360 Performance Hub

I’ve tried Pickleball for Two Weeks. Now I Understand the Obsession:

After decades of competitive sport, I've learned one thing; eventually your body starts negotiating terms that your mind refuses to accept. Most former athletes know exactly what I'm talking about. The competitive fire is still kind of there, but the knees, hips, shoulders and back have accumulated a few too many hours & miles.

That's exactly why I think more retired athletes should give pickleball a go.

In my second consistent week of going along twice a week to set sessions at a school gym in Dunedin (plus hits outside of this) I still get sore, but it's not a brutal kind of sore; the kind that leaves you unable to do anything physical for the next three days. (Old age battered body syndrome) I can still train, work, & move while getting my competitive fix. I have not been physically able to play squash to any level this regularly for about 8 years, the body simply cannot manage it, with pickleball this hasn’t been the case.

When I first picked up a paddle, I wasn't expecting much. What I found was a sport that gives you all the things I've missed since stepping away from serious competition; strategy, skill, intensity, camaraderie and that feeling of being engaged in a contest, and it doesn’t take all day. Plus I can walk away not over analysing or dwelling how good or bad I played.

The difference is you don't need to punish your body to get it. It's competitive enough without being destructive, I’m not doing it at this stage of my life to be world champ, & challenging enough without requiring elite fitness; (partially due to limitations of my movements) you can play hard, improve quickly and still wake up wanting to play again the next day.

What surprised me most was how addictive it is. The learning curve is quick enough that you're having fun immediately, but there's enough depth that you're constantly chasing improvement.

Before long, you're looking for the next game, the next tournament, well in my case, my 1st tournament.

There's a reason pickleball is exploding around the world and taking over court space traditionally occupied by other racket sports; it’s accessible, reasonably cheap, ($7 an hour for organised hits in my case) predominantly doubles focused, social, easy to learn and incredibly rewarding. People of different ages and abilities can hit together and genuinely enjoy it.

For those of us who thought our competitive sporting days might be behind us, pickleball offers something unexpected; a second chance to compete, improve and belong to a sporting community again.

I didn't expect to become obsessed with it, now I completely understand why millions of people around the world are.

The Real Reason Pickleball Is Growing Quickly all Over the World:

Been along to a couple of local Pickleball sessions over the last few days to realise why it solved the biggest problem in sport; accessibility.

Tennis can take years to feel competent. Golf is expensive and time heavy. Squash is physically brutal for beginners.
Pickleball? You can rally within 10 minutes.

The numbers are staggering: Pickleball is now one of the fastest growing sports globally. Participation is surging across the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Councils and clubs across Australasia are converting tennis courts to meet demand. Entire retirement communities, schools and corporate leagues are adopting it simultaneously.

Why it’s working:
1. Low barrier to entry. Small court, simple rules, light paddle, (easy on the arthritis) instant fun.
2. Social by design, games are fast, doubles focused, and highly conversational. It feels more like a social experience than elite competition.
3. Multi generational appeal; teenagers, parents and retirees can genuinely play together competitively, very few sports achieve that.
4. Urban efficiency; four pickleball courts can fit into one tennis court footprint. That’s a huge advantage in dense cities across Australasia where space is premium.
5. The “micro-win” effect; beginners experience success immediately. That dopamine loop drives repeat participation.

And here’s the bigger insight:
Pickleball isn’t just competing with tennis, it’s competing with Netflix, scrolling, and social isolation.

The winners in modern sport won’t necessarily be the most athletic; they’ll be the most accessible, social, and habit forming.

🎙️ LAST-GASP THRILLER IN DUNEDIN 🏉🔥

Had the privilege of commentating the first ever 1st XV clash between Christ’s College and King’s High School alongside Tristan Gaffaney in Round 4 of the South Island Boys Network Competition today at King’s High School.

What a game. A true topsy-turvy battle that went right down to the wire, with Christ’s College stealing victory in the dying moments to edge King’s 42-41 in an absolute classic.

Next stop: Christchurch for Super Round, where all 11 boys schools will come together over the King’s Birthday weekend for two huge matches each. Plenty more quality rugby ahead.

Really loving being part of the action calling games on the Sportsway AI platform 🎥🎤

When the Jersey Comes Off

You gave everything to it, early mornings, late nights, pain no one saw.

You wore it like it was your whole identity… like without it, you’d disappear.

But the truth hits different when it’s taken away; injury, selection, time… whatever comes first, and suddenly you’re standing there; no jersey, no role, no noise… just you; you realise, you don’t even know who that is.

That’s the part no one prepares you for, because sport will take everything you give it…and still move on without you, so don’t lose yourself in it: love it, fight for it, give it your all.

But don’t become it; it’s what you do, not who you are.

🎤 On the mic today for the South Island Schools Boys Network 1st XV clash between my King’s High School and St Thomas of Canterbury, and what a great experience it was.

Really enjoyed calling the game alongside Tristan Gaffney, proud Timaru Boys’ High School old boy.

Awesome atmosphere, sensational weather, quality footy, and always special to be involved with school sport at this level.

King’s are back at home next Saturday taking on Christ’s College.

🙏🏻🔥

Rod Bannister has a deep understanding of the commitment and discipline required to pursue excellence.

As a highly accomplished athlete across a range of sporting codes, he makes it clear that genuine high performance leaves nothing to chance.

The book’s concise, bite sized chapters are engaging and accessible, even for readers without a specialist background.

Rod’s insights into maximising potential are grounded in real world case studies drawn from his own experiences, alongside practical strategies and lessons he has gained from fellow athletes equally driven to reach their best.

This is a book rich with guidance that I know I will draw on in my own work as a mentor.

Dr. Gibson
Academic Dean
Damien Gibson
Teacher, English Department
Academic Dean

Comfort Doesn’t Build Champions. The Global Grind Does:

I’ve changed my perspective on this recently: Winning and dominating locally might feel like progress but it’s not what moves the needle on the world stage.

If you’re a young kiwi serious about climbing the PSA squash rankings, you need to look beyond your own environment. Real development comes from embedding yourself in a performance setting offshore, finding a club where you’re surrounded by like minded professionals, who have the same ambitions, a supportive coaching cohort, exposed to different playing styles, and pushed every single day.

Because growth isn’t built on comfort. It’s built on challenge. But here’s the foundation many overlook; before you go, you need to be ready.

A solid 1–2 years of disciplined training at home prior to departure is essential. That’s where your habits are built, your work ethic, your routines, your physical preparation, and your understanding of what it means to train like a professional. Without that grounding, the demands of the tour can overwhelm you instead of developing you.

Then, when that base is in place, go early. The sooner you step into the global arena after your secondary school years, the faster you adapt. You start learning the realities of the pro circuit while your game and mindset are still highly adaptable. You’re not just playing matches; you’re learning how to live the life.

And losing, that’s a crucial part of the process; you have to experience it, you have to sit with it, learn from it, and come back better. Many of our junior players win a lot and are never truly stretched beyond their means on a regular basis.

On the pro circuit, losses aren’t setbacks they’re feedback. Beyond the court, there’s even more to master; travel, recovery, nutrition, culture, scheduling, mental resilience, new environments, language barriers, and independence. These are the unseen skills that separate good players from true professionals.

Staying local might give you wins, but it won’t give you perspective; it’s not a true measurement of where you stand globally.

The pro circuit is brutal and if you really, truly want it that’s where you need to be.

Think global, base yourself offshore, & compete global. This is only for a select few, it’s not an easy journey.

Only a select few in the history of our sport have gone offshore, committed long term and been successful, it’s the road less traveled.

Talent matters but so does character:

When selecting teams, we often focus on performance metrics, results, and who’s trending on the “right” pathway, but what about the behaviours that shape the team environment every single day?

A bad attitude, constantly talking down teammates, vindictive behaviour, being self centred, cyber bullying, jealousy and envy. These aren’t minor issues they directly impact trust, cohesion, and the ability of a group to perform under pressure.

The question isn’t whether these behaviours should be part of selection criteria it’s whether we can afford to ignore them, because when this behaviour goes unaddressed, the damage compounds.

Standards slip, trust erodes, good players disengage or leave, small issues turn into divisions, and divisions turn into lost performance.

Coaches spend more time managing conflict than developing athletes. Over time, the culture becomes the problem not the solution.

Speaking the truth in these moments matters, so does backing and supporting players who have been pulled down or sidelined by poor behaviour. Ignoring it doesn’t keep the peace it protects the problem.

A highly skilled player who undermines others can weaken an entire team. On the other hand, athletes who bring accountability, respect, and support often elevate those around them and that translates to performance over time.

This doesn’t mean perfection is required. People can grow, and environments should support that. But behaviours have to matter, standards have to be clear and actions need to carry weight.

If we’re serious about building teams that perform, not just individuals who stand out, then character and conduct shouldn’t sit below talent they should stand alongside it.