Sitting Grand Prix four preview (10th January) - Imps' Adkins focused on evolving 

When he lost a leg more than a decade ago, it could easily have sent the Lincoln Imps player spiralling towards a dark place from which he would never emerge. 

And while he has understandably had his struggles during that time, he makes a point of not dwelling on the past and instead focusing on the positives of the future. 

It is a similar approach when it comes to game time, especially this season, where he and his teammates are determined to push their performances on to help them compete with the Volleyball England Sitting Grand Prix’s best teams. 

“When I lost my leg about 12 years ago, I was attacked and stabbed by someone who was drunk and on drugs,” said Kev. “When I went to hospital, I didn’t get the antibiotics I needed and I got an infection. 

“After a couple of days back at home I was rushed back into hospital and put into an induced coma. 

“The only thing left working at one point was my heart as all my organs shut down and it was not known at that point if I would survive.   

“They just kept hoping that I would get better and when I eventually woke up my leg was gone. 

“People ask me why I am not bitter, but I realise that we are all human and make mistakes. The hospital has to treat thousands and thousands of patients and mistakes are going to happen – obviously it’s unfortunate that it was me, but I don’t hold a grudge. 

“For a long time I stayed at home and didn’t want to get involved in sport. But one day I started watching the Paralympic swimming on TV and, being very cocky as I was then, I thought ‘I could win events like this’. 

“That’s when I started looking into sports for disabled people and what was available near me. 

“I’m a lot more confident than I used to be... I got a little bit shy after what happened to my leg, but now I like to try to help other people who are in a similar situation. 

“It took me a long time to come out of my shell, so it’s great to see newcomers join the GP matches and see them show more of their personalities as the months go by.” 

Kev chose sitting volleyball rather than any other sport simply because it was the one that was most accessible to him at that time. 

But now, having played and then become a student of the game, he has come to appreciate what marks it out as a unique sport, not just for it’s tactical intricacies, but also its inclusivity too. 

Kev said: “To be honest, at that time, and even now, there are not many opportunities for disabled people relating to sport where I live, but, by chance a sitting volleyball team started in Hull (Thunder) and I knew someone involved with it, so I dropped him a message. 

“It was about 40 minutes to an hour from where I lived, but I decided to give it a go and that was it... I fell in love with it. 

“I started playing more and more and when Hull were no longer involved in the Grand Prix, I found Lincoln and moved there. 

“There is a mixture of things about playing that I enjoy. Before I lost my leg I was a good footballer and a district runner, so it was good to get back into sport. 

“But the good thing about sitting is that it isn’t all about the physicality... it’s a game of tactics, like a game of chess, and I have enjoyed learning the finer points of the game. 

“I like the fact that, unlike in wheelchair sports, I can get down on the floor and move about... it’s all down to me. 

“It’s also great that everyone gets to play together, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. 

“It’s a great sport for anyone to come along and have a go straight away and feel involved, but at the same time there is so much to learn about positioning, movement and blocking if you want to master it.” 

As his experience and understanding of sitting volleyball has grown, so has Kev’s influence on the Imps’ team. 

In the most recent seasons he has even taken on a new role in the team, as well as trying to guide and assist those around him. 

“I have started to try to become a setter in the last couple of years, which helps me tap into the tactical aspect,” said Kev. 

“I like the fact that I’m the guy who gets the second touch all the time and is always involved in the game. 

“I know it sounds big-headed, but I like that level of control. I like to help other people to get involved and when I set for them and they get that hit they have been looking for, I love to see that look on their faces. 

“I can move quite quickly around the court and keep it up, so it suits me quite well – and it feels quite heroic! 

“In sitting volleyball, it’s not just about the ability to play, but also the organisation of the team and that’s why I’ve tried to take on more of a leadership role recently.” 

Prior to the changes in format for this season, Lincoln played a good chunk of their volleyball in Tier 2 and often found life tough going against the Tier 1 sides. 

But a new approach for the 25-26 campaign has helped the team develop and compete better against top-ranked opponents. 

Kev said: “This season we have played in a different style and tried to implement some new ideas. We are still learning those new formations and tactics, but I think it is gradually making us a better team. 

“We are more competitive overall in more of our matches and even if we are missing one of our best players – not everyone can make it to every round of the Grand Prix – the team is still able to adapt and cope. 

“This season we just want to keep improving as a team regardless of the results. If we want to match the better sides, we have to look to evolve ourselves, rather than copy what they are doing at the moment, because the game is continually moving on and modernising.”  

It’s a busy time in Kev’s life as he balances a busy job in the financial sector with an imminent house move and all the stresses that brings. 

Even so, he is keen to take on another volleyball-related challenge that will enable him to put back into the sport he so enjoys. 

“With their being nothing over the North East corner of the country in terms of sitting volleyball teams, I would love to grow it here,” he said. 

“I am hoping to set up a club in my area and am looking to get some funding from the Volleyball England Foundation to help me do it. 

“I have got a lot of contacts through from when I used to work in the education sector so that hopefully I can get a facility to use. Now I just need to look into getting the players, which can often be the tricky part. 

“I live close to Grimsby and Cleethorpes, so I’m hoping to pull in people from there are the surrounding villages, as well as Hull, York and Scunthorpe, which is not far down the motorway.” 

With a drive and determination shaped by events of the past few years, few would back against Kev making it a success.

Images by Jon Cornish

Find out more about the Sitting Grand Prix here.