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All the news for Wednesday 28 October 2015

Third Test Match Results in a Tied for USWNT against Great Britain


Photo courtesy of Jackie Briggs

MARLOW, United Kingdom - October 27, 2015 - The third test match of the U.S. Women's National Team against Great Britain resulted in a 2-2 tie. Both teams wore pink to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month during the game.

"There were again some encouraging signs of growth today," said Craig Parnham, U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach. "We were able to control the ball for periods of the game which lead a number of very good scoring opportunities. It was also pleasing to see a positive reaction to being behind twice in the game. It is important to finish the series with a strong performance tomorrow."

Great Britain got on the score board first on an open field play goal by Lily Owsley in the first quarter. Eager to find the equalizer, Team USA earned a penalty corner in the second quarter and converted on the opportunity with a goal by Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.). This made the score USA 1, Great Britain 1 going into halftime.

In the third quarter, Great Britain capitalized on a penalty corner to recapture the lead. This only held until the fourth quarter when Team USA's Julia Reinprecht (Perkasie, Pa.) found the backboard off a penalty corner. Though USWNT held advantages in penalty corners 6-3, the final score would result in a 2-2 tie.

The U.S. Women's National Team is back in action for their fourth and final game of the test series tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. EST.

USFHA media release

New Zealand Hockey chief Malcolm Harris still clinging to Olympic dream


South Africa's hardline selection criteria means there's a small chance the Black Sticks men's side could make it to Rio, despite losing the Oceania Cup final to Australia.. JOHN COWPLAND/PHOTOSPORT

The Black Sticks men's team face the prospect of a heavily reduced schedule next year after missing out on Rio, but Hockey New Zealand chief executive Malcolm Harris is hoping it does not come to that as he clings on to their African Olympic lifeline.

Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Australia in the Oceania Cup final in Stratford meant New Zealand would be watching next year's Games from home. However, there is still a small chance they could go thanks to the South African Olympic committee's strict selection criteria.

South Africa's criteria does not allow for continental qualification for its hockey teams, meaning even if the national side wins this week's Africa Hockey Championships – they have won the past six –they will necessarily not be playing in Brazil.

And Harris says New Zealand, currently seventh in the world rankings, will be ready and waiting to fill the void.

"Look there's still a glimmer of hope," Harris said. "We're the next team in line should the South African team win the African conference and not be sent then there is the potential for us to fill that slot."

While Hockey NZ will be nervously monitoring events in Johannesburg, they face huge ramifications should South Africa not follow through with their hardline stance.

Funding cuts would seem inevitable, although Harris refused to speculate on any reductions from High Performance Sport New Zealand ahead of their annual performance review on November 13.

But he did concede that a failure to make it to Rio would heavily impact on the men's international calendar.

"That would affect our programme next year," Harris said. "There will still be FIH international events outside the Olympics but the programme will be quite a bit lighter than if we were attending the Olympics, for sure."

A failure to finish in the top six of last year's Hockey World Cup saw the Black Sticks men's funding drop to $750,000.

Asked to put a figure on Sunday's defeat to Australia, Harris said: "I wouldn't want to pre-empt what the thinking of High Performance NZ is. We've just got to make our case and hope for the best."

While the women's national team have already qualified for Rio, Harris was adamant the men's programme was on the right track.

He said his main priority now is to secure the services of Colin Batch and the rest of their high-performance staff.

"We're not far off at all. That was epitomised by Sunday's game, really close with the number one team in the world that won the World Cup final by 6-1. So we're really competitive with the world's best and it's just some tight moments that really aren't going our way and we've got to turn that around."

Stuff

Fijians grab third spot

Kalesi Mele

THE national men's hockey team secured bronze at the Oceania Cup in Stratford New Zealand on Sunday after defeating Samoa 11-1 in the third and fourth play-offs.

Leevan Dutta once again was the dominant figure in the match striking four goals, earning him a tally of 12, eight in their earlier pool match also against Samoa, becoming the top goal scorer for the tournament.

Samoa's Johnny Sega was the lone goal scorer for Samoa. Other than Dutta Adrian Smith scored four goals, James Saqacala securing two with Jerome Edwards and Alsace Smith striking a goal each to tally Fiji's 11 points.

The national team had earlier in the tournament suffered defeat at the hands of both the Australian and New Zealand hockey team 17-0 and 12-0 respectively. They had secured a feat against Samoa 20-0 in their second pool match.

The tournament served as a qualifying event for the 2016 Rio Olympics with the Kookaburra's advancing through after defeating New Zealand in the final.

The Fiji Times

Hall of Fame & Awards Night

Three legends of the game to be inducted into the Hall of Fame



For almost a century, Australians from all walks of life have been involved in hockey, dedicating themselves to all aspects of the game.

In 2008, Hockey Australia launched its Hall of Fame with its inaugural 22 inductees, recognising those athletes and coaches who have achieved excellence on the international playing field and, by their achievements, significantly enhanced the image of the sport.

Over the years Hockey Australia has welcomed an additional 13 inductees, with the Hall of Fame currently shining a spotlight on 35 admirable individuals.

Hockey Australia will welcome an additional three legends of the game into the prestigious Hall of Fame at the upcoming awards dinner in Perth on Thursday 5 November 2015. The inductees to be named are Don Prior, Michael York and Nicole Hudson.

All three have been influential figures around hockey for many years. These familiar faces have played key roles in helping to grow the game collectively, while leaving positive memories etched into the minds of the hockey community on their elitism both on and off the pitch as an athlete or official.

Coupled with the Hall of Fame induction on the night, Dr Richard Charlesworth will also be inducted as a Life Member of Hockey Australia for his ongoing commitment to the sport. Charlesworth joined Hockey Australia’s Hall of Fame in 2008 after a successful international career from 1972 to 1988.

Speaking to Hockey Australia’s President David Hatt on the significance of these awards, he said, “We have reformatted the Hall of Fame and intend to link it to a major event in the hockey calendar going forward. These awards represent great success in Australia at an international level. They are the highest sets of awards that you can earn in Australian hockey, highly sought after and are greatly prestigious.”

Hall of Fame Inductees
Don Prior
Don Prior is the best credentialled umpire produced by Australian hockey. In a career spanning 18 years at the international level, Don officiated at four World Cups from 1986-1998 and four Olympic Games from 1988-2000. Four of these major tournaments saw him in charge of gold medal matches. He was simply the best, and continues to assist with developing our umpires.

Michael York
Michael York played 281 games for his country in a career spanning four Olympiads from 1988-2000. He won a silver and two bronze medals at the highest level. A quiet and unassuming man, he had consummate and easily expressed skills, especially his brilliant tackling and accurate passing. A more than worthy member of the Hall of Fame.

Nicole Hudson (Née Mott)
Nicole first played for Australia in 1993 and enjoyed a career featuring over 300 games until her retirement in 2009. While the pinnacle of her achievements was undoubtedly a gold medal win at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, she won gold medals in a World Cup, three Champions Trophies and two Commonwealth Games. A fast and elusive attacking player, Nicole is clearly one of the most exciting players from an era of dominance for Australia’s Hockeyroos.

Life Member
Dr Richard Charlesworth
The contribution made by Dr Richard Charlesworth to Australian hockey is simply unique. As a player, coach and mentor, his career is unparalleled in our sport. It is hard to conceive that we will see his like again. Hockey is fundamentally indebted to Richard.

Hockey Australia’s Hall of Fame Awards Dinner
This year’s awards dinner presents an exciting and unique opportunity for the hockey community. You will be able to join past and present greats of the game at the 2015 Hockey Australia Hall of Fame Awards Dinner in Perth by simply purchasing a ticket.

Event Information
Date: Thursday 5 November 2015
Location: Fraser’s Restaurant - 60 Fraser Avenue, Kings Park, West Perth, WA 6005
Time: 7pm
Dress: Cocktail
Ticket price: $150pp [includes a three course meal, beer, wine and soft drink]. To purchase your ticket, click here.

For more information regarding ticketing at this event, please contact Shane Tonkin – Partnerships Manager – via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hockey Australia media release

Greenfields African Hockey Championship Day 5

South Africa win top-of-the-table clash at men’s African Hockey Championship

Ghana and South Africa march on in women’s African Hockey Championship

Kenya women bag third victory

SA too good for spirited Ghana

SA hockey teams on song in Randburg

Namibia finds going tough at African Hockey Champs

Mannheimer raid Hamburg twice to go top

Mannheimer HC is the team of the moment in the men’s German national league after they raided Hamburg with a pair of wins, beating Harvestehuder and UHC over the weekend.

It saw them overtake Rot Weiss Köln – albeit with a game in hand – to lead the way. Goals from  Guido Barreiros, Jan Philipp Fischer and Czech corner expert Tomás Procházka, pictured, earned them a 3-2 win on Saturday over HTHC.

Sunday was even more impressive, running out 3-1 victors over UHC with Timm Haase, Danny Nguyen Luong and Procházka scoring the goals.

UHC had, a day earlier, beaten TSV Mannheim 8-5 in an incredible match but still sit in seventh place in the division after eight games.

Rot Weiss did not play and so relinquished their first place in the standings. Harvestehuder are third in the table as they beat TSV Mannheim, too, courtesy of a 4-1 result with Michael Korper netting twice with Paul Pongs and Finn Köhler also scoring.

Euro Hockey League media release

Mercurio wins French clasicò for Racing

Kevin Mercurio’s final quarter goal earned St Germain a 1-0 win in the French clasicò, ending Racing Club de France’s perfect start to the season.

He applied a delicious touch to a penalty corner move nine minutes from the final whistle to earn the win from a supremely even contest between France’s two EHL sides.

Saint Germain controlled the ball in the first half but could not convert possession into real opportunities as Racing struggled to get to the pitch of the game.

RCF were stronger in the second period of a tough physical derby but Mercurio got the crucial goal for the much needed win and three points, earning some revenge for last year’s grand final defeat.

Racing stay first but Lyon have closed the gap to two points thanks to a 5-2 win over CA Montrouge. At half-time, Lyon led 4-0 thanks to goals from Guillaume Pin, Victor Condemine, Thomas Chalumeau and Lancelot Baumgarten.

As they were easily leading, Lyon became less vigilant in defence. Montrouge took advantage and got two goals before Gaspard Baumgarten secured the win with a last goal.

In the others games, Lille and Le Touquet beat Paris Jean Bouin and Wattignies respectively. Lille’s win was a 4-0 success with two goals from Alexis Fourcroy and one each from Igor Lockwood and Etienne Tyvennez. With one game in hand, Lille is back in business.

Le Touquet had more difficulties versus Wattignies but they also won, 2-1. Both goals from Le touquet were scored on from corners via Augustin Coisne and Henri Cavenaille.

Euro Hockey League media release

Obeng leads Ash hockey goal king race

Former Ghanaian national team player and member of the Seniors Hockey Club, Peter Obeng, took an early lead in the Ashanti regional hockey goal king race when he scored twice to give his side a 3-2 win over Unique at the resumption of the league in Kumasi last Saturday.

Obeng, once a key player for CEPS in the Greater Accra Hockey League, had his goals cancelled by Acquah Stephen and Amoako Bonsie for Unique before Wallace Ababio scored the match winner for Seniors in an exciting game.

One of the strong forces in the league which made a re-entry last season after years’ absence, Silver, jumped to the top of the table, albeit on goal difference, after thrashing Bibiani Stars 3-1.

Salisu Mohammed, Maxwell and Sarah Addai, netted for Silver, while Ebenezer Donkor pulled one back for Bibiani.

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) made a false start after drawing 1-1 with Royals.

KNUST appeared not to have recovered from last season’s shock and, therefore, need some psyching up from Coach Emmanuel Abban and his team to return them to winning ways.

The league continues on Saturday with some exciting pairings as the executives seek for sponsorship to ensure an uninterrupted competition.

GhanaWeb

Top clubs for Fijian hockey tourney

Zanzeer Singh

INTEREST is growing for the 27th Mates Hockey Club tournament in Lautoka next month.

Powerhouse teams from Suva including Marist, Ventures and Stingers will be among the top seeds.

Mates official Martin Coffin said entry for the tournament was open.

He said teams from the West would pose a threat to the clubs from Suva.

"This is the biggest tournament organised by a club in the Western Division," Coffin said.

"The tournament will cap off the 2015 season so there is great interest.

"We will be defending the men's title and this year the team will be made up of many youngsters."

In the men's final last year, Mates defeated Marist Suva 1-0 to lift the Richard Chang/Daniel Yee trophy.

Marist Suva will defend the Valeria Johnson Shield in the women's division. The tournament will be played from November 28-29.

The Fiji Times

MHC: We love our women, too

HOCKEY LETTER

To all hockey enthusiasts, fans and members of the distinguished hockey community,

We have just concluded Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) and Despite several setbacks and challenges, the general response received was positive.

In spite of the extremely short preparatory period, the Competitions Committee along with hockey's stakeholders and
administrators have delivered a truly exciting and well-received tournament. For this we congratulate everyone.

The MHL has unearthed several talents. Two of which are Kirendeep Kaur - a 12-year-old girl who scored two goals in the League and J. Priyangga, a 17-year-old goalkeeper which we nominated as the Best Goalkeeper of the women's MHL.

The coaching setup is well aware of these players and will feature them in our development and elite programmes. We advocate talent identification and will do our utmost to present the best possible avenue for any player to showcase their ability.

One such case is having Kavin Kartik - a player who is not in the official men's senior training squad list - attend and undergo the ongoing training programme.

This is merely to see if he has the required ability, tenacity and mindset to one day don the national colours.   Just like how we provide everyone with the desire and required skill level a chance at one day playing for the country, we plead for you to give us the same in matters concerning the governance of hockey.

This is a stepping stone for the development of hockey. Come mid-November 2015, we will be in our 6th month of administration. We believe we are headed in the right direction. Our sponsors and stakeholders are confident that our approach, although not necessarily popular, is accurate.

We are single-minded in our pursuit for progress. However, our focus is not entirely on Men's hockey. Our Blue Print, recently launched at the National Sports Council and witnessed by all key stakeholders and numerous representatives from the media, indicates our desire to raise the profile of the game, both for men's and women's hockey. We treat everyone equally.

Our recent MOU with Hockey Australia is also centered around the
development of women's hockey. Australia, in my many conversations with their extremely capable CEO, Cam Vale, is as confident as we are that our women players can one day become world beaters. Hence, the equal emphasis for exposure and development to both genders.

In our blue print, we have stipulated the key goals for our women's and men's team at every perceivable milestone. The targets/goals as below:

1 2016 - Junior World Cup, India (Top 8 Finish) - Men
2 2017 - To qualify for the 2018 World Cup - Men and Women
3 2018 - India World Cup (Top 10 Finish) - Men
- Asian Games (Podium Finish) - Men
- Asian Games (Semi-finalists) - Women
4 2019 - To qualify for Tokyo Olympics - Men
- To qualify for World League Round 3 - Women
- To qualify for 2020 JWC - Men
- 2019 Junior Asia Cup (Semi-finalists) - Women
5 2020 - Tokyo Olympics (Top 8 Finish) - Men
- Men's Ranking - Top 10
- Women's Ranking - Top 16
- Junior Men to finish Top 6 in JWC

Specific to Women's hockey, MHC Technical Director Terry Walsh is working closely with head coach Nasihin Nubli, to develop a long-term training programme which will look at improving key areas that require urgent attention.

These specific areas include physiological development, tactical awareness and skill acquisition. The programme is designed to accommodate key requirements that will form the foundation of our impending progress.

We are already in talks with Hockey Australia and several other key hockey nations to amalgamate our calendars and 2016 will see our programmes kick-off with the required structure and purpose.   Sustainable plans must be implemented to ensure desired results are obtained.

We will neither stand behind nor support any short term plan with unclear goals. We will also not place goals which are clearly unattainable. Our key focus is sustainable growth and progress.

MHC is committed in ensuring that hockey in its entirety will develop.

Our way may not provide the desired results instantaneously, but with positive support coming from all stakeholders, we will get there.

We thank you once again for all your support, critical or otherwise.

Only through your passion and belief, will we one day return amongst the upper echelon of world hockey.

K. Logan Raj
CEO
MHC

Jugjet's World of Field Hockey

Government incentive godsend for age control

K. Arumugam

Hockey India is perhaps the only National Sports Federation in India that organizes National Championships for every age category for both gender every year over the years.

With suggestions coming in, Hockey India divided the nationals for good measure into two Divisions to make the competition competitive, polling weak and beginner teams in Division B.

Bowing to another demand that schedules of Nationals are announced in short time leaving teams less time for preparation, HI has now announced the dates and venues 8 months in advance.

This has never happened before. Now the ball is in the teams’ courts to deliver quality.

While domestic hockey thus is in good environ, recent announcement from Sports Ministry adds advantage to sports in general hockey in particular.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has yesterday announced a skew of measures that will a long way in improving the quality of our sports.

If one leaves out the those measure concerning Olympic preparation, what strikes the knowledgeable is the increase of government grant for hosting Nationals, that too, increasing more for decreasing age groups.

This is a welcome measure.

Government will grant Rs.5 lacs for hosting Senior Nationals, 7 lacs for Junior and 10 lacs for Sub-Junior nationals.

This is almost double fold increase.

That the amount is increasing against lesser age group is sensible.

Its not easy to organise for eg Sub-Junior Nationals.

More teams in less age group, resultant logistics, with almost no publicity (meaning no sponsorship), hosting Sub-Junior Nationals is almost a charity unless it is believed investment for future.

Then comes real problem local coaches have created: age fudging.

Determining age of players, and punishing the guilty for deterrent has assumed more significance than ever before.

For, age fudging has assumed gigantic proportion. It has to be stopped. Scientific age determination is bit costly. But it has to be undertaken in the overall interest of national hockey.

Government grant for Sub-Junior Nationals from mere Rs.2 lacs to 10 lacs, which is five times, is a god send. This fund can be utilized to control over age problem.

Randomly picked up players should be sent to globally accepted Tanner Whithouse (T3) tests.

Its almost a couple of percent of coaches and players who vitiate the atmosphere and they have to be caught. Good signs are already there

Hockey India has already asked its Tournament Director of ongoing Nehru Sub-Jr Cup to indicate suspects to the organizers who will send them for detailed medical reports. It is gathered that HI will bear the costs subsequently.

This is a welcome step.

Salient features of new proposals and grants

===The amount for senior, junior and sub-junior competitions enhanced to Rs 5 lakh, Rs 7 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively.
===Air travel for senior players and coaches for a distance beyond 500 kms. The junior players have been allowed air travel for a distance beyond 1200 kms.
===Earlier, air travel was not admissible and senior players were travelling by AC II tier and junior and sub-junior players were travelling by sleeper class for domestic competitions.
===Air travel has been allowed for coaching camps and competitions held in the North-East Region. Similarly, the athletes from the North-East Region will be allowed air travel from their residence/coaching camps to and from Kolkata."
===Medical insurance policy of Rs 5 lakh and personal accident policy of Rs 25 lakh for athletes.
===The salary of Chief Coach enhanced three times from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,50,000 per month. Higher salary will also be allowed in specific deserving cases. The salary of other coaches has also been enhanced from Rs 30, 000 to Rs 75, 000 per month.
===Sonowal further said, for international events held in India, the quantum of financial assistance enhanced from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh per tournament.
===For the promotion of "traditional tournaments", a new provision of assistance of up to Rs 5 lakh per event of such kind. An assistance of Rs. 25 lakh will also be available for holding prestigious tournaments in the country.
===The NSFs have been allowed to procure equipment upto Rs 10 lakh. Above that amount, the procurement will be done by Sports Authority of India (SAI).
===An amount of Rs 1500 per athlete per international participation (if camp is not held before competition) for undergoing evaluation from Sports Science and Medical Fitness point of view will be paid by the Government

Stick2Hockey.com

Hockey Coach wins North Ayrshire Community Coach of the Year Award



The North Ayrshire Community Sports Awards have been established to recognise, celebrate and honour the achievements and tireless endeavours undertaken each and every day by ‘ordinary’ people in communities throughout North Ayrshire who are passionate about sport.

The event encompasses a wide range of sporting disciplines engaging with athletes, coaches, volunteers and sporting officials from the local communities and clubs of all ages. The main themes running through the event is sports participation, well-being and team spirit all over North Ayrshire.

Winnie Dorrian, Coach and volunteer at Ardrossan (AAFPHC) Hockey Club was nominated for The Community Coach of the Year award for her services and commitment to hockey development and coaching within Ardrossan and the surrounding areas.  Winnie has set up numerous school to club links and opportunities and is currently working in partnership with Active Schools to create and implement a secondary schools hockey league in North Ayrshire.

There was some stiff competition from other sports including football and gymnastics within the same category, but Winnie was victorious after being announced at the Awards Ceremony on Friday 23rd October.

A massive well done to Winnie to all at Ardrossan and Scottish Hockey!

Scottish Hockey Union media release

New PAHF Coaches qualified in 2015


Participants and Conductors of the II PAHF Final Coaching Seminar in Toronto, Canada   

The II PAHF Final Coaching Seminar 2015, supported by the PAHF sponsor Resinsa-Polytan, was successfully completed and new coaches are now certified to assist the development and growth of hockey. The Final Coaching Seminar is an important part of the Accreditation System for Coaches in the Americas and usually is held during the Pan American Games.

The participation on this PAHF event is by invitation and previous attendance in PAHF courses and international level of expertise are desirable, such as career pathway. It is an opportunity for the targeted coaches to interact with colleagues from the entire continent and also to showcase their pedagogic and teaching skills so the instructors can evaluate them.

FIH Master Coach and FIH Hockey Academy Trainer, Rodolfo “Chiche” Mendoza, assisted by Guillermo Fonseca and Gene Muller, both FIH Coaches, conducted this second edition. A total of 18 participants (2 observers) from 8 different countries joined the Final Seminar held in the Goldring Student Center in the University of Toronto. Chiche remarked that the “great environment and very good facilities of the University created a sense of professionalism and commitment to excellence“. After 5 days of intense schedule of activities during the Pan Am Games 2015, with presentations from 16 participants, the PAHF President Coco Budeisky closed the event with the delivery of participation certificates.

The work of the conductors continued during many weeks after the Seminar, in order to proper evaluate the presentations, considering also other aspects of each participant profile to grade them under the PAHF Accreditation System criteria. The PAHF is happy to announce the results and release the coaches’ qualification, which as of now may be appointed by the PAHF to assist with the development of hockey in the continent delivering courses.

The II PAHF Final Coaching Seminar results are:

The PAHF congratulates those qualified and wishes the best of luck for those looking for more experience before having the chance to get a PAHF Accreditation.

Pan American Hockey Federation media release