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Media Credit: courtesy of UNCA Outdoors Program

UNC Asheville Outdoors Program hosted the women's basketball team on the Diamond Brand Low Ropes Course on Tuesday, September 16th.

Head Coach Betsy Blose asked the trained staff of the ropes course to challenge the team and make them face difficult situations. This would allow Blose to see how her team would react and make the team bond and work together when they face adversity.

The 13 players and four coaches met with ropes course staff and started with a group initiative. After a few attempts, the team began to think outside the box and discovered better and better methods of performing the task. They went from completing the game in 13 seconds to just 2 seconds. The team also did other activities and elements of the course, such as a group jump rope activity, a circular rope activity and two elements on low-hung cables suspended from trees. Players had to rely on each other in order to complete these elements. Throughout the day, on the ropes course, the trained leaders tried to create instances that translate into situations the team may encounter on the basketball court.

Blose is one of the only coaches to take advantage of the low ropes course. The coaching team believes success is about more than just winning on the court, it is about growth and blending a group of young people to achieve a common goal. The coaches believe it is their job to not only build the basketball skill level, but to help the players learn skills that will help them after the end of their collegiate basketball career. Blose emphasizes learning how to work with other people, communicate and problem solve. The coaching staff sees the Outdoors Program's low ropes course as a way of reaching this goal.

Anyone in the campus community can use the course free of charge. The low ropes course is a series of physical and mental challenges that present metaphors for real life. The course, located in the Experimental Forest, consists of low-height cables creating different elements only a foot or two off the ground. There are always spotters any time someone is on the element. Trained staff with a full understanding of the goals of the group run the course.

To schedule a session on the low ropes course, contact Leigha Dickens, the Low Ropes Course Supervisor, at lhdicken@unca.edu. Two weeks notice is requested so staff can be notified and make arrangements to run the event.

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