‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘Sports Illustrated: standard bearers’

(edition 104  - 2004 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Wherever I looked this past week(end) I saw examples in sport to use to reinforce the importance of the other sports illustrating the standards of excellence in approach that can impact and provide for success back in bowls.

Illustration (1)            Volleyball

Listened to an Australian volleyball player talk about the merit and strength of their coach and selectors in sending home one of their best players for not abiding by the team rules; they still won, both on and off the court.

Illustration (2)            Bowls

Heard the ABC bowls commentator, Shooie, refer to effective bowls and watched to see the % factor as they applied in an international event; there is an obvious need for elite aspirant bowlers to know their present level of skills so as to best apply them in that current game.

Our ‘Elbows’ squad uses mat length and mat width to describe the equivalent effective zone, simply because as bowlers we stand on the mat as we prepare to bowl and therefore can image the precise distance and zone down at the other end.

Illustration (3)            AFL football

Watched 20 agonising minutes of ordinary AFL football from Western Bulldogs on TV to note that one player constantly missed his shots for goal; question  - is that typical of his strike rate at training, secondly why was the tactical situation such that changes were not made to remedy this outcome given the technical inefficiency of this one player , the availability of other players to take over the role and importantly the amount of time still available to account for an impact for the change; raises another question of skilful decision making in coaching.

Illustration (4)            Rugby

Jonny Wilkinson was quoted on his approach to being the best kicker in world rugby.  During the 2003 world cup he wrote down all his kicks in events, what went well, went badly, the weather, etc.  If he missed a training session, he will do double the next session.  He was quoted as saying he did not have enough paper in the house to write everything.

At world level, bowls or any other sport, this is a level to aspire to – sheer excellence.

Illustration (5)            Bowls

Our ‘Elbows’ squad did a delivery skills analysis rating session yesterday ( includes jacks, draw, trail, yard on, firm, drives) to set ‘pb’ standards or even to audit a reality check on how competent any one of the 16 player squad is, on the day. It is invaluable for the player to have this knowledge to take into future events and to assess the prospects of meeting set performance goals this bowls season to March 2005.

Illustration (6)            Cycling

Lance Armstrong creates history, a sixth successive Tour de France, the epitome of excellence in (cycling) sport.  Why !

The cycling coach requested Armstrong consider winning the Tour way back in 1999 at their first discussion whereas Armstrong considered winning only a stage of the event.

Lesson – set your sights on the dream.  Cycling is more than pedalling. The coach studies the tour route, determines which stages of the Tour are winnable, organizes pre tour training camps, and, selects the other riders who will make up the team.  The coach made Armstrong something he had never been – prepared and efficient at his sport.  What they share is a tireless work ethic, mutual ambition and a vision, their dream.

Lesson – bowls is in this same category.  An elite bowler seeking out a quality coach can have their program plotted, planned with lead in events, be provided with specific training camps which has other like minded elite training partners, and work with the coach to position the players in teams that will enhance the bowlers prospects of winning the major team events in bowls.

Postcript – so many good bowlers on the verge of being elite still pooh pooh coaching in bowls. Understandably so having witnessed things at a local level recently.  However, Armstrong’s cycling coach was a cyclist who craved greatness but lacked physical talent though he had a reputation as a competitor who knew how to beat better opponents via work, tactics and mental preparation, all ingredients he brought to Armstrong.

Lachlan Tighe