‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘ Control factors: a trained mental skill’ 

(edition 140  - 2005 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Here is a sample of some of the factors we control and have no control over in our competition environment.

List of some controllables in competitions

Ø      Level of distractions

Ø      Delivery and technique

Ø      Thoughts both positive and negative

Ø      Emotions and arousal

Ø      Placement of Mat to determine playing length and as part of routine / ritual

Ø      Standard of play

Ø      (influence) on teammates

Ø      verbal and non verbal behaviour

Ø      misconceptions / interpretations

Ø      monitor / measure skill and performance

Ø      Plans, including pre match routines, mental preparation, game preparation, equipment, and appropriate apparel,

List of some uncontrollables in competitions

Ø      External distractions including weather, pace of green, location of competition

Ø      opponent

Ø      teammates and opposition attitude, verbals, non verbals

Ø      choice of teammate(s)

Ø      expectations from others

Ø      luck.

Yet think back to a teammates, or worse your own, reaction as a competitor to these familiar situations and grimace if the reaction you had was a negative one and learn , change your behaviour

Ø      you bowl a lousy first bowl in end one of the state test series

Ø      you bowl another non contributor short bowl on end five, the third time you had such a bowl

Ø      as skip you fell short when the state rink was already 3 down on the head

Ø      then you look up and see the (two) team body language, yours and theirs

Ø      scoreboard reads 24-27 with 3 ends to play and the skip talks to the team

Ø      scoreboard reads 22-24 with the opposition holding after 2 deliveries each.

There is a need for the team via the coach to understand styles of play and then to apply the right one in those situations above.

In Aggressive play: the strategy only applies where the bowlers possess the skills to make the play work. That infers mental and tactical skill, not simply technical skill.

For Conservative play: the strategy might be to

Ø      Use superior (skill) strength to win

Ø      Use individual bowler talents to the fullest

Ø      To control the score against better opposition

Ø      To protect a lead or the head

Ø      To control or modify opponents options or performances

Ø      To counter balance our weaknesses

Ø      To protect or insure against heavy losses

The question posed is the use of Power v. finesse, or as Robbie Dobbins called them ‘gunslingers’ versus draw bowlers

Ø      Disciplined drawing v. upshots and / or drives as options

Ø      Lazy bowlers gravitate toward aggressive shots

Ø      Ill informed bowlers likewise

Ø      Drives in excess can be a distraction to motor skill requirements

Ø      Finese used effectively (employing disciplined draw bowls).

Whichever strategy is employed to contend with control factors, it cannot be simply introduced in competition, it has to be trained so as a skill it is brought out for application in competition.

Lachlan Tighe

ATTITUDE: ALL ABOUT PRACTISING HABITS