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All the news for Friday 27 May 2016

Taking time to chill-out

Sean Cicchi (USA), Rohan Chopra and Jamie Wallace (Canada), Jordan Viera and Jordan Reynos (Trinidad & Tobago)

Sarah Juggins


Sean Cicchi, USA. Photo: Yan Huckendubler

We’ve heard a lot about the hard work, the hours of training and the sacrifices that athletes make in pursuit of their sporting dreams, but it is not all work and no play. Crucial for recovery, vital for their sanity and essential among any team, rest and recovery (R&R) and time away from the hockey field is another important factor in the lives of these young athletes.

As the training intensity increases in the weeks prior to the tournament, time spent recovering is important so the players arrive in Toronto fresh-legged and mentally alert, but what about during the tournament? Several days spent in a highly intense environment; hours spent in meetings and debrief sessions; cooped up in a hotel with the same people; how do the athletes cope and what do they do during the times they are not playing or training?

With just a few days before we launch into the frenetic and high-octane world of international hockey competition at the Junior Pan American Championship in Toronto, we take a moment to meet some of the athletes and find out how they spend their downtime.

U21 USA athlete Sean Cicchi, or Cheech to his teammates, is humorously honest about his rest and relaxation time. “Now in an ideal scenario, what an international athlete should be doing for some rest and relaxation (R&R) is watching the game footage with their feet up on a wall to drain the lactic acid from the legs, like emptying the battery acid from a batteries.

“I achieve 50 per cent of that ambition, namely, I do put my feet up!”

Cicchi is also a keen film buff. He says, during a tough training week, any free time is spent in the cinema. With typical humor the midfielder explains: “After one film is over, I quickly hobble on sore legs from Theatre X to Theatre Y where I sit down and watch another film. The science behind watching films at the theatre for helping sore legs, is that players can put their feet up on the chair in front of them and let the lactic acid drain. Six hours (two films) should do some wonder on those legs.”

With the Chula Vista Regal Cinemas offering 2 for 1 deals to students, this is a popular option among the U21 players, who spend large parts of the year at the USA men’s hockey headquarters in California.

During tournament time, popular team activities include impromptu games of baseball or cricket or the players will go to the pool for recovery sessions, which soon develop into splashing around. For non-active team activities, nothing is better designed to destroy the peacefulness of relaxation time than a quick game of ‘Cards against Humanity’. Described as ‘a party game for horrible people’, Cicchi says: “In most case scenarios, this gets out of hand really quick and turns into more of a heart-rate spike due to laughter than it does recovery and relaxation.”

While Cicchi, who made his international debut in 2016, clearly enjoys the social aspect of his sport, he does point out: “What with team meetings and tactical training, there is actually little time for R&R once a tournament is underway.”

Rohan Chopra and Jamie Wallace are both members of the Canadian field hockey team. Both players find the weeks immediately leading up to a major tournament are a time when they wind down with the intense training and try to get their legs and minds as fresh as possible.

“In the weeks leading up to the tournament we have still been training full time, however the intensity of the trainings has been decreased significantly,” says Wallace. “We have mainly been working on tactical stuff (presses and corners). We just recently had a three game series against all-star teams from the local area and learned a lot from that experience. The boys are just making sure they are healthy and all their little injuries are dealt with.”

“It’s a time for the players to really take the advantage of time to catch up on some sleep and rest as much as they can before the Games,” adds Chopra.

In the case of all the players, there is little free time once a tournament gets underway. Meals, meetings, training, travelling to matches, debriefing and watching videos all takes up time. Which makes any downtime a real bonus. Among the players, what they want from their downtime varies from person to person, as Chopra explains.

“During the tournament you have guys that like different things. There actually isn't a lot of down time during the day so players try to take as much as they can out of the downtime. Some guys like to be on their own to watch a movie or listen to some music because we are together all day and some players just need that time away. Others like the company of other teammates.

“When we get together as a team that is always fun. Guys like to joke around and do things that will lighten the mood. Things like pranks or funny stories that the guys love to see and hear. For some guys it's a rare occasion being away from their parents so you find some players that just let loose and want to take advantage of every moment away from home. That has certainly been the case with me.”

While some of the downtime during tournaments is very much time for the players to do their own thing, the team managers will often throw some team bonding activities into the mix. Usually this involves a team meal, which is always a popular occasion as it gets the players out of the hotel and into the local community, but sometimes the coaches will throw their teams a new challenge.

Chopra recalls a team building exercise during a tour of San Diego. “I find being too focused on the games all the time can have a negative impact and our management is always trying to find activities that will benefit the team. A good example was on our San Diego tour, where we went to the beach and had a fun team building exercise that the players loved.  It was all about relaxing and spending some time with your teammates. This was at a time when the team wasn't as close as we are now, so when the management does stuff like this the players enjoy it.”

“Yes,” laughs Wallace, “The coaching staff definitely have some fun team events planned which will be a surprise to the players. In our last tour they had us do a scavenger hunt so who knows what they have in store for us this time.”

For Trinidad & Tobago’s U21 team, the time between games is carefully planned out, so while the team does benefit from some downtime, this is just one aspect of a daily schedule. Jordan Viera explains: “During the tournament, on our 'down time', the coach normally creates a daily schedule of what he has planned for the team and the times in which each activity will be taking place. Whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner, meetings, video sessions or our personal resting period.

“We don’t usually go out as the coaches want to keep us focused on the tournament but, during our personal free time, we will gather in a specific room, where we might play cards and have a few laughs with one another. Some of the team members like to take themselves off and relax in their room and some may even be studying as during the tournament will be a crucial exam period for some of our guys.”

While the focus is on the tournament, that doesn’t mean no fun at all for the Trinidadian players. Viera recalls a game that involved two teams and an Oreo cookie – anyone who has been a team member will get the idea! “These fun bonding sessions are important to keep the team spirit high and to release some of the pressure and nerves that build up during the games,” says Viera.

His team mate Jordan Reynos adds: “Our coach appreciates the importance of team interaction, so he will be watching and deciding what goes on in tournaments. It has been tough for some of our players in the lead up to the Pan Am Championship because they have been studying for exams, but we have been making sure we all fit in some team building exercises.”

Argentina’s Santiago Tarazona says that in the lead up to any tournament he tries to get as much rest as possible. “Every opportunity I have, you will find me with my feet up on the sofa. During the tournament itself we tend to hang out as a team, maybe meeting in a room to play board games or going for a drink – a coffee or a mate (traditional South American herbal tea). The idea is that we all focus as one.”

Pan American Hockey federation media release

Police setting their sights on Razak Cup final

By Aftar Singh


Police’s Mohd Fitri Abd Manan (right) in action against and Pahang’s Muhammad Haziq Fawwaz during the Razak Cup. M. AZHAR ARIF / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have already achieved their target of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Razak Cup hockey tournament.

But the Cops are not satisfied with that. They have their eyes set on making the final.

Police, who finished runners-up in Group A, will face last year’s runners-up Perak in the semi-finals on Friday.

“We have achieved our target of reaching the semi-finals, but we hope to go one better by reaching the final,” said Police coach Gurmit Singh.

“My players are all fired up to give their best after our impressive run in the group matches.”

Police qualified for the Division One semi-finals by staying unbeaten in three Group A matches. They edged Johor 3-2 and Pahang 4-3 before holding defending champions Malacca to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday despite playing with 10 men after forward Azreen Rizal Nasir was sent off in the 21st minute for using foul language on umpire Nor Azhar Abiddin.

Police, said Gurmit, will be banking on the country’s top penalty corner specialist – Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim – to deliver the goals. He is the top scorer in Division One with five goals after three matches.

He added that his men had played well as an unit in the group matches, but “playing in semi-finals is a different ball game”.

“I’ll also have to reshuffle the forward line in the absence of Azreen. I have watched Perak play and I know their weaknesses,” said Gurmit.

It seems like the match will be a cagey affair as Perak coach K. Yogesweran has hinted that they would play a cautious game against Police.

“We can expect a tough time from Police. We can’t afford to give away penalty corners as they have Razie, who has powerful flicks,” said Yogesweran.

“My players must make good use of the chances we create.”

The other semi-final is between Terengganu and Malacca.

Terengganu coach Sarjit Singh admitted that his team would start as the underdogs against Malacca.

“I have 13 Sukma (Malaysia Games) players in the team and most of them are playing in the Razak Cup for the first time,” said Sarjit.

“I hope they can rise to the occasion and oust Malacca.”

Malacca coach Azrul Effendy Bistaman is more concerned with his team’s poor finishing.

“We wasted too many chances against Police on Wednesday ... it was also one of our worst displays in the tournament.

“We intend to retain the title ... I hope my forwards will buck up against Terengganu in the semi-finals,” said Azrul.

The Star of Malaysia

Malaysian Women's hockey team in trouble with no keepers

By Aftar Singh

KUALA LUMPUR: National women’s hockey coach K. Dharmaraj has lost the services of two experienced goalkeepers – Farah Ayuni Yahya and Mas Huzaimah Mohd Aziz.

Farah has taken a nine-month break to attend a Police inspector training on May 8 while Mas has opted out to focus on her Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) examinations.

Dharmaraj, however, is hoping that UPM would allow Mas to take a study break to attend training.

“I need Mas’ services because she has played for Malaysia ... she was in the team for the playing tour of China last month,” said Dharmaraj, who now has two inexperienced keepers – 21-year-old Noorul Azwani Zuraiden and 18-year-old J. Priyangga – in his training squad.

The national women’s team will feature in the Asian Champions Trophy in Singapore from Oct 29-Nov 6 and the World League Second Round in Kuala Lumpur next January.

The World League is important for the national team as they have never managed to go beyond the second round.

Dharmaraj said that Noorul and Priyangga would be among the 20 players going to Perth, Australia, on June 12 for a six-match playing tour.

Malaysia will play two matches against the Diamond Hockey club and four against the Western Australian Institute of Sports (WAIS).

The team will return on June 24 and the national players will be released to play in Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Kuching from July 22-31 and also in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) in August.

The team will also feature in the Australian National League (ANL) in September before competing in the Asian Champions Trophy in Singapore.

The Star of Malaysia

Hammad steers Sindh to win in National U-18 Hockey

Mohsin Ali



islamabad - Hammad Rizwan hammered hat-trick to steer Sindh Colours to thrashing 7-0 triumph over Balochistan Whites in the 1st National U-18 Hockey Championship match played here at Naseer Bunda International Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

Hammad scored the first goal of the match in the 6th minute of the first quarter while M Hamza doubled his team’s lead in the 12th minute.

Hammad once again hammered his second and the team’s third goal in the 15th minute to finish the first quarter at 3-0.

Sindh failed to add more goals in their total tally in the second quarter but they started the third quarter in great style as Hammad struck a fabulous goal in the 34th minute to complete his hat-trick.

Shahdab Ahmed then came from behind to score a brilliant brace in the 35th and 52nd minutes to make it 6-0.

Saleem Nazeer converted the last goal for Sindh to finish the match at 7-0.

In the second match of the day, Sindh Whites registered 5-2 win against KP Greens.

KP Greens took the lead in the 4th minute through Ismail, but Sindh then staged a remarkable comeback as they managed to score superb goals to take healthy lead and finished the match as triumphant.

Arsalan leveled the score at 1-1 in 12th minute and after that no goal was scored in first and second quarter.

In the third quarter, Sindh started well and took 2-1 lead through Aoun Agha in the 32nd minute.

Arsalan completed his brace in the 33rd minute to make it 3-1.

He then produce a goal to enhance his team’s lead to 4-1.

Amir reduced the deficit in the 45th minute but all KP hopes were dashed when Faheem converted fifth goal for Sindh in the 58th minute to finish the match at 5-2.

In the third and last match of the day, lucky Punjab beat KP Whites 1-0.

KP completely dominated the entire four quarters, but poor finishing cost them dearly.

KP went on the charge right from the start and piled up a huge pressure on Punjab defence, who were finding it really difficult to stop KP forwards from launching barrage of attacks.

Punjab goalie was the hero for the winners, as he denied KP from scoring and stopped some outstanding efforts.

Even the great Shahbaz Senior gave standing ovation to Punjab goalie for such a brilliant keeping.

The first quarter remained goalless while in the second quarter, Punjab scored a sensational goal against all the odds in the 23rd minute through Rao M Ali’s brilliant solo effort.

The goal stunned not only KP team but also the spectators, as it was KP team, which was dictating terms and it seemed they would be ultimate winners.

A total of three matches were played on the 5th day of the championship, as KP and Sindh match was postponed due to scrutiny issue of the players.

The matches were rescheduled and would be played today (Friday).

Tournament Director Col (R) Ahmed Nawaz Malik was the notable absentee as death in his family forced him to travel to Sargodha.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Shahbaz Senior along with selection committee including chief selector Rasheed Junior, Kamran Ashraf as well as DDG Facilities Agha Amjedullah and sizeable crowd were also present at the venue.

Talking to The Nation, PHF secretary Shahbaz Senior assured his all-out help for Olympian Mansoor Ahmed, World Cup 1994 winning player.

He said the PHF president had issued clear directives that the federation would immediately release around Rs 500,000 to one million, while Sindh Governor had also shown keen interest in helping him.

“The PHF also have government money, and if the government helps Mansoor, it will be wonderful, as we can’t wait and will do whatever we can to save his life, as presently, his heart is functioning at only 30 percent.

We are with Mansoor and family at this time of need,” Shahbaz concluded.

The Nation

NZ Junior World Cup squads announced



Following the National Under 21 Tournament in Dunedin, squads have been selected in preparation for this year’s Junior World Cups in Chile (Women) and India (Men).

The Men’s and Women’s squad selections took into account performances at the Under 21 Tournament and performances at international competitions and training camps.

Final teams to compete at the Junior World Cups will be named after the Ford National Hockey League and training blocks in October and November.

The Men’s squad will be invited to attend a camp prior to the NHL, from which a team will be selected to compete at the 2016 Sultan of Johor Cup in October.

A centralised training programme will then be conducted leading in to the 2016 Junior World Cup, held in India from 8 -18 December.

In preparation for the 2016 Women’s Junior World Cup, a broad squad has been selected to allow further consideration of athletes, and to allow the opportunity for inter-squad matches to be played.

The two squads have been identified as Possibles and Probables. The Probables squad will train together from 13-26 June, with the Possibles and Probables to play a series of matches from 1- 3 July.

These matches are planned to allow further consideration of athlete performances, and to provide a further opportunity for all athletes to further selection opportunities.

To further assist with Junior World Cup preparation, Hockey New Zealand is investigating competition and centralised training opportunities following the 2016 Ford NHL.

The Women’s Junior World Cup will be held in Chile from 24 November - 4 December.

MEN’S JUNIOR WORLD CUP SQUAD

WOMEN’S PROBABLES SQUAD

WOMEN’S POSSIBLES SQUAD

Hockey New Zealand Media release

Cal Cup provides international showcase of field hockey

By Bob Buttitta

As a member of the Royal Australian Air Force, Warwick Smith has spent a good portion of his adult life serving his country, including two deployments to the Middle East.

Smith is representing his country in a different way this week as he competes with a team from Australia in the 45th annual Cal Cup International Field Hockey Tournament at Moorpark College. Opening games were Thursday, but the majority of the competition will be played Friday through Monday.

Smith plays for the Australian Mates4Mates men's field hockey team, a group of all-stars representing the Australian Defense Force (ADF) Hockey Association. The ADF has teams all over Australia comprised of players from all three Australia's military branches.

There is also a women's Mates4Mates team competing in the Cal Cup, and its roster is also comprised of military personnel from the Australian Air Force, Army and Navy.

Smith said putting players from many teams together and trying to create a cohesive squad is a bit of a challenge, but he's confident he and his mates can pull it off.

"We love touring together," Smith said. "We stay in contact with each other and once we get released from work, we come together and play and it's great.

"We have a few guys who play lower grade (lower-level teams), but we also have lot of guys who play A grade hockey. It can be challenging (to mix them), but it's fun."

Kirsten Wilson joined the Royal Australian Navy in 2008, and has been deployed to the Middle East and also served on border protection, stopping people smugglers to Australia's north. She has represented the ADF since 2009.

Since it's the first time they have competed in the Cal Cup, Wilson and her teammates have made fun their top priority.

"Hopefully it will go pretty well and we'll get a few scores on the board," Wilson said. "For us, it's more about getting more interest in our sport.

"It's such a good sport that my hope is that the more we get it out there, the more it will be noticed, especially by girls."

With more than a few thousand people expected to watch the tournament, Wilson and her teammates figure to get plenty of attention.

This year's Cal Cup will feature 150 teams in 14 divisions, with the majority of the games played at Moorpark College. Championship games for all levels will take place Monday. Nearly every division features at least one team from Ventura County.

The initial California Cup International Field Hockey Tournament was started in 1972 by Tom Harris with just six men's teams — five from the West Coast of North America and one invited team from Germany.

Twenty years later, the 1992 tournament included 13 divisions ranging from under-8 teams to over-40 teams for women and men.

By 2002, participation grew to 140 teams, with teams coming from as far away as Spain, Argentina, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia and Japan.

Organizers estimate the tournament contributes more than $5 million to the Southern California economy, with much of that spent in Ventura County.

While their primary focus is playing great field hockey, the Australians are also playing the role of tourists, with trips to Disneyland, Universal Studios, the Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. They're capping their visit with a stop in Las Vegas.

"It (Las Vegas) is a kind of mythical place to Australians, we have nothing like it," said Australian head coach Scotty Downs. "But it looks like a lot of fun in the movies.

Mates4Mates provides support to physically and psychologically wounded veterans and their families. As part of their participation in the Cal Cup, the Australian players established an internet fundraising campaign to support the cause.

For more information on the 2016 Cal Cup, visit www.calcup.com.

Ventura County Star

Hockey Northland fundraiser in support of region's Rio Olympian prospects gallery


Brya Page, Sue Shepherd and Mark Neal show off a ticket for the Rio Olympic fundraising event. Neal's company printing.com has produced all promotional material for the fundraiser.

Hockey Northland is proud to have four of its young stars selected in the 2016 Olympic hockey squads.

It is putting together a celebration and fundraising dinner in support of them next month to be held at Hockey Northland's headquarters on Saturday, July 9, at 6pm.


Northland hockey players, from left, Stacey Michelsen, Ella Gunson and Brooke Neal are in the running for final selection to the Black Sticks women's team to play in the Rio Olympics in August. With them is Hockey Northland's chief executive Grant McLeod, a former Olympian.

Chief organiser Sue Shepherd says the guest speaker is former Black Sticks captain Anna Lawrence.

Anna was first selected for the Black Sticks at 17 years of age going on to play for New Zealand from 1990 till 2001.

During that time she accumulated 165 caps including two Olympics, two World Cups, one Commonwealth Games, and two Champions Trophy Tournaments.


Shay Neal is in the running for final selection to the Black Sticks men's team for the Rio Olympics. SCOTT HAMMOND/FAIRFAX NZ

She was awarded the honour of Player of the Year four times during her career.

Since hanging up her boots, Anna has become a very successful business woman holding a number of important roles in sponsorship and marketing including working for the Auckland Blues Rugby franchise and New Zealand Cricket for the 2015 Cricket World Cup campaign.

Shepherd is particularly delighted Anna has agreed to be guest speaker because both Ella and Stacey admitted to having Anna as their hockey hero when they first began playing.


NZ players celebrate their 1st goal by No 7 Anna Lawrence, right, during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Lawrence is guest speaker at the Hockey Northland fundraiser. FAIRFAX ARCHIVES

Another former Black Sticks captain and Northland hockey star Sandy Hitchcock (nee Bennett) will MC the event.
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The dinner is shaping up to be a real star-studded event with Trevor Manning, who is now a resident of Kaitaia, and goalkeeper from the 1976 gold winning Montréal Olympic team attending along with Northland's own Neil McLeod, another member of that 1976 gold winning team.

Suzanne McFadden, author of the book Striking Gold which tells the story of that famous 1976 team will also be at the dinner in support of our prospective Olympians, Shepherd says.

Hockey Northland's chief executive Grant McLeod, himself a former Olympian, and Shay Neal will lead a panel discussion with these hockey icons.

Shepherd is delighted with the support she has received from the business community towards this major fund-raising event.

She says "these young Northland players with their strong work ethic are fantastic role models for the next generation who are already out there on the turf playing in their junior teams.

"All it takes is the determination to dream big as a Northland hockey player, and you can get to the Olympics."

Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai, deputy mayor Sharon Morgan, and councillor Phil Halse have all been very quick to commit to attending.

Hockey New Zealand's Black Sticks men's coach Colin Batch and women's coach Mark Hager will be there as well.

Other former Northland Olympians have also been invited, and several hockey clubs are organising groups of players to support the event.

Ticket sales are limited to 200 so anyone who is interested in attending will need to get in quickly.

Tickets are available from the Hockey Northland office at Kensington Park or Sportsmans Choice shops at the Northland Hockey Centre and at 55 Vine St.

Stuff

Hockey’s quadruple threat

Fit, fab, fun, for life

By Lawrence West



Move over soccer - we've got a new world game and it's a classic Olympic sport.
 
Hockey is played in 114 recognised nations and will again become a focus during National Hockey Week, which runs from May 28 to June 5. 
 
Hockey is the new quadruple threat to having fun and keeping healthy: it's perfect for fitness, it’s fun, you’ll feel fab mentally and physically, and it’s a sport for life!
 
We spoke to Hockeyroo superstar Jane Claxton (pictured below) about the benefits of playing hockey and life at the sport’s elite level.
 


1. Fit
A 2015 study, conducted in Turkey and published the United States Sport Academy, reveals that hockey players have enhanced bio-motor abilities like endurance, strength, speed and flexibility.
 
Not only that, it was shown that a game of hockey helps burn body fat, between 500-700 calories per hour.
 
With these statistics for the average player, we can only imagine what happens at Olympic level.
 
Jane filled us in.
 
“We train six days a week, averaging five hours a day.
 
“We are on the pitch every training day, combining gym and yoga – we run around 8km every training but as Olympics looms closer it's more like 10kms.”

Hockey has the potential to improve your fitness beyond what you thought yourself capable; all you have to do is start!

2. Fab
Many team-based sports can boast a positive effect on players’ mental abilities, but hockey has more bragging rights than most, having a significant effect on cognitive function, especially faster reaction time.
 
A 2016 study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience conducted an MRI of fifteen hockey players.
 
It was found the players had quicker levels of prediction mechanisms than the average athlete.
 
This makes sense, as hockey is one of the fastest moving ball sports.
 
Jane tells us it’s not just the reaction speed that comes in handy but the mental resilience.
 
“Every day you come to training, trying to improve.
 
“At this level, it’s big improvements and it's the smallest of small, sometimes you don't know you’re improving.
 
“You’re always thinking about what you need to improve on at the next training and where you are in the scheme of selection.”
 
Jane finds that hockey fosters skills and positive attitudes that are present in all aspects of her life, particularly in her study of Occupational Therapy at Curtin University.
 
“In my case it’s study, for others it’s work.”
 
3. Fun
The idea of starting a hockey career may to some of us seem quite daunting.
 
Jane wants to put your minds at ease, telling us that hockey is a fun game that develops deep bonds with teammates.
 
“In the national team, we all come from different states, we become each other's best friends and family.
 
“We all go through some of the hardest moments in our lives whether that be on or off the field so that, if anything, ties you closer together.”

4. For Life
Most of us love playing sport, but often our bodies let us down.
 
In the case of hockey however, it truly is a sport for life.
 
“Don’t be scared,” says Jane, “it’s for all ages and there are so many divisions and age groups that there will be a team and skill level for you.”
 
This was the case in the 2014 World Cup where Jane’s father Bob Claxton coached Australia’s over-65s Masters team to a silver medal, standing alongside his daughter, who picked up silver with the Hockeyroos.
 
It’s this type of family moment that typifies hockey, and asked if Jane would play hockey for life she responded,
 
“I hope I do.”
 
With National Hockey Week nearly upon us – make sure you get out and grab a stick and ball, head to your local club and get involved.
 
Whether or not you’re Australia’s next Olympic hero, you’ll certainly benefit from hockey’s quadruple threat; fit, fab, fun, and for life.

National Hockey Week runs Saturday 28 May - Sunday 5 June 2016. Share your stories, photos and videos symbolising what makes hockey great using #NationalHockeyWeek on social media.

Hockey Australia media release