After reading this thread for the last couple of weeks, I feel it is time to offer my thoughts. My comments may upset a few people, that is not my intention, therefore I apologise in advance if I do.
Bear in mind, I will never be of the class to even think about rolling off for Rachuig, but what standard I bowl has nothing to do with my train of thought. It was suggested that I use my huge handicap and roll off for DeVeer this year, but the same standards are enforced there as are being suggested by some on this forum for Rachuig. And that is EXACTLY the reason I am not rolling off - too much say by the powers that be, ie team meetings, team dinners, HAVING to stay in the same motel and etc etc etc. I go to Nationals to bowl restricted events, do some business, support our sponsored bowlers and see some friends - nobody is going to take my choice of doing those things away from me with the restrictions that are set.
I agree 100% with Lorna, Chin and Tony - every person is an individual case with individual desires and needs. I know how I felt being away at Nationals for two weeks last year, missed my kids hugely (and the wife for that matter too
). I can fully understand Lorna not wanting to be away from her gorgeous little one for even a week, let alone whether she is actually ABLE to. We all know Tony is never going to win either an Olympic 100 metre sprint or run a marathon, but can the boy bowl !!!!!!! and that is what this discussion is all about.
Contrary to the thoughts of many, tenpin bowling is alongside golf as the two most individual and NON-TEAM sports in the world. Once that ball has left your hand, there is nobody halfway down the lane who can change it's course and THAT makes it an individual sport. Therefore, we have to look at how the best results can be attained by individual bowlers for a "group score". In some cases all the rah rah crap may be the way to go, team bonding (a phrase I loathe), living in each others pockets for 5 days (you spend enough time with the same people in the marathon bowling sessions during Rachuig without having to eat, sleep and shower with each other), team meetings and etc. For others, spending spare time with young ones, doing what you would normally do with your family, having a quiet beer with your mates and etc will get a far better INDIVIDUAL performance to go into the "group's score".
I have coached successfully in amateur and country football for many years. Even the most senior coach at AFL level takes into account every player's individual needs and no two players train exactly the same, and yet that is a TEAM sport where if someone screws up in the process of getting the ball through the goals, there is someone there to fix it in that particular passage of play. As I said before, in our game, there is nobody who can change anything in our passage of play (throwing a ball down the lane once it has left one's hand).
Perhaps qualification for Rachuig should be based on results of
several tournaments.
- Minimum requirement of say 5 tournaments out of a selection of 8 (therefore giving the individual the opportunity to do other things with his/her life), best performances (placings) and then highest averages if need be (this can be tricky as different conditions relate to different scoring levels), determines who makes the group.
- Have the opportunity offered to stay in the same place for the sake of discount bookings, but if an individual or family, including a single Mum and child want to stay with friends or in different accomodation, let them.
- Have the opportunity for people to go to fitness classes etc if they WANT TO
- Forget the "training sessions", instead have discount bookings at centres for sessions where the group can go to practice exclusively and get some advice etc if they WANT IT
- When away, have a team meeting ONLY if it is necessary rather than go through the same rah rah motivational crap (for some it is anti-motivational, believe me) every day for no reason
Obviously there have to be some rules, in my opinion they should be limited as all representatives are mature adults.
- Check in times must be adhered to
- If a NECESSARY "team" meeting is called for a specific reason, attendance is compulsory
- Every player is to present themselves in a fit condition to play
- Any issues, concerns or disputes are to be addressed to the group manager
- Performance dictates selection
In summary, regardless of a person's training methods, selection should be performance driven. Consideration must be taken into account for individuals' differing lifestyles, work schedules, family commitments and personal needs. If such due considerations are made, you will find a happier group who will perform better when it counts. Who would we rather have representing our state, a whippet like Tony Stoppel who is pissed off with having to attend irrelevant training sessions or the Tony we all know and love who does it his way and bowls the house down with a 220 average when it counts? The answer is simple surely!
Max
