Competition 3: Recovery

Coach Trinette Goarley – Figure Skating – Barrie

“It is important to have wellness check-ups and physical assessments for athletes even when there aren’t injuries. We take our car in for an oil change and annual maintenance, our athletes need to do the same. It’s also so important that athletes stay well balanced and partake in other activities to keep balance.”

Coach Faiz Ahmed – Basketball – Markham

“I believe that injury reduction is largely about how we prepare our athletes to minimize risk. This is both in the long term, through injury reduction work and proper training and periodization, but also in the short term, through proper hydration, nutrition and sleep.

I like to leave as little to chance as possible. In the past, I had let warm-up and cool down be something the athletes do on their own. Now I engage and empower my players but stay actively involved so that they approach it with the same focus that they have for their sport. The goal of my warm-up is just that, to warm them up. Afterwards, I structure my cool-down as a reverse warm-up.

Finally, it is important that I know my athletes. Know who are the tough ones that will try to push past an injury. Know their medical history and conditions. Know who is trained and who is out of shape. With this information, I can look for signs of injury occurrence and risk. Then because I care for my athletes as people, not players, I am able to make decisions that are best for them.”

Coach Pierre Laframboise – Gymnastics and Trampoline – Kingston – 42 years

“Work as a team, with doctors, therapists, and for minors parents or guardians and last but not least the athlete needs to have a voice adult or minor. Alternate heat and ice, rest, use good quality therapeutic support devices, modify training regimens, equipment and apparatus. Review the recovery plan often with all stakeholders as the athlete’s condition improve or deteriorates. Be mindful of other injuries or strains that could result from the athlete trying to compensate for the injury. This can be seen when an athlete has pain in a healthy part of their body or is favouring an area that is not part of the original injury.

Athletes will not always tell you if they are hurting, but if you observe them carefully you can see differences in their gait when walking running or performing a move in their sport or even at rest during non-sport activities.”

Coach. Amanda Miles – Basketball – Markham – 10+ years

“During the competitive season and at tournaments, I stress hydration and rest. I make sure that my athletes are not out swimming at hotels or running around theme parks between games. During the season I get them to try to balance their basketball with their school and life so they are not overworking their muscles. Now I am working with grade 9 girls and the balance is difficult to get but I monitor them as well when they come into practice I look at their energy levels and attitudes where they are at and alter my practices accordingly as well so I don’t overwork them.”