As long-term supporters and sponsors of Blind Cricket in both NSW and the ACT, IC Sports Therapies were proud to have been invited to the promotional day held in Canberra on the 18th November, 2014. IC Sports Therapies have a long association with the sport, and were deeply involved in the organisation of the first Blind Cricket Ashes held in Australia in 2008.
For ACT Blind Cricket, IC Sports Therapies designed and supplied First Aid kits for the Canberra and Albury players, tailoring them to the particular requirements of the sport of Blind Cricket. IC Sports Therapies also sourced both Kiwi- and Canberra-made bats for the team, and designed and sourced their new uniforms.
Photos from the day
Present on the day were many CommBank Volunteers, Michael Hussey and Glenn McGrath, Members of the ACT Blind Cricket Team, and Nicki Cooke of IC Sports Therapies (in green).Glenn McGrath presents the CommBank grant cheque to ACT Blind Cricket Captain Mike Hamilton.Mike Hussey and Glen McGrath interview ACT Captain Mike Hamilton on the Today Show.Glenn McGrath, Nicki Cooke, and past ACT Captain Cameron Roles exchange a little friendly banter.Some of the equipment either supplied by CommBank, or purchased thanks to their Cricket Club grant.Contents of the Canberra and Albury First Aid Kits, supplied by IC Sports Therapies
As long-term supporters of Blind Cricket, especially in the A.C.T., IC Sports Therapies is pleased to share with you an invitation to a fund-raising and promotional event, in conjunction with a Today Show television broadcast.
Venue – A.N.U. North Oval, McCaughey St., Acton A.C.T.
Date – Tue. 18 November 2014
Time – 6:30 am to 8:30 am
Highlights – Glen McGrath and Mike Hussey will be in attendance. This is a wonderful opportunity to see two of the greats of Australian cricket.
There will also be a BBQ serving breakfast.
RSVP to blindcricketact@gmail.com by Mon. 17th Nov.
As Inaugural President of a new brand of cricket for kids with disability, Nicki developed health and first aid policy, and liaised with Cricket NSW.
Blind Cricket
As an accredited Cricket Australia Coach, Nicki has worked with the Aussie Blind Cricket Team and both the NSW and ACT Blind Cricket Teams. She has also worked as Team Therapist and Trainer.
In 2008 she was on the organising committee which hosted the Inaugural Australian Blind Cricket Ashes, and acted as Team Therapist for Australia. She also acted as Tournament Therapist for the 2010 Nationals in Sydney.
Patron of the Inaugural Australian Blind Cricket Ashes 2008 Tour, Richie Benaud, meets Nicki Cooke
Wheelchair Sport
Since 1998 Nicki has provided remedial massage, sports injury therapy and first response to athletes with disability. With experience at Olympic, Paralympic and World Cup level, Nicki has also travelled to Paris for the French Open (Wheelchair) Tennis, and worked with the WheelBlacks and Australian Steelers at International level.
Rehabilitation
The last 20% of recovery from injury, accident or illness takes 80% of the time and effort. It is challenging for therapists and frustrating for clients. Often a cheerful word and a fun approach to rehab helps to change mindsets and break down psychological barriers to progress. Research in neuroplasticity cause and effect has resulted in significant improvements for clients.
Masters Sport
Working with Masters Athletes requires a lateral approach, and Nicki feels that athletes at elite level in Masters sport have the most to gain from her experience. Usually therapists aspire to work with young elite athletes so Masters is an area with a paucity of therapy options. Thus she has found a willing and motivated group.
Nicki at the Indoor Cricket Masters World Series, 2010
Indoor Cricket
Both N.Z. and Australia have benefited from Nicki’s care. In South Africa in 2011, for Opens, and Masters Gold Coast for Australia, the teams under her watchful eye made a clean sweep of all 5 grades.
The N.Z. teams at Masters level took bronze, silver and gold in South Africa in 2013, and their Over 40 Men’s Team took Silver in the 2015 Australian Masters Championships.
Nicki Cooke went to Adelaide for the 2019 Australian Indoor Cricket Masters Championships, as Team Therapist for the New Zealand Central and Northern masters sides.
After 18 months of “medical drama” which includes three major surgeries, two minor surgical procedures and countless doctors, surgeons and specialists, it is wonderful to find a practice that treats its clients as complete human beings, rather than just a bundle of issues to be fixed. Nicky and her team Continue Reading
Nicki came to the rescue for my daughter with severe disability. She had been placed in the ‘too-hard basket’ for many disability therapists but Nicki saw the potential and wanted to help relieve her pain. She took the time to build trust and now my daughter shows such excitement when Continue Reading
After undergoing major knee reconstruction, I believed I would never play soccer again. When a friend recommended Nicki, I was reluctant at first to reconsider playing. Now, I’m going really well! Have had no major issues, playing soccer and skiing without any problems with legs since beginning of the year.
Treats the root cause of problems rather than the symptoms
Nicki’s knowledge of the muscular make up of the human body is incredible – she treats the root cause of the problems rather than the symptoms, which has meant that I have not missed a single day of cricket for the last 3 years. (Updated 28/7/16) …and ten years later, Continue Reading
A huge Thank You to Nicola Cooke for fixing my neck & getting that horrible headache under control so I can get thru this week. I’m glad we drove 2 hours to see you was worth it & was nice seeing you again. I feel heaps better today – can’t Continue Reading
