With a total of 40 para players who participated in the mid-day camp in Örebro, last year’s record was broken. It is a record that shows a continued positive trend among associations and players. The camp has a great breadth in terms of age and level of play, which is both challenging but also very rewarding. We always want to try to take advantage of this difference in the participants in the form of joint training and conversations.
The national team and some extra selected players had to start training already on Boxing Day. It was just as well to get started after probably a little too much and good Christmas food. After two days and four sessions later, the rest of the training-hungry participants arrived for the Sunday lunch. Throughout the afternoon and a bit into the evening, there was not much time to rest in the training hall at BTK Safir. When one training group was finished, the other was ready to change and after that there was another change. Parallel down in the corner, classifier and also board member of the association Erik Kullingsjö performed 12 reviews on players who were newly classified and followed up. After the long and intensive introduction at the main camp, it was still a satisfied leadership team led by Robert Svanberg, Lee Larsson, Laure Bertrand and Emil Andersson who came back to the hotel just in time for dinner.
Who will win the next match between Niclas Rodhborn, Hammarby IF BTF and Leo Ryding, Västers BTK?
It’s just written in the sand after their many close encounters in recent games.
Two Camp New Level debutants – Leia Stenvik, IFK Österåkers BTK who was the camp’s youngest player who plays here together with Sebastian Gutheim, IFAH Parasport.
Also Oscar Gustafsson, KFUM Jönköping and Isac Rydberg, IFK Österåker’s BTK made their first Camp New Level.
Challenges in a double sense
Monday was the day of the challenge with the hall overcrowded until the last available table. All the players trained at the same time and as a new player getting to train next to their national team idol makes the training a little extra golden. The para national team has this naturally in them and they know for themselves how they felt when they had to do the same thing at the beginning of their careers and how much it really means. Later in the evening moving on to group discussions where sports psychology was in focus was a positive feature. Everyone received the same type of questions, regardless of experience, in order to learn, develop and share experiences with each other. In each group, there were two national team players who acted as mentors and led the conversations in an exemplary manner.
With all their experience and all the different situations they found themselves in both physically and mentally, there were many thought patterns that the young and newer players could still recognize themselves in. It can be a way to release the pressure a little by knowing that a national team player has the same type of thoughts that you have when you play. What makes them winners then? What can I learn from it already now?
The idea of this hour was to arouse an interest in sports psychology and show that we can influence ourselves by asking the right questions before we play a match.
What feeling and thoughts did I have when I played at my best? What did I do when I won several balls in a row? What did I do when I had lost several balls in a row?
With these types of questions, you had to share your experiences and thoughts. The discussions were often long and interesting, which showed that everyone took it very seriously and saw many gains in it all.
The national team’s most experienced player, Emil Andersson, has experienced a huge number of situations throughout the years and had a lot to share at his table here.
Isak Nyholm is also starting to build up a lot of experience and Niclas Rodhborn has his entire tennis career full of baggage.
A young and hungry table with many wise insights. These players are already hard to beat, but will become even harder over time.
Para Top-6 Levels
According to tradition, the camp ended with competition day! Para Top-6 Levels has a structure based on ranking points without regard to para class. The players are divided into pools of 6 where everyone faces everyone.
You can find all the results at Stupa Events.
Para Service
(1)
1. Anja Händén, Halmstad BTK
2. Krizander Magnussen, Norway’s BTF
(2)
1. Felix Hernborg, Lekstorps IF
2. Olle Johnsson Schön, IFK Österåkers BTK
(3)
1. Cajsa Stadler, Rudalens IF
2. Anna Berg, Norrtull SK
(4)
1. Wilmer Swartling Hogsten, IFK Österåkers BTK
2. Niclas Rodhborn, Hammarby IF BTF
(5) (Para Open, Stage 2)
1. Ludvig Setterblad, IFAH Parasport
2. Sebastian Gutheim, IFAH Parasport
“Camp New Level – Where every hit counts” is for the sixth time carried out. On the last day we always have an evaluation form which is very useful for all of us. The vast majority are usually satisfied and leave very nice feedback and are very happy about it. But we also appreciate the criticism that comes to us where we have not delivered as expected. It makes us want to get better, that we will get better and that we will get better!
Thanks for 2025 and we all look forward to a very exciting Para year in 2026!
Top image: Participants at Camp New Level 2025. Photo: Alexander Öhgren, SBTF
