Altitude - Peak Performance - McMaster University Athletics

Altitude -Peak performance is an innovative program designed to teach the foundations of leadership, teamwork, nutrition, movement skills, exercise progression, sport specific training and more. The program is ideal for sports teams, physical education classes, exercise physiology and anatomy classes, outdoor recreation classes and any group of people that are eager for a unique opportunity to learn about sport performance, teamwork, and leadership from outstanding program staff at McMaster University.

For School Groups: Each program focuses on grade curriculum expectations. Students will develop skills that will allow them to maintain and commit to lifelong healthy active living and will help them identify their leadership styles.
Sports Teams: Programs are tailored to the performance goals and sport of each team. Participants will be educated on high performance training concepts and will actively participate in team development training and performance training.

Introduction to High Performance and Sport Leadership

This introductory program is designed to teach the foundations of performance and leadership. Performance topics may include long-term athlete development, nutrition, strength training, flexibility and speed/agility training. The Indoor Feather Family Climbing Wall, Alpine Tower, and Team Development Course will be used to promote enhanced group cohesion and develop leadership skills.

Goals

To introduce students to the fundamentals of strength training with a focus on dynamic warm ups, weight training technique, proper recovery (including flexibility), and self myofacial release.
To expose athletes to basic sport nutrition including pre and post exercise meals, meal timing and hydration.

To combine individual athletic ability with team performance and cohesion.

These goals will help your athletes develop fundamental training skills and leadership qualities to take with them to their game!

Activities:

Strength training session including warm up, strength circuit, cool down, flexibility training and/or speed agility quickness session.
Presentation on LTAD (Long Term Athlete Development) and/or sport nutrition.
Learning concepts such as the full value contract, challenge by choice, and the importance of goal setting will be discussed.
Team building activities where the group is required to problem solve, set goals, and resolve conflict, many of which are on our Team Development Course (A low-ropes challenge course).
High-Ropes Alpine Tower climbing, or Feather Family Indoor Climbing Wall.
Several "ice breakers" to develop a comfort zone with other group members.
Creative and interesting briefing and debriefing techniques.

Advanced Performance and Sport Leadership

This advanced program will focus on selected aspects of performance and leadership. Interactive seminars, training sessions, team building exercises and the Feather Family Indoor Climbing Wall or Alpine Tower will be used to facilitate and increase in physical fitness and leadership skills. Training sessions can include metabolic training, resistance training and plyometric training (training background required).

"The Brantford 99er's Bantam AAA hockey spent a day at Altitudes training centre at McMaster University with the sole purpose of team building. The 17 team members and it's coaches had a great day with Wayne and his staff. The Head Coach sensed his players bonding together as a team while completing a variety of challenges. The boys had to rely on each other for support on the climbing tower, trust each other while being tossed into the air and caught on a blanket, and work co-operatively as a team to get all of the players into a small suspended net."

Dave McKay - Brantford 99er's

Goals:

Understand the importance of plyometric and power training for enhanced sport performance.

Combine individual athletic ability with team cohesion and leadership.

These goals will help your athletes develop fundamental training skills and leadership qualities along with plyometry.

Activities:

Plyometric training session.
Learning concepts such as the full value contract, challenge by choice, and the importance of goal setting will be discussed as it pertains to sport.
Team building activities where the group is required to problem solve, set goals, and resolve conflict, many of which are on our Team Development Course (A low-ropes challenge course).
High-Ropes Alpine Tower climbing, or the Feather Family Indoor Climbing Wall.
Several "ice breakers" to develop a comfort zone with other group members.
Creative and interesting briefing and debriefing techniques.

Active Science

An interactive program designed specifically for exercise science classes or high performance athletes with focus on sports nutrition or performance testing demonstrations. Participants will further develop their understanding of the body through selected topics in functional anatomy, metabolism, and an active session that will allow them to see muscles in motion or experience each energy system in action!

Goals:

Expose students to high performance testing equipment including V0₂ max, Wingate and BodPod body composition testing.
Gain understanding through active participation of functional anatomy.

Apply anatomy concepts to strength training for better understanding of muscle physiology.
Gain greater understanding of energy systems and physically experience each one.

These goals will help your athletes develop a strong understanding of exercise physiology and the science of movement and coordination.

Activities:

VO₂ max and Wingate demonstration.
BodPod demonstration.
Functional anatomy interactive lecture.
Strength training session.
Learning concepts such as the full value contract, challenge by choice, and the importance of goal setting will be discussed.
Team building activities where the group is required to problem solve, set goals, and resolve conflict, many of which are on our Team Development Course (A low-ropes challenge course).
High-Ropes Alpine Tower climbing, or Feather Family Indoor Climbing Wall.
Several "ice breakers" to develop a comfort zone with other group members.
Creative and interesting briefing and debriefing techniques.

ONE Team

A fresh perspective on the idea of "team" roles within the group will be challenged as participants are expected to move through various roles of leadership and cooperation. A strong emphasis will be placed on debriefing to ensure participants learn from their experiences. The Indoor Climbing Wall or Alpine Tower will help to enhance team cohesion and will provide autonomy for every individual. Participants should expect a challenging day that is sure to produce a unified group or team.

Goals:

Establish trust between team members.
Enhance a team's communication and cooperation.

Identify team weaknesses and focus on improving those areas.
Develop a strong sense of team unity through activities that exemplify support and commitment.

Activities:

Sport-specific scenarios and debriefing.
Learning concepts such as the full value contract, challenge by choice, and the importance of goal setting will be discussed.
Team building activities where the group is required to problem solve, set goals, and resolve conflict, many of which are on our Team Development Course (A low-ropes challenge course).
High-Ropes Alpine Tower climbing, or Feather Family Indoor Climbing Wall.
Several "ice breakers" to develop a comfort zone with other group members.
Creative and interesting briefing and debriefing techniques.

All About Climbing

This program has a strong focus on climbing technique and skill and is perfect for an outdoor recreation or physical education class. Both the Indoor Climbing Wall and Alpine Tower will be used to help individuals develop their technique and skill. Participants will learn climbing knots, and how to belay on different devices.

Goals:

Learn belaying techniques and knot tying.
Investigate a variety of climbing equipment and safety factors.
Understand and apply a variety of climbing techniques.

Learn climbing warm-ups and exercises.
Climb both a 30 foot wall and 50 foot tower!

Activities:

High-Ropes Alpine Tower climbing
Indoor Climbing Wall.
Belayer training.
Equipment training.