The Steelers inaugural NSWRL women’s premiership squad under coach Alicia-Kate Hawke spent a night in camp followed by an early morning beach session and team building activities before their season kicks off with a home game at WIN Stadium on Sunday, February 5.
A contingent of close to 40 people, consisting of players and football department staff undertook a series of exercises conducted by team sponsor Coal Services designed to build connections among the team.
“It was a phenomenal team building day, and the crew at Coal Services made the experience a great mix of fun, challenge, mining understanding, and incorporating our team values,” Hawke said. 
“We started off with a great history of how mine rescue came about. The team at Coal Services had a wealth of experience and passion about not just the history of mining but our Illawarra history specifically.
The squad was split into three teams before being exposed to three different mine rescue experiences: team escape, roof collapse and rescue, and firefighting.
“At each stage, the facilitators let the girls try to figure it out on their own, then had a chance to reflect and see how they could do it better and improve on it. This was then transferred to what we do on the football field and our principal value of ‘better than before’.
Hawke said these scenarios provided an excellent opportunity for the players to rely on each other and build stronger connections.
“It also allowed the coaches to see their different leadership and teamwork styles to draw on in future sessions. You are always looking for new ways to work on the same skills, and this day certainly provided that for us!”
“We will draw on this learning and refer to many of the transferable skills highlighted, such as; clear roles, active listening, clear communication, trust, and teamwork.
“We appreciate Coal Services for coming on board as a sponsor and cannot thank them enough for the fantastic team-building day.”
Special thanks to Coal Services trainers: Jayden Lowe, Neil Wilcock, Mitch Whitall, Ben Ransley, Steve Rutledge, Bill Morris and Bart Hill.
Coal Services is a Specialised Health and Safety Scheme proudly protecting the NSW coal mining industry and its workers for more than 90 years. They are a unique and trusted expert body providing preventative and responsive services.
Managing health and safety is their business. With a collaborative model unlike any other worldwide, they are connected through a common purpose – to protect.
> Over on Facebook | Wishart and Timmins address SG Ball Squad | What it means to pull on the famous Scarlet and White
