‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

(a weekly edition, commenced 12/9/2001, of thoughts, observations and commentaries on developments for bowls coaching and competition)

‘Success and You’ 

(edition 138  - 2005 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Our ‘Elbows’ 2005 squad members will be required to refer to the checklist below and privately respond with either ‘Rarely’ or ‘Often’ to every statement.  

As you are starting to read this I ask you to consider doing likewise

·         Identify areas of your performance which require added attention and implement a plan of action to improve the areas

·         Understand when and how to select and execute the correct delivery efficiently and effectively

·         Erase disruptive elements to give you total energy to perform

·         Make the commitment to attend and be involved in squad training sessions

·         Develop the will at training to always give your best performance

·         Put yourself in stress situations/ competition to extract excellent performance

·         Stick to basics in competition that you know work for you

·         Develop self confidence by forcing yourself to regularly  accomplish new or difficult drills or deliveries which require initiative or perseverance

·         Meet with people who can objectively and accurately assess your progress and evaluate your capabilities

·         Be aware of your self talk

·         Be aware of the need to train to be positive in your self talk

·         Develop a positive attitude to team members and club / squad training members

·         Use of any relaxation strategies in competition

·         Development of relaxation strategies in training

·         Seek out any coach to discover techniques or approaches to review goals, statistics, performances

·         Model yourself on a champion bowler or sportsperson in the way they train, compete, have attitude, etc

·         Attend seminars etc to assist your sport development

·         Read articles etc to assist your sport development

·         Practice regularly on a current weakness to minimise that deficiency

·         Keep to a balanced diet

·         Have an activity program to maintain your physical toning

·         Maintain an enthusiastic approach in training and competition

·         Do more work at your game than others in your club or team

·         Enter a set number of elite level tournaments with a view of measuring success from the entry

·         Enter bowls tournaments with quality partners

·         Can you tell me right now your technical skill rating measure

·         And be able to tell me how you used that knowledge in your development and training

·         Can you tell me how many bowls (%) you draw into a Mat Length (ML) zone in a competition, or at training

·         In your playing position as a fours member, do you know the expected (%) of successful draw bowls at either state or national level

·         You have set goals for the season and you refer to them to check your progress

With the ‘Elbows’ squad members, I will by saying ‘…where you assigned the term ‘rarely’ in response, then you have two reactions to consider.  If ‘rarely’ applied only a couple of times above then you have work to do and it may be we need to work together on your game developing the technical, tactical and mental skills. If the term was a frequent response, I think you need to reassess why you want to be in the squad as you are not gaining from the attitudinal approach we are trying to foster as members of ‘Elbows’ 2005.

            Again having now read this yourself, how honestly are you striving to succeed ?

            I love what Ric Charlesworth said in his book a few years back ‘…experience is overrated, it is not how many games you played, it is how quickly you learn.’

Lachlan Tighe

ATTITUDE: ALL ABOUT PRACTISING HABITS