BARRIONUEVO Maria Noel

General
TAKING A BREAK
She took a six-month break from hockey from January to June 2019 after discussing the possibility with national team coach Carlos Retegui. "High performance hockey is different than other sports because you train all year in the CENARD [High Performance Training Centre] and in the club so I reached a level of tiredness, not only physical but mental because you don't have a break between trips, training. I needed to stop, if not I would've gone crazy. Plus, in January I had a family problem I was involved in and that took me away from my focus of training at 100%. Especially with Chapa [Retegui], everyone knows him and knows how intense he is. In his training sessions you can't slow down, he doesn't give anything to you. This break was good for me, I came back with more energy and I was more relaxed mentally." (tiempoar.com.ar, 21 Jul 2019)

RELATIONSHIP WITH COACH
She believes she and national coach Carlos Retegui have both developed their communication skills over time. "Chapa [Retegui] is more receptive in this stage. He doesn't only value the experienced players, but also the new ones, everyone, and that is a virtue for a coach to get the best from each one. He hasn't changed in regards to intensity, but now you can talk and converse more with him and he won't get angry, just the opposite. Obviously what has happened to him, happens to the players too. I was a different player at age 20, 25 than now. You grow up." (tiempoar.com.ar, 21 Jul 2019)