The final weekend of November saw 115 SSA athletes, plus program staff and parents undergo the annual Induction & Leadership Camp at Borambola Sport and Recreation.
AFLW, Basketball, Golf, Netball, Rugby, Tennis and Individual Athlete programs worked with industry professionals who shared their knowledge to assist in the athlete’s elite development over the coming 12 months and beyond.
Megan Fristch Director of Sport Connect, worked specifically with the parents of the SSA athletes on the Friday evening in a first for the Southern Sports Academy. Megan’s focus was aimed at helping the parents to understand the wider sports experience, the challenges and various transitions from pre-elite to high performance within a sporting journey and how to best support their athlete. Megan has been involved in high performance sport over the past two decades as an athlete, practitioner and administrator and has extensive experience in holistic development and career guidance for pre-elite and elite athletes.
Throughout the Saturday in smaller group sessions Megan provided athletes with opportunities to focus on the knowledge and skill sets needed to make informed choices that promote athlete development and longevity, successful transitions and personal growth to enhance performance.
Over the two-day camp athletes also had the benefit of working closely with the Director of SISU Life – Mindset Coaching, and current Wallaroos Head Coach Dwayne Neston, in the areas of Leadership, both individual and team, and Performance Mindset. Dwayne worked closely with the athletes and program staff to develop strategies that foster leadership skills, within sport and life in general. During and after physical and mental challenges during course of the camp, Dwayne work closely with the program staff to identify opportunities and examples of leadership from the athletes.
Athletes received musculoskeletal screening through SSA physiotherapy partner Active Physiotherapy as well as being put through their initial physical testing requirements for speed, power and endurance.
The Camp provided the athletes, families and staff with the tools to support and achieve the athletes goal in the coming year and aims to set up the programs with the solid foundations for success.