‘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)

'GREAT PLAYERS'

(edition 7, 24/10/2001)

My previous web contribution touched on my hobby horse of great teams. So what can we learn as a definition of what is a great player. Let’s look at what they say.

‘..Parked at the golf clubhouse was a trailer with gym equipment. Norman noted that the sport (golf) has changed. Players are stronger, fitter and endurance is better. Its turned into a truly professional sport. I’m not saying it wasn't 20-30 years ago but guys didn’t include nutrition, psychology and fitness the way they do now’.

For the doubters in bowls, well may we ask why Norman conceded that his sport has moved on and we in bowls still cannot see the need to do likewise; the squad of bowlers in ‘elbows’ I work with may not be the answer but it should be the start of their journey toward a better approach.

‘Glasson ………praised the work of bowls coach Robbie Dobbins (national women's coach) for his assistance on motivational work and the tools he gave Steve to work with.’

‘..Glasson was able to respond to pressure placed upon him in the event.’

Coincidentally I chatted last night to Robbie whilst at the Asia- Pacific championships in Moama and he laments the absence of professionalism of our elite bowlers when he compares their preparation and approach to other elite sports people (as read above with Norman’s comments).

The limited thinking toward modern professional preparation was reflected back to me when I also had some conversations with Victorian premier league pennant players who were also at Moama this week Remember this is the pennant level where the players step from to go off and represent state/ national teams. It should be the level where they learn the best approaches, yet, those conversations tell me that Robbie and Geoff (Oakley) as our national coaches are inheriting players who are part of a backward system when it comes to modern approaches to elite sport.

All the ‘elbows’ bowls training done over winter was to discover those tools to use to identify pressure, to learn to cope with it by simulating this pressure in training so as to reduce the idea of pressure come the season.

Part of the tools employed are the variation in training to keep you pumped to enjoy and accept the challenges of development….when we are good enough to win 5 national titles then I think any one of us could say we have fulfilled potential until then…..we kid ourself….how far do you want to go as bowlers ?)

Enjoy your bowls.

"Good Bowling"

"A Great Team ... defined for bowls and to apply to pairs, fours, sides of 16"

"Weight Watching - Drills and Experiments"

'Torpedo Toward Victory"