SPSU9W6 – Sports Work Experience (Spring 2020)

This week has been a really busy one for me in terms of finishing university work. I have had a few deadlines to keep busy with however with the added pressures of working during this that has been pretty tough.
The final report is underway and hopefully going okay too, so that is one stress of my mind however we will have to see how that goes..
Apart from completing the work and studying for an exam, things have been pretty uneventful. I have been trying to keep myself busy in the garden and other things to keep the mind busy.

With the impact of Covid 19 I find that the lack of routine has been the hardest part, many things have became uncertain and having all this time with not a great deal to do can cause stress to the mind. Mostly I was due to start my cricket with the university and with my club but that is postponed indefinitely. This has been a real shame as we have spent all winter preparing for it, and it feels like we have prepared for not very much. This is obviously unavoidable but a real shame all the same.
So that’s really all from me. I hope everyone is staying safe and keeping themselves busy during this! Thanks to everyone involved in the module its been great and hopefully goes well next time its ran!

Stay safe x
Elliott Rousen

During these uncertain times, I would be lying if I said I didn’t find it difficult to keep on track of university deadlines, as the days seem to blend into one after a while, as well as not being in the usual routine, again I apologies for the late post.

I finished the final report last night as I wanted to get it out the road early so I had plenty of time to study for my PE exam on the 1st of May. I found it quite time consuming, especially the the skills audit, but it is good that it is out of the way and I can concentrate on other things moving forward. Rachel was very responsive with filling out the career management audit for me so I finished it with lots of time to spare.

I have nothing else to discuss to be honest, I received positive feedback from Romie regarding the presentation which was nice to know that I was on the right tracks with my presentation.

With COVID-19 going on I find it very strange not being in a routine, I was so close to finishing placement with only 4 hours to complete, but in hindsight the safety of everyone is the most important thing and schools closing was definitely for the best. I miss being able to go into university and developing my skills further within my jobs but hopefully things will be back to normal within the next month or so. Probably slightly on the optimistic side.

Hope everyone is safe and well in these unsettling times.

During these uncertain times, it has become increasingly difficult to remain focused on work or anything in particular. I have managed to make a start on the final report but it still has a long way to go however, I have set a routine in place that should see me be able to keep track of my progress through the report and also in preparation for my coaching exam on the 21st.

I like many have struggled to find a sense of normality through these uncertain times but, it has gave me time to think about the future. I have applied for different courses to help me develop as a coach and also make sure that the athletes I coach receive better advice from me to help them progress to that next level. I have also started running again to help me keep a routine going throughout this period which is helping me keep a clear head through these tough times.

I have also came to appreciate the people I have around me, as me, my friends and family have been using skype calls to keep in contact and to help each other which has definitely helped me and for that I am grateful for those I have around me in this period.

As this is the last blog post I’d just like to say that this module has been a great experience and it has been great to learn off of everyone as well. This blog has also been a great method to keep up with everyone and it has been great to see how everyone has been doing on their placement and how they are making the most of it.

Finally, I just want to say a thank you to both Annie and Romie as this module obviously can’t run without you but also you both run this module incredibly well and help us develop many different skills from CV’s and interviews to self-reflection (something most of us often forget to do). You both are a credit to the university.

Hope everyone is well and staying safe!

In my last blog post I mentioned I had some concerns regarding the presentation assignment, particularly due to the fact I had spent so little time actually on placement. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the grade I received and the encouraging feedback from Romie. This has given me confidence that I will still be able to complete the final report to a high standard despite unfortunately not having the opportunity to see my placement through to completion. Currently I am trying to organise the supporting documentation for the final report, however I have yet to start writing the report as I am trying to focus on completing my dissertation project.

I have found the past couple of weeks tiring as my work schedule has changed to accommodate the changing environment created by the Covid-19 pandemic. I am now working more nightshifts which I find draining and am often up early on my days off to take care of our 16 week old puppy, who routinely likes to chew all my possessions and then look at me as though I’m being unreasonable as I attempt to pry what may or may not have previously been one of my slippers out of his mouth. But it’s good to be busy and have company while all this is going on.

It feels strange to be coming to the end of my time at Stirling, particularly under these circumstances, but I’ve enjoyed the experience I have had. I’m glad to have had the chance to have taken this module at this point of the course as it has helped prepare me for finding work in the world of sport upon leaving uni. I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to work with active Stirling, Dunblane High School and with Romie throughout this module.

I hope everyone else is keeping well and wish you good luck in the future!

The past three weeks have seemed to fly in during the lock down. I have managed to keep myself very busy during this time which has helped the time to pass quickly. I have had a couple of other assignments due for other modules so I have been busy with them and also finding time to go exercise each day which has helped to keep me sane. After getting my mark back for my presentation I was very pleased with it and has given me the motivation to go on and do well in the final report due on the 21st. This next week will also be busy for me as I have to finish off the report and also study for an exam on another module but I am not worried at all as I have plenty of spare time to get the work done. For the report, I was glad i managed to finish my placement and this will give me a good basis for the report. This module has been really enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it to any other students looking to take it. It has given me valuable experience I can benefit from in the future and I have gained some good contacts within the industry I aim to work in, in the future.

Since lock-down began I have been finding it difficult to stay motivated with university work, with all the changes to exams and classes.

I’ve managed however to keep a positive mind and get through my coursework that I have been assigned. The final report for this module has been going well so far and I’m hoping to finish it soon. It was a shame I never got to see out the end of my placement but I still should be able to create a report that hopefully secures me a high mark.

How I’ve been coping with the Covid-19 situation is making sure I keep in touch with friends over video call, as well as making sure I get some exercise in each day to maintain a healthy mind set. I feel that both is very important during these tough times and can really help with motivation issues. I have also been making sure that my dog gets a long enough walk to make sure I reduce the amount of times I need to leave the house.

Within the next 2 weeks not only will i have to finish my report for this module but will also have to sit an exam. It is quite daunting but I think I will manage if i prepare appropriately. I hope everyone is staying safe and getting on well with their coursework and studies.

Since my last post a lot has changed, however, I am trying to keep my days as busy and as structured as possible. My days consist of getting up early and trying to complete the last of my uni work. I have final touches to fix on my dissertation and I am getting on well with my final project. I am actually quite happy that I still have uni work to do as it is keeping me going and is giving me something to work towards daily. It also allows me to take my mind off the madness that is going on just now which is nice.

The thought of next week being my final week in university is slightly daunting, however, I am also really excited and pleased with myself that I have made it this far. I just look forward to things going back to normal and being able to celebrate all my hard work over the past couple of months and hopefully graduation happens in the near future.

I have also realised how benefical and valuable this module as been for me in terms of future career goals and experience. Through completing this module I have been able to gain experience that I would have never of done before and it has allowed me to meet new people and learn from their experiences. I would also like to say a big thanks to Romie as she has been very helpful and understanding in this strange time alongside considering students with dissertations and the stress this may put us under. Romie is a credit to the university and any pupils she teaches.

I look forward to what the future holds for me and I try to stay positive during this time of uncertainty.

We are still in a lockdown, I have been focusing mainly on my dissertation, food and exercise.

I have been doing my dissertation section by section with an achievable goal of 3 tasks per day which I have managed to achieve each time. Today is the last day I have planned to write my final two sections and edit, I am not really in the mood for it though and I’m not pushed for time at all with over a week left until submission, I may just allow myself the day off and get back into it tomorrow as my only plan tomorrow was re-read and edit and plan my final placement report. I know from previous experience I’ll produce better work when my head is in a better place.

My final report is due the day after my dissertation, so I am planning to do this next week and break down the sections over 4 days. This means I will not be stressed or rushed. I feel like I will be okay when writing this report as I have a rough idea of the content and structure.

I am glad to have this work to complete at this time as it is keeping my mind occupied or I’d be driving myself insane. Alongside dissertation and final report writing I have been trying to keep up with my training from home with weights I have and as of next week I am going to start running 5ks again. I have been trying to eat well and hit my nutrition targets, this is ensuring I come of isolation healthy and happy ready to go back into training as I was in a good place before the gyms shut.

I’m finding the COVID-19 situation pretty frustrating, but I am doing the best I can and I have made a list of things to keep me occupied:

• Dissertation writing and editing
• Final report writing and editing
• Exercise
• Cooking
• Masters application and research on funding
• 2 new books to read on ‘strength and physique training’ and ‘mindfulness’
• Freshening up the paint in my room
• Household DIY with my mum
• Learn how to do my own hair if hairdressers are shut beyond April

I originally thought my pervious blog post was the last one so I apologise if it sounded very concluding towards the end. This is my final blog post surrounding my work placement as a strength and conditioning coach in high performance athletes as well as my time on this work placement module.

With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that is happening, everything is on lockdown so its quite strange not being able to do all the things I usually would be doing, especially this Easter weekend where the weather is lovely and sitting in a beer garden would be lovely right now, unfortunately going for a nice Easter walk will have to do. With the University gym being shut I am a bit lost as that’s where I spend a lot of my time for work as well as training myself. I still have to work so I am working from home and I have been programmed into the new live classes timetable I take a live HIIT and core class on a Tuesday and Friday so I have been spending a lot of time preparing for those classes and practicing them before delivering them so that has also allowed me to keep training, maybe not to the extent I was training at but at least its something.

outside of working from home for the gym I managed to get my dissertation finished and I just need to submit it. Getting this finished was a big relief. I enjoyed writing as I find my topic very interesting so it was enjoyable to write but that’s not to say it wasn’t stressful cause it was. Other than that I have been writing my final report for my work placement. I gathered all my appendices first as this I felt was going to take a while which it did. I plan to get it finished by Wednesday at the latest as it is due next Monday.

I have really enjoyed this module and think it is very well organised and have for sure learnt and taken a lot away from it.

Stay safe everyone!