Free State Sports Science Institute Weights Room
The Free State Sports Science Institute (FSSSI) has been operational for over four years now and services the needs of provincial sports athletes. The FSSSI is government funded, whilst also working in close conjunction with sports federations to contribute towards the running costs. This intuitive facility provides a free service to these athletes to test, train, condition, and in many cases rehabilitate them to help them achieve their sporting goals and aspirations.
The FSSSI is managed by Jan du Toit whilst the day to day running of the facility is overseen by 5 sports scientists, a biokineticist’s and an additional 3 personal trainers that specialize in specific sports to guide athletes through their conditioning. The FSSSI can be classed as a multi sport facility as during my two days there I observed, interacted and tested athletes from a wide range of sports varying from tennis, table tennis and sprinters to footballers (soccer as they call it), volleyball players and some extremely well built 17 year old rugby players!
The facility was a pleasant surprise, as it was such a well equipped facility that was free to athletes, is funded through the government and sports federation collaboration with staff that are elite in their field and are committed to the athlete’s future.
The head Sports Scientist Sondja, gave up her valuable time over the two days to plan me out a program to enable me to expose my self to a range of different training techniques, injury rehabilitation, advanced testing procedures and team meetings which involved discussing possible chances for improvement in the facility through the introduction of new training/rehabilitation procedures.
During my time at FSSSI I was made to feel part of the team and was integrated into the daily routines of the sports scientists and trainers whilst Hannelia, FSSSI’s biokineticist, also went out of her way to involve me in a hamstring and rotator cuff injury analysis and specific rehabilitation training program. Hannelia also involved me in the gait analysis of several athletes which was undertaken in the institutes ‘blue’ room. Literally a dark blue room which had advanced equipment to analyse body movements (biomechanics) and athletes gait (their walking pattern) through the use of pin pointing areas on the athletes body and then asking them to mimic performances whilst cameras and a specifically designed computer program analysed the movements. Two procedures that I was both intrigued and challenged to be a part of.
As the days moved on, they even had confidence in me to ask for my opinions during team meetings. One meeting in particular discussed the introduction of new training/rehabilitation procedures such as training athletes with Ozone Therapy. A therapy procedure which was quoted as being “Supercharged Oxygen” and was administered through limb bagging or booting, ozone gas sauna’s or autohemotherapy (intravenous injections). A therapy which claims to increase the amount of oxygen the athlete’s body receives, but in my opinion was just an advanced form of blood doping. A view that was also shared with the Sports Scientists throughout the team discussion. It was comforting to know we shared the same views.
The two days I spent at the FSSSI, gave me chance to experience the passion South Africa has towards committing top quality testing, training, rehabilitation and conditioning to up coming athletes. The staff showed professionalism towards developing and conditioning new young talent that others can learn from and is something that I will take back with me to England.
For further information please see:
www.srsa.gov.za/PageMaster.asp?ID=93
The FSSSI is managed by Jan du Toit whilst the day to day running of the facility is overseen by 5 sports scientists, a biokineticist’s and an additional 3 personal trainers that specialize in specific sports to guide athletes through their conditioning. The FSSSI can be classed as a multi sport facility as during my two days there I observed, interacted and tested athletes from a wide range of sports varying from tennis, table tennis and sprinters to footballers (soccer as they call it), volleyball players and some extremely well built 17 year old rugby players!
The facility was a pleasant surprise, as it was such a well equipped facility that was free to athletes, is funded through the government and sports federation collaboration with staff that are elite in their field and are committed to the athlete’s future.
The head Sports Scientist Sondja, gave up her valuable time over the two days to plan me out a program to enable me to expose my self to a range of different training techniques, injury rehabilitation, advanced testing procedures and team meetings which involved discussing possible chances for improvement in the facility through the introduction of new training/rehabilitation procedures.
During my time at FSSSI I was made to feel part of the team and was integrated into the daily routines of the sports scientists and trainers whilst Hannelia, FSSSI’s biokineticist, also went out of her way to involve me in a hamstring and rotator cuff injury analysis and specific rehabilitation training program. Hannelia also involved me in the gait analysis of several athletes which was undertaken in the institutes ‘blue’ room. Literally a dark blue room which had advanced equipment to analyse body movements (biomechanics) and athletes gait (their walking pattern) through the use of pin pointing areas on the athletes body and then asking them to mimic performances whilst cameras and a specifically designed computer program analysed the movements. Two procedures that I was both intrigued and challenged to be a part of.
As the days moved on, they even had confidence in me to ask for my opinions during team meetings. One meeting in particular discussed the introduction of new training/rehabilitation procedures such as training athletes with Ozone Therapy. A therapy procedure which was quoted as being “Supercharged Oxygen” and was administered through limb bagging or booting, ozone gas sauna’s or autohemotherapy (intravenous injections). A therapy which claims to increase the amount of oxygen the athlete’s body receives, but in my opinion was just an advanced form of blood doping. A view that was also shared with the Sports Scientists throughout the team discussion. It was comforting to know we shared the same views.
The two days I spent at the FSSSI, gave me chance to experience the passion South Africa has towards committing top quality testing, training, rehabilitation and conditioning to up coming athletes. The staff showed professionalism towards developing and conditioning new young talent that others can learn from and is something that I will take back with me to England.
For further information please see:
www.srsa.gov.za/PageMaster.asp?ID=93
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