Trudi Nurse, Spirit Gymsports - sport aerobics
Trudi Nurse
Spirit Gymsports – sport aerobics
16 years as coach
WABN: Describe your preferred outdoor based training session, either for yourself or with your team.
TN: “In the small off season we try to maintain some base level of aerobic and anaerobic fitness. We mostly use running, both in long sustained sessions and short interval sprint sessions. In our interval sessions I combine: three minutes jogging warm up; short 15-second sprints up an incline; perform 10 of their aerobic gymnastics elements – (usually from their performance routine); and jog down to the starting point. Start again and repeat six to 12 times. This is a great lungs workout!”
WABN: What techniques do you use to motivate players?
TN: “An athlete’s motivation can vary quite often. Identifying achievable short-term goals can give them a constant sense of progression and achievement. I also ensure that there are medium and long-term goals for them to strive towards. Both coach and athlete need to be in constant communication with each other as to how they are progressing towards these goals. After all the serious goals are set I feel it’s very important that the athletes love and enjoy their training from a day-to-day basis, so that the motivation to come and attend training is without thought.”
WABN: What is the best piece of advice you can give someone who wants to motivate a team?
TN: “Understand what makes them want to participate in that sport. Are they in it for results/enjoyment/fitness? Then it is more clear what angle your motivation should derive from.”
WABN: How do you manage player egos?
TN: “This is a very relevant topic in such a successful team. We have many highly successful athletes who compete against each other but also train directly with each other. It certainly has its moments. Where I can I try to keep the athletes as focused as possible on their individual plan. A little bit of ego in our sport can give you a slight advantage if used properly. I am constantly trying to teach them where the line between advantageous ego and destructive ego sits.”
WABN: How important is it for players to develop skills outside of their sport? What do you do to encourage it?
TN: “This is very important. Although our sport is demanding at times it is essential that the athletes continue to develop their life skills for the future. As much as possible I try to be flexible with training schedules to accommodate their study and work needs. I also believe that having another main focus in life can bring them a better balance.”
WABN: What sporting identity do you most admire and why?
TN: “Ian Thorpe has always impressed me, in and out of the pool. He was an exceptional athlete and a fantastic role model. I often wonder what it would be like to swap places with an amazing sports person such as Ian. I can’t imagine what it would really feel like to be standing on the blocks about to swim your heart out, with the pressure that he would have been under to get top results. It would be fascinating to sit and chat over coffee.”
WABN: Who has influenced you professionally?
TN: “Liz Chetkovich. She was my coach when I competed at WAIS, then she became my mentor when I started working for the gymnastics program at WAIS. She has forged the way for WA’s continual success in artistic gymnastics. I have such a respect for all she endured and achieved back in the early days of developing the program to where it is today. She had a vision and tirelessly worked until that vision was achieved and much more.”
