I was away from March 16-18 on a camp with the AIS team. The camp was held at Berry Sport and Recreation Centre and was run by Jamie Bobrowski of Team Tops. Jamie has worked with the SAS and Special Operations Group and as reported has run a similar camp with players from the Western Bulldogs AFL team.
The purpose of the camp was to develop team cohesion as well as mental toughness. Throughout the camp there was various activities designed to support and develop underlying themes such as:
- Fortitude
- Resilience
- Unity
- Leadership
- Respect
- Trust
- Honesty
- Goal setting
Some of the activities involved physical tasks; Exercise sessions intended to break the athletes down and push them further then they thought they could go. Problem solving challenges to which the athletes needed to come up with solutions and use team work to work quickly and efficiently. Tasks involving blind folded high ropes courses and 'leaps of faith' where the athletes needed to believe in themselves, but also trust in their team mates to get them through safely. Throughout these activities, the athletes were encouraged to set 'realistic' and 'unrealistic' goals as a group.
In my opinion, the most valuable experiences came from some of the non-physical activities. Each night the group came together in a casual, supportive, non-invasive setting simply to discuss thoughts and feelings in regards to their journeys as athletes.
During one of these sessions, Jamie showed the group a video on Dick and Rick Hoyt (AKA Team Hoyt) similar to this one (some may want to have a box of tissues nearby). I believe that there are many things which both athletes and coaches can take from this video, as I've discussed here. The video reminded me of the slogan that is used in our football program, "being here is not a sacrifice, it is an investment in my future". At times, some athletes in the football program have viewed their commitments as an athlete at the AIS to be a 'sacrifice', and I believe that this would be an issue not limited to this situation. After watching the video the athletes were encouraged to talk with the group about who they were, how they had come to be at the AIS, and what the commitment means for them. These discussions enabled the athletes to open up in a way that most would not have normally, and also enabled them to see that they are all in a similar boat. It also gave the coaches an insight into who their athletes were and where they were at in this sense.
I felt that there were many valuable positives to take away from the camp. Throughout the various activities, it was instilled in the athletes that:
The athletes enjoyed the camp and in talks with them immediately post-camp noted that it had enabled them to understand and find more meaning in their journeys and felt mentally stronger. It was a lot to take in on one weekend however. I started to wonder whether there would be long lasting effects, or if everything would be forgotten in a few weeks. An issue which I will save for next time.. stay tuned.
During one of these sessions, Jamie showed the group a video on Dick and Rick Hoyt (AKA Team Hoyt) similar to this one (some may want to have a box of tissues nearby). I believe that there are many things which both athletes and coaches can take from this video, as I've discussed here. The video reminded me of the slogan that is used in our football program, "being here is not a sacrifice, it is an investment in my future". At times, some athletes in the football program have viewed their commitments as an athlete at the AIS to be a 'sacrifice', and I believe that this would be an issue not limited to this situation. After watching the video the athletes were encouraged to talk with the group about who they were, how they had come to be at the AIS, and what the commitment means for them. These discussions enabled the athletes to open up in a way that most would not have normally, and also enabled them to see that they are all in a similar boat. It also gave the coaches an insight into who their athletes were and where they were at in this sense.
I felt that there were many valuable positives to take away from the camp. Throughout the various activities, it was instilled in the athletes that:
- They all have similar goals and dreams
- To achieve goals, it takes a lot of hard work and commitment
- When times get tough, they have the ability to dig deeper and get through
- They have team mates, coaches and staff who are all here to support and help them through
- Whilst trying to achieve their own goals, they must remember that they are still part of a team
The athletes enjoyed the camp and in talks with them immediately post-camp noted that it had enabled them to understand and find more meaning in their journeys and felt mentally stronger. It was a lot to take in on one weekend however. I started to wonder whether there would be long lasting effects, or if everything would be forgotten in a few weeks. An issue which I will save for next time.. stay tuned.
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