Page 65 - Tropic Magazine Issue 35

TROPIC • SPORT

Punishing

schedule

BASKETBALL
The expertise of the Cairns
Taipans’ high-performance 1
strength and conditioning team
came to the fore during the
2021/22 NBL Season.
Words: Renee Cluff

COVID-19 wreaked havoc on both This is basically the perfect
the Taipans players and their game storm for injuries to occur
schedule this year, with fixtures
postponed and then crammed together. Joshua Guy
High performance department team Taipans High
Performance
leader Joshua Guy told Tropic it made Team Leader 2
training preparation and player welfare
exceptionally challenging, especially “We had to try and rapidly increase Joshua said he’s found that utilising a
because players had 25 days off after the training load to ensure players had mixture of player wellness and daily
virus hit the team. “We had a drastic sufficient stimulus to cope with game readiness is key.
reduction in their load, a period of demands, but not too much that they “While we did get some injuries, the
minimal load, then a large increase could not recover and potentially lessons learnt from this is potentially
and straight into a congested playing get injured.” greater individual monitoring and
schedule,” he said. February was particularly punishing, training load prescription are required,”
with the Taipans playing six games in just he said. “Other factors we are not aware
15 days with multiple plane trips of such as long-lasting effects of COVID
The newly created Taipans in between. “With games being should also be taken into account.
high-performance department rescheduled at late notice, it made the “More consideration is required for
also has two full-time CQU systematic planning of these training congested playing schedules and travel.”
PhD students who monitor loads difficult as it interrupted scheduled
and prescribe strength and days of either, high, moderate, low or no 1. Taipans Centre Stephen Zimmerman and Joshua Guy
conditioning, as well as training training load,” Joshua said. “Then with 2. Jarrod Kenny was among the players who suffered
loads and rehab in conjunction the extra travel over less time, sleep and injuries in the 2021/22 season
with coaches and allied nutrition patterns were disrupted.”
health professionals. The season will be reviewed to plan for MORE: taipans.com
future challenges.

Gruelling February roster

5 Feb 12 Feb 14 Feb 18 Feb 20 Feb 24 Feb 27 Feb

Injuries Injuries Injuries Injuries Injuries Injuries Injuries
Machado Noi Noi Jawai Noi Noi Noi
Djeric Jawai Jawai Kenny Jawai Jawai Jawai
Noi Kenny Kenny Kenny Kenny Kenny
Jawai, Heath Heath Heath Heath
Kenny
Key
Away game Home game

65 • tropicnow.com.au