Nadal's boys

“The Academy is a big concern and occupation. There are many people who work there, many people who are suffering and who worry me. ” Nadal said it a few days ago in his talk with the directors of the four Spanish sports newspapers, AS, Marca, Mundo Deportivo and Sport, on the occasion of the solidarity initiative #OurBestVictory to raise 11 million to benefit the Red Cross. The Balearic tennis player counted what was 85 boys and girls and 70 employees, between trainers, physical trainers, psychologists, cleaning staff, kitchen and others, confined in the Rafa Nadal Academy from Manacor. More of 150 people subjected to drastic measures health and safety. But how did the isolation in the 'house' of the winner of 19 Grand Slams come about?

According AS could know from sources at the Academy, at the time of the declaration of the state of alarm by the COVID-19 pandemic, last March 14, had 123 students there, and we worked so that all the families that they would like to take their children to home they could do it. But some, especially foreigners, could not return to their homes due to logistical impossibility and others preferred not to do so for fear of displacement dangerous due to the possibility of contagion. Nadal consulted to the Higher Sports Council Yet the Health counseling and from the Balearic Islands, and they gave him permission to 'confine' the center. From that moment on, entries were prohibited. To the parents reassured them the location of the Academy, on an island, Mallorca, and in a population within it that is smaller and less affected by the disease.

The workers who decided to stay to attend the kids helped across the board. They had to be entertained in their free time and given both sports and academic training. The school, the Rafa Nadal International School, remained on-line, with classes every morning (the school year will be completed). There was strict protocols social distance, turns to eat and small groups for each activity. There were no cases of contagion in the 57 days that lasted severe confinement up to the entrance in the phase 1 of de-escalation. Everything worked in large facilities, without using, until now, the tennis courts, where they can already play individually.

Talks with Rafa

During this time, boys and girls had talks with NadaHe and his coach, Carlos Moyá. “Are hard moments for everything that is happening, not only in our country but in the world, but we have to adapt and I want to congratulate you why are you complying with all instructionss of your teachers “, harangued the number two in the world.players who did leave they are they sent every week the exercises of tennis, physical preparation, nutrition… And the psychologists they talked to families to help in delicate cases by the isolation. As for food, a provision of imperishables was made for a month and a half, and the rest spent a quarantine outside the store before being disinfected for introduction into the Academy. The staff was 'out of touch' last Saturday, but Nadal's boys are still there.