MARCH 2020, Amidst the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, CCAS have put together a program that will enable all current athletes to keep exercising safely within the confinements of their homes for the next 10 – 12 week period or as long as needed. The program will be interactive and delivered to athletes across a few different platforms allowing all athletes to access the service provided by CCAS.
The program includes instructional, interactive skills-based sessions – skills that the squads had been working on, that can easily be continued in the current climate. Fitness components are delivered to the squads via online meeting platforms, LIVE platforms and fitness detail can be uploaded to the Strava App leader boards to further assist with motivation and there will be other weekly fitness challenges set up for all of the sports programs.
Strength and Conditioning components will be delivered via these platforms by qualified professionals. The sessions will be delivered to the athletes as general group strength and conditioning for the most part with some specialised sessions throughout the program that are specific for the sports. Coast Sport will assist with the specialised programming, utilising the expertise of their Physiotherapy and Exercise and Sports Science professionals.
Clubs NSW Education sessions will be sent out to athletes, where athletes can go through the topic courses and upon completion receive a certificate. Some of the many subjects that can be covered in the education program include Sports Psychology, Resilience for Athletes and Social Media – all relevant subjects to assist the current situation.
CCAS understands the impacts on the age group 13 – 17 years on social isolation. The squads will be encouraged to have regular contact via Zoom with their coaches and squad members where possible. This keeps the squad connecting as a group, maintains a type of social gathering and allows another touch point for the athletes to reach out.
Robyn Low-Hart the CCAS Programs and Communications Manager said of the online program: “It is a challenging time for everyone – we are all in this together. CCAS understands the importance of athlete wellbeing – regular exercise is key to helping the psychological challenges while maintaining the fitness benefits that the athletes have all worked so hard to achieve. The program is structured in a way that the athletes can do most of the program at a time that is convenient to them. The program has progression – and will see athletes develop strength, skill and fitness gains over the 12 week period”
