‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

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

‘ Common sense, skips ???’

(edition 112  - 2004 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

There are oodles of sources out in sports world on visualization, imagery, etc, etc, but hey, don’t forget the green as a vital location for using your senses to gather information to assist in the road to success in competition.

You have two eyes, two ears and a brain in that cranium and (other opponents) mouths to gather a lot of important (tactical) information to use to win (most) events.

Elite bowlers need to have their senses working overtime to strengthen their mental and tactical skill development. 

Skips in bowls get up the other end to lead us (!!!) for often the wrong reasons, so the development of the elite player toward a skip responsibility may require them to listen and watch all members of the opposition to gauge information and knowledge to help them be even better as skippers in future elite events.

Skips can be identified in leadership who

            Convey directions clearly

            Clearly gets on well with the team

            Talks to the team on (many) of the crossovers

            Convene rink meetings at agreed times during the course of the event

Skips can be seen to have composure who

Give and seek supportive advice from the team or at least the third

            Never get grumpy with the team

            Enable players to play percentage shots, not unrealistic hero stuff

Skips can be seen as capable tacticians who

            Uses team to build heads

            Uses players to drive with purpose

            Uses a players strength on the day when that player is out of form

            Plays a length that wins for the team not to suit himself

Skips can be seen (poorly) as people managers who

Walk off the rink during the game when team mates are still in play

Display dreadful negative body language

Do not display any reaction when teammates deliver a ripper bowl

Skips can be seen (poorly) as ‘glory boys’ who

            Seem to save the winning shot for themselves

            Never allows anyone else but himself to drive

A few years back I did a presentation and called it ‘Skip; a four letter word’ and the inference has’nt altered much in the meantime.   Because no where can we find a practical program that will train people to learn the role of skip in readiness for the elite level of competition so many bowlers, male and female, can aspire to.

The only school (of training skips) is that one called ‘ the school of hard knocks’ and that organization is as dead as a dodo.

Unbelievably, it still has the most enrolments.

One day we may see miracles happen – a spread of formal programs where we can go and learn from experts able to share their skills - hopefully not so far away as I see more evidence of the bowls fraternity setting up this structure.

In my little group we try to learn by setting game plans, and reviewing game performances, so as to give feedback among the playing group.

 I think it seems to assist these bowlers to better understand both the people and tactical management skills inherent in the success of the game.

Lachlan Tighe