NSW Breakers Inspired by Gotcha4Life Presentation
The NSW Breakers recently participated in a workshop with Gotcha4Life – in partnership with the Cricket NSW Foundation – focusing on positive mental health, wellbeing, and resilience.
The interactive session at Blacktown International Sports Park, hosted by Gotcha4Life, saw the NSW Breakers playing group and support staff immersed in the inspiring and pertinent stories of Kath Koschel and Isa Guha – both Gotcha4Life ambassadors and former first-class cricketers.
Isa Guha – who represented England in 83 One Day Internationals, 22 T20 Internationals and 8 Test matches – was able to share her reflections from playing at the highest level, life after cricket and the importance of positive mental health.
“Mental fitness is important because we work on the physical side and the skills-based side but rarely ever do we have dedicated focus on our mind when it is the most important tool. I wish I had focused more time on it as a player,” Guha said.
“Not having discussed some difficult times I’d been through to an open group made me feel quite vulnerable but highlighting the importance of mateship through that process, with two of my best mates in the room, hopefully got the message across about the significance of having someone to talk to.”
The informative and relatable session stimulated honest conversation and helped provide a broader perspective for the NSW Breakers group. According to Player Development Manager, Erin Todd, these conversations will help create support structures for players and ensure that the companionship extends beyond the cricket field.
“It’s really important to know who your people are…the people you can turn to,” Todd said.