Otago Academy of Sport

The goal is to have well balanced and supported athletes who have a healthy perspective on their sporting lives, with a focus on developing the athlete as a person not just an athlete. OAS run a two-year Talent Development Programme which begins in Year 13 and is designed to offer education and support to athletes in the region to progress and achieve in their sport.

This year we have five JMC student athletes in the Otago Academy of Sport, representing hockey, golf and athletics. We sat down with Dan, Cody, Connor, Alex and Max to find out what it’s all about.

1.     What is the Otago Academy of Sport (OAS)?

Max: OAS is about learning how to better yourself as an athlete by learning about physical and mental elements of your game, and learning from very experienced people how to manage your life as an athlete.

Alex: OAS helps young athletes improve in their chosen sport. It teaches things like nutrition, mental skills, strength training, and how to manage school and sport.

Connor: The Otago Academy of Sport is a programme that helps young athletes who are serious about reaching their potential in a certain sport. The Academy helps us improve both physically and mentally. There are big focuses on nutrition, life planning, balancing school life and sport and recovery. 

Dan: The OAS vision is to “Nurture, support and educate talented Otago athletes to achieve excellence in sport.” It is a two year programme – usually Year 13 and the first year of Uni.

 
2. What kind of sessions have you done?
Max: We've had sessions around how to fuel your body correctly before and after a game which have been very beneficial, as well as tips and tricks around how to manage your life around sports training games and school.

Connor: We have had gym sessions where we have learnt how to properly warm up/cool down and how to properly do exercises. We have also had workshops in the evenings. These workshops work on how to perform under pressure, healthy diets and time management skills.

Dan: We have workshops on athlete lifestyle, mental skills, social media use, and performance nutrition every 3 weeks or so.

3. What’s been the most useful thing?

Cody. Being treated like a high level athlete has helped me build me confidence on and off the pitch so I can play at a higher level for the school.

Dan: For me it was the strength and conditioning support. We get scheduled time for OAS athletes to come and train with specialist SnC’s and this has been useful for building sport specific strength and thus avoiding injury. It’s also great to have a community of athletes in Otago from all different sports (there are 20 of us in year 1) to move into year 2 with.

Alex: Learning how to stay calm and focused under pressure during big events, and also nutrition, such as fuelling for training or competitions.

Connor: I have found the mental skills sessions have been most useful for me. In golf your mindset plays a big part in how you perform. It has helped me stay calm under pressure, focusing on one thing at a time.  

4. What have you brought back to sport at John McGlashan?

Cody: I think I’ve brought back knowledge from the programme to pass onto younger kids in the team so they know how to be better earlier on.
Alex: A better understanding of the importance of recovery and fuelling your body with the right nutrients.

5. How do you apply?
Connor: To get into the academy you have to fill out an application form that explains the sport you are applying for, your goals and why you want to be in the academy. Explain what you are working towards in your sport and how much you are prepared to put in to reach your full potential. 

Dan: When you apply at the start of the year make sure you include anything you think might help your application to be successful, for example you can write about sports other than your major sport. You put down your coaches as referees, who OAS then contact to get a fuller picture.

6. What would you say to senior boys thinking of applying?

Alex: I'm in Year 12 currently and was told to apply by a coach, even though it’s mainly for Year 13s. I was lucky enough to get accepted. It’s definitely worth applying, you learn heaps that help you develop in your sport. 

Connor: If you want to take your sport to the next level then I would 100% recommend this opportunity. The Otago Academy of Sport gives you the support that you need and teaches you things that you wouldn't be able to pick up on your own. It is also a good way to meet other athletes in different sports.

Dan: Do it! Make sure you are super serious about it and then do it!

Thanks boys and all the best for your upcoming seasons!