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Find out from Alex Goode how COVID-19 has affected training

27-03-2020 Player Focus - Charlotte Marshall

With the rugby schedule affected by COVID-19, the Saracens squad have been forced to train individually.

Alex Goode reveals what he’s been up to to keep himself fit and busy in self-isolation as well as reminiscing on last year’s full-kit celebration and this season.

Keeping fit in self-isolation…

It’s a strange time, worrying times I must say. Rugby is not on the horizon any time soon so I’m doing a few pilates classes with my girlfriend which is causing a bit of stiffness in areas I’ve never used before! I’m doing a bit of that to keep busy, a few runs around the park. It feels like you’re going for a trial when you’re under-18s and your dad takes you out on a run and did laps of the park.

I’ve got some bands which are pretty hard in terms of resistance. The hardest thing really is you can do as much core as you like in the house, you can do press ups, some shoulder stuff but the reality is doing heavy leg weights or lifts is hard. There’s not really an easy way around that. You just have to keep as fit as possible running wise and as strong as you can possibly can be. We’ve been sent programmes by the club but we’re limited on space; my house isn’t huge so it’s not the easiest thing to do. I do have a garden but it’s about three by six metres so I’m not doing shuttles in the garden! Luckily there is a park near me so I can go there.

Sometimes the simpler the exercise the better it is. With all this modern day science and everything else, the reality is if you can get a lot of shuttles in and train in some way… today’s game is about acceleration, the quickness between breakdowns and getting off the floor so the long runs of 20 miles or a 5k run is not as effective as it used to be. That short sharp stuff is better.

It just depends on what is going to happen over the next couple of weeks. Will we be allowed to go to the park?

Activities aside from fitness…

Last week I watched a few reruns of our finals! I was chatting to Mako Vunipola and we had a little look at a few finals and were giving each other a bit of stick about that.

I’ve got a building project going on at the moment so I’ve been keeping on top of that. Then, it’s quite sad but I didn’t want to be sat inside doing nothing, so I’ve started doing an Excel spreadsheet course on YouTube! It’s as basic as it gets. I know how to use Excel but I’ve seen people use it who are phenomenal at it. It’s a brilliant skill and I just thought I’d try and get really good at it. A bit tedious but very useful.

The full-kit celebration…

It’s still memorising to me how big it seemed to go really! The t-shirts with my face on… I was a little bit disappointed I didn’t get the patent or copyright; it wouldn’t really sell much except to my own family! I have seen quite a few of them which is scary. It was one of those mad things; I wasn’t planning to go for three days!

On the Tuesday morning I was feeling pretty sheepish as you would after three days and we had our end of season dinner on the Tuesday night. I had a few people ask me if I would go in my full kit to that and I sort of realised it was getting a bit over the top and should probably have a shower and wash. All the lads were laughing at me as I was sat my table white as a ghost, then Nigel Wray got up on stage and did a talk about the whole year, and spent the first five minutes saying how great he thought the celebration was – the biggest relief of my whole life!

We’ve been through seasons where we weren’t celebrating wins or when we were going well as we were pushing standards so much; we were constantly at each other to get better and improve. We had a meeting about we need to celebrate the victories and the small victories. That helped us going forward and from then on we spoke about doing it more and more.

I’m very lucky from my point of view to have been in a few finals and celebrated a few victories and I think this one it was one of our best performances ever, against one of the best sides I’ve played against in Leinster and we had the chance to celebrate, and why not? I thought it was a great group of guys who had been through so much and we needed to make the most of it. I’m very happy we celebrated it and I’ve got memories of those three days (just about!) that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Trials and tribulations of 2019/20…

It’s tested us. As a playing group, the boys are sticking it out. The fact we had the win away at Gloucester when everyone was against us, wins against Sale, Racing, the win against Ospreys away where we had no right to win it but did after going down to 14 men after five minutes. It’s shows the togetherness of the squad, how much we want to fight for one another and that’s shown on the field but it has been extremely hard. People have been worried about families, contracts, what’s going to happen next and probably even more so than ever. I won’t lie, it’s been pretty brutal for everyone involved but the fight, the spirit and the togetherness has been impressive at times I must say.

The young guys have stood up and been great; the older guys have led really well at times. I think everyone has had their points to lead and to take it forward. Generally, and I’ve been injured for a lot of it, I would say the players who have been out there deserve a lot of credit for going out there and performing.

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On the evening of Wednesday 11th May, a host of Saracens Womens players will be descending on StoneX Stadium to take on the role of coach and give young players from the community the chance to learn from the very best.

The session is open to all players aged U11 – U18 and will provide an opportunity to work with players on a number of skill stations alongside Saracens’ award winning community coaches and high-profile Saracens players under the floodlights of StoneX Stadium on the 4G pitch!

The session will allow young players to train in a fun and enjoyable environment developing individual concepts such as catch & pass, evasion and game play.

The coaching session will be followed by an opportunity to collect autographs and mingle with the players responsible for some of the most expansive and entertaining rugby in the Allianz Premiership 15s.

OVERVIEW

The Saracens Players Coaching Event is Saracens’ most immersive coaching experience. The programme, following on from the mens event which is now in its eighth season, will look to provide a similar experience in this first event of its kind for the Womens Team at the club.

Saracens profile players are able to attend these evenings to pass on their expert coaching tips to young players across the community. The Saracens players will instil some of the values that drive them, urging young talent to work hard; play with honesty, humility and discipline whilst working together as a team.

Each child will receive their very own limited edition t-shirt to train in and the evening will conclude with an opportunity to collect autographs plus have photos taken with some of the biggest names in the Gallagher Premiership, most of whom are often unable to attend our traditional rugby camps programme.

Specific Course Information:
Course: Saracens Players Coaching Event
Venue: StoneX Stadium
Date: 11/05/22
Time: 18.00 – 18:15 – Arrival for registration
18:30 – Rugby sessions begin
19:30/19:45 – Rugby sessions end & autograph session begins
20:30 – Event close
Ages: U11 – U18
Price: £50.00

Players to be confirmed
*Selected players may be subject to change due to injury, illness or other rugby commitments.

SARACENS RESIDENTIAL RUGBY CAMP, FEATURING A DAY TRAINING WITH THE PROS

Come and experience the life of a professional rugby player on our residential camp. For four days and three nights you will eat, sleep, train, recover and abide by the Core Values in the same way as the Saracens first team do daily.

Throughout your time with some of our top coaches you will work on differing skills that will make you a more rounded player and give you the ability to view the game from different perspectives on the pitch. You will develop skills in leadership, decision making and goal setting as well as creating a game plan that will suit the players around you, culminating in playing a match at StoneX Stadium on the last day with your families invited to be there to watch.  

A day with the pros early in the week will see players experiencing training alongside the professional players in the morning, learning directly from the likes of Maro Itoje, Jamie George and club captain Owen Farrell (players subject to injuries and enforced international leave). After lunch the players will have the opportunity to watch the first team train and ask questions of the management to explore reasoning behind certain activities and improve depth of knowledge that they can take away to their own clubs. There will be an opportunity then for pictures, autographs and questions when the session has finished.

Outside of training the players will learn more about nutrition, the best ways to recover after rugby activity and what work is done away from the pitch in terms of preparation and analysis, all of which will help players achieve their goals set out with coaches throughout the camp.

Our coaches will each bring a range of skills all specialising in different areas of the game. Their knowledge will enable players to work on position specific skills, as well as giving them the opportunity to learn something new, including kicking, scrummaging and passing as well as the contact areas of the game.

Whilst at a Saracens Rugby Camp children will strive to adhere to our core values:

Discipline

We understand our role within the team and commit to be the best that we can be.

Honesty

We are honest with our self and help create a safe environment where others can give and receive honest feedback.

Work Rate

We work together as a team and always give 100%.

Humility

We are good losers as well as good winners and we treat everyone with respect.

Included

TRAVELLING BY TRAIN

The stadium is served by four train stations:

  1. White Hart Lane (London Overground): approx. 5 mins walk to the stadium – that’s more or less 500 steps for those of you with fitness apps.
  2. Northumberland Park (Abellio Greater Anglia services): approx. 10 mins walk to the stadium and about 1,000 steps.
  3. Tottenham Hale (Victoria line and Abellio Greater Anglia services): approx. 25 mins walk to the stadium and roughly 2,500 steps.
  4. Seven Sisters (Victoria line and London Overground): approx. 30 mins walk to the stadium and around 3,000 steps.

You are advised to check your journey prior to leaving in case of any line closures or diversions.

Travelling through Victoria
Take the Victoria line to Seven Sisters or Tottenham Hale, then take a bus to the stadium or walk. If you wish to take the Overground to White Hart Lane, you are advised to board at Liverpool Street.

Travelling through Waterloo
Take the Northern line to Euston and then use the Victoria line as above.

Travelling through Paddington or Marylebone
Take the Circle line to Liverpool Street for trains to Northumberland Park or White Hart Lane. Alternatively, you could take the Metropolitan line to Kings Cross and the Victoria line as above. (If you are travelling through Marylebone you will need to walk to Baker Street to access the Circle and Metropolitan lines).

Travelling through Euston or Kings Cross St Pancras
An alternative to using the Victoria line is to take the Circle or Metropolitan lines to Liverpool Street for trains to Northumberland Park or White Hart Lane.

Travelling through Liverpool Street
Use London Overground for direct trains to White Hart Lane, or Greater Anglia for direct trains to Northumberland Park.

Travelling through Stratford
Take a direct Greater Anglia train to Northumberland Park.

Travelling through Fenchurch Street
Walk to Liverpool Street for trains to Northumberland Park or White Hart Lane.

TRAVELLING BY TUBE

Travelling through Victoria
Take the Victoria line to Seven Sisters or Tottenham Hale, then take a bus to the stadium or walk. If you wish to take the Overground to White Hart Lane, you are advised to board at Liverpool Street.

Travelling through Waterloo
Take the Northern line to Euston and then use the Victoria line as above.

Travelling through Paddington or Marylebone
Take the Circle line to Liverpool Street for trains to Northumberland Park or White Hart Lane. Alternatively, you could take the Metropolitan line to Kings Cross and the Victoria line as above. (If you are travelling through Marylebone you will need to walk to Baker Street to access the Circle and Metropolitan lines).

Travelling through Euston or Kings Cross St Pancras
An alternative to using the Victoria line is to take the Circle or Metropolitan lines to Liverpool Street for trains to Northumberland Park or White Hart Lane.

Travelling through Liverpool Street
Use London Overground for direct trains to White Hart Lane, or Greater Anglia for direct trains to Northumberland Park.

Travelling through Stratford
Take a direct Greater Anglia train to Northumberland Park.

Travelling through Fenchurch Street
Walk to Liverpool Street for trains to Northumberland Park or White Hart Lane.

You are advised to check your journey prior to leaving in case of any line closures or diversions.

TRAVELLING BY BUS

The stadium is well-served by TfL buses, albeit with some services diverted during the road closure period.

Bus diversions will be minimised, so they are back operating on the High Road as soon as possible after the final whistle.

Before and during a match, services that normally run up and down the High Road (149, 259, 279 and 349) are diverted to the east of the stadium at Lansdowne Road, rejoining the High Road at the Northumberland Park junction.

You are advised to check your journey prior to leaving in case of any line closures or diversions.

CYCLING TO THE STADIUM

We encourage spectators to cycle to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.  There is ample cycle parking around the stadium and at the Tottenham Community Sports Centre and St Francis De Sales School, with capacity for 220 bicycles across the two sites.

Cycle Superhighway 1 begins on Church Road immediately opposite the stadium and runs to Liverpool Street station.

There is both on-street and off-street cycle parking provided in the local area around the stadium.

TRAVELLING BY CAR

No parking
There is no parking available for general admission fans at the stadium.

The road closures also mean that, if you choose to travel by car, you will not be able to exit any car parking facility within the road closure area for one hour after the final whistle.

Therefore, in most cases, we discourage fans from driving to the stadium, so please explore your public transport options before travelling.

Accessible Parking

TBC. For any queries please email supporterservices@saracens.net

DONATE £5 TO ENTER OUR FREE PRIZE DRAW TO WIN … 

…an incredible money can’t buy prize, donated by our good friends at StoneX 

A trip for two people to a Saracens European away game during the 2022-23 season, including return flights with the Saracens squad, staff and guests, one nights hotel accommodation, evening dinner and pre-match lunch with senior Saracens staff and guests, and two tickets to the game.

 

HOW TO ENTER

  1. Make your £5 donation via our online donation link here 
  2. Alternatively, enter for free via the online prize draw form at the bottom of this page 

 

FREE PRIZE DRAW – TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

1. By entering the prize draw you are agreeing to these prize draw Terms and Conditions.

2. The prize draw is being run by Saracens Ltd on behalf of Duchenne UK.

 

Eligibility to Enter

 

3. The prize draw is open to entrants over 18 years of age. Employees of Saracens Ltd are excluded from the prize draw.

4. In entering the prize draw, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and eligible to claim any prize you may win.

6. The prize draw is free to enter.

 

How to Enter

 

7. To be automatically entered into the prize draw simply donate £5 to Duchenne UK, either when purchasing tickets for the Showdown 2 match or via the +5 4 Duchenne donation button at  www.saracens.com/duchenne-uk-theshowndown2-match-day-charity-partner/ from Monday 6th December 2021 until 3.00pm on Saturday 26th March 2022; or enter for free by completing the free entry form at  www.saracens.com/duchenne-uk-theshowndown2-match-day-charity-partner/ from Monday 6th December 2021 until 3.00pm on Saturday 26th March 2022. Entries received after this time and date will not be included in the draw.

8. Saracens will not accept responsibility if contact details provided are incomplete or inaccurate.

 

The Prize

 

9.  The prize will be a trip for two people to a Saracens European away game during the 2022-23 season, including return flights with the Saracens squad, staff and guests, one nights hotel accommodation, evening dinner and pre-match lunch with senior Saracens staff and guests, and two tickets to the game. The two return flights will be economy and will depart and arrive at an airport chosen by Saracens Ltd. The hotel accommodation will be chosen by Saracens Ltd and will include one double or twin bedroom and breakfast for two people. The two winners will join other Saracens guests for an evening three course dinner, including selected wines and beers. The two winners will also join other Saracens guests for a pre-match lunch, either at the stadium or at another venue near the stadium when selected wines and beers will again be provided. 

10. The draw will be made online and the winner drawn at random.

11. The Saracens European away game will be chosen by Saracens Ltd with the winners joining Saracens staff and other guests on this organised trip.

12. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable and no cash alternatives will be offered.

13. If the winner is unable to use the prize they must notify Saracens as soon as possible so that it can be offered to another randomly drawn entrant to the Prize Draw.

14. The decision of Saracens regarding any aspect of the prize draw is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into about it.

 

Winner Announcement

 

15. The winner will be notified after 26th March 2022 via the email address provided.

16. If the winner does not respond to the emails notifying them of their win within 14 days they will lose their right to the prize, and Saracens reserves the right to choose and notify a new winner.

 

Receipt of the Prize

 

17. The winner will be provided with full details of the prize, dates, times and travel plans once the 2022-23 European fixtures have been confirmed.  

 

Data Protection and Publicity

 

18. You consent to any personal information you provide in entering the prize draw being used by Saracens Ltd for the purposes of administering the prize draw, and for those purposes as defined within our privacy notice.

19. All entrants may apply for details of the winning participant by contacting us at e-mail address to be given

20. All personal information shall be used in accordance with Saracens Ltd Privacy Notice.

 

Limitation of Liability

 

21. Saracens Ltd does not accept any liability for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered by any entrants as a result of either participating in the prize draw or being selected for a prize, save that Saracens Ltd does not exclude its liability for death or personal injury as a result of its own negligence.

22. Saracens reserves the right to cancel the prize draw or amend these terms and conditions at any time, without prior notice.

23. The prize draw and these Terms and Conditions will be governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.