‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘…Huddle, a master of a better delivery’

(edition 102  - 2004 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Well Robbie (Dobbins) as national coach and the Australian mens world cup team headed off overseas yesterday and we wish them all the best on our behalf in their defence of the world championship title in Scotland later in July.

Now to another great performance.  Rob Huddle and his eCoachbowls 2004 CD production.

In 1999 Rob was the mastermind behind the enormously successful ‘Bowls Coaching Beyond 2000’ conference which enticed as guest speakers the heads of the Institute of Sport, Commonwealth Games, Australian Coaching Council, and the World Masters Games.  I was fortunate to have an involvement in that conference and can say that Rob’s concept and eventual program helped catapult a greater awareness to coaching within bowls.

Well five years on he has launched his own website and CD coaching program titled ‘eCoachbowls2004’ which is a must for all of us wanting an exchange of approaches toward the skill of coaching.  I am privy to his draft CD and liked what I viewed as it made me aware of how little we know, and imagine, as a solitary individual coach.

Rob’s CD content summarized includes

• Skill level assessments from levels 1-10
• Bowls coaching tips – practical hints and a separate summary
• Coaching articles and presentations – and a separate summary
• Individual skills practice sheets for bowlers to record progress and a games play challenge – and a separate summary
• Performance evaluation of both skills and games – and a separate summary
• Team practice sheets – and separate summary
• The CD Rom contents
• CD Rom instructions

For years I have been compiling both training and presentation details in files and on a computer, using all this, the Malaysian experience and subsequently the ‘Elbows’ squad programs where I apply the knowledge.

Got to tell you all, my content may differ to Rob’s but my quality of presentation is nowhere near as good as the Rob Huddle CD.

Excellent stuff, get yourself on his web site www.ecoachbowls.com

Your outlay as a coach is the investment in the future bowler you support.

Well done Rob Huddle.

Lachlan Tighe