Signs and symbols

1. Signs and symbols LI: I can recognise some human needs

2. Stan always packed his bag with the equipment he needed for his work. Although he had never been much of a sportsman himself, he knew that his professional help was vital to get the best out of the players. The manager organised the training schedules. The secretary arranged the fixtures, but without Stan’s careful attention to the needs of the players, there would be no team to turn out and play each Saturday. Stan the physio

3. Stan knew all the strengths and weaknesses of each player, those who needed encouragement to produce a good performance and those who needed to be spoken to sharply so they would get the best out of themselves. His work was than tending to the physical condition of the players. He was a friend to them all, knew their problems and little ways because he spent hours treating them on his couch.

4. His magic sponge was also packed. How often it brought the dead back to life! Maybe it was the freezing coldness of the water that did the trick. But more importantly, he patted his bottle of linament oil – its use in massage was essential to avoid pulled muscles and damaged ligaments in the legs of these young and enthusiastic athletes. It was the gentle and vigorous rubbing in of the embrocation that warmed the body, prepared the muscles for action and left a powerful aroma that wafted around the empty dressing room. Stan headed for the touch line.

5. How was Stan able to recognise the strengths and weaknesses of his team? How did he use water? How did he use oil? What human needs are described in this story?