Working Together to Promote ‘Pro-Team’ Behaviour!
As you are aware we hosted our first team building day for all the divers on 8th September – we really hope that everyone enjoyed the day.
As coaches we want to promote positive, pro-team attitudes amongst the children and young people at the dive club as we believe that although the divers are often competing individually and sometimes against each other, a well-motivated and supportive team brings out the best in all divers. We are really hoping to emulate some of the fantastic team spirit that we have seen responsible for such great individual and team success over the last year across the sporting fraternity in the UK!
Divers were split into 3 groups where they rotated around 3 stations. In the sports hall we had team building activities including Relay Pictionary (attempts at drawing Harry Glover looked very funny!), and blindfolded divers walking through obstacle courses (assisted by their team of course!). We also had sports games such as Dodgeball and Ultimate Frisbee using up all their energy before going into their workshop.
The most important of the stations was the anti-bullying/team building workshop with Education Psychologists Naomi Hartnell and Linda Delmar:
The workshop encouraged our divers to think and learn about the importance of team work, to think about what a great team looks like and conversely, what behaviours don’t support a good team spirit. Our divers also learnt about what could be considered anti-social or bullying behaviours and the impact of these behaviours on individuals as well as teams. The squads each chose a squad rep who we hope will be there to support and encourage members of their squad and also be there for squad members to talk to if they have any concerns or worries.
Congratulations to the Representatives for each squad!
- A Squad: Elliott Browne
- B Squad: Grace Kouset & Georgie Phillips
- Development: Katie Cripps
- Skills: Grace Connolly
- Club Squad: Nick Gurteen & Ben Woodbridge
- Entry Squad: Zoe Gray
- TID (Harry’s): Jacob Dranse & Hayden Wilkinson
- TID (Dave’s): Natasha Bentley & Tuso Madiri
The day was finished off with a BBQ for all of the families and a motivational talk from our local Olympian Hayley Sage. Hayley represented GB in Beijing in the Women’s 3m Synchro with Tandi Gerrard and also has many top finishes under her belt including a bronze from Commonwealth games which the divers got to see along with many other medals from her career.
Sunday was a great day, getting to see the entire team including parents together was brilliant. Thank you to Naomi and Linda and the team from Active Luton and Luton Diving Club that made it such a successful day. We hope that the positive message around developing a supportive, encouraging club where everyone’s successes are celebrated and everyone can have fun whilst making great progress will be clear to all of our divers.
Many thanks for your co-operation and continued support.
David & Harry.
