Donvale Bowls Club Inc.

January, 2011 Coaching Column

I have just completed an article for the next issue of Bowls Victoria magazine (Bowls in Focus) and I titled it '...Ashes loss, gospel truth!' and it is a bowls view of our cricket demise.
Here in this web column is another spin on that cricket saga which I see having lessons to learn for we in bowls.
England may have won the cricket against Australia, and well deserved win it was too, but we lawn bowlers were the winners of the TV coverage. There were so many tips given by those former test cricket player commentators that had application to bowls.
I went off soon after and sped read a book on elite sportsmen/ women over the past 50 years and I have to say the volume of ideas, comments, approaches to take from their stories and use for lawn bowls was also staggering.
Be it then the TV  or the book, I wish to share my translation as a bowls coach those 'gems' that apply to us to be better at what we love doing, playing bowls.

PLANNING

Success in sport is planned to ensure

Performance is measured;
Goals are measured;
Debriefs are measured.
Planning entails a fair degree of knowledge. Knowledge of what!


We bowlers need knowledge not of the pace of the green, or what bowls to use or what is it like out there today, all of which are of some value; but the knowledge is required of
what it takes to win as recorded;
A game plan;
Level of measured technical delivery expertise;
Preparation versus participation (as in games);
Hours spent on the green playing versus hours spent to train skills;
Time spent recording (use of scorecard can do this) tactical planning in the game;
Though I am quick to stress do not get bogged down on detail to the detriment of improving and therein winning.


So just go and do it differently, better. Forget about it being right, because not doing it at all differently or better is definitely not doing it right.


Planning for success has certain blueprints, maps.
Such blueprints may include
he ones that realise success;
Use of outside experts be they coaches, whomever, as add on resources;
History- never overlook tapping into former greats for advice, support, as they have been to the peak of the mountain.

ONENESS

I was chuffed to see this term used in recent reference to sport. I first applied it to the BA workshop in 2003 and feel it still applies at all our levels in bowls. Simply I meant  it as 'ONENESS'  in that one coach with one culture and approach to the national or club team, squad, selection and preparation

TRAINING

Planning commences at training.
And training unfolds as
an organised program with specific objectives;
A combination of intensity and fun and process;
Not at all mindless practice as that will ensure a mindless result;
The setting of precise targets/ heads to improve on as that will reinforce the feedback; mentally, emotionally, visually and physically...success will not surface on the game day just by you saying to yourself in the game ...just do it;
Being more important than the game;
If you were only the second best on the green needing to improve to be the best;
Segmenting your training as you would your game.

MENTAL SKILLS

Which attributes can we best embrace from either the Ashes victors or the achievers from my sport book. Here are a handful of attributes common to us in bowls
composure, accept we all make mistakes;
Learn by them, don't churn on them.
Attitude as priority, if not the right attitude I would not have them as bowlers;
As it is more important than ability as ability stems from ..able, but is that bowler willing and able;
For those who strive to be their best;
Seen in those who relentlessly chase perfection knowing we won't catch it, but if we constantly chase it, we'll achieve ...excellence;
Being on a 'bus' where you know the driver (coach) there in front of you every session is one who wants to do his best, not just interested in being good, and, others (players) see that and see that is the only bus they want to be on also.
Attitude and stats, be cautious of an over emphasis on stats;
Stats can be over estimated;
There are too many factors that cannot be measured - the heart and drive of a player, their capacity to perform when the heat is on, their willingness to be there  when the team is 'gone'.


Mental toughness, is knowing that before you can win, you must have the will to prepare to win;
is a display of joy for the contest;
Is striving to the sometimes bitter end to do your best.
Confidence comes from the practice that is repetition, after repetition after repetition
repetition gives you rhythm and as Warnie, the greatest of bowlers, said it is rhythm that bowlers have to bowl well when you do your best;
Does not come from 'cramming' like a last minute swot for an exam.

TACTICAL SKILLS

Well bowlers you have worked on your delivery, your mental skill stuff that now leads into the third skill, tactical and here are some prompters
you can't outsmart the green, but you can outsmart your opponent;
Keep working at your strengths;
Know what our team is going to do, let the opposition figure out how to counter us;
Plan to win and appraise your progress during the event;


PS - I have three different columns per month now in 2011 so refer to the Henselite and Bowls Victoria websites as well as this one you are reading for the various views and topics.
Hope they are of some value


Lachlan Tighe.
January, 2011