‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘Lessons: Oldies but goodies’

(edition 105  - 2004 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

With the Australian men’s team fighting desperately to salvage as many wins as possible in the world titles over in Scotland, it is important they soak up all the information and knowledge from this episode for the benefit of themselves in future, and, the Women’s team in September, and later for the assault on 2006 Commonwealth Games.

There is probably a swag of critics out there in bowls world ready to ‘cast the first stone’.  Forget that ! Let’s give them some guide as to our examples of lessons learnt.  Let me lead off with a few examples, since 2000, from the ‘Elbows’ squad as to what specifically can be stored in that memory bank.

Lessons noted and updated regularly since first observed in November 2000

·         Performance goals as objectives this 2001-2002 season to achieve include:

Mat length 50%, total mats 60%, total OK 80%, short <10%; now that measure in 2004 is only Mat Length at a 50% acceptance level

·         ‘soft hands’ is one players descriptive connection to how his body feels to win games, 

·         the practise habits mentality is to be known, remembered and reinforced in ‘battle’ 

·         however that mentality has to be active right to the final ‘bell’ 

·         impose yourself on the game such as a level of ‘internal mongrel’

·         the one habit that is working is that of walking to the head in singles after each third delivery as it reinforces the view of the head, the distances of the bowls relative to the jack and enables us to gauge how well we estimate distance from the other end

·         the ‘pb’ approach reinforces the standard without a guarantee of a win

·         the use of the ‘pb’ enables us to ascertain where the bar needs to be to win often

·         e.g. a semi final score was a loss yet the ‘pb’ gauge was 77% which is only 3% away from best (in 2002) however that was a 95% effort for first half of the game then the last part was at 33% so not all is revealed by a ‘pb’ but is certainly a guide and a tool to focus

·         don’t repeat errors (good players RARELY repeat mistakes)

·         remember what you did well and maintain it

·         skip in one event lacked ‘the balls’ to manage the game when in trouble and forgot how to steer the team when in trouble and when not playing well himself;

·         Players still go quiet when a team is struggling, and this (hesitant) approach must be overcome at training

·         Hit new squad ‘pb’ of 86% in yardstick on weekend of group singles, 2001

·         New ’pb’ of 60% in same game for mat (length) bowls measures which is still current, 2004

·         noted that in singles matches, driving is a less successful option where a member used it 3 of 115 deliveries whereas the opponent drove 7 times in 117 deliveries

·         the NSW versus Vic match in 2004 the successful drives ratio was a measly 3 out of 17 attempts, why decide to drive if you knew that ratio of success

·         focus on the process of the delivery rather than fazed about the (score ) outcome takes the nerves level down a cog and appears to reduce tension

·         similarly playing some bloody poor bowls is recorded as a process which can be forgotten by moving on to record the next series of deliveries 

·         play best length on the day as much as possible

·         push into bowls is art form of better players

·         using firm (including the drive) deliveries early is used successfully by the elite bowlers and the team skips

·         for the team game formats the objective is to have 2 bowls in head after first 4 deliveries, and the best recorded information to 2004 is 80% of the ends played

·         don’t widen a head when holding shots that are difficult for the opposition to dislodge

·         good opposition bowlers CAN convert, so plan beforehand for them

·         Live to fight another day, new goals new challenges………….enjoy

And for our world team representatives please note the last dot point….. so be proud and enjoy.

Lachlan Tighe