‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘Sport – the school of hard knocks’

(edition 122  - 2004 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Within bowls I hear of regular criticism for the approach and view that elite performance occurs through training for competition.

Fortunately, the calibre of supporters for that approach far outweigh the quantity of critics.

However what critics don’t understand is there is literally a daily lesson in the newspapers (as one medium) to reinforce the need for bowls to approach the elite game of bowls in a more thorough and professional level beginning right back at the club.

I shall use just one edition of a newspaper, The Age Friday 12 November, to demonstrate the numerous parallel lessons that ‘school’ for bowls to learn from other sports. Read (any of) these excerpts and apply them to bowls, your bowls, coaches and players.

TENNIS

Pat Rafter talking about Mark Phillopousis

...he should pull his finger out and commit to the game

…he has never really committed himself strongly to the game despite the talent

…the Sports Commission questioned the effectiveness of the programs and focused attention on the lack of depth in the elite section for both players and coaches

AFL FOOTBALL

Hawthorn Football Club…the chill wind of discipline applied by the new coach

...the players have been punished so that when any one contravenes or makes mistakes, all the players / coaches are punished

…the new coach has devised a zero tolerance policy

…what this does is imply a practice of players policing one another

…it is meant to become a one in all in mentality

…if one player is disorganized or unprepared then the group pays for it

St Kilda Football club

…sought a South African motivational speaker to talk about the lion as the king of the jungle and how lions ‘team together’

…the lion over the life of the jungle history  has evolved a plan in which the team / pride is more powerful than the sum of the strength of the individual

… in the lion’s den, there’s not just one leader all the time

…when hunting, lions focus on their goal (meal) and are not distracted by the tid bits (warthogs).

I could have added more to this article by including the weekend papers section of sport.  Why would I do that when you can read any daily paper and take your own lessons from this ‘school’.

In closing this column might I allude to the role of skips in developing an improved approach to bowls. Skips, those of you who seem always to demand that is your role; if you seek that role then be accountable not only for results but for the responsibility to the team and the side and take extra note of the above comment on leadership and sharing leadership about in a team.

And bowlers, those of you who are tardy in both your planning and time usage, and who view comments on standards toward preparation as criticism.  Well read, and learn, from the comments copied into todays column. 

Because if you were a fair dinkum performer in other elite level sport, you may not last too long in the elite level if it was based on approaches taken from football.

Take stock, reset your attitude, find a like minded committed coach and use that person to assist you to fulfill your ultimate goal.

Lachlan Tighe

ATTITUDE: ALL ABOUT PRACTISING HABITS