 

·         Understands others can and should exert leadership so as to make a difference (to a team)

·         Encourages acceptable reactions and behaviour toward winning and losing, 

·         losses are followed by game analysis by the coach of what went wrong without apportioning blame or a sense of negativity

·         Understands excellence happens due to preparedness of the coach to lead and work as hard 

·         frequently reinforces the goals you set, or the team goals

·         Persuade people to set commitment knowing words and fear do not provide commitment 

·         Knows that excellence in teams comes about due to leadership by individual team members who have the specific skills to commit other people to pursue the team goals

·         Builds a climate and environment that enables success to occur 

Quotes on leadership from last week – is this still applicable to you when seeking out your coach who is really your first team mate (working together)

…a man is not as big as his belief in himself; he is as big as the number of persons who believe in him

…if you don’t stand for something, you stand for nothing

Lachlan Tighe

‘… Lions: Brisbane’s king of the (sporting) jungle’