Trailblazing Falkner relishing BPL coaching opportunity
In the opening final of BPL14, the Moreton Bay Pirates came up against the then two-time defending champions in the Tweed Heads Ospreys who were bidding for history in Moama.
Ellen Falkner MBE was in her debut tournament as a player, coming in as a late replacement for Jo Edwards, and in a crucial moment she conjured up a piece of tactical brilliance.
With the Pirates’ maiden bowl of the tiebreak, she employed Alex Marshall MBE to play the first bowl, in which he trailed the bare jack into the ditch, as well as the team’s last delivery to secure an epic win and change the tournament forever.
The former English Commonwealth and World Champion was quick to dub it ‘The Falkner Effect’.
She is now back in maroon but this time as coach, ready to utilise that tactical naus in a coaching role without revealing too much about the her team’s plans.
“I couldn’t possibly reveal any secrets,” Falkner quipped.
“But I have been studying the conditions of play and will try to think a bit differently and creatively.
“We’ll see how that plays out, these game are all about patterns and run of play so we’ll see what we can do to ultimately ensure that it is all beneficial for the Pirates.”
A trailblazer in her own right, the 44-year-old will be the first female coach in franchise history and just the third to hold the role throughout the BPL’s existence.
Falkner admits that one of the main motives to take the position was to put more of a spotlight on female coaching in bowls.
“It was probably my main motivation for taking up the opportunity, to put a spotlight on female coaching within our sport while inspiring and encouraging more women to come into the coaching system,” she said.
“We’re incredibly blessed from an Australian high performance perspective that we’ve got some incredible female role models.
“This is another chance to put a spotlight on that and show that females are there within the coaching system and this can raise a profile of that.”
Leading into the 19th instalment of the BPL, Falkner and her team have already commenced conversations to brainstorm tactics and strategies, with an idea to get together in Moama to discuss proper game plans.
She labels her coaching style as one who takes on board advice and suggestions from her players, encouraging their input to acquire the desired result for the team.
“We’ve got a bit of a group chat going and will get our heads together before we get there, and then obviously connecting properly when we arrive in Moama,” she said.
“That’s the big thing, them getting the best out of each other and enjoying the experience because if you’re having fun out there the bowls tend to follow.
“At the end of the day I’m there to go out there and support the players to get the best out of themselves and have the best experience.”
The former British international is at heart just thrilled to be heading down to the tournament to see some of the best players in action in one of the most hotly contested events on the planet, and will do whatever she can to support her chargers achieve glory.
“It’s such a wonderful competition, you’ve got the world’s best players there so it’s going to be tough,” Falkner said.
“The margins are going to be small and that’s where it’s my role as coach to make sure I can help with those one percenters to try and get us over the line.
“But ultimately I’m there to support the players, they’re the ones that have to go out there and perform and I’m in the wings to help them do that to the best of their ability.”
BPL19 runs from February 19-23, 2024, at the Moama Bowling Club with live streaming on Bowls Australia’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as live broadcasts from Tuesday to Friday from 4pm until 10pm AEDT on Fox, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ.
