Like all subjects, 7ADP started chaotically this term with the unprecedented circumstances of COVID-19. For our ADP athletes this offered significant personal challenges due to restrictions on their usual training and competition schedules. It would have been highly understandable for our budding sport stars to press ‘pause’ and put their feet up for a moment, especially given the lack of certainty about when, where or how sport was likely to resume. However, they rose to the challenge and exceeded all expectations, finding creative and innovative ways to ensure their skill and fitness levels were as strong as ever. I should make special mention of the efforts of the Bond University team and Aspire ADP coordinator Ms Peronne to deliver ‘COVID-ready’ online fitness tutorial videos for our students during the entire process. I am sure our athletes found these highly beneficial. Hollywood awaits Mr Martin and Ms Perrone.
Since returning in week 6 our 7ADPs have continued to engage in the Bond Strength and Conditioning classes expertly run by Rick Martin and the Bond University High Performance Team. This term the focus has been on harnessing the muscular strength and endurance elements developed in term 1 and converting that into some lightning speed and power. Students have genuinely impressed all coaches with their abilities in bounding, hopping, jumping, quick feet, quick hands and sprinting and should be primed for their return to training and competition.
Our 7s have also taken some huge steps in terms of their nutritional knowledge this term and have learnt how to harness the power of food to fuel their training and competitions. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats, food groups, recommended servings and personal analysis – our ADPs are gurus with it all now! Who knows, we may have the next Jamie Oliver or Julie Goodwin amongst our ranks!
Next term we look towards a unit in sports psychology focusing on ‘the warrior mindset’ as well as introducing team sports and skill games into our practical sessions. Lined up we have golf, yoga, badminton and volleyball to practise developing the power of the mind in sport. By conclusion, they will have an excellent skill set from which to draw upon for their chosen sports. Should be a bumper term of ADP!
Also great to see our students looking so professional in their Aspire shirts and kit bags! They will be in these each and every lesson from here on.
Keep working hard 7s! Cannot wait for semester 2.
Mr Goodwin
