Since the start of the pandemic, it has been amazing to hear the positive stories coming from our clubs and other organisations as to how they are dealing with such troubling times. 

We are shining a light on clubs activities during the lockdown to find out more about some of the great work they are doing to support the welfare of their players and the community.

First up, we have Brighton Seagals who, with the countdown to Tokyo 2020 well underway, are embarking on a virtual 6000-mile journey to this year’s Olympics by any means they can that keeps them fit. This includes running, swimming, walking, cycling or even skateboarding. 

With mental and physical health at the top of the agenda, they have chosen this challenge to get everyone out exercising in whatever time they have around their life commitments. 

Their only rule is that everything is GPS tracked. Each week, they get everyone together on zoom to reveal their weekly progress and have a chance to check in with everyone and see how they’re coping.

Week one, they managed 173.7 miles, and they racked up another in week two 275.5 miles. Week three they achieved another impressive tally of 256.4 miles, then weeks four and five they totalled an incredible 561.1 miles. Their current location is Balta, Ukraine, and have 4719.7 miles to go!

Seagals are active on their social media with what location they have arrived in, and research the local football team in that area finding out any interesting facts that they can. 
FOLLOW THEIR PROGRESS

Another club initiative has been to partner with Wildflower Yoga to offer a weekly yoga class to everyone at the club (and their families/housemates/pets.) Weekly sessions are tailored to the needs of the group - recovery, injury prevention, stress relief and relaxation have all been covered.

Brighton Seagals Manager, Karen Dare, had this to say: "We are five weeks into the challenge and clocking up the miles. All squad members are taking part, mostly walking, cycling or running and fitting it in with work, self isolation and other personal circumstances.

"It is giving the whole squad shared goal and motivation in lockdown and during the dreary winter months. As we progress on our journey we’re learning a bit about the towns & countries that we are going through and this has led to some holiday memories from squad members being shared and us getting to know each other a little bit better as time goes on.

"We hold weekly team meetings to report our progress, praise members for ‘personal bests’ or other achievements, support members who have had difficult weeks and just generally chat about anything & everything.

"By choosing to create a challenge linked to the Olympics it also reminds us that there are sporting events to look forward to in 2021 and that we will beat this pandemic and get back to enjoying sport together."

Elsewhere in the County, Westfield FC under-17s, led by Paul Hobden, are on their own virtual journey, travelling the 2280 miles across Route 66 in USA. Similarly, Nutley FC started a Strava running club called 'Nutley FC Run Hero' with a collective target of running 1890km (1890 being the year they were founded), by the end of the season with players, parents and coaches involved. 

For more information on Brighton Seagals please contact:

Brighton Seagals
E: Sec@BrightonSeagals.com