Today marks National Lacrosse Day 2020 and to celebrate we are valuing our dedicated lacrosse volunteers from all over the country who have kept their respective clubs and teams going through what has been a strange and stressful year.
Here, we recognise Cobham Lacrosse Club’s very own Sheena Macrae who has played a vital role in keeping the club going at an organisational level throughout 2020 and the coronavirus lockdown.
Despite never having played lacrosse, Sheena has been involved in the sport for 11 years and now runs Cobham.
She says that what has happened this year with the coronavirus pandemic has been difficult to watch but has remained positive throughout.
“I was very sad during lockdown, writing out to cancel training, our annual tournament and other friendly matches.
“However, Club News and our various social media accounts carried on throughout March, April, May, and June.
“It has been great to offer virtual activities for everyone at home such as sport psychology sessions for parents and online workouts for the girls.
“At every stage we kept our members updated, and with Phases 3 and 4 announced, we were glad to be busy with membership again”!
Sheena’s daughters play a combination of international, US college, and BUCS lacrosse and she recognises how difficult it has been for them, as well as lacrosse players all over the country, to keep up with their training.
“There was (and is) a very strong imperative for the highest quality training and practice which was pretty hard in lockdown.
“Our garage became a gym and training area which was good for the girls and myself in terms of fitness but not so good for the car!
“Our bikes came out, running shoes on and corners of parks used for stick-work and fitness.
“High-level lacrosse requires thinking outside the box; getting workouts planned and executed in the pandemic certainly tested that required mentality”!
Even though it’s been quite stressful, Sheena understands that the health and safety of everyone connected to Cobham is the most important thing.
“England Lacrosse’s web pages on COVID-19 are simply excellent. We trawled through them, and out of that information produced a COVID-19 Members Policy and a Risk Assessment which is our current operations strategy.
“From disinfectant to thermometers, a new training registration system and switched-on Head Coaches and Club Committee, we are hopeful we can cope with all eventualities (and work towards answers to inevitable new problems)”.
And Sheena believes sport is one of the best things we can all do to help get us through these difficult times.
“Lockdown and uncertainty can cause inward-looking loneliness.
“Sport, belonging to a lacrosse club, training again and laughing with friends out on the pitches looks outwards.
“So it’s good to belong. Team sport quite simply is support – as important to a ten year old junior as to a seasoned senior”.
We’d like to thank Sheena for her hard-work and dedication to Cobham Lacrosse Club during 2020 and hope she continues to use her skills to help the lacrosse community for many years to come!