Forward December 2015 | Page 36

SENIOR SCHOOL Fitness and Conditioning Program “May my hopes for the future be evident in my actions today” This quote by Seth Quealy is appropriate to the area of Fitness and Conditioning at Guildford Grammar School. Time and money has been invested in this area today to improve the outcomes of our students in the future. Significant changes have been made to the landscape of the Barber Fitness Centre. The equipment that now populates the weight training facility allows students to access a gym of the highest standard. Students can train the gamut of exercises, from beginning body weight exercises all the way up to sophisticated Olympic weightlifting exercises. The staff who supervise these exercises are all Australian Strength and Conditioning accredited instructors with a wide range of experiences, including Australian representation in cricket and athletics. Opening before and after school allows students to access the facility at a time that suits their personal situation. 2015 saw an overhaul of the programs undertaken by students. A workshop conducted by Mr Jason Weber, Head of Strength & Conditioning at Fremantle Football Club, at the end of 2014, sparked a rethink of the way in which students transition through the weights facility. Consequently, a graded Strength Program was established to ensure students are only exposed to those movements and loads that they can execute with technical correctness. A growing body of research is highlighting that strength training is both safe for young and adolescent bodies, and vital in the optimal development of movements that are required for sporting success and everyday living. If your son is playing organised sport, then he is capable of participating in an age appropriate, supervised strength program. A simple motion like running and jumping impart a high load through your son’s body. The strength program aims to improve your son’s tissue tolerance in a safe, controlled environment, thus improving performance whilst reducing the risk of injury. On the training track, first level students are being exposed to technology once reserved for professional teams like the West Coast Eagles or the Western Force. Global Position System (GPS) devices are providing coaches with a greater understanding of school boy sport. Informed decisions can then be made regarding the importance of the various fitness components and appropriate training drills. Technique examination is now possible with tools such as Dartfish and Coaches Eye. Sports Code allows for a higher level of game analysis and adds to the professionalism that now surrounds our 1st teams. Rowing sets the standard in regards to embracing the importance that strengthening and conditioning plays in developing rowers of a high standard, and utilising available technologies to maximise the output of their boats. The 1st Football Team have been fortunate enough to be led by a coach who understands and utilises all available resources to maximise the performance of the team. As more students and sports embrace the facilities and equipment available to them, today’s actions will sow the seeds that will benefit students into the future. Mr Jeffrey Giles Director of Strength and Conditioning 36