Giving sundowners a different meaning
THE island basketball fraternity have been breaking a sweat in the great outdoors while preparing for a rather different 2020-21 season.
Training together at such scenic locations as Vazon Bay, while still catching their breath from a later-than-normal Vistra League conclusion, they are eyeing a new campaign where an Island Select side will compete as a Division One outfit.
Their preparations include the assumption that a 2020 Inter-Insular and the Guernsey 2021 NatWest International Island Games will go ahead.
Vistra League action is set to resume in late October or November and the new select side will, according to Guernsey coach Adam Farish, allow island players to unite as a team more often.
‘In an Island Games year, we look to get off island, but we have limited opportunities [amid the coronavirus pandemic], so we are looking to get our preparations on island,’ said Farish.
This select side will be unable to win the title, in the interest of fairness, and players will represent their clubs in matches where there would otherwise be a conflict between rosters.
These pre-season workouts are aimed at improving their general fitness ahead of the speedy turnaround to competitive action.
With players enjoying activities such as running, rowing and cycling on top of this five-week programme, Farish has to credit the team’s commitment to his sessions.
‘Just generally, it’s good fun. The guys are working really hard and they are swearing at me a little by the end of the session.’
