Aroundtown Magazine March/April 2022 edition

Soccercise
Just Play
SPORT
Millmoor Warriors with MeMo Fitness, £5 per session
Monday 7.30pm-8.30pm and Friday 6pm-7pm
Winter – St Thomas’ Community Hall, Kimberworth
Summer - Millmoor Ladies FC, Droppingwell, Kimberworth
If you’re bored of your
go-to exercise regime,
soccercise is a circuit
training fitness class
with an element of
football.
It’s a great alternative
to traditional fitness
classes or gym
environments, with many
women joining for the
variety it offers and the
welcoming approach.
The Millmoor Warriors
soccercise session was started
last year by women’s football
coach, Megan Wylde, to bring
supporters and parents of
Millmoor Juniors FC together in a
fitness community but has since
attracted women with no previous
connections to the club.
The sessions are made up
of women of mixed abilities and
ages, with some looking to lose
weight or others wanting to get
fitter. Each week the routine
changes, but exercises include
toe taps, sit ups, squats and
press ups incorporating a football
to improve co-ordination and
core stability. Activities such
as stepovers, side-to-sides,
and passing also help improve
confidence with the ball. All
exercises are adaptable to suit
your fitness or flexibility level or any
injuries you may have.
With two young children at
home and approaching her 40s,
Laura O’Neil was looking to get
fitter and support her mental
well-being with a hobby that had a
purpose. “I used to line dance and
go to the gym or swimming, but
when I had my kids I gave up most
things. Having lost a lot of body
confidence since having my kids,
I was reluctant to go back to a
gym and I found the thought of the
circuit training or boot camp style
sessions quite intimidating as I’ve
never been particularly fit or sporty.
Meg is a big advocate for mental
wellbeing, especially for mums,
and the soccercise sessions are
very sociable, welcoming and
supportive. Meg works in such
a way that everyone’s goals and
abilities are taken into account.
I feel like I’m pushing my limits
without feeling pressured to keep
up with anyone else.”
For Faye Hood (47) she joined
to aid her weight loss goals after
seeing the session taking place
while dropping her children off at
football practice. “Meg has given
me so much encouragement
that I’ve lost three stone since
I joined 12 months ago. Every
session is different and that’s what
I like about it – I never get bored.
Having been overweight I was a
bit worried I’d not fit in but they’re
a great bunch of girls. We’re all
red faced and out of breath at
the end of it, mostly because we
have a right laugh; getting fit is just
a bonus.”
Stacey Mohammed (32) likes
the sessions because everyone
encourages each other. “I never
felt comfortable going to a gym
and would find every excuse under
the sun either to not go or just sit
on my phone when I got there.
I’ve attended boot camps and
classes for a few years on and off,
but this is the longest I’ve stuck
at exercising properly. I always
feel like I push myself more and
can definitely tell a difference in
my fitness level from when I first
started.”
While you don’t need to have
played sport to join, the soccercise
sessions also benefit those who do
play competitively, as in the case
of Leanne Corns (35) who plays
for Millmoor Ladies FC where Meg
is the coach. “I was keen to join to
improve my fitness as I don’t like
the gym and our weekly training
sessions with the club are more
tactical drills than fitness related.
I’ve played in a team since I was
16 and soccercise has helped
improve my strength so I can keep
doing what I love. I’ve scored
some cracking goals and can
shoot a bit further since starting
– my teammates give me banter
that it’s all those squats we do at
Warriors. My physio even said my
muscles are stronger.”
Re-engage with MeMo Fitness, £5 per session
Monday 6pm-7pm at Team Sport, Fitzwilliam Road, Dalton
Sports you played as
a child can sometimes
take a back seat when
you become an adult.
But it’s never too late
to fall back in love with
the game you loved.
The Just Play sessions
are a way for women
to re-engage with football after
having fallen out of football for
whatever reason, be it work or
family commitments, injury, or lack
of confidence.
The sessions are run by Megan
Wylde and are a fuss-free kickabout
on a casual basis with no pressure
to commit to going each week.
They are aimed at building fitness
and footballing ability, focusing
on passing and manoeuvring with
the ball, with a five-a-side game
to finish. Due to Meg’s connection
with women’s football, she hopes
the sessions will inspire some
women to join leisure league or
competitive clubs in the area.
Becky Hague (31) is one of
those hoping to get back into more
competitive playing after missing an
opportunity in her youth. She joined
a five-a-side league down at Team
Sport and takes part in the Just Play
session for extra training. “I played
football at school and was good
enough to be offered a scholarship
with Sheffield Wednesday Ladies.
But I followed the wrong crowd
and it never happened; I was
devastated. The Just Play sessions
are great for fitness which helps
for the five-a-side league when
you’re up against teams who play
competitive football. But I’ve also
made lots of friends. We can’t play
for laughing half of time because
it’s that much fun.”
For Jodie Hartley (25) she joined
Want to play? Find and book a session near you at
www.englandfootball.com/play
the Just Play session to ease
herself back into football after
having her son last year. “I’ve
played football since I was six,
starting off in a boys’ team before
playing professionally for Leeds
United and Sheffield United
women’s teams up until the
2018/19 season. The Just Play
session is an easy way to get fit
but also enjoy yourself and make
new friends.”
As well as improving fitness, the
Just Play session is also a great
way to improve mental wellbeing,
which is what Kate Darby (27) has
found since joining. She has played
football and rugby since primary
school, but quit her local teams
after being impacted physically and
mentally by Covid.
“Social sport is my go-to for
making myself feel better, but my
confidence was low due to my
poor fitness and social anxiety
after being out of sport for a
long time due to Covid. I was
looking for leisure football where
it didn’t involve pressure or strong
commitment. The first Just Play
session I went to I felt very at
ease and comfortable and have
rarely missed a session since. It
has definitely helped me regain
my fitness so that I feel more
comfortable attending rugby, but
more importantly, I have seen
a positive improvement in my
mental health.”
Could you become a women’s
recreational football provider?
As well as goals to improve participation, the county FA also wants to
encourage women to take up coaching, community, and recreational
football facilitator roles. They have funding available specifically to help set
up recreational sessions, including promotion, equipment and venues.
For more information, contact Sheffield FA’s women’s
recreational football officer, Sara Harnett via email
sara.harnett@sheffieldfa.com
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 33