El Diablo
Post Whore
- Messages
- 94,107
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...p/news-story/bc119ce4a1f94558aace7c5d7a6ab3f1
Brad Arthur getting Eels to clear their minds at country camp
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has lifted the curtain on the pre-season camp in country NSW designed to repair a fractured club and unite a playing group afflicted with selfishness.
While the rugby league fraternity have been preoccupied with Jarryd Hayne’s prospects of re-signing with the Eels, Arthur has been quietly taking his contracted players through a daily regime of early-morning meditation, taxing training sessions and team-building exercises aimed at unifying the wooden spooners.
The Parramatta coach faces one of the most significant seasons of his career as he looks to convince the Eels he deserves a contract extension. Arthur knows better than anyone the role the players will have in deciding whether he gets a deal to stay.
Hence the camp in Armidale, a rural city halfway between Sydney and Brisbane renowned for its galleries, museums and theatre.
“It is about building relationships,” Arthur said.
“We always have a camp at some stage of pre-season but the timing of this one is important because we can put some things in place, some standards and expectations, moving forward and have some real clear direction.
“Everyone had the effort (last year) but there was nearly an every man for themselves mentality. We didn’t work well enough as a group, simple.
“We have got away, got them all on the same page and when we get back we know what is acceptable and what is not.
“We have managed to do a lot of physical work — weights and field running. But we have also done things like meditation. We had a bloke come in and teach the boys about meditation and that is something we are going to look at when we get back (to Sydney), starting the morning in the pre-season with meditation.
“We did some yoga, we had contact (drills), we have had nutrition meetings, coach meetings. We have filled the days up.”
Asked about introducing meditation, Arthur said: “It is just a way of clearing our mind.
“That is also helpful for me too. Coming back to the now and not worrying about what is coming or what has happened.
“It is about teaching them how to do it so we can put a block away each morning for when they roll in as part of their preparation for their day.
“They will get a period where they will go through a five-minute meditation process. If it helps and it works, we’re all in with it.”
The players have also spent time with the local community, breaking up into groups as part of a home stay.
“We sent them out for a farm stay overnight,” Arthur said.
“We wanted to break up the trip, but also give back a little bit. It’s about appreciating that we are fortunate and privileged to be in the jobs we have.
“Also, the people of Armidale are going to get plenty out of it, too. We split the groups up and it is all about building relationships and coming together.
“At night time different groups have had to cook the meals for the boys.”
The camp was to finish with a 3am training session today.
“To take them out of their comfort zone a little bit we will get them up at three, have a bit of a meeting and see whether they can clear their mind and get the task done,” Arthur said.
“It has been great. The key is going to be we can’t leave it here once we get back.
“We have to work hard at it. Building relationships takes work.
“It is not so much about spending every minute of the time with each other, it is about the quality of the time we spend.”
Brad Arthur getting Eels to clear their minds at country camp
- Brent Read
Senior Sports Writer
@brentread_7 - 3:00AM November 9, 2018
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has lifted the curtain on the pre-season camp in country NSW designed to repair a fractured club and unite a playing group afflicted with selfishness.
While the rugby league fraternity have been preoccupied with Jarryd Hayne’s prospects of re-signing with the Eels, Arthur has been quietly taking his contracted players through a daily regime of early-morning meditation, taxing training sessions and team-building exercises aimed at unifying the wooden spooners.
The Parramatta coach faces one of the most significant seasons of his career as he looks to convince the Eels he deserves a contract extension. Arthur knows better than anyone the role the players will have in deciding whether he gets a deal to stay.
Hence the camp in Armidale, a rural city halfway between Sydney and Brisbane renowned for its galleries, museums and theatre.
“It is about building relationships,” Arthur said.
“We always have a camp at some stage of pre-season but the timing of this one is important because we can put some things in place, some standards and expectations, moving forward and have some real clear direction.
“Everyone had the effort (last year) but there was nearly an every man for themselves mentality. We didn’t work well enough as a group, simple.
“We have got away, got them all on the same page and when we get back we know what is acceptable and what is not.
“We have managed to do a lot of physical work — weights and field running. But we have also done things like meditation. We had a bloke come in and teach the boys about meditation and that is something we are going to look at when we get back (to Sydney), starting the morning in the pre-season with meditation.
“We did some yoga, we had contact (drills), we have had nutrition meetings, coach meetings. We have filled the days up.”
Asked about introducing meditation, Arthur said: “It is just a way of clearing our mind.
“That is also helpful for me too. Coming back to the now and not worrying about what is coming or what has happened.
“It is about teaching them how to do it so we can put a block away each morning for when they roll in as part of their preparation for their day.
“They will get a period where they will go through a five-minute meditation process. If it helps and it works, we’re all in with it.”
The players have also spent time with the local community, breaking up into groups as part of a home stay.
“We sent them out for a farm stay overnight,” Arthur said.
“We wanted to break up the trip, but also give back a little bit. It’s about appreciating that we are fortunate and privileged to be in the jobs we have.
“Also, the people of Armidale are going to get plenty out of it, too. We split the groups up and it is all about building relationships and coming together.
“At night time different groups have had to cook the meals for the boys.”
The camp was to finish with a 3am training session today.
“To take them out of their comfort zone a little bit we will get them up at three, have a bit of a meeting and see whether they can clear their mind and get the task done,” Arthur said.
“It has been great. The key is going to be we can’t leave it here once we get back.
“We have to work hard at it. Building relationships takes work.
“It is not so much about spending every minute of the time with each other, it is about the quality of the time we spend.”
