Behind the Scenes: Tide Women?s Basketball Day 4
4/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
In the final of a four-day series on RollTide.com that followed the Crimson Tide women’s basketball team through its final week of its spring strength and conditioning workout schedule, the Friday workout was not only a competitive endeavor, but was a chance to have some fun for the team after a hard six weeks of work...
Friday ?? April 27 (Spring Workout Finale)
Breaking into two teams, the Tide competed against one another for bragging rights in a series of challenges. These challenges were not only physically taxing, but also required some mental team work as well. To spice things up, each team got to dress in character, with the teams representing a group of rappers and a group of 80’s hair band rockers.
Team 1: Talisha, Nikki, Camilla, Alyson (Rappers)
Team 2: Tamara, Courtney, Dedrea, Nathalie (Hair Bands)
The team competition done today was an extension of the past six weeks, where the squad was divided into two units that competed throughout for supremacy in the weight room.
The first exercise was a fun one, with each team presenting a short skit that was judged on creativity and performance. Team 1 drew first blood by winning this event.
Next, the two teams did some mental work with some team-building exercises. The first exercise was called Magic Carpet, where each team had to fit all of members on to a medium-sized bath towel and then flip it over without andy member stepping off of it. Team 2 drew even with a victory.
Stretch the Limit was the next team-building exercise. The two teams had to move from one cone to the other while maintaining contact with their teammates or with three inanimate objects while touch both cones, set 12 yards apart. Each team had to stay linked the entire time.
Up next was a relay race set up in four legs, with a fifth leg that required the entire team to cross the finish line together. The first leg was a bear crawl under hurdles, a bunny hop for 30 yards with obstacles and a backwards bear crawl.
On leg two, players had to crab crawl around boxes, bunny hop through levels of boxes and a crab-crawl weave.
Leg three was bear crawl weave, bunny hop over boxes and bear crawl around several boxes.
The fourth leg was a wheelbarrow for 40 yards, a 135-pound sled pull.
For the fifth leg, the team had to link arms and perform 10 full sit-ups and finish with a 20-yard Feet Parade.
Team 1 won the relay in a close race after penalties were subtracted from the final score. That team also won the overall competition, earning its reward, which is a trophy that is on display in the UA strength and conditioning office and a gift certificate for one day off of Team Ab workouts.
Michelle Diltz, UA Women’s Basketball Strength and Conditioning Coach:
“I think that this team really worked hard the past six weeks. When they first came in, they were excited to work because they realized they weren’t where they needed to be to compete in the SEC. When they started working hard and taking ownership and holding themselves and each other accountable, things started moving in the right direction. Throughout the competition, we have been seeing a lot of positive things in regard to leadership and teamwork that are needed with this young team. Through all of the things we have done, I think we have come a long way the last six weeks.”
