Newsletter Newsletter 3/2006 Team Buildings Weekend ITF-Belgium

For the first time, we had a weekend for the members of the national team. The members of the team 2006 (competitors, coaches, referees) who participated at the European Championships in Romania, were invited to participate at this first teambuildingsweekend.

Venue was the military complex of the "12/13ième de ligne" in Spa.

Organiser was Patrick Crevecoeur, member of the belgian team, member of board of ITF-Belgium, and officer in the belgian army (12/13ième de ligne), based in Spa.

All members had to arrive in the complex on Friday evening March 31st by 19h30. We had 30 minutes to move into our rooms before the first trainingsession (2h) began : games & physical exercises, conducted by Patrick. The trainings session was followed by yoga (45 minutes) to end the evening, also conducted by Patrick. After a refreshing shower we could go to bed (sleeping bag).

On Saturday, the second trainingsession was planned from 7h15 to 8h15, tul training conducted by Master Vanberghen.

After breakfast, Emmanuel Fantacci (who came especially from Namur that morning, with two of his students) conducted the third trainingsession (2h) : strategy and tactics in sparring.

We had lunch in the mess. Afterwards all participants had to assemble at 13h at the gate in dress. We jogged to the woods and rivers in Spa, to complete a track (ropes over water etc.); we jogged back, had some stretching, jogged to the obstacle track of the army on the domain, and there we still had to do 2 things : take all the obstacles one by one, and afterwards we were divided in 3 groups to have an obstacle race by team : attached to each other and with a blindfolded member per team.

Both items, the track in the wood and the obstacle track were rather hard, especially since it started to rain. But the teamspirit and Patrick's motivation helped a lot to survive untill 17h.

   

Moreover, Patrick organised a very enjoyable reward : 3 hours in the thermal baths of Spa : warm swimming pools indoor and outdoor, jacuzzi, sauna,..... We had supper in a pizzeria in Spa, and returned to the complex and our sleeping bags.

On Sunday, the morning begun with a yoga session from 7h15 to 8h, again conducted by Patrick. We had breakfast at 8h15, and at 9h30 the last trainingsession (2h) of the weekend started : sparring conducted by Stefaan De Ridder or tul conducted by Master Vanberghen.

A shower, clearing up the rooms and sportshall, and by 13h the last activity could start : Patrick had organised lunch in the officers mess in Spa.

The weekend ended at 15h30.

The second teambuildingsweekend is planned for 8th-10th September.