‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘…The match begins before the match begins’

(edition 103  - 2004 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

I quote tennis great Andre Agassi : ‘…does it ( mental reviews and game plans) work ? Yes.  Does it work all the time? Yes.  You won’t win every time, obviously.  But my procedure will improve my chance of winning every time.  And that’s all I am trying to do when I play, improve my chance of winning.’

Now has Agassi said anything that cannot apply to bowls?  No.

So in coaching the Elbows squad I attempt to get the squad members to 

-          mentally prepare in the training sessions

-          have tools to use in the game so as to monitor the progress

-          sort through pre match nerves

-          start smart, get into the lead early

-          playing to plan including flexibility

-          have a ‘pit stop’ like a delivery repair

-          game analysis including learning from the grinning winners

A conversation on the game plan might find we agree to something simple like this for the singles events the players enter:-

increase the first delivery percentage effectiveness within mat length of the jack

-          minimize the number of bowls not in a yardstick

-          don’t drive in desperation 

-          play lengths of either the literal minimum or maximum distances

-          get two of the bowls delivered to be in the head regularly

-          aim to be second shot even if they have a toucher

-          work hard on every delivery, every end

-          show the opposition some hustle: it could be walking to the head every third delivery, play at your tempo, strut your stuff

-          don’t be impressed with anything the opposition does, so if they drive or draw a toucher, so be it then compete at such a standard they better keep up that high level if they are to roll you

-          if your tempo irks them, continue doing it, listen and watch out for the cues from the opposition that gives that one percenter edge.

At the end of this July weekend all four of the Elbows male squad members faltered in their attempt to play to their specific individual game plan and go on to be a Victorian representative for the Australian Indoors event at Tweed in August, wherein they would join Judy for her attempt in the event; however we look at Agassi’s words and renew our approach.  We know now what they did, what they progressively achieved and what is to be worked on for their next major performance objective.

Lachlan Tighe