11/08/2020- Plymouth Albion training -3 hours

1st Hour

During the first hour of the session, the usual protocols took place where all members of the therapy staff were tested for COVID as well as all the players, coaching staff, and anyone attending the training session. We use the first hour of the session to do this to allow social distancing rules to be observed and ensure there are spaces in between for cleaning equipment.

2nd Hour:

This was our first week being able to get into the treatment room and provide a variety of different treatments for the players.

Just like during the COVID checks, we must wear full PPE and ensure all surfaces and equipment is wiped before and after each person entering the treatment room.

In the second hour of this session, we were paired to provide taping to players. As we had never worked with or taped these players before we were making a virtual log of all the taping the players need and how they like to be taped. This meant that for each player that entered, one therapist taped and the others watched or videoed taking turns to ensure everyone had a go at different types of taping.

3rd Hour:

During the final hour of the session, we were on the top pitch working pitchside while the players participated in some pre-season fitness. This consisted of weights, running, and sprint training ensuring all equipment was disinfected before and after each player using it.

I am happy with this session, I feel it was very educational for myself and the other therapists learning not only how to tape the players but different techniques and tips from the other therapists as to how they tape. Learning different ways is always beneficial to try as it may be a technique you wish to adapt to your own taping technique. All the therapists managed to take part and above are only a few of the videos that were taken during that session.

This session was a good insight into how things will work for the remainder of the season dependent on the government guidelines remaining as they are and continuing to ease. It was nice to finally have some hands-on contact with the players and actually provide treatment. From what I understand of the session, we are all there to learn from one another and adapt our own practices. We all are at different levels of study and by working together we will gain an enhanced knowledge of the subject and be able to provide treatment to a higher standard.

I don’t feel like there is anything else I could have done during this session or anything that I would have done differently. We all as therapists shared the taping duties and learned different techniques and tips about taping from each other which only broadened our knowledge of the subject as a whole. I enjoyed every moment and it was also relieving to be able to do the treatment, finally.