‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘Decision making is dynamite’

(edition 108  - 2004 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

The following is an article I had published in June 1996 for the RVBA Development squad, I said that most bowlers turn up at the green each weekend with no particular purpose in mind other than to play well and try to win on the day.  Read on and see if eight years later in 2004 there has been any difference in approach either from my end or from the preparation of players.

‘Worse, I continued, supposedly elite bowlers turn up to practice sessions with no purpose in mind.  In 2000 and four years on I expressed further amazement to learn that our national representatives follow this above pattern.  Has much changed for the better with competition preparation and coaching in our sport ? We must move on.

As an interested player, one of the most frequent questions I ask when watching elite bowlers is  ‘……how do they always seem to know which shot / delivery to play ?’

If you asked an elite bowler what is involved in shot / delivery selection, their response may well be…..what do you mean….hell I just roll the bowl closer to jack than the other guy !

That’s the simple response.  I claim it’s not enough.  Why ? 

Look at swimming, clay shooting, ten pin bowling where we are gold medallists in sports that are simple in skill process.  It’s above the shoulders.. .that we develop our standards.

So I as coach ask myself what do I need as skill to develop the bowler.  How will I go about teaching the bowler about decision making processes to ensure he has capacity to choose from options when in a pressure game situation.

These may be the steps

            The shot selection and skill

            The player experience

            The coaches experience

            The knowledge of the opposition

            Any recent relevant experience

            Observational experience at other games

            Team mates input

The bowler has to develop an understanding of the purpose of particular shots and the number of shots, e.g. singles match having four.  So again we have a game plan in place.

PRACTICE TACTICS

There is an obvious need to simulate game settings and practice tactics.  For the elite bowler these may entail

·         Set choice for applying tactical positioning

·         Drills in a modified routine to force a set response or react to a set response

·         Coach determines choice and varies the routine

·         Freedom of experiment to see what happens with varying choice

By enabling the bowler to practice the tactics and executions in training they practice recognition of the cues and the known outcome of choice for these responses that can provide for success.  Cue usage and interpretation is important to success.

DURING GAME

·         Spot opponent weaknesses and use them to advantage

·         Think of an easier scoring/ shot objective

·         Concentration- an art

·         E.g.. a request to the third to trail the jack 4’ which misses by an inch goes thru by 10’ but in so doing dislodges our only bowl in the head so we are 5 down (Morton)

·         Jack delivery is commencement of tactical strategy- important

·         View the score to focus on the challenge

·         E.g…at afternoon tea or 15 ends rinks are +4,+4,+4 and –10 so the skips get together and agree that losing rink role simply to hold losing position and winning rinks to improve therein taking pressure off losing rink; team captain has displayed responsibility now the onus is on the rink skip to convey the same supportive approach to his rink members

·         Don’t add unnecessary grief and pressure

·         E.g… request to draw within 18” in 2 situations; does so adds to head holding 3 or informed that we are 3 down and need big bowl; role of skip now tactically very important (Morton)

·         Remember you only have control over your bowl

The program shows how much still has to be done by the coach to train the serious bowler in these tactical preparations before and during the game. An acknowledgement that with bowls luck plays a part in this game but use your ears to listen to ELITE sport people and they all know

FAIL TO PLAN then you PLAN TO FAIL’

Lachlan Tighe