Last week, our basketball class was lucky enough to hear from Adelaide 36ers legend Brett Maher, General Manager of the Adelaide Lightning Reece Turner, and Lightnings superstar player Marena Whittle.
When in class, we listened to the importance of professionalism when representing our sporting partners and how effort is crucial for all pathways in life. Correct uniform, early communication, a friendly deminer and respectful language are simple steps to being a great sporting partner representative. This was extremely helpful for all of us but especially the new students. When working for the 36ers or the Lightning, it is important to always put your best foot forward. An example of this is respectful language. When coaching at a clinic or helping at a game, talking how you normally would with friends, using cuss words or bad language can lead to having a major effect on how people view not only our college but our sporting partners also. Being careful with the language you use is one of the expectations required by our sporting partners. This is why induction day is so important to us. Not only is it a huge opportunity to meet some amazing role models, but it also teaches us the expectations we need to follow when representing their brand.
As well as professionalism, we were taught about having confidence when teaching young students and being clear with instructions. When leading a clinic, it is important to have confidence within yourself to teach them the correct techniques and make sure they know what they are doing. When on the court, we were shown what a clinic delivery should look like, and it was an amazing opportunity. Learning how to present yourself to the students and making sure you are engaging are all skills we can work on as a group as well as individually.
To conclude, this experience was eye–opening for all and will help us be the best sporting partner representatives and gain confidence in our clinic delivery. We now know what is expected from us and how we can excel in each role we are given. Simple steps as mentioned earlier are the things that will keep us SEDA students performing at a high standard while representing the college. With the new knowledge of what professionalism looks like and how important effort is, not only are we ready for the roles given to us by our partners, but we’re ready for future career pathways and jobs. The skills we have learnt will help us in everyday life situations and will make us better workers.
Bella Schaftenaar – Year 12, Basketball, St Clair Recreation Centre