BATON ROUGE – The LSU gymnastics team continued an annual tradition by completing the ropes course as part of the University Recreation Challenge Program at the UREC Sport & Adventure Complex on campus Tuesday.
The purpose of the exercise was to bond and grow closer as a team by using communication, encouragement and hard work to complete the individual and team parts of the course. Another goal was to teach the gymnasts to focus on the steps it takes now to reach the end of the season team goals.
“It was a great experience for the team because it provided them an opportunity to have fun and develop chemistry and unity in a challenging way,” LSU assistant coach Philip Ogletree said.
The exercises included different variables to present a difficult challenge, such as limits on communication and vision during parts of the course. Gymnasts had to strategize and lead each other through the course obstacles while other teammates were blindfolded or not permitted to speak.
“Another goal during the ropes course was to have the freshmen learn to be a major part of this team,” Ogletree said. “As freshmen, they are often times shy, so in several tasks the upperclassmen were not allowed to talk and the freshmen had to lead.
“We saw a different side of them, and it allowed the team to come together as we move closer into starting fall practice.”
The team will take a break until after Labor Day, and the Tigers will gear up for fall practice that starts Sept. 20.
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