3MultiSportsIsAnAdventure

The image of Lawn Bowls in the UK of old people playing a slow and ponderous game is, possibly, still predominantly prevalent But, it doesn’t mean to say, that, it should be. Most of the people who refuse to try Lawn Bowls, say, that: ‘it is not for me’, are often, in my experience, the same people who go on holiday to France and play Boules in the Parisian parks and squares.

Trying other sports is not just fun, it is an adventure into challenging the whole self. Each sport offers a variant on the control of the body and the aptitude on the brain. Each sport necessitates the use of muscles in completely different ways. Different sports stimulate the senses in ways one sport doesn’t.

This rounded experience improves the body and brain relationship. It, also, offers technical skills that can cross-over into your more preferred sport.

Handball was played by Peter Schmeichel and has been credited with his goalkeeping abilities. Pete Sampras claims, that, playing Basketball enhanced his smash and even credits his famous ‘slam-dunk’ over-head to being a homage to his Basketball playing.

As a sprinter, we were often called-upon at Track and Field League meetings to help-out with the ballistic events on the field. I remember being asked to compete in the B event of the Shot Put at one League meeting. As one official handed me the Shot, I asked how heavy it was. ‘7.260 kilograms (16.01 lb)’, he replied. I looked at him aghast. I was used to working with Medicine Balls of 5 kilograms in weight. ‘You’ve got to be kidding, I can’t throw that!’ I said.

A stern look thundered down on me: the whole stadium went quiet and all the field competitors turned and glared at me. “You ‘put’ it you do NOT throw it!” the official scolded me.

Throughout my career, I competed in the Hammer, Long-Jump, Triple-Jump and 400 Hurdles, to earn at least a point for the team: each time I learnt something new about myself and my body.

Since retiring from competing, I have engaged in a variety sports and have often thought to myself, that, ‘this would have given me an edge, if I had done more of this when I was competing’.

Immediately after retiring, I went into coaching and ran a highly regarded Sprint Group. I was instrumental in setting-up a sprint training programme for two north London track clubs, in exchange for them allowing me free access to their tracks.

This fledgling group were being coached with Vorsprung principles for the first time and it was not just populated with sprinters. There were club standard middle-distance runners, a professional middle-weight boxer, an amateur footballer, a club swimmer, a national tennis player, an international 400 metres runner and a world number two middle-weight Judo fighter: a mix of sports and genders.

Why the diversity? Why were they coming to me, to Vorsprung, to my group? Not simply to, ‘have a break’ from their chosen sports, but, to find ways to enhance their chosen sports. They added speed. They added fast recovery. They added agility, They added balance. They added strength without injury. Whilst, they all went back to their given sports and achieved higher results.

Were they ‘more’ successful than if they hadn’t trained with me? Who will ever know. But, they all attest to being more agile, more able, more alive, and more fulfilled.

Trying different sports might not ‘be for you’. But, without trying it, you will never know what you might be missing-out on and how your chosen sport my become more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Multi-Sports Is An Adventure