Pedro Collins
Juniors
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Tigers break boredom
By Ray Chesterton
November 26, 2007 FOUR weeks before Christmas and the Wests Tigers are in a rugby league camp based on a US football program designed to avoid long-term monotony among players.
Coach Tim Sheens says the camps aim to prevent players getting bored from being together so often during the season at training.
The camps will run for a week or so, then players will be free to to return home and follow individual training programs devised by the club.
The scheme eliminates almost daily get-togethers by the players, and Sheens says it was something renowned coach Jack Gibson supported.
"It is a way to break the monotony," he said.
Most rugby league schedules program players to start training in October, have a break for Christmas and then resume training in January for a season start in March. But the Tigers' approach is more revolutionary.
It schedules camps of increasing length, then sends players home with their individual programs to follow for three weeks.
The first camp being held in Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast is for two days but Sheens says it is primarily a meet-and-greet event for new players in the 26-man squad.
"The next ones will be longer," he said. "There will be a lot of emphasis on players looking after themselves while they are out of camp," he said.
Sheens said players spent so much time together during the season at training session, matches and other get-togethers that some became jaded.
"Players are even avoiding the once-traditional drink on a Tuesday night after training because they see so much of each other. They'd rather go home."
The Tigers have done little recruiting of big-name players in the off-season but Sheens says the talent coming through from the Wests and Balmain juniors is exciting.
The club will have four junior Kangaroos chasing first-grade selection next year and are close to signing Panthers winger Nick Youngquest.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22819671-23214,00.html
By Ray Chesterton
November 26, 2007 FOUR weeks before Christmas and the Wests Tigers are in a rugby league camp based on a US football program designed to avoid long-term monotony among players.
Coach Tim Sheens says the camps aim to prevent players getting bored from being together so often during the season at training.
The camps will run for a week or so, then players will be free to to return home and follow individual training programs devised by the club.
The scheme eliminates almost daily get-togethers by the players, and Sheens says it was something renowned coach Jack Gibson supported.
"It is a way to break the monotony," he said.
Most rugby league schedules program players to start training in October, have a break for Christmas and then resume training in January for a season start in March. But the Tigers' approach is more revolutionary.
It schedules camps of increasing length, then sends players home with their individual programs to follow for three weeks.
The first camp being held in Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast is for two days but Sheens says it is primarily a meet-and-greet event for new players in the 26-man squad.
"The next ones will be longer," he said. "There will be a lot of emphasis on players looking after themselves while they are out of camp," he said.
Sheens said players spent so much time together during the season at training session, matches and other get-togethers that some became jaded.
"Players are even avoiding the once-traditional drink on a Tuesday night after training because they see so much of each other. They'd rather go home."
The Tigers have done little recruiting of big-name players in the off-season but Sheens says the talent coming through from the Wests and Balmain juniors is exciting.
The club will have four junior Kangaroos chasing first-grade selection next year and are close to signing Panthers winger Nick Youngquest.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22819671-23214,00.html
