The pre-selection completed 72 days of face-to-face training without positives or serious injuries, thinking about the World Cup in February. Protocols, responsibility and commitment, the keys.
Two and a half months ago, punctually on October 5, the U18 women’s team was the first Argentine National Team to return to face-to-face training during this pandemic. A preparation that had begun in August, with virtual meetings that included 30 players from their homes, and that continued basically at Cenarad until this past Wednesday, when they culminated a concentration that lasted 72 days. The most shocking thing was that, in such a delicate health situation, the preselection had no cases of COVID-19 and, in addition, there were no significant injuries to be regretted. The strict protocols, the maturity of a young group, the understanding of the players and a collective effort from the entire CABB paid off.
“We are privileged”reflected Magalí Vilches, one of the 18 players who completed the process. The Alera detailed how such an atypical process was experienced from the inside. “We were very happy and a bit anxious when we started training. At first it was a bit weird. We saw each other from afar, each one had her own mat, towel, clothes, bottle. We didn’t even share the ball “, he counted. “After a few weeks we started training in groups of five, at first without contact until it was enabled. Outside we were wearing chinstraps all the time. Those of Capital stayed in our houses and we always took care of ourselves, those of the interior were in a hotel until the one of CeNARD opened (on December 1). So it was that we adjusted as the days passed “, said the Centro Galicia player.
The design of the return-to-activity protocols was in charge of the CABB Medical Department, headed by doctor Gabriel Sarfati. “In addition to providing the girls with the elements of care, there was a whole adaptation by the environment”, began his analysis. “From the facilities, there was an exhaustive protocol for cleaning, hygiene and sanitation of common use items. There was no use of dressing rooms (only toilets). Each player arrived ready to train. The props staff did an important job on clothing, work items and hydration “, highlighted the Mendoza.
Considering the inactivity with which the players arrived at the concentration, the Medical Department prepared a joint work plan to prevent injuries. “The protocol marks the four phases of return to sport”, Sarfati anticipated. “The first was the girls in virtual training (by Zoom). The second phase was with individual exercises at the CeNARD facilities. The third consisted of group practices, and the fourth was already collective training and sport together “, he expanded.
Gregorio Martínez, head coach of the team that took office during the pandemic, highlighted the responsibility with which his managers followed the protocols to the letter. “The girls showed commitment and maturity. It is also true that we had that share of luck that is necessary. We had all the appropriate care, the girls complied with everything, but even so we knew that it was possible that some of them could be infected “, he explained and then detailed how he acted when there were suspicious cases. “When it happened, we spoke with them, we told them that we were not going to take risks and they remained isolated for a few days until we were certain. Luckily we had no case of Covid or injuries, more than a small twist or pull, but nothing serious ”, remarked DT.
The experience of Karina Rodríguez, current National Women’s Director and legendary former national team player, turned out to be a link between the current squad, with whom she already shared a bond, and the brand new coach “I think we serve as an example and a test for many teams. Everything we did we were the first to apply it. We end up being the case that you can live with the virus “, underlined who went to live with the girls from the Interior who during these last weeks stayed in CABA. “The girls didn’t have to be controlled much. They really wanted to go back to training with contact and play 5 vs 5, there was that anxiety of hitting a ball again on a court after seven months, and it is understandable. But they always understood what was happening and were very respectful “he commented.
“To the inactivity we must add the natural anxiety of a preselection in which there are cuts. We started at 30 (for Zoom), we went to 21, now to 18 and we will return on January 11 with 16. To that usual pressure we add that the tournament was suspended twice “, commented Karina, who knows the Selections processes like few within the technical staff. Finally, he highlighted some logistical details, about the difficulties that there were to reunite the campus in Buenos Aires, and the efforts made by the families so that each of the girls is present, despite the distances and the pandemic.
“Normally we have full availability of transportation for the girls from the Interior. When we started calling there were almost no buses. Some parents were able to bring them and even two girls took remises from their provinces. To deconcentrate we also had a hard time finding transport and compatible schedules. It was a different preselection from the logistical and organizational point of view. Different from all those I witnessed in all my functions “, ended the former pivot. Cenard facilities were also valued, always orderly and very well sanitized.
The 18 summoned left the concentration, after a last practice in the Mini Works stadium. They did it with games of five against five, throwing exercises, and a final harangue that left them excited for the World Cup in Cali, Colombia, to be played between February 3 and 7. Before returning to Buenos Aires for 20 more days in January, in the run-up to the tournament that delivers two places for the U19 World Cup in Hungary, each of the girls will try to maintain health care at home, while continuing to train in their clubs seeking to arrive in the best possible condition. Keep it up like this …
Photos: Julián Figueras; Matías García and Macarena Ruiz
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