By Coach Ryan Stone
Pictured left is the newly developed AstroTurf surface that I was lucky enough to use in the second day back coaching here in Melbourne. The school is situated amongst the hustle and bustle of Johnston Street/Smith Street and is a true melting pot of diversity. This keeps you on your toes as a coach; almost every day is a different personal experience.
The students here absolutely love to move and possess a competitive and playful nature. “Let’s race! One more game please! Can I show you this trick I learnt the other day? Will you be back tomorrow?” are just some of the regular suggestions and questions you hear.
The school space perfectly fits the phrase “the concrete jungle” and the intensity and excitement in which students participate with would often lead to trips, spills, collisions on cracked and uneven asphalt, in turn hindering the will to keep moving and participate on a warm day.
As we stood in a circle before we began to move, we took the time to reflect on the break from school we shared some gratitude. I was delighted to hear the majority of responses from students was the appreciation of a brand new, safe space to move throughout term 4 and beyond (Many of which referenced a space for Bluearth!).
The day ran seamlessly and for the first time in more than two years of coaching at St Joseph’s we all enjoyed a soft surface on which to sit and reflect. You simply couldn’t wipe the smiles of their faces.
