As the Gold Coast SUNS Arizona training camp enters it’s second week, Coach Guy McKenna is pleased with the progress his young squad has made during their time at altitude.
As the playing group build towards some of the most challenging treks of the Flagstaff experience, McKenna rewarded his players with a day off , but not before putting them through a gruelling session under the Skydome roof at Northern Arizona University.
“The boys have been fantastic, they had a day off yesterday we started our second week and it’s going to be a big week but we’ve only got two ball sessions to go so it’s really the big part of training, then we’ve got Mount Humphrey and the Grand Canyon to finish with which is going to be quite special for the group too, so a tough week, but the boys are definitely up for the challenge.”
Despite being warned of the mental and physical challenges they would face during the Arizona camp prior to leaving the Gold Coast, McKenna says the constant battle to breathe took many of the squad by surprise with even the simplest exercises proving hard to master.
“The boys are used to running at a certain pace and used to getting so much oxygen into their system, well at altitude you don’t get that same amount of oxygen and it’s only natural that they are struggling and they are struggling and that’s what it’s designed to do, really test them mentally.”
While the Gold Coast SUNS will start the 2012 season stronger and fitter than at any time during their debut season, it’s the improvement in mental strength which has really impressed the coaching staff.
“Physically we will improve them a small amount, but mentally it’s going to be a leap forward and the boys are licking their lips, there are smiles on their faces and they are pushing through the pain.”
Forced to rely on the guidance and experience of his senior players during their inaugural season, McKenna says the improvement in the teams younger stars is something that all Gold Coast SUNS members and supporters should be excited about.
“The really impressive thing is that the senior players are coming to me and are saying what a difference twelve months has made to these young guys, all of them have stepped up to the plate.” “The young kids especially have really stepped up to the plate and I think it warms the hearts of the senior players to know that these young fellas are growing into men before their eyes.”
Keep up to date with the Gold Coast SUNS Arizona adventure on goldcoastfc.com.au on twitter.com/GoldCoastFC or on facebook.com/GoldCoastFC.
