Tribute to my Alma Mata

Sport Skills for Life Skills (SS4LS)  is a cricket bursary programme founded by one, Adv Nicolas Kock and funded by a very special human being in Prof Johann Graaf.  

The programme based at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), had humble beginnings in 2000 with probably partially sponsoring 1-3 students.  Today  in the year 2013, the University and the programme helps about 20-25 aspiring cricketers achieve tertiary education.

UWC, is a former "bush" ( non-white university, of the past) University, located in Bellville, Western Cape.  It is neighboured by the well known University of Cape Town at the base of Table Mountain and the University of Stellenbosch, surrounded by beautiful vineyards and the Helderberg Mountains.  In 2001 I registered for a B.Sc Physiotherapy degree, but unbeknown to me, it would mark the beginning of a very heart warming relationship between an outstanding life skill programme and myself.

In 2000, Adv Nicolas Kock, the brainchild of programme took his idea to another socialist and philanthropist, Prof Johann Graaf.   From then on the relationship between the two has been able to produce an outstanding cricket club, which has won numerous premier league titles, having won the double twice and has been in 3 University Week finals within the last 5 years.  Currently UWC is the second best club in the country, having got to the Club Champs Final.  To date, we are probably one of the leading Universities that have produced semi pro and professional cricketers with degrees.  The likes of Francois Plaatjies, Gurshwin Rabie and Rowan Richards, are playing franchise cricket and all have degrees ranging from a Masters in Information Systems to Honours in Sociology.  A long list of amateur cricketers also found the benefit of studying at UWC rewarding.  The club has also drawn big name head coaches, namely Ezra Poole ( WP and North West wicketkeeper), Andrew Wylie ( Boland batsman) and currently Andy Moles ( English county batsman and former New Zealand Coach).

It was a honour to receive a bursary to complete my Masters in Physiotherapy and represent this life changing University as a budding cricketer and many more students will feel the same gratitude.  This proud University and programme is being represented throughout the country, in the work place and the cricket fields by proud alumni.  The legacy of UWC and SS4LS will continue to roll out, well rounded cricketers with degrees for years to come.

Thank you Prof Johann Graaf and the Graaf Trust for your unselfishness and support to a man who gave up being a lawyer to fore fill the dreams of many aspiring cricketers.

www.ss4ls.org.za 

@Craig_gov

The Pit Crew

Like any well oiled racing team, comes a pit crew, that regularly changes, the oil, tires and fixes any mechanically problems when required.  The Highveld Lions pit crew, aka the medical team includes the highly experienced Dr Jon Patricios, our team Sports Physcian, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Jeff Lunsky and myself as Physiotherapist.

Each of us, play a very important role, in keeping guys on the field.  Prior to the commencement of a season, each contracted Lions player has a medical screen done, by Dr Jon Patricios, a fitness and strength battery of tests by Jeff Lunsky and a very thorough musculoskeletal assessment by myself.  These screening procedures allows  each discipline of the medical team to plot out areas of strength and weakness in a cricketer.   A medical screen allows Dr Patricios to  check blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, ECG's as well as many other tests, which can effect performance.  Jeff's tests, involve aerobic and anaerobic fitness, as well as strength, power and agility tests, which would give him a better understanding of the fitness of each player.  Thus he will then plot out training programmes to improve performance in a player.  From a musculoskeletal point of view, I am able to pinpoint, the finer areas that may cause injury in the future.  Hence each player will then be handed an individual program to limit some injuries from occurring.    The catch phrase is "prehabilitation".  Preventive rehabilitation which most players will perform.  

If an injury occurs, I will assess and diagnosis the player immediately.  It is then important that I get the correct diagnosis of injury, in order to relay a report to the coach and player.  Knowing the time out of play is important for both.  By this I mean, understanding the grade/depth of a tear, when it comes to muscle injures. Understanding, if a ligament or tendon is strained or torn or if a player has a fracture or broken bone.  These answers may not be easily diagnosed by objective testing, therefore if required an immediate referral to Dr Patricios is important.  As he will reassess the player and send him for further imagining.  Imagining may be a x-ray, mainly used to diagnosis bone injuries, Ultrasound Scans for tissue related injuries (muscles, tendons and ligaments), and if a diagnosis cannot be made our last option would be an MRI.

When a diagnosis is made, we are able to manage the injury appropriately, that is, understanding the time out of the game to undergo physiotherapy, initial rehabilitation and end phase rehabilitation (return to play rehabilitation).

Elite athletes are high performance individuals who need to be treated as such. The Lions cricketers form part of a high performance structure that enables them to perform at a high level for a prolonged period of time.  In order to achieve this the season is broken in different phases. Namely, Off-season, Pre-season and In- season.  Jeff Lunsky and myself are tasked in developing programmes which will condition our players for a 6-7 month season and now involves playing 3 formats of the game.   Jeff focuses his attention on the physical conditioning and strength of the players, whereas I focus on stability (core, shoulder and ankle), flexibility and throwing (conditioning of the shoulder).

As previously mentioned, prehabilitation is the focus and attempting to limit injuries from occurring is the goal.  All our programmes and injury prevention strategies are evidence based.  Thus understanding the sport and common injuries, together with the results from our screening helps us devise these programmes.

@Craig_gov

Craig Govender Physiotherapy @ the Bullring