STAWELL - A six hour boot camp has done wonders for the Stawell Warriors Football Netball Club and will be high priority again next year.
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Last weekend saw approximately 38 Stawell Warriors footballer, netballers and committee members take to the highway for a day camp in Geelong where 30 people participated.
The bus load of keen individuals departed Stawell at six o'clock Sunday morning ready to go by the time they hit Geelong.
Westlift Warriors head coach Brad Cassidy began organising the event when he was re-appointed as coach in September.
The clinic was conducted by 'Stoofa' a friend of Cassidy's and a motivational speaker and fitness instructor from the Geelong area.
"Stoofa has quite an extensive background in fitness so it was something I really worked hard at organising" Cassidy said.
Stoofer otherwise known as Steven Lewry has spent 10 years working with football clubs across Victoria as a strength and conditioning coach and has twice been a winner of middle distance races in the Stawell Gift carnival..
The boot camp consisted of nine different stages each testing the strength and endurance of the players.
The training was at a high intensity and given the condition Brad was very happy with how everyone went.
"I'm extremely proud of everyone that came along, no doubt there will be sore bodies afterwards." Cassidy said.
Brad Cassidy also made the point of reducing the workload for the week to just one training session on the Wednesday night.
Over the course of the day 22 kilometres were completed by each individual something that would be near impossible as an individual was made easy in a big group.
"Doing 22 kilometres as a group with people around you is possible, it's so much easier when you're not on your own but you're all in it together" Brad said.
One of the 30 participants was Kristy Matthews.
Kristy who has been around the club since under 13's and has in the last couple of years taken on a coaching role said the words that "Stoofa" used and the way he spoke would help her coaching.
"As a coach, the words he used were so helpful, he was so encouraging, he is an awesome bloke doing amazing things" Kristy said.
Kristy echoed the thoughts of Brad Cassidy about the club being better for the day spent together.
"It was just a really special day and at the end of it we could all look at each other and know we had gained respect from everyone."
"As physically tough and mentally demanding as it was it was an opportunity that was missed by those that couldn't attend, it was a life changing experience."
Westlift Stawell Warriors will look into doing the program again next year after it was such a success this year hoping that the event can build and get bigger and better.
Stawell will now continue the normal training schedule ahead of their opening game on April 12.