‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘Teach the bowlers how to Decide’

(edition 107  - 2004 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

In this past month two acknowledged elite player / coaches, Paul Feltham from football and Ric Charlesworth from hockey, have been quoted in the newspapers on their approach to coaching.

In roundabout ways both men implied that the way for coaches to go was to train the players above the shoulders.  Yet, last week I chose to say that in bowls we seem to have a lack of understanding or commitment to go down that track.  Or perhaps I should suggest the elite bowlers have an unwillingness to move in that direction.

If I can recap from last week, I said that if you asked an elite bowler (as I did in 1996 and again in 2000) what is involved in shot / delivery selection, their response may well be…..what do you mean…. I just roll the bowl closer to jack than the other guy !

Charlesworth is of the view that technical knowledge and sports science together account for a relatively small percentage of the coach’s input and that the great gains are made by adding value to the players (bowlers) you are coaching, making them mentally resilient, flexible and capable of displaying leadership.

My last session in July with one of the ladies in our squad reinforced that comment to me as she is still learning the mindset mentality as it has to apply in training as her exposure to elite sport is bowls oriented and it lacks the breadth of sporting experience at the moment for her to be mentally strong.

Feltham talked about the great golf coach, Butch Harmon and a conversation they had where Harmon asked what was the difference to professional golfers, in effect what stopped a Feltham ( a single figure golfer)from winning a professional event.  Harmon maintained , as does Feltham with his sport, the difference is the elite player (bowler) plays our best deliveries more often.  It is a relationship between skill and performance.

The most important thing he says for we coaches is you have got to teach players how to think.  Once they have been performing their skills for a number of years learning the game, they have developed conditioned performance levels.

You can teach bowlers how to think and about the developing contest as it is in progress.

Feltham said he did not care if players and teams were cellar dwellers ( bottom of the ladder) because he has an absolute belief there is no difference in skill between the top and bottom teams in elite level.  Must admit that was an approach I had for the Malaysians in 2002 and for the current Elbows squad in 2004.

Lachlan Tighe