The second training of the 2014 French Team took place on March 5-9 in Bellenaves, France, not far from the location of the first training, lost in the middle of nowhere for a focused sports retreat. That March training was saved at the last moment by the local committee of the French Federation, Roller Auvergne, who most graciously offered us a training place, in taking charge of the renting fees of a brand-new gym for the whole 5 days. Such a gesture deserves to be highlighted.
ACCOMODATION
The whole event met some organizational problems due to the training place mishap but everything was solved for the best given the situation. We were hosted in two different places, which means the team was split into two groups, with the most convenient distribution according to car-sharing.
I was in the Bellenaves cottage with 14 other team mates, mainly Parisians and girls from Montpellier. We had the advantage of being close to the training hall contrary to the other (major) half who had to drive for 40 min twice a day. But they had a BBQ. And a football table game in their living room. So I guess we're even.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGE
That second training was psychologically more challenging than the first. After the discovery phase where you learn to know each other, both on the track and outside of it, in order to create a team spirit, things have gotten more competitive with the sword of Damocles starting to hang over our heads.
We are 40. There are 14 places on a roster. Or potentially 20 if it's a tournament. Which means that if you want to sweat in your official jersey, for one game or another, you have to stand out. Yet, standing out, without doing selfish or kamikaze actions, and while taking your partners into consideration, both in terms of team work and respect, can prove to be a real brainteaser! Especially when you realized you've slipped to the dark side without wanting it. There's a thin line between good and bad competition...
Sports isn't just about making those muscles work, there is also a good part of psychology and philosophy to it... and that's a lot to handle at the same time when you are tired and under pressure!
We are 40. There are 14 places on a roster. Or potentially 20 if it's a tournament. Which means that if you want to sweat in your official jersey, for one game or another, you have to stand out. Yet, standing out, without doing selfish or kamikaze actions, and while taking your partners into consideration, both in terms of team work and respect, can prove to be a real brainteaser! Especially when you realized you've slipped to the dark side without wanting it. There's a thin line between good and bad competition...
Sports isn't just about making those muscles work, there is also a good part of psychology and philosophy to it... and that's a lot to handle at the same time when you are tired and under pressure!
TRAINING
The training lasted five days with sessions scheduled as following:
- It started on Wednesday morning with an opening meeting on recaps and all, and we followed with a 4-hour session in the afternoon. When I say 'we' I mean 'them', of course.
- Thursday and Friday were the two complete skating days of the training, starting at 9AM and finishing at 5PM with a 1-hour break at lunch time.
- The gym was not available before 7PM on Saturday so that we made the most of the day for team bonding with a huge BBQ party altogether!
- Sunday was scrimmage day, with a free session in the morning while people were debriefed.
CONCLUSION
Although I am glad I was there, I didn't leave that second training with stars in my eyes either. My enthusiasm was dampened by my invalid ankle, preventing me from taking part in the trainings... and in everything that resulted from them, for better or worse: successes and fails, satisfactions and doubts, even tiredness and sore muscles... I gave a hand and shared opinions, but that doesn't make you feel like a legitimate part of the whole.
That feeling of not belonging to a unity was reinforced by the fact that we were not all hosted at the same place, although it was independant of our will. There were great moments in our cottage, as I'm sure there were plenty in the other housing too, but living them in such a separate way from the other half makes me think that we simply didn't experience the same retreat.
However, having seen the team's improvements from the outside, I can't wait for the May training to get challenged by my walls, enjoy those jammer helps, and share some good skating!
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