Melbourne Storm’s Academy squad entered unchartered waters this week, trading the training paddock for the Mind Peak Performance Centre at Peninsula Health Springs.
Players were exposed to a variety of hot and cold spring treatments, with the aim to boost rest and recovery and optimise mental and physical health.
Practising mindfulness to stimulate relaxation and performance brainwaves, the squad were put to the test in the Fire and Ice session where the players alternated between a hot sauna and 4-degree ice plunge.
The players learned how to activate peak performance from a resting position and learnt the importance of sleep and rest to increase coordination, endurance, strength and explosiveness.
Storm Academy pathways coach Matt Duffie said the opportunity for the players to step away from their regular routine and learn new coping strategies will go a long way in helping them finish the season strongly.
“An Academy players weekly schedule is very busy, managing 21’s training on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights plus a game on the weekend,” Duffie said.
“We throw a lot at them week in, week out and we started to get the feeling it might be good to back off them a bit and have a freshen up so when Peninsula Hot Springs offered to take us for a day of recovery and rejuvenation, we jumped at it,” he said.
“We were able to spend some time with Dr Stan Rodski, who took us through a Sound Science work shop which will help our players deal with stress and anxiety which can lead to better rest, recovery and sleep,” he said.
“He also spoke about honing their mindset triggers so they can execute their skills under pressure, it was a very insightful and valuable session with a lot of takeaways,” he said.
The Storm Academy will be hoping to put what they learnt into practice when they face the Parramatta Eels in the Jersey Flegg competition this Saturday.
