World Series - Vancouver and Los Angeles

One of the most incredible opportunities offered by the CIP—Gallagher High Performance Academy is to participate in the World Series in Vancouver and Los Angeles.

I had the chance to participate in the preparations since the beginning of January and saw the team embark for Perth; I followed the games during the early hours of the morning, hoping to see them putting into practice everything that happened in training. But it's not that simple...

Movements and situations that were presented and trained do not immediately transfer to a pressure situation, but I still needed to understand many aspects that differentiated a World Series training and game context as a staff member.

When embarking for Vancouver, I had the chance to experience a week where a lot of planning is required combined with an awareness of the group's needs and which involves many adaptations.

From my previous experience, I knew that the competitive high-performance environment requires rapid decision-making on the field and a lot of planning off field. I was especially surprised and delighted by the idea that the staff also needs to perform well under pressure, responding to adversity, respecting roles and responsibilities and providing a fertile environment for the athletes.

During the trip, many situations needed to be maneuvered and resolved so that the athletes had more clarity, comfort and reduced stress and anxiety. The presence of a sports psychologist was essential to support not only the team but also the staff. There were many moments when I watched with admiration and had no doubt that the staff knew exactly what to do, had the necessary knowledge. However, emotional aspects can greatly influence the delivery of this knowledge. It's like a transversal variable that influences performance and puts other aspects at risk.

Reflecting on my experience with the CIP—Gallagher High Performance Academy during the World Series in Vancouver and Los Angeles, I realize I've gained a profound understanding of the complexities of high-performance sports environments. From intense planning and rapid decision-making to handling pressure and responding to the team's psychological needs, each aspect taught me invaluable lessons. Observing the dedication and expertise of the staff under high-pressure conditions was particularly enlightening. Overall, this journey has not only broadened my perspective on athletic performance but also enriched my professional growth in ways I had not anticipated. The integration of emotional resilience, strategic adaptability, and team synergy in real-world scenarios was a learning experience far beyond the training grounds.