Cyprus 2024
The ECSA have recently returned from the Coral Bay Hotel and Resort in
Paphos, Cyprus. The trip was incredibly successful in providing learning and
development opportunities for student athletes both in and out the pool.
The ECSA student athletes have all embraced their time away with
tenacity and focus. When conducting themselves around the hotel, the athletes
were ambassadors for Ellesmere College and demonstrated the core values of the
ECSA. They were polite, respectful, and consistently registered on time,
building a solid foundation of trust. The coaching team arrived with high
expectations; having planned a demanding schedule of training, balanced with
down time for the student athletes to be able to enjoy the experience as a
whole. The team did not disappoint and showed their dedication and
determination towards their training by stepping up in the pool and pushing
themselves when asked.
Our day started at 6.25am where the team made their way down to the 50m
pool and woke themselves up by doing some pre-pool exercises with the luxury
backdrop of the morning Cypriot sunrise. After a session in the pool the team
would then enjoy breakfast together in the restaurant.
Breakfast became the highlight of the day as the variety of food on
offer catered for everyone's tastes, with pancakes and waffles being a firm
favourite. After breakfast the team would gather on the sofas which became our
meeting point, and the plan for the day was discussed. Down time consisted of
playing snooker, table tennis, volleyball, relaxing at the beach, sunbathing by
the pool, or enjoying unlimited mocktails on the terraces. Next it was lunch,
where the team would regroup and then return to the pool for the afternoon
session, to continue pushing themselves in their training.
In the evenings the team would meet for supper and discuss the day. The
evening food at the hotel was exceptional, featuring a variety of foods to meet
everyone's needs. We enjoyed Mexican,Fish, BBQ, Cypriot and 'All Around The
World' themed evenings. Following advice from the coaching team around
nutrition and hydration, the student athletes tried foods that they had not
experienced before, ensuring they ate responsibly, refuelling their bodies
ready for following days training. The student athlete's day finally drew to a
close at 9.30pm when they went back to their bedrooms to rejuvenate, ready to
go again the following day.
A huge thank you to Sports Abroad and the Cyprus Tourism Board for all
their help in organising this trip for the ECSA. We look forward to the next
one!
Kind regards,
ECSA Coaching Team