Mike Wilson (Willy)

🏉 Reducing high contacts relies on punishing the perpetrator but are we just elevating the risks? Recent incidents in the AFL have ignited a crucial conversation about player safety in Australian Rules Football. While reactive measures like suspensions/return to play timelines have been effective, the question remains, is there a more proactive approach available? Since the implementation of rules penalizing head contact in 2007, players have been caught between the drive to win and the imperative to stay safe. This has sometimes led to risky behaviours, deviating from traditional coaching cues, and putting players at greater risk of head injuries. But what if we shifted our focus from visual outcomes to individual responsibility? By holding players accountable for actions that increase the risk of head contact (attacking a GB head on, ducking into a tackle, dropping the knees etc.), would we create a fairer and safer playing environment? Critics may question the practicality of umpires assessing intent, as well as the precarious step of placing greater blame on those who have suffered the physical outcome. But following the 2012 findings from Purdue, that CTE can develop despite no concussions, would playing into the more innate instinct to protect oneself be more attainable than external duty of care that goes against the intent to win? Since 2007 in the WAFL, high-contact incidents are the #1 most prevalent type of free kick in all men grades, and #2 in females, reminding us of the urgency to act. With around 1,584 high-risk scenarios for head contact per season in the AFL alone (4 per team per game, for 198 games per year – AFL data 1992 to 2023), the cumulative effect of sub-concussive blows cannot be understated. These estimates alone ignore the potential for blows in trainings as well. As stewards of the sport, the AFL sets the tone for safety standards across all levels. So, in our efforts to prioritize player wellbeing and preserve the essence of the game, can we rethink and aim for a more proactive approach?

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Meet your Adductors 🍎 Your Adductors (inner thighs) together with your medial hamstrings keep your legs together… especially when water or snow skiing ⛷️ They support your body’s framework, or chassis, if you understand cars. Your adductors connect from your inner thigh (and shin) to the base of your pelvis, and therefore need to be strong to pull the inner side of your legs towards eachother instead of falling apart. It’s also important for them to be flexible so that your legs can move with freedom and agility. Aim for these goals, in this order, in all directions & motions, when working any muscle group: 1. Flexibility 2. Strength 3. Power 4. Endurance = Resilience 🍎 I’m loving Brendan Hoyers post about Adductors and their responsibility in pelvic stability & hip extension. Movement coaches cannot stress the importance of strength and mobility in this area, in order to build and maintain resilience in sports that require speed. Remember, your pelvis is your engine. Keep it stable! 🍎💪

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#314 - Maurice Contreras Aussie Rules Footballer for West Coburg FC In this episode of the AFL High-Performance Podcast, host Jack McLean interviews athlete Maurice Contreras about his football journey, challenges, and successes. Maurice discusses his experiences playing in the Eastern Footy League and the ADFL, the impact of COVID-19 on his playing career, and his current stint at West Coburg. He shares insights into his training routine, the importance of balancing football with work, and the motivational aspects that drive him to excel. Maurice also delves into the specifics of his fitness regime, including priming and recovery practices, and offers advice to young athletes. The episode captures Maurice's commitment to the sport, his efforts to achieve team success, and his drive to push his limits. Highlights from the episode: - Challenges when switching to different footy positions - How to improve your running explosiveness - AFL training routine and recovery going into gameday - How he learned about the Prepare Like a Pro training program - Benefits of priming before games   Our website link is in the comments below ⬇️

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#bitesize - How to develop an AFL body Highlights from the episode: - Key areas to develop on the conditioning side - Benefits of developing an AFL body - Areas to focus on strength and power point of view - Get Better Plan episode on how to safely develop athleticism for junior footballers   Our website link is in the comments below ⬇️

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Introducing Martin Taupau: A professional athlete, devoted husband, father and community leader, Martin is not just a powerhouse on the field but a passionate advocate for self-betterment and community empowerment. As a Co-Founder of DSRUPTRS and a professional NRL player representing the Samoan and NZ national teams, Martin's journey is one of resilience, determination, and leadership. Moving from New Zealand to Australia in his youth, Martin faced the challenges of adapting to a new culture and environment. However, with the support of his community, church, and family, he found strength and purpose in overcoming adversity. Rising through the ranks of the NRL, Martin confronted moments of self-doubt and scarcity, but he refused to let setbacks define him. Through relentless hard work and a commitment to personal growth, Martin transformed his mindset and embraced the discipline needed to succeed. His journey from adversity to achievement serves as an inspiration to many, motivating them to navigate life's challenges with resilience and determination. Martin's story resonates with audiences from all walks of life, offering insights into overcoming personal, professional, and societal pressures. He advocates for mental health awareness, cultural inclusion, and effective leadership, sharing his experiences to empower youth, individuals and organisations to create positive change. Are you ready to unlock the secrets of success on and off the field? Book Martin now to explore topics such as succeeding as a professional athlete, developing a winning mindset, embracing culture, and leading with resilience. Elevate your team, school or organisation to new heights with Martin's guidance and expertise. Visit our website to secure your booking today: https://lnkd.in/gugEXMTq #MartinTaupau #Leadership #Resilience #Inspiration #rugbyleague #nrl #brisbanebroncos #samoan #pasifika

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#bitesize - AFL In-Season Training: What is the Average Weekly Training Time? See below👇 some of the questions I’ll answer: - How far do AFL players run at training? - How many hours of training their craft? - How many hours of football training? - How many hours in the gym? Our website link is in the comments below ⬇️

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Heavy prowler/sled pushes are one of my favourite exercises. They’re one of those exercises that kind of bridges the gap between the gym and the sporting field. S&C coaches, when coaching these, what cues do you use/what things are you looking for? #strengthandconditioning #strengthandconditioningcoach

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Business reflection. High performance mindset. Create yours. One of the advantages I have in business is being a sport psychologist. My psychological training has been in understanding, building and improving performance outcomes. Being in business is exactly the same as being an elite athlete. Just like people on a sporting field, people running a business need to understand how to get the best out of themselves. If you are not sure what your best performance mindset is, or how to approach this, you are not alone. Take some time to reflect on yourself and your own personal needs. Focus on what it is you are trying to achieve, and how you plan on achieving it. Once you have a good understanding of your values, you can then focus on building a high performance mindset. Everything you want to achieve within your business is all about performance outcomes. High performance mindset. Create yours. #endeavourwellness #joelcurtis #sportpsychologist #businesscoaching

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Rear foot elevated split squats. Every athletes’ favourite exercise 😉😂 We’re currently using these as a main exercise, in the second session of the week, for our Athlete Development Program. The first session of the week has heavy trap bar deadlifts as the main lift, so this session is more volume focused. Do you program rear foot elevated split squats for your athletes? Do you ever program them as a main lift? #strengthandconditioning #strengthandconditioningcoach

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Good Afternoon Coaches   Back in to the routine and head-long into organisation mode for season 2025. I’m sure all coaches have an eye to what the season will look like and what you hope to have ready for your chargers. Here’s some things to consider when training starts:   Article of the Week: When setting out training, how many games do play? Not as in ACTUAL games of footy but little competitions, with a centre skill or breakdown focus? If your answer is none, or, “Every now and then”, have a look at this research article from the University of Wollongong from Webb, Pearson and Forrest. Here’s a challenge: “could you make EVERY drill/exercise you do a game? https://lnkd.in/gDHUihjH   Podcast of the Week: The Fixable podcast is primarily a business-based podcast from the TED group but this episode suits the coaching craft hand in glove. It asks the question “How do I bring out the best in others?” Lots of takeaway ideas from this one: https://lnkd.in/g3uhiQ-b   Motivation/Between the Ears: Our game is one of the most unpredictable sports there can be. What with the shape of the ball and the 360 degree positions of players to varying ground sizes etc, to try and control all aspects of it as a coach is a fools errand. The team at Model Thinkers has a great summary about probabilistic thinking and how you need to befriend uncertainty: https://lnkd.in/gXgJyRWy   Training Drill/Clip(s):  This clip is an example of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) in invasion sport – basketball in this case. This video is very low on entertainment but high on the building blocks of how you can create your own games to get players to understand what you want them to learn: https://lnkd.in/gEtKscfc   Tip of the Week:  “Process over Results” what we like to hammer home at our club for our players to understand and adopt. This week’s quote is from Carol Dweck’s seminal book, Mindset: Don’t think that if you fail—or if you're not the best—it's all been wasted. The growth mindset allows people to value what they're doing regardless of the outcome .   Enjoy the Week Everyone.

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What tools do you have in your coaches box? For any given athlete - you’ll have to rely on different coaching strategies to achieve the adaption you’re chasing. Even for a movement as simple as a Deadbug - utilising a few different options to get the athlete to perform the movement in a way that will allow for permanent change. Just because you use a drill in the early phases, doesn’t mean you need to keep using it long term. While it may be upfront time and effort, it pays dividends later on. (I’d also say that this coaching takes way less time than word vomiting) Option 1: Band under lower back - give the athlete tactile feedback. If the band comes out, you lost tension. Simple as that. Option 2: Toe Tap - shortening the lever length as a nice bridging option. Option 3: Banded Deadbug - as per normal. #strengthandconditioning #athlete

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NZ physical activity guidelines says we should get 2.5hours of moderate physical activity (or 1.25hours of vigorous activity) over the week …. So how did you do this week? 🧐 If you didn’t manage to hit the mark, there’s still time AND here’s 3 ways to move more each day: 🏃🏻‍♀️ Make the most of breaks: If you have short breaks through your day, take the chance to move your body instead of scrolling social media or staying at your desk. A quick walk, some mobilisers, or breathing exercises can re-energise you and boost productivity. 🏃🏻‍♀️ Multitask: Combine your activities. If you’re catching up on your favourite tv show or podcast, get off the couch and onto the floor to stretch and move. Multitasking workouts can make it easier to fit physical activity into your daily life without it feeling like an extra chore. 🏃🏻‍♀️Plan and prioritise: Just like you schedule meetings and appointments, schedule your workouts and treat it as non-negotiable. When you prioritise your health and make it part of your routine, it becomes easier to stick with it. Small efforts can add up and have an impact on your physical and mental health.

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Did you know that Tauba, the act of sincere repentance, is a powerful catalyst for your well-being, mending the wounds of your mind, spirit, and body? 🧠 Persistent guilt and self-condemnation can take a toll on your mental health. Tauba offers relief from this burden, leading to emotional healing and a sense of inner peace. 🌌 Tauba bridges the gap between you and God. It's a pathway to spiritual renewal, allowing you to seek forgiveness and draw closer to the Divine. 🤝 Repentance is the key to mending broken relationships. It enables forgiveness, reconciliation, and the ability to move forward, fostering healthier connections. 🩺 Unresolved guilt and regret can lead to stress-related illnesses. Tauba acts as a remedy, safeguarding your physical health. 📖 "And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed." (Quran, 24:31) 🌐 Ready to Experience the Power of Tauba in Therapy? Explore More at www.ajs-therapy.com! 🌟 #Tauba #Repentance #EmotionalHealing #SpiritualRenewal #Forgiveness #QuranicWisdom #HealthyRelationships

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🏋️‍♂️ Strength and conditioning is the key when looking to improve your health and fitness! 🔑💥 It's not just for athletes, but for everyone who wants to reach their fitness goals and stay injury-free. 🚀🏃‍♀️💥 No matter your fitness level, a strength and conditioning coach can design a personalised training program just for you. 🎯📋💯 #StrengthAndConditioning #FitnessGoals #TrainSmart 🏋️‍♀️💥🔝 Here are some frequently asked questions we get at Taylormade Rehab Q. What is strength and conditioning? A. Strength and conditioning is a specialised field of exercise science that focuses on improving physical performance, enhancing athletic abilities, and preventing injuries through targeted training programs. Q. Is strength and conditioning only for athletes? A. No, strength and conditioning can benefit anyone who wants to improve their fitness level and overall health. It is not limited to athletes and can be tailored to the needs and goals of individuals at any fitness level. Q. Do I need to be an athlete to work with a strength and conditioning coach? A. No, strength and conditioning coaches work with individuals of all fitness levels, from beginners to elite athletes. They can design personalised training programs based on individual goals and needs.

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NEW PODCAST EPISODE ALERT In high performance sport the number of coaches and specialists continue to grow especially in clubs and organisations who have the resources to invest. The more people involved the more complex it can become. This is the topic of conversation, Dr Edward Hall and I touch on as we discuss collaborative coaching and how coaches can work more effectively together in the latest Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast. Enjoy hearing Edward’s fantastic insights! https://lnkd.in/eNgWJmqy #mentaltoughness #resilience #sportpsychology #sportspsychology #performancepsychology #coachdevelopment #communicationskills 

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“I thought reflection was a load of s***e”   I am currently working with an athlete who reached out to me with a lack of confidence.   We discussed where why this was and discovered some beliefs that we started unpacking.   Alongside this, reflection practices were implemented. At this early stage just reflecting on training sessions.   What went well and why?   What could be improved and how?   Nothing outrageous.   One of the major ways of building a robust confidence for ourselves is by having evidence that we have done work or improved in some way.   Without evidence we lean towards the negative and any doubts we have about our game become amplified.   So, the athlete (a GAA player) played a final last week and found that their mindset was much better than it had been previously. They weren't as fearful. They felt more confident. Mistakes didn't bother them.   We investigated what they had done.   The day before the game – a time when they would usually build up the game and create a sense of panic for themselves – they looked through the reflections they had recorded.   This helped them ease any panic and reminded them that they were ready to compete the next day.   When we spoke about this, they laughed about it and shared what they had thought about reflection.   “I always thought reflection was a load of shite!”   They felt that that reflection was pointless because you would never have enough evidence.   They realised that you don’t need that that many reflection entries. Just enough to get you started.   Enough to remind you of the skills you already have. Over the course of a month's training and games, you build up plenty of evidence as to what you are good at.   So if you’re thinking the same thing about reflection, give it go and see how you get on. It might be the starting point for your mindset. #SportPsychology #PerformancePsychology #Reflection #Confidence #MentalSkills #Mindset #MentalSkillsTraining

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Sports and recreation are key elements of New Zealand's community life, reflecting the country's values and culture. From children to seniors, New Zealand's enthusiasm for sport is evident. Rugby, netball, and cricket aren't just games – they're integral to the national identity, teaching youth teamwork and resilience. For adults, community sports clubs and outdoor activities like hiking offer more than exercise. They're avenues for forming friendships, relieving stress, and maintaining work-life balance. New Zealand is known for inclusive sports, with organizations ensuring people with disabilities can participate fully. The country's Paralympic athletes inspire on the global stage. From casual beach cricket to Māori traditional sports like waka ama (outrigger canoeing), community sports in New Zealand reportedly: ·       Strengthen family and community bonds ·       Improve overall wellbeing ·       Develop leadership skills ·       Boost local economies ·       Celebrate New Zealand's unique culture As a South African planning to move to New Zealand, I'm excited to explore the similarities and differences in our sporting cultures. Both nations share a passion for rugby, cricket, and outdoor activities. I'm particularly interested in: ·       How the community sports scenes in NZ and SA compare ·       Unique Kiwi sports I might not be familiar with ·       Ways sports could help me connect with my new community How did your sporting experiences transfer for those who've moved from SA to NZ? What surprised you most about New Zealand's sports culture? #NZSport #SAtoNZ #SportingCultures #NZSport #CommunityWellness #ExpatLife  

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