Camp Hints

For the NSW Country team, we have to have training camps where we stay over the weekend together. Due to the various locations our players live in. This year our 2 further most players were over 1500 kms away from each other. This is a challenge in itself, with some players having to fly in for weekend training camps. 

The biggest camp is the first one, where there are around 30 players to feed and normally about 2-4 staff (depending on how many the head coach decides they would like). The camps run from Fridays to Sundays meaning 5 meals in total (2 dinners 2 breakfasts and 1 lunch) and light snacks in between. 

The players are certainly put through their paces. So when it comes to food they are always famished. The easy off the shelf snacks are not the nutritional option that is good for their energy levels during an intense training camp like these. 

Here is what a typical camp menu would look like.

Friday - Arrive: 6.30 pm  (instruct to have dinner before they arrive)

Light snack: 

Ham and Cheese toasted sandwiches

Fruit 

Supper: 

Hot Milo

Fruit 

Rice Biscuits

Saturday

Breakfast:

Cereal (2-3 choices)

Yogurt

Toast

Up & Go/Chocolate Milk

Lunch:

Wraps with cold meats and salad

Dinner:

BBQ Chickens - have the shop cut them into 1/8 or 1/4

Salad

Potato Bake

Sunday

Breakfast:

Cereal (2-3 choices)

Yoghurt

Toast

Up & Go/Chocolate Milk

Snacks: 

Training sessions would normally run a couple of hours at a time so in between I would provide toasted sandwiches, fruit or some baked treats or more familiar home snacks (ie chips, muesli bars).

After the first camp I got a sense of what they like so I can provide more of that. I learnt quickly that the team I was looking after could not get enough hommus for their wraps/sandwiches and watermelon at fruit breaks. I would always provide extra of that each time. 

Whilst we didn't offer lunch on the Sunday, any left over food I would make up into take home snacks. There was regularly a long drive ahead for most families so to have something healthy to take along with them was always received well.

I would always set up breakfast before I would go to bed so then in the morning all that needed to put out on the table is milk and yogurt. If it took a while to get the players settled or it was a late night it meant that there was little preparation required.

I invested in a box for all the condiments that I had bought and any items that could be used from camp to camp that was not used up entirely. Particularly for items such as salt and pepper, spreads etc. Also depending on what venue the camps are at you may need to pack in some essential kitchen utensils. Whist some venues have ample facilities, its frustrating when you arrive to find that the kitchen is missing a good sharp knife or tea towels. I would always pack in the following items:

• Sharp knives - one smaller and one bigger
• Chopping boards
• Tea Towels
• Zip lock bags
• Cling Wrap
• Peeler
• Paper Towel

These basics will get you through even the basic of kitchens. 

Keeping the meals simple, means that you will be able to adequate feed the fussiest of eaters. Salads would never be tossed, just a lot of salad items laid out for them to build their own. Salad dressings left on the side so it can be added or not.