‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘…Effects of cigarette smoking on sports performance’

(edition 98  - 2004 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Our Elbows bowls squad has trained with and beside the Institute of Sport bowls squad of late and with Bob Middleton, we expressed surprise at the number of Institute male bowlers who smoke either at training or playing.  Again over in South Australia recently and Craig Fox and I made the same observation of their elite bowlers too.

The following VicHealth (paraphrased) article # was handed to me to cite by the RVBA VicHealth project manager as a guide for bowlers who are looking for an edge in performance.

‘How often do you see elite athletes from sport smoking on the sidelines ? Probably never.  This is because sportspeople care a lot about their health and fitness, and most sportspeople know cigarette smoking damages their sports performance.’

‘People who smoke are less likely to participate in sports and physical activity.  When smokers do play sport, poisons from cigarettes reduce their ability to perform.  Smokers can also lose up to half of any potential fitness gains from training because of the effects of smoking.’

‘ During exercise, smokers are more easily exhausted, suffer shortness of breath, have reduced endurance, are slower to react and have poorer visual judgement.’

Elite bowlers have to constantly view what other sport takes for granted in pursuit of being an elite athlete and that includes reviewing all aspects of their life to ensure they give themselves every chance to optimize success on their playing field.

Lachlan Tighe

# Source: VicHealth flyer citing Winstanley et al ‘Tobacco in Australia: facts and issues 1995