Stéphane Antiga

                Stéphane Antiga is a well-known volleyball player and former member of French National Team. He is also famous for his role as the couch of Poland Men’s National Team. It’s worth noting  that in the rookie year of his career as coach, he managed to lead the team to victory in World Championships of 2014. He’s  very controversial figure as despite successes he is disliked both by some of his players and whole Polish Volleyball Federation. The reason for it might be lack of success after his short bright moment in the beginning. This situation and the failure in Rio lead to his  dismissal from the post.

                Speculations as to his next career move have lasted to date. Recently news has surfaced about his decision to lead the Canadian Team. He has signed 4-year contract, which means that he is going to be the one to prepare Canada for the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.

                It remains to be seen what his true merit as couch is. I think that we should be cautious now because they might be the new number one!

 

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My sources:

http://thenews.pl/1/5/Artykul/274872,Volleyball-Poland-to-ditch-coach-Antiga

http://www.worldofvolley.com/News/Latest_news/Othercountries/78180/can-m-official---stephane-antiga-takes-over-canadian-nt.html

http://www.volleywood.net/volleyball-related-news/volleyball-news-europe/poland-volleyball-news-europe/stephane-antiga-is-the-new-coach-of-canada/



Team building

                The team is the foundation of volleyball. Each player must know his place. However, I think it’s really emotionally difficult. Usually only the ones who score points become stars. The public doesn’t seem to remember that is the whole team’s work and other players have important tasks too. That can be very hard for them and could have destructive effects. That is why I got interested in the idea of team building activities and games. I’d like to present some of them:

 

1.Winner/Loser

As we all know, the team which is like small family, is based on trust and support. In this game people work in pairs- one person recalls a negative experience and tells the other about it. It has to be true! The other person then talks about the same experience trying to find positive aspects. Then they swap roles.

2. The Perfect Square

This game is about working together. You need some props: a piece of rope tied together and a blindfolds for each person. You make people form a circle holding the rope. Then they put the rope on the floor and put on their blindfolds. Next they walk a little away from the rope. When you ask them to, the participants must find the rope and try to arrange a square.

3. The Mine Field

This game is great for communication. Again some props are needed: a number of small objects and blindfolds. You divide the group into two smaller groups. One group put on their blindfolds and the other stands and gives verbal direction to the blindfolded people. The object of the game is not to step on the small object on the floor. It’s a great test in trust and communication.

4. Truth And Lies

This game is really fun. Each person tells three facts about themselves. Only  one of them is not a fact at all. It’s a lie. After each presentation, the team players try to spot the lie.

5. This Is Better Than That

One variation of this game is The NASA Game. You are given a list of objects and the group’s task is to decide which ones are going to be the most useful in performing a task. The task can be anything, like saving the world from aliens for example.

                I think it could be real fun to play one of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sources:

https://www.wrike.com/blog/team-building-games/
http://tutzone.org/team-building-activities-for-adults/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140709104517-6939498-great-ideas-for-team-building-activities 
 
 

How to cope with stress

                Playing big matches usually causes a lot of stress. That is why I’d like to write about some relaxation techniques.

 

1.       Meditation

It’s believed to be the most popular method to reduce stress. A few minutes per day can bring spectacular results. It has been proven by experiments. Transcendental Meditation is used by many sportsman to let go of negativity.

 

2.       Deep breathing

It can help you by lowering the blood pressure and slowing the heart rate. It can take only 5 minutes but helps a lot.

 

3.       Mindfulness

Focus on the here and now. Enjoy the little things in life. Try not to obsess about your mistakes.

 

4.       You are not alone

Reach out to other people. Remember that you have a lot of them to rely on. Especially your team mates, your family and couch. They will be more than happy to lend a helping hand.

 

5.       Listen to your body

The physical effects of stress can be really damaging to your body. Tense muscles cause a lot of pain. That is why remember  about massage and physiotherapy.  

                These pieces of advice might seem very simple but acting according to them is no easy thing. They might come in handy in all sorts of situations for people from all walks of life.

 

My sources:

https://www.brianmac.co.uk/mobile//relax.htm

http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/blissing-out-10-relaxation-techniques-reduce-stress-spot

 

Formal letter

Kamila Paszta

About Mary Maloney

ADX Florence

Fremont County

Colorado

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Are. NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear Sir,

 

                I am writing on behalf of Mary Maloney, my client and friend. I would like to request her parole from prison. I can guarantee that there is no risk she will become a recidivist.

                Mrs. Maloney has been a very good friend of mine since our childhood in Ireland. I would like to assure you that she is a very moral and religious person. Her father was a Protestant priest. Despite the fact that she was proven guilty, I believe in the existence of mitigating circumstances that were never brought to light.

                First and foremost, you must take into account that Mary is pregnant. She is due next month. We must make sure that her child does not share his or her mother’s punishment. It would be highly unfair. As much as it would be, to take it away from prison and mother. Secondly, it was never mentioned by the defence that Mary’s husband had had a mistress and planned to leave Mary and the child. She should have been charged with manslaughter as the death of her husband was not premeditated. It was her reaction to the news of the fact mentioned above. Finally, Patrick was not the best of husbands. He did not treat Mary well. He destroyed her.

                Therefore, I see it as the only reasonable course of action to release Mary from prison. She poses no threat to society.

Your sincerely,

Kamila Paszta