20 September 2023
Glenwood High School is hosting a seminar on Thursday, 28 September, titled “The Making of a High Performer – Building a mentally skilful student athlete with their wellbeing as the foundation”.
The event brings together an impressive quintet of expert speakers and is aimed at a wide-ranging group of people, from school principals through to student-athletes, the organiser, Zayne Bux, told Pinnacle Schools: ” Your headmasters and deputy headmasters, people in sport, the people who are key decision-makers, we really want them to be present.
“Then, any staff that schools want to send to receive information from an awesome line-up. Also, parents. They play a big part in setting up the foundation for the boys. Then, we will also open it up because we have had so many people say they can’t come, but they would like their sons to attend. They want them to hear the information first-hand.”
Speakers
Jonathan Davy, a senior lecturer on human kinetics and ergonomics at Rhodes University, will speak on sleep. He’s a researcher on the effects of sleep-wake behaviour, and a member of the scientific committee for the South Africa Society for Sleep and Health.
Craig Govender, the physiotherapist for the IPL’s Mumbai Indians, and a former Proteas’ physio, will tackle exercise.
Then, Sharks Rugby High Performance Nutritionist, Danielle Venter, the owner of Danni Health Dietitians, and a clinical nutrition specialist at Life Entabeni Hospital, will discuss diet. She’s also a qualified chef, so expect more than boring, bland options.
Sharks’ coach Joey Mongalo, who has a Masters’ degree in industrial and organisational psychology, will talk about the spiritual.
Finally, Glenwood Old Boy, Warren Whitely, will handle the section on relationships. Whitely is currently a coach with the Sharks.
One of Glenwood’s favourite sons
Commenting on the inclusion of one of Glenwood’s favourite sons, Bux said: “Warren has an awesome story, his journey in rugby, from growing up on the Bluff, and not being an A team player initially, but then going on to become 1st XV captain.
“In his final year, in 2006, the Green Machine beat Grey College in the final game of the season, on Dixon’s, for the first time. Then, he went on to captain the Lions, to captain the Springboks. Then, he came back as a young coach to work with the Sharks. To have him come to speak to our staff and boys directly, that’s massive.”
Bux, who has qualifications in psychology and sports psychology, said the primary focus is on the wellbeing of the student athletes because demands that never previously existed are being made on them nowadays.
“With the way that school sport has changed, we’ve become quite professional, and there’s a lot of money involved,” he said. “There’s a lot of offers coming the boys’ way with good performances at schools. We’ve really got to set them up to perform and so we’re looking at how we can do that from a wellbeing perspective, first and foremost.”
“Your wellbeing is the foundation of high performance,” he asserted.
To get the most out of goal-setting, visualisation, breathing exercises, sleeping, eating, and relationships, it needs to be prioritised, he said.
How to attend
Only 150 places are available. Among the attendees will be invited guests, including Headmasters and Directors of Sport. “We don’t want to pull in a massive crowd. It’s a small event, but a really good one,” Bux said.
The event takes place in the Mvinjelwa Johannes Mhlongo Hall at Glenwood from 09:00 to 15:00, with each speaker taking the microphone for between 30 and 35 minutes, which will be followed by a 15-minute question and answer session.
Drinks and snacks will be available throughout the day, and lunch is included, too.
The cost is R300 per person, but that falls to R250 per person for a party of five. For a party of eight, that figure is just R200 each.
Bookings can be made at marketing@glenwoodhighschool.co.za
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