Petanque Tactics, Understanding and explaining

Tactics, Understanding and explaining                                      

In the cold months of Winter play is limited and this year especially so this month we are looking at some food for thought away from the chilly piste. This month we are going to look at Tactics. Basic and advance tactics.

Many players struggle to know which shot to play in which situation, defensive or offensive play. We all have different experience to identify which boule will give the best results and why. Here we are looking at the beginning of the game and would it be lovely to choose tactics to provide a satisfactory outcome to an end. We learn that sometimes the game is about being aware of the questions to ask your team and yourself in given situations. We have added a coach element to the discussion as it is important to know how they can impact in the game and how they are part of the team when the team is operating correctly

So this week we will look at one section per day

1  Game tactics

2. Play tactics

3. Tactical discussions

4. Tactical Heads

1. Game tactics. These are the pre determined team tactics that you will enter a game with. They will be, who plays where in the triple. How substitutions will be made in the game. At what length you will be playing the jack. Will you be shooting a lot or will you be pointing a lot. At which point do your game plans change. There are so many more game tactics and I am sure you have your own. Fast play, slow play, withing the rules of course! All these points should be made clear to the team so they have little discussion with the coach unless a critical situation has developed. The team should be, as much as possible, a stand alone body capable of making pre planned decisions. It maybe pre planned to return to the coach at every shot and play. For example, in a timed game, or for other reasons, the team cannot or would be foolish to return to the coach and be able to make key decisions in time or even go on a gut instinct during a game. Connecting with the coach during the game should be one players responsibility. A glance to the coach will be enough to know if communication is required and the coach watching the game may have seen a weakness or strength in the opposition. The tie between team and coach should never be broken as it is an important form of information both ways from coach to team and team to coach. The coach will work with the team before the competition, so a bond has formed and trust established.