Fighting Fit in Isolation

The School’s elite athletes are members of our Advance Performer Programme (APP) and over the past six weeks they have demonstrated an incredible amount of commitment, dedication and willingness to continue their training.

For most of our athletes being in lock down will have meant either no sport at all or some limited training in a significantly different environment. In recognition of the challenges they are facing during lockdown the PE Department has provided each APP student with a bespoke home Strength and Conditioning programme specifically designed around the equipment they have access to at home. These students have gone above and beyond to ensure they are still able to train to the highest level on a daily and weekly basis.

Students have also had the opportunity to meet via Google Meet on a daily basis to engage with a variety of activities that the PE team have made available. On a Monday there is a live APP Google Meet workout, Tuesdays there is a girls’ social Meet with Heidi, Wednesday there is a live seminar based around a topic on sports performance, Thursday there is a live challenge that takes place and Friday there is a live Google Meet social.

Head of Rugby, and APP leader commented, “What has amazed me even more is that these Google Meets are at 1.30pm every day. This means that this special group of students give up an hour of screen-free time a day or time to themselves to engage with either practical or theoretical content to improve themselves as athletes. I am often pretty tough on most of our APP athletes as I know how good they can be, but I feel their attitude, attainment and, above all else, commitment to better themselves deserves recognition in these extremely tough times.”

Sterling (Year 8), participates regularly in the APP sessions and is motivated by the fact that if he doesn’t keep on training then he feels he “would lose all of the things that I have been training for.” Sterling continues: “The most valuable thing the APP programme has offered me whilst I’ve been at home has been helping with training, and just the daily check ups can help to socialise with friends that you don’t see. The APP Team have worked so hard and there’s not enough thanks that I can give them.”

Ellie (Lower Sixth) agreed, “I am very grateful for the continued suport and efforts of the APP team as it means we can all continue to improve and maintain our sports.” Ellie is keen to remain motivated as she wants to be as ready as possible once sport is able to resume and valued meeting with APP for social reasons and seminars, “I feel it is important to keep this community spirit going during these times.” she concluded.