Joining the Gold Coast SUNS as part of the strengthened High Performance Team is Paul Haines who will fulfil the new role of Head of Fitness.

Haines, who has been involved at both the Adelaide and Geelong Football Club’s, has linked with the GC SUNS after a recent stint as a fitness coach for a Formula 1 driver in the United Kingdom.
Haines briefly explains his role.
I will be working very closely with High Performance Manager Stephen Schwerdt, in terms of training load and training volume of the whole playing squad."It also covers when we are training, how hard we are training, the recovery protocols and working with the nutritionists."

Haines says the High Performance Team will work very closely with Guy McKenna and his coaching staff.

"We are designing a very highly structured, disciplined program," he said.

"Everything we do in the High Performance Team will be directly related to how they are getting better as a football team."
It is going to be very supportive of the coaching group; how they want the players to play is how we are going to be training the group.Haines says the main focus will be getting the players to be able to perform at a consistent level.

"We are really just after consistency," he said.

"We are trying to build a durable group and having as many players possible available to play.

"Getting these young players to be able to play consistent football and be able to perform consistently throughout the season.

'"If we can achieve that and if we get the processes right, hopefully we will be winning more games."

Haines also says that the way he and his members of the High Performance Team present themselves to the playing group is critical to keeping the playing group motivated.

"We are going to be the first point of call for the group daily, so it is important for the players to see us as a consistent throughout the whole season," he said.
Whether we win or lose, or have hard training or a light session, we need to be upbeat."If the players come in and see us down in the dumps, it is very unlikely that they will want to perform."

"We have got a 24 hour rule. You can be down in the dumps for 24 hours, and then after that you are expected to be upbeat.

"It is a very elite environment, so it is important to be as positive as we can."