The Central Coast Academy of Sport Mingara One Swimming Squad headed to Canberra last Saturday to compete in the ACT Swimming Championships. The event was a 2 day event in a short course format at the AIS in Canberra.
Charged with the coaching crew of Graeme Carroll and Patrick Uljan and manager Leanne Hall, the 9 Development Squad Athletes entered the competition with a different mindset. The group had a session with Adam Wiseman Sports Psychologist as part of their education component in the program leading up to the ACT Swimming Championships. Adam guided the athletes through some strategies related to swimming leading up to the event, pre-competition rehearsal, competition strategies and how to prepare for the next event.
Robyn Low-Hart, CCAS Programs and Communications Manager said “Education is such a big part of what we provide at the Central Coast Academy of Sport and is supported by ClubsNSW. We address all components of being an elite athlete and provide this as education to the athletes in our programs. Having Wiseman come on board to guide and educate our athletes through some mind training, is invaluable. Most athletes prepare physically and do not spend any time on mental training, a void that we needed to address.”
The Swimming Program also included a session from an Olympic Biomechanist where the focus was on the swimmer’s turns and was able to provide video feedback for the athletes and educate them on the areas where they needed to improve. Coming into this competition, the swimmers were armed with new skill and education elements when performing their turns – invaluable in a short course meet.
The squad is regularly in the Mingara One gym being shown correct technique for the exercises they are to perform that will specifically enhance their racing. They are also being educated about how to prevent injury and sickness through nutrition and having access to Sports Medicine Professionals. The swimming squad will be part of a group education session next week. A hot topic in the media at the moment will be covered – Integrity in Sport. Educating the athletes about values and behaviors that lack integrity in sport and educating about steps to make the right decisions.
Carroll said “The athletes performed really well at the AIS. The level of competition was right for the group, which made it really competitive. Our focus was on the processes rather than on the outcomes and times. The group have come away with PB’s, some of the squad gaining medals. The program is working, they have developed as athletes and will continue to develop with the program.”
The CCAS swimming program will run through until October 2019. Applications for the 2020 program will be open on the CCAS website thinksport.com.au in December this year.
