Our latest Hull FC Women’s Player in Focus is Helen Needham, who explains how she is finding training at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How much have you enjoyed your time with Hull FC Women so far?
I’m really enjoying playing for Hull FC women. This is my 3rd season now and we’ve had some new players come in this season which is always good for a team. I believe it gets more out of the players when there is a bit of healthy competition for places in the squad.
How are you finding life and training from home during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Life and training through COVID-19 can be difficult. I’m a key worker so I’m still working but managing to keep up with training better than expected.
Our coach Sam has been fantastic – he regularly checks in with us to check how we are all doing mentally too with the stresses that lockdown is bringing. I believe the moral in the team is at its best with the girls enjoying the sessions and it nice to see and encourage each other.
And what are your thoughts about training over Zoom?
We have Zoom training sessions two days a week with an extra conditioning session on a weekend to keep all the hard work at a high level on the back of what has been one of the toughest pre-seasons I’ve done and I just want us to keep that as high as we can.
Sam has set us individual programs on where he thinks we can improve and it’s really working, checking in with us to ensure what progress we are at and speaking with him I have improved massively already which then pushes me to try harder each session.
You describe the bond in the group as being high, why is that?
We have started doing a quiz night on a weekend so it’s not all training and programs which I thinks helps too. A player or coach from the group is nominated to prepare and run the quiz, choose the dress code and the rules of the evening, all good fun. Our group chat is none stop with positivity and laughs with the players and staff and I just can’t wait to be back on that pitch!
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