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All the news for Thursday 24 May 2018

2018 Pioneer Energy Tri-Nations Women's International Hockey - Day 6
Cromwell (NZL)

JPN v AUS (RR)     1 - 0

Final Pool standings

FIH Match Centre

Hockeyroos Toppled By Japan In Milestone Match

Ben Somerford



The Hockeyroos have suffered defeat in their final Tri Nations round robin game ahead of Sunday’s decider, going down 1-0 to Japan in Cromwell, New Zealand, on Thursday.

Australia had already booked their spot in Sunday’s final after three straight wins earlier in the series but were unable to get the win in Jodie Kenny and Ashlee Wells’ 200th and 100th matches respectively.

The Hockeyroos were undone by Kanon Mori’s second quarter goal, snapping Australia’s free-scoring run after 11 goals in three games.

Mori broke the deadlock with a field goal in the 23rd minute after a goalless opening quarter.

Australia were unable to find a response, despite Japan going down to 10 players for five minutes in the final quarter when Chiko Fujibayashi was yellow carded.

In Sunday’s final from 12.30pm AEST Australia will face either Japan or New Zealand, who will meet in Saturday’s play-off.

Australia 0
Japan 1 (Mori 23')

Hockey Australia media release

Black Sticks suffer another loss to Australia in Tri-Nations tournament


Australia beat the Black Sticks 3-0 in the Tri-Nations tournament at Cromwell on Wednesday. (File Photo) PHOTOSPORT

Australia remain unbeaten at the Tri-Nations women's hockey tournament following a second victory over the Black Sticks in four days.

New Zealand went down 3-0 to the Hockeyroos in Cromwell on Wednesday night.

The Black Sticks, who won gold at last month's Commonwealth Games with a 4-1 victory over Australia, began the tournament with losses to Japan (1-2) and Australia (1-4) over the weekend before bouncing back to defeat Japan (4-1) on Tuesday.

Australia's victory guarantees them a spot in Sunday's final despite still having a final round robin match against Japan on Thursday.

Sean Dancer, who has taken over the Black Sticks head coach role from Mark Hager for the Tri-Nations series, said it was disappointing his side did not make more of its opportunities.

"While the score may not suggest it, I thought we played some very good hockey in patches," he said.

"Credit to Australia's defence which really closed down a lot of our attacking game."

The Black Sticks will have two days off before taking on Japan on Saturday in a sudden-death playoff with the winner advancing to Sunday's final.

"We know we need to be better and Saturday's playoff against Japan offers a good challenge to try and progress to the final," Dancer said.

Australia opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a field goal from Savannah Fitzpatrick.

It was the only goal of the first half as Australia clung to the 1-0 lead at halftime.

Ambrosia Malone doubled Australia's lead in the 40th minute.

Stephanie Kershaw added a third goal for the visitors with just three minutes to play.

AT A GLANCE

Australia 3 (Savannah Fitzpatrick, Ambrosia Malone and Stephanie Kershaw) Black Sticks 0. HT: 1-0

Stuff

Swift Start By U.S. Women's National Development Squad Not Enough to Break Scoreless Game 3



SANTIAGO, Chile - After an impressive 3-0 win the day before, the U.S. Women’s National Development Squad took confidence into the third game of their test series against Chile, but knew not to underestimate their opponents. Despite a quick start to their match it was not enough to break a scoreless affair in the teams' latest contest that concluded in a score of 0-0 at the Prince of Wales Country Club in Santiago, Chile.

As in the first game, USA made a bright start to the game. Mary Beth Barham (Fairfax, Va.) managed to wriggle away from three Chile players in the middle of the field in the first minute to find Katie Walsh (Louisville, Ky.) on the left side. Her early ball up the line then was released Danielle Grega (Kingston, Pa.) in space, charging at the Chile defense, getting past the first defender but was unable to squeeze passed the second as she entered the circle. Following USA's spark, Chile had the better of the first period but were unable to capitalize on three early penalty corner awards, after Consuela de las Heras found a foot in the circle to earn the first sight of a goal in the game.

Chile continued to press high in the second quarter and pressure from Francisca Tala was rewarded with a dangerous turnover in the USA circle. As the ball popped up into the air off a defender’s stick, Tala volleyed the ball toward goal from above her shoulder, but USA goalkeeper Carrera Lucas (Brooklandville, Md.) read the danger well coming out to narrow the angle and was able to make the glove save. USA earned their first penalty corner of the game in the 36th minute after Anna Dessoye (Mountaintop, Pa.) was obstructed in the circle. Kelly Marks (Elverson, Pa.) shot from the top was run down and another penalty corner was awarded. This time, Ally Hammel (Duxbury, Mass.) managed to get her shot away but Chile's goalkeeper got a right glove to the sweep shot and deflected it clear. The teams went into the halftime break deadlocked, but tested nonetheless.

At the end of the third quarter, Chile won their fourth and final penalty corner of the game, but execution at the top of the circle was delivered fractionally behind the striker. The corner broke down and defender Casey Umstead (Green Lane, Pa.) was able to clear to safety on her backhand. Heading into the fourth quarter, USA rallied hard and raised the tempo of the game as they went in search of a goal to break the scoreless affair. However, their efforts were stifled midway through the period as twice they were forced to manage with ten players. Umstead was first to be penalized for playing the ball away after the whistle. Despite being a player down, USA continued to press for the win. Kasey Tapman (Annapolis, Md.) found Erin McCrudden (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) in space at midfield, releasing Dessoye. Chile's defensive unit got a touch on her before the ball got through to Taylor Blood (Hampton Falls, N.H.) but the ball deflected toward the circle and through the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper under pressure from Blood. However, as she rounded the goalkeeper and looked to apply the all important finish, Fernanda Flores was able to sweep up behind and carry the ball to the safety of the circle edge and away from danger.

USA was then back to a full squad, but only momentarily as McCrudden received a green card for not retreating 5 meters at a free hit. The best chance of the game came a minute later as Dessoye stripped Caralina Salas in the midfield, carried it into the circle and went agonizingly close to scoring. Her shot sailed just inches wide of the left post with the goalkeeper beaten.The final whistle blew soon after to leave the scoreboard unlit in the latest showdown.

“We did not show attention to detail that I want from our players today,” commented Jun Kentwell, U.S. Women’s National Development Squad Head Coach, after the game. “I was pleased that we were able to bring up the tempo in the fourth quarter, find our shape, and put together some scoring opportunities.”

The U.S. Women's National Development Squad and Chile conclude their friendly test series today, Wednesday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m. ET.

USFHA media release

Ireland's Strong Attack Triumphs U-19 USMNT In Second Game of Junior Nations Invitational Tournament



NEW HAVEN, Conn. - After it rained all day, the sky cleared just in time for the U.S. U-19 Men's National Team's second game of the Junior Nations Invitational Tournament. Taking place at Yale University's Johnson Field in New Haven, Conn. Ireland dominated from the start, converting three times in the first quarter, as USA struggled to organize an effective defense as the score finished 8-0 to Ireland.

Within the first twelve minutes of play, Ireland capitalized on two penalty corner opportunities and one field goal to start the match with a three goal cushion. The second and third quarters saw better forms of defensive pressure from USA as they limited Ireland to a few shots on goal which translated to saves by USA's goalkeeper David Kristof (Darien, Conn.). Ireland tallied one goal in each of those quarters making the score 5-0 going into the final frame.

The fourth quarter saw Ireland on attack continuing their offensive threats. USA continued to battle against Ireland’s effective penalty corner unit throughout the game, with Ireland earning eight penalty corners but only converting on three. Ireland added two more field goals and their final goal came on a penalty stroke converted by Keith O'Haire to bring the final score to 8-0.

The U.S. U-19 Men's National Team will take on Japan Thursday, 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET for their third game of the Junior Nations Invitational Tournament.

Rewatch USA's Matches from the Junior Nations Invitational Tournament

USFHA media release

Education is key to Janneke’s success

Sarah Juggins, for PAHF


Janneke Schopman (USA). Photo: USA Field Hockey/Mark Palczewski

“The team contesting the 2018 World Cup is completely different from the team that played in 2014, so it is impossible to compare them.” USA Coach Janneke Schopman is considering her team’s prospects ahead of the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup in London and reflecting on the fourth place finish the team achieved at the same event in 2014.

Four years ago, USA arrived in The Hague as rank outsiders. They were sitting at number 11 in the FIH World Rankings, having qualified for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup via the 2013 Hockey World League Semi-Finals. Two weeks later, they had seen off the challenges of many higher ranked teams to finish in fourth place after losing on shoot-out in the semi-finals to Australia. It was a start of a resurgence of the USA, started by the then head coach Craig Parnham and continued by Janneke Schopman when she took over the reins in 2017.

“Craig was great to work with,” says Schopman, who was assistant coach to the Englishman during that exciting World Cup campaign. “I learned a lot from working with him and, although we are very different with our personalities, we work very well together.”

What Schopman brings to Team USA is an in-depth knowledge on how to play a shrewd game. This has been gained by years of playing and coaching in Europe. Schopman was a member of the Dutch national team that took gold in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and gold in the 2006 World Cup in Madrid. She has also coached widely across The Netherlands in club setting, prompting Argentina captain Delfina Merino, who has had two spells playing club hockey in The Netherlands, to list her as one of the best coaches she has worked with.

Schopman acknowledges that the lack of a strong club and league system in the USA does present some problems when it comes to giving her players the opportunity to experience different styles of play. The USA women’s national team players’ European counterparts play top level club hockey every week throughout the season, giving them experience of many styles of play, particularly as the Dutch, German and Belgium leagues have many top players from across the globe playing in them.

“Of course, hockey is played through the colleges and then we have our central training base at Spooky Nook, where we get to work intensively with the players,” says Schopman. “We learn about the different playing styles in other ways – we do a lot of video analysis and we spend a lot of time training as if we were playing different nations.” This might involve setting up a practice against a typical European style of play or learning how to break down the infamously robust Asian defences. With the availability of the players in a centralized program, Schopman has the luxury of time with her players.

This is evident in the culture that has developed in Team USA. Wherever they travel and wherever they compete, USA athletes are renowned for their adherence to the team and its values. This, says Schopman, is a very typical American thing. “It is country first, every time,” she says, “that culture of team before individual is very, very strong and it cements all the work we do as a squad.”

It is also a culture that is driven by the players. Schopman says that the behaviors displayed by the team, both on and off the field, have been discussed and agreed by all the squad. When it comes to playing, Schopman admits that she doesn’t always give her players the ‘answers’, and this can sometimes cause some anxiety.

“I like them to arrive at solutions themselves. In the early days, they would look to me for answers, but I want them to learn how to deal with situations, it makes them more intelligent players.” It is an approach that is likely to be advantageous to Team USA as they continue to grow as a team. In the past, they have been renowned for their speed, skill and tenacity. If they can add a little more guile to their play, they will be genuine medal contenders.

Like most coaches, Schopman is reluctant to discuss her team’s chances of success at the forthcoming Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup in London. Sounding uncannily like her charges, she speaks of needing to look at the event “one game at a time” and making sure the players are mentally in the right place when they step out onto the pitch in London. She does speak of a need to stay composed: rushing play can be a default status for the team when they are under pressure. Equally, they need to make the most of any scoring opportunity – against the best teams in the world, chances to score are far and few between.

But, as she points out, this is an experienced team. They might not play as many international matches as some of the other nations participating in London, but they are full-time athletes and what they lack in cap numbers, they make up for in hours in training.

They are also a team that is always seeking to learn new things. It is an attitude mirrored by their coach. “I think, as a coach, you are always learning,” says Schopman. “I don’t just watch other hockey coaches, I watch coaches in other sports, particularly team sports. I occasionally try some of the things I have seen in other sports – for example the other day I tried a basketball pressured shooting practice – it was fascinating to see the players adapting and trying to learn new things. That is what we have to do, keep pushing the edge of our learning.”

As the count down to the 2018 World Cup continues, USA and their innovative coach will continue to seek ways to push the boundaries of learning. And, while she may not say it, Schopman is sure to explore all avenues to make sure her team equal or better their stunning performance at the last World Cup.

Pan American Hockey Federation media release

Bloemendaal’s Schuurman says margin from success to failure are paper-thin


©: Frank Uijlenbroek/world Sport Pics

Glenn Schuurman says the margins between first and fourth place was paper-thin in the Dutch Hoofdklasse playoffs but still says there is much more to come from HC Bloemendaal at the FINAL4.

They take on HC Rotterdam on Saturday afternoon (4pm CET) in the semi-finals, the two clubs swapping the hosting duties following their exploits at the KO16.

In Rotterdam, Bloemendaal were a star attraction with big 8-0 wins over both KHC Dragons and Saint Germain. Since then, they have played a full part in the Hoofdklasse playoffs but the run ended in disappointment last Sunday with defeat to HC Oranje-Rood in the third/fourth place playoff.

But the Dutch international says that the club are still in strong form.

“It was extremely close this season,” he told the EHL website. “Kampong won three times by shoot outs and won the championship; we lost three times by shoot outs and end up fourth!

“I think we have played a decent play offs but I think we can play much better. I am sure this weekend we gonna show it!”

They face a Rotterdam side who missed out on the playoffs who will be fresh coming into the contest but maybe lacking competitive match practice.

Schuurman is not sure which position he would rather be in: “I don't know if it is an advantage or not. What I do know is that we have experience with do or die games.

“Besides that, we are really fit. Rotterdam is a strong team which could easily have played in the Hoofdklasse playoffs. It's going to be tough but I am really confident.”

He is sure that the extra boost of home advantage for the weekend – with a full house confirmed for Sunday already and Saturday close to sold out – will also have an impact having seen first hand the effort locally going in to prepare.

“It is a unique experience hosting the FINAL4 at your home ground. Especially in front of our amazing crowd. I've seen the stands for 5,000 spectators. It's going to be amazing.

“Bloemendaal is a family club with a lot of passionate volunteers. Those people put all their time and effort in it because they love the club. The way we host the FINAL4 reflects the great atmosphere within the club.

“Of course, playing for the Bloemigans is amazing. You have seen them in Rotterdam during the KO16. They give us the advantage and I think they are going to show us special things this weekend.”

Euro Hockey League media release

Herakles runs deep in Keusters blood as power of community propels FINAL4 bid


©: Frank Uijlenbroek/world Sport Pics

As a third generation first teamer at Herakles, Amaury Keusters has seen first hand the hard work that has gone in at youth level at the Lier-based club to bring them to the EHL FINAL4.

They saw off Spanish sides Atletic Terrassa and Real Club de Polo in the KO16 to set up a date with Dutch champions SV Kampong on Saturday in the semi-final (1.15pm, CET).

Nico de Kerpel scored the crucial shoot-out to get there while Keusters netted the equaliser against Polo in normal time. For both players – also both Belgian internationals – they have been lifetime members of Herakles, joining when only four or five years old, making the success extra special.

Talking about that club connection, Keusters says it is a link that goes back at least half a century with Herakles running through his blood.

“My grandfather and father both played for first team of Herakles as well,” he told the EHL website. “My dad has been president of the club for 20 years and my mother is very involved in youth development at the club for 20 years now.

“Both my parents are very active in the club and have been volunteering for a long time. This helped me a lot being the hockey player I am right now, a lot of practicing outside training hours!”

With that family background, it is clear why reaching the FINAL4 is so special for Keusters in what is their first European adventure since 1999’s Club Champions Cup in Terrassa.

“Playing EHL with Herakles is something I’ve always dreamed of; we have been investing in our youth for a long time now. It is a reward for the youth development of the club and the hard work that has been done past 10 years.

“The event itself is so cool, it is the best way hockey ever has been presented in Europe. Being able to compete with the best European club teams at this level is a great experience.”

Based half an hour from Antwerp and 45 minutes from Brussels, the club is not always first on the list for Belgian players to move to compared to the big cities. As such, that youth development is hugely important to their survival.

But it also draws greater loyalty to the club badge and what it means to be part of the community.

“Same as Nico, for the last five years, I got contacted by the usual top teams in Belgium. It would be an easier way to reach EHL of course. It would have been a different experience, I can’t compare it with what is happening now.

“I’ve been part of this team for 10 seasons. We have been fighting to keep our spot in Honor Division for some years while we were investing in our youth. In the long term, it has paid off.”

It also generates an incredibly loyal fan group.

“Our fans have been outstanding at K016 and at Belgium Play-offs last year. They are all connected to the first team. Whether they have been playing for the first team, their kids are playing or they are future first team players.

“They all want to part of this event. They are pushing us forward and help us to go that extra mile.“

And they will need to go that extra mile when they meet Kampong, the Belgian club entering the FINAL4 as major underdogs.

“Kampong have won the Dutch championship two years in a row now, they were EHL champions in 2016. They have a great team with some world class players. So indeed it will be a big challenge.

“We will have to defend really tight and be really efficient. But this was our trademark for the last two years so we are looking forward to battle in front of a great crowd.”

Euro Hockey League media release

EHL FINAL4 Broadcast schedule: where to watch the FINAL4


©: World Sport Pics

The EHL FINAL4 will be broadcast on a wide variety of different outlets this weekend, meaning you can watch HC Bloemendaal, HC Rotterdam, SV Kampong and Herakles from almost every corner of the world.

EuroHockeytv.org: all games will be streamed live via the European Hockey Federation’s dedicated platform, www.eurohockeytv.org. This service is available in all countries where there is no clash with rights holders which can lead to a geo-block.

Saturday, May 26
* Semi-Final 1, 13:30 CET: SV Kampong (NED) Vs. Royal Herakles (BEL)
NOS (Netherlands): live streaming on NOS.nl
Eleven Sports 3: LIVE in Belgium
DAZN: LIVE in Germany, Austria, Switzerland
BT Sport: LIVE in Great Britain/Ireland
beIN Sports (Australia): delayed coverage
Supersport (South Africa): delayed coverage

* Semi-Final 2, 16:00 CET: HC Bloemendaal (NED) Vs. HC Rotterdam (NED) Live

NOS (Netherlands): live on NPO1 and NOS
Eleven Sports 3: LIVE in Belgium
DAZN: LIVE in Germany, Austria, Switzerland
BT Sport: LIVE in Great Britain/Ireland
beIN Sports (Australia): delayed coverage
Supersport (South Africa): delayed coverage

May 27, 2018:

*3rd/4th place, 13:30 CET: Loser SF1 Vs. Loser SF2
NOS (Netherlands): live streaming on NOS.nl
Eleven Sports 3: LIVE in Belgium
DAZN: LIVE in Germany, Austria, Switzerland
BT Sport: LIVE in Great Britain/Ireland
beIN Sports (Australia): LIVE
Supersport (South Africa): delayed coverage

* GRAND FINAL, 16:00 CET: Winner SF1 Vs. Winner SF2
NOS (Netherlands): live on NPO1 and NOS
Eleven Sports 3: LIVE in Belgium
DAZN: LIVE in Germany, Austria, Switzerland
BT Sport: LIVE in Great Britain/Ireland
beIN Sports (Australia): LIVE coverage

Euro Hockey League media release

Legend of the EHL: Florian Fuchs



Florian Fuchs is bidding this weekend to join former UHC Hamburg team mate Marco Miltkau as one of the rare few to win the Euro Hockey League with two different clubs.

At the age of 26, the German star can already be considered one of the true legends of the EHL. With his blistering pace and eye for goal, he has been making waves from the very start of his adult career and has gone on to win two EHL gold medals, two silver and produce an incredible highlight reel.

It may never have happened, though, had he followed in his father’s footsteps and joined one of UHC’s loval rivals.

“I lived around the corner from UHC and my father played hockey with Club an der Alster,” he told the EHL website. “That was too far away from where we lived so that made the choice. From then, I always had my best friends there!”

That was at age five. With those same friends, they would develop into one of Germany’s best youth teams, battling it out with Uhlenhorst Mulheim for national titles with a half dozen of them soon battling to break into the first team.

For Fuchs, the 2007/08 EHL success came just a few months too early.

“I just turned 16 after the deadline [for registration] so my coach didn’t put me on the squad list which I totally understood. I couldn’t play EHL that season but right after we won it was when I played my first adult games.”

Indeed, coach Martin Schulze gave him his debut in the German playoffs quarter-finals a week later and he scored in his first adult game. Incredibly, he was born five years after his strike partner Philip Sunkel had made his debut for the team.

Soon after, he scored again against Harvestehuder THC in the Bundesliga third place playoff, securing a return ticket for the EHL.

For that 2008/09 season, he went straight into the team that battled through to the EHL GRAND FINAL, meeting Bloemendaal in Rotterdam.

“Most of what I remember of that season was that final against Bloemendaal and coming up against Jamie [Dwyer]. I had no idea what was happening; we were 5-1 down!

“How were we going to have any chance against this? They are unbeatable! But, in the end, we got back to 5-4 and had a really big chance for an equaliser. I learned something that day as a young player and something I had never experienced before!”

A year later, he had a whole heap of extra experiences to draw on.

“It was crazy. The whole year went so quickly. I made my debut for the national team in 2009 at 17, played the World Cup in March 2010 in India. One thing kept coming after another which I didn’t expect to be involved.

“It was already a lot to process before the EHL which we managed to win. We were such a great team, not just on the field but off it, a lot of good friends. Winning with your best friends, with that kind of team where everyone is so close is always something special.”

This time in the EHL, they edged past Bloemendaal in a shoot-out in the KO8 and managed the same method to sneak by Real Club de Polo in the FINAL4 by the same method.

In Amsterdam in the GRAND FINAL, they fought off the challenge of Rotterdam 3-1 and Fuchs had an EHL gold to savour.

Another arrived in 2012 with KHC Dragons in the FINAL4 and AH&BC Amsterdam in the GRAND FINAL the victims this time.

“We managed to win in shoot-outs in the semi-final and final. We were not the better team in the final – let’s put it that way – but maybe experience of what we had done before gives you that extra push. It was a weird year but there is very much the same satisfaction.”

His fourth EHL medal came in 2015, this time in probably the most famous shoot-out of all. Over 30 minutes of shoot-outs eventually saw UHC denied a fourth EHL crown by Oranje-Zwart, settling for silver.

“It took ages! With the video referral, twice we had already lost! Once, we had already won and the video umpire took it back. A rollercoaster is the only way to describe it.

“I have never been in anything like it – nobody has! In the end, unbelievable and big disappointment and we also lost the German championships in the final that year – a year of second places with the Europeans as well.”

Fuchs had lit up the tournament with a brilliant solo goal against SV Kampong and, despite it being seven years since his EHL debut, he won the Talent of the EHL for his efforts.

UHC’s success in the EHL is in direct opposition to their performances in the Bundesliga where he is still waiting for a national title. It is something they still are unable to explain why but could have something to do with the allure of the world’s best club hockey competition.

“We have talked a lot about it, speaking with psychologists and other different people and we haven’t really figured it out why we are so strong in the EHL. Maybe winning in the first year and that team started with the big success could have an impact.

“Maybe it is a mental thing. We had many semi-finals in the national championships where we didn’t get through and there are maybe more factors that you can’t pinpoint or name one single reason.”

What he pinpoint, though, is the importance of the role of the club in his life and in his hockey development.

“When I was very young around the club, before playing in the men’s first team, I would be around the sideline, watching games and being ballboy at the Hamburg Masters. I really looked up to the players and dreamed of being at that level. These guys were my inspiration.

“Growing up with the guys in the club, you are not just playing hockey together, it is much more than that.

“Many of the people I looked up to then would define my career and how I developed outside of the pitch. It shows how strong the bond is at Hamburg and at the club and I will always be connected to it; that’s not going to go away. When I go back [to Germany], UHC is going to be my club.”

For now, though, he is focused on winning the EHL with HC Bloemendaal with whom he is completing his second season.

He says the “family nature” of the club made his transition from the club he played for since he was five-years-old was a smooth one.

“The clubs are pretty similar; both are really like a family and spend a lot of time with your fellow members,” he said of the move.

“Before I joined Bloemendaal from Hamburg, it was something that I was aware of straight away and was important for me to feel comfortable. The people from the club just love to contribute.”

And he says that will play a big part in feeding into making the FINAL4 weekend something special for the whole club and will give the home team a chance to shine on the pitch.

“It is amazing for us to, first of all, be back in the FINAL4. As a club, Bloemendaal has missed out for the last couple of years so to have it back at the club is amazing.

“I have already seen how passionate the club is for the event and how everyone around gets involved, its unbelievable. Now playing for Bloemendaal, in Bloemendaal, in the FINAL4 is going to be special and something I will remember for a very long time.”

Euro Hockey League media release

Applications open for role of England & GB Hockey Men's Head Coach


England Men World League 2017

Applications are now open for role of England & GB Hockey Men's Head Coach.

Reporting to the Performance Director, the Head Coach will be responsible for providing world class leadership and coaching to the national team. The Head Coach will be responsible for transitioning the men’s programme to a place of delivering systemic and consistent international success on the world stage, most specifically, medal winning performances at world-level events and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The senior team operates within a centralised programme at Bisham Abbey. The Head Coach is required to work closely with key performance staff, providing detailed planning for the programme to Tokyo and the following cycle.

To find out more information and submit your application for the role click here.

Please note - the deadline is midday (11:00 GMT) on 11 June 2018.

England Hockey Board Media release

Pakistan hockey player Afshah Noreen signs with Australian club

Sohail Imran


Afshah Noreen. Photo: File

LAHORE: Pakistan women hockey player Afshah Noreen has signed to play hockey for Queensland-based, Cairns hockey club in Australia.

The forward who has been in and out of the national team has managed to sign a three-month contract with the club down under.

Speaking to the media before her departure, Afshah said that she is looking forward to representing the nation there.

She added, it is an honour to play and Australia and that she is looking forward to working for Pakistan hockey on her return.

Moreover, Afshah has become the first player to sign with a club while being part of the national team.
Rushna Khan becomes first female Pakistani hockey player to be signed by foreign club

Afshah added, that she hoped that she would get to learn from her time playing in Australia.

Afshah is not the first women hockey player from Pakistan to represent the country at a foreign club.

Pakistan goalkeeper Rushna Khan last year, became the country’s first female hockey player to be signed by a foreign club. She had been signed by Sydney-based St George Randwick Hockey Club for a six-month season.

Geo TV News

York looking for hat-trick of titles in Hockey Challenge


The York High team, who have won the last two tournaments, will be aiming for a third title when the South Western Districts edition of the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge takes place at York in George on Saturday. Picture: Full Stop Communications

York High will be seeking their third title in a row when the South Western Districts leg of the South African SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge takes place in George on Saturday.

The defending champions will host the event at the Quarry astro and coach Erica Combrink said they were excited to again be part of the tournament.

At this stage, four of the qualifying tournaments have been held to decide the provincial finalists who will meet at Woodridge, just outside Port Elizabeth, on August 11.

In the mix so far are Kingswood (PE Inland winners), Alexander Road (PE Coastal), Hudson Park (East London Coastal) and Kingsridge (East London Inland).

York have been the front-runners in the SWD tournament, edging Oakhill for the honours two years ago and Outeniqua in last year’s final.

Despite their success in previous years, Combrink knows that it will not be plain sailing when they get down to action on Saturday.

“With the shortened 20-minute format of the competition it definitely makes the day very entertaining,” said the York coach.

“It puts pressure on all the teams and forces a situation where you have to try to create opportunities early in the game to try to get a lead.”

Combrink acknowledged that each team would have their own strategy going into the tournament, but said the emphasis would always be on scoring goals.

A total of eight schools will compete in the Hockey Challenge at York. They are Langenhoven (Riversdal), Point High (Mossel Bay), Oudtshoorn High, Langenhoven Gymnasium (Oudtshoorn), Knysna High, Glenwood House (Knysna), Outeniqua (George) and York (George).

While Saturday’s tournament brings all the South Western Districts teams together, Combrink said she felt the final tournament to take place at Woodridge was a worthwhile concept.

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity for the regional winners to compete against each other as you come up against teams you would not necessarily play in your regular season.”

Fullstop Communications media release for SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge