Team Clendenan

Some of the best ways for a team to learn how to communicate and work together can be found in places that have little to do with the sport they are trying to perfect. It could be the mere change of scenery or the undervalued qualities of childhood play but team building and training seem to magically enhance each other when they have the chance to unfold in activities that deviate from the norm. Ordinarily the mere mention of strength training and fitness testing would make most athletes groan, but when it is presented as a water park day followed by a sleepover that has “ games” that just happen to have stats recorded for the fitness trainer . . . suddenly the attention span of the participants increase. More importantly, the team dynamic invariably increases as well, which is a good formula for challenging days ahead.

It was undeniable fun for Team Clendenan to don swimsuits and hit the beach for hours of muscle toning on inflatable water toys at Clevelands House – which would never be the case for weight training in a traditional gym no matter how hip the teen music was. Similarily speaking, the collective energy from fitness testing in Muskoka with team mates yelling encouragement to each other to do just one more rep when one more seemed impossible, yielded results that were impressive. The “play” part of the equation was probably the disgustingly unhealthy treats afterward but the entire event was a well rounded collection of fitness, frolic and friendship that will likely knock down the nay sayers and proove that it‘s actually possible to have fun while you work.

With school just days away and the team focus shifting to curling mechanics and the occasional school work (under protest) the creative training sessions may have to take a back seat for a while. If nothing else, the memories of being flung off of a water weenie should keep the girls giggling for quite some time which will serve them well as they shake the dust off of their competition shoes and get down to business.

Never loose your smiles girls, it will keep the enemy guessing!