23/07/2020- Plymouth Albion RFC-3hrs
Tonight was my first night at my external placement with Plymouth Albion RFC. The session began with ensuring all staff (therapists, coaches, etc) and players that were in attendance at the training session had been tested for Covid-19 using the RFU guidelines on tests and specific protocols adopted by the team to ensure the safety of all at the training session. Due to the level the team plays at, financial situation, facilities, and equipment available, we are unable to do COVID swap tests, however, to rule out any symptoms we recorded the data of the following tests:
- Blood pressure
- Temperature
- Oxygen intake
We also asked if the players had any symptoms recently or since the last training session and are required to sign next to the recorded information. Any abnormal values are reported to the head therapist who decides whether or not the person/player remains at the training session.
The equipment and protocol of the COVID checks were wiped down after each participant as well as ensuring that everyone uses hand sanitizer prior to coming into contact with the equipment. Facemasks were worn at all times and social distancing guidelines were followed throughout where the distance could be put in place and extra precautions were taken where this was not possible.
During this session we have the chance to meet all the players, coaching staff, and other therapists that we would be working closely with throughout the season. We were introduced and had a tour of the site, treatment room, training pitches, had protocols explained to us, and were shown the risk assessment to read through.
The team was then split into small groups and sent to different areas of the facilities to work on different aspects each area had a different activity and a different coach. The head coach had one small group of six where they worked on positioning, fitness, and carrying weights while running or seated pulls on the top pitch. After each player had used equipment they wiped it down using disinfectant and moved to the next place.
The sprint coach took a small group to the other half of the top pitch to practice sprinting techniques to help the players when they get into gameplay starting from the very basics of stance and body positioning.
The strength and conditioning coach took a small group of six players to the outdoor gym where they had a circuit of exercises to complete after each exercise equipment was wiped if it needed to be exchanged.
I felt that this session was dealt with appropriately the government guidelines were followed correctly, I felt welcomed into the team and the protocols put in place were easy to follow, well explained, and constantly adopted in each situation. I was extremely nervous to attend the session, however, once meeting everyone it became a lot easier to concentrate on the placement and I calmed very quickly.
During this session as mentioned, I felt nervous and I lacked confidence. This is something I have struggled with through the second year and towards the end of the year when I become familiar with the team I was working with my confidence increased and I began to doubt myself and my ability less. This is something I hoped to overcome by the time I moved into the third year however, it clearly seems to be a weakness of mine that still needs to be worked on. Although this is a weakness I took positives from this as being able to identify weaknesses will help me to set goals and develop them into strengths.
During this session, I developed on existing skills such as adapting to the environment, social skills, and learned new practical skills such as COVID protocols, how sessions will now work based on the government and RFU guidelines, and the different stages of progression to return to the 2020/21 season. I have learned that it is important to be confident and introduce yourself to the group, its also important to show what you’re capable of.
I could have started this session by being more outgoing, like my true self when I am comfortable in an environment. By starting this placement with the confidence I left my last placement with I could have shown my true colors rather than being shy and blending into the background.
For future sessions, I will try to adopt a more confident attitude and be confident in my own abilities. For example, at the beginning of this session we were asked about the types of equipment we would be using for Covid checks and if we knew how to use them. Instead of speaking up and saying I knew how t use them I stayed quiet and allowed someone to demonstrate how to use them out of fear may get it wrong when I am infact confident with the equipment and did not need the help. It is in situations like this one where I let myself down and this behaviour is something that i will try to improve upon. I need to reassure myself that it is okay to get things wrong and that you can infact learn from mistakes.