5or6 Elite

The why

5 min readOct 21, 2019

In 2015, I sat in the Birds Nest in Beijing watching Australian long jumper Fabrice LaPierre go head-to-head with Britain’s Greg Rutherford for a World Championship gold. As each athlete pushed each other to greater distances, each focused on maximising their jump, each with the same coach, each the others’ teammate.

I considered the dynamic of training with your rivals.

Both men pushed each other like it was a training session at Paradise Valley in Phoenix. They had spent the last year together… everyday. While others seem affected by the environment, these two elite athletes clicked into the competition with ease, both no doubt giving each other confidence until they claimed gold and silver.

Consider this in team sports.

The environment and those around you are so important. Yes, most of the time players will be with teams in season and get that competition. But what about the summers when players return from the US colleges, pro clubs or end their domestic season? They return to their UK base. Largely compete against whoever is around with limited scrimmages and not to a level that pushes their growth.

It’s something that I wanted to address.

5or6 Elite is an invite-only camp. I invited a cross-section of players — all but two had represented their National team at some level. Six of the players were full senior internationals.

All were either going to the NCAA, turning professional or seasoned professionals. All bought into our motto ‘here to work’.

5or6, Wilson and Tokyo Time all donated for our welcome packs.

I hired the best skills coach in the country, Gary Maitland, and GB physiotherapist Aaron Wharton. Coaches Mark Jarram, Krumesh Patel and S&C coach Nathan Bullock and the awesome Joe Pinchin all gave up their time to put on the sessions.

Here’s an insight into what we got up to over the four great days of basketball…

Day One

2pm: Welcome Meal
3pm: Meeting
4pm: Player photos
6pm: Skills-based workout with Gary Maitland

Day Two

8am: Skills-based Workout with Gary Maitland
12pm: Skills-based Workout with Gary Maitland
2.30pm: S&C with Nathan Bullock
6pm: Scrimmage
8pm: Ice Baths