Cairns Taipans manager Adam Ford said the team’s mental health is a top priority, not just for their performance, but for their lives off the court.
Talk to ABC Far NorthFord said the team is closely tracking the mental health of all players, and outlined some of the ways the Taipans have been working to prioritize this in recent years.
“The great thing about our group is that we see each other every day, we have breakfast together, we train together, we have lunch together. is reflected,” says Forde.
“I make sure that I have an open door policy with many of these people. I am very conscious. [putting] People come first… Sometimes I would give a man a few days off and leave to go to Port Douglas or see the Great Barrier Reef. “
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Ford also outlined that professional athletes in particular can fall prey to mental health issues.
“It’s a tough environment here and there aren’t many jobs where you can criticize others. I don’t know many plumbers who wake up in the morning and check social media and are told they had a terrible night before,” Ford said.
“It’s really important for us to be diligent and stay ahead of it, but it’s also important to understand that they’re human and not just robots on the court.
“It can be disguised in performance. Some can be the ultimate professional. They do well on the floor and you think they’re fine.”
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As part of efforts to help athletes maintain their mental health, Forde said the team employs a number of strategies, including tracking players’ sleep cycles and conducting daily health surveys.
“We have tools to monitor on and off the court, and we can see, for example, that their sleep patterns are erratic. may be overthinking things, so it’s important not to do it ‘too late,’ Ford said.
“Every morning when I wake up, I ask them to take a health survey and record their sleep ratings, how long they slept, their motivation, their physical condition, and so on. There are some tools.
“The power of touch is more important than most people think [realise]Especially in this digital world, just having a conversation or being near someone can make you feel very disconnected from each other,” Ford said.
“I also use it as a reference point during matches so that when the guys come together and have to stop, they can touch each other and reconnect. .It can tell you a lot about the person you are connecting with.”
Those efforts appear to be working well for the Taipans, who have gotten off to a blistering start to this NBL season. The Taipans are currently in his third spot on the leaderboard with a 3-1 record, including a big win over reigning champions Sydney Kings last round. .
