Hockey by Lilly Holmes
I can’t deny lockdown #3 is tough....really tough. Any novelty factor of being at home in the good weather as we were in the first lockdown is long since forgotten this time round. The weather is cold and wet and homeschooling has really gone up a gear (which is a good thing).
Hockey is my sport of choice, mainly because I enjoy being part of a team. I’m extremely fortunate that I have a garden and the equipment that allows me to practice every day but it doesn’t give me that connection with others that playing with my team does. I can’t wait to get the opportunity to get back out on a pitch with friends and teammates and play some real hockey. This lockdown has also seen further delays to progression through the England Hockey System as trials are still outstanding from last June !
One positive this time round has been the massive increase of online sports provisions across many different sports. Lots of professions and training providers have really jumped into action with their offerings of zoom classes and skills sessions in the evenings and weekend. This has helped many more children keep motivated and active as many of these are being offered free of charge which is amazing and something that was really lacking the first time round. I recommend everyone to take a look and see if there is something online that they fancy having a go at there really is something for everyone of all abilities.
I decided to start back up with my daily hockey challenges as this keeps me focussed and motivated. It gives me a sense that this extra time at home and not on the pitch is not being wasted. It also gives me the nudge I need to get outside everyday, get some fresh air and do some exercise which is so important to feeling good and staying healthy.
I read a really good article recently about the “Winning the Wait” which is a mantra I have taken on board. There are lots of things we can improve on whilst being locked down, maybe things that we focus on less when we can actually play. For a sport like hockey this could be learning about tactical play, improving personal fitness or reading articles/books written by famous players and coaches all of which will improve you as a player so I’m using my time to do these things as well as my daily challenges determined to Win the Wait.
