Daniel Roose sought a way to break the monotony of preseason training for the VCU men's basketball team. Lifting weights, running, doing on-court drills and playing pickup games can get old, even in a program coming off a Final Four appearance.
Roose, the Rams' strength and conditioning coach, this month launched VCU's version of Hell Week, during which players, coaches and support personnel go through out-of-the-ordinary conditioning routines. Roose partnered with John McGuire, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and area resident who trains groups and individuals.
Three times this week, the Rams report not to coach Shaka Smart, but to instructor McGuire. So did Smart.
"He's at the front of every line," Roose said.
Smart, his assistants (when not recruiting out of town), and other athletic department staff members joined the Rams for a pair of 75-minute workouts already this week. The first took place Monday morning at 6:30 at Bryan Park. The second started at 6:30 Wednesday morning at Byrd Park. Required breakfast is served at 5:45 a.m.
"It's very challenging training," Roose said. "It's outside of (players') comfort zone. These guys are gazelles on the basketball court. But you put them on grass and they look like Bambi falling down on the ice."
This morning, the group will convene at a location near the James River for exercises on land, and then some additional maneuvers that involve full submersion (with life vests for all).
Overall training includes running, pushing, pulling and many other forms of exertion. All are designed for team-building. When one participant completes a run or physical challenge, he's not done. He encourages his teammates.
"I tell people 'If you want to be a Navy SEAL, join the United States Navy.' I'm not training people to be Navy SEALs," said McGuire, a graduate of Henrico High. "I'm just showing people that they can do more than they think, especially when they work as a team.
"I'm trying to build confidence, teamwork and leadership in people. And, of course, a little bit of physical fitness."
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