Welcome to the Fieldhockey.com Archives

All the news for Friday 6 March 2020

2020 FIH Pro League (Men) - 6 March

6 Mar 2020 20:30 (GMT +8)     AUS v ARG (RR)     Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth
7 Mar 2020 18:30 (GMT +8)     AUS v ARG (RR)     Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth

Live streaming and full game replay on https://fih.live (May be Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)

Pool Standings

FIH Match Centre

2020 FIH Pro League (Women) - 6 March

6 Mar 2020 18:00 (GMT +8)     AUS v ARG (RR)     Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth
7 Mar 2020 16:00 (GMT +8)     AUS v ARG (RR)     Perth Hockey Stadium, Perth

Live streaming and full game replay on https://fih.live (May be Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)

Pool Standings

USA v NED (26.01.2020) worth double points because of the match cancelled on 24.01.2020
AUS v GBR (01.02.2020) worth double points because of the match cancelled on 02.02.2020

FIH Match Centre

Eddie Ockenden Q&A ahead of Kookas appearance milestone



On Friday night, Eddie Ockenden will equal Jamie Dwyer’s Kookaburras record of 365 games and then set a new benchmark in Saturday night’s second match against Olympic Champions Argentina in Perth.

Fellow Tasmanian Adam Clifford, who currently writes for The Mercury newspaper and has known Eddie since he was a teenager, caught up with the man of the moment to reflect on his journey to the record.

You had success with a number of sports as a kid. What was it about hockey that stood apart from other sports and captured your imagination, both on and off field?

EO: I loved playing a lot of different sports but I realised I wanted to concentrate on hockey because I probably had the most fun and good friends around all the time which makes it more enjoyable. I liked hockey because it was a team sport. I liked the individuals sports as well but the team aspect has always been the most appealing thing about playing hockey to me.

If you weren’t a hockey player, what do you think you would have become?

EO: The other sport I liked the most when I was younger was cricket. If I didn’t play hockey, I would have liked to have pursued another sport because it’s what I really enjoyed so I would have tried that. For a long time it was cricket and hockey being the favourite depending on the season.

When did you first dream of playing hockey for Australia?

EO: I remember wanting to play hockey for Australia at a pretty young age.

As a kid from Hobart, did you ever grow up feeling like playing for your country may be a bridge too far?

EO: Growing up in Tassie you feel a long way away from the rest of Australia. There was always the feeling that we were just a small state but I think it was our own mindset more than anything. I think the traits that come through in Tasmanians that I have played with have been huge strengths.


Eddie Ockenden – largely admired by the next generation.

What’s been the standout achievement for you over your career, if you had to pick just one?

EO: Choosing just one standout is tough and I would go with the Beijing Olympics. Breaking into such a great team when I was still young and being selected for my first Olympics. We won a bronze medal and probably had the team to do better.

The sport has taken you right around the globe, but where is your favourite place to play?

EO: My favourite place to play is in India and the Netherlands. Not surprising as that was where we won both World Cups I’ve been part of but the passion and support from those crowds are incredible. The Netherlands organise amazing tournaments and it’s a great place for hockey.

What benefits did playing club hockey with Laren Hockey Club in the Dutch League have for you early on during your career?

EO: When I played club hockey for Laren for four years, I started when I was young. Living overseas out of your comfort zone in a city like Amsterdam was great. Playing every week over a full season in a great standard is hugely beneficial and playing a different style helps make you well rounded.

On Friday night you will equal and then on Saturday night you will eclipse Jamie Dwyer’s Australian record of 365 matches. How does that sit with you?

EO: Any milestone is fun to be a part of in the team, but it feels a bit different when it is yourself. It’s definitely more fun when a team mate is doing something. I reflect on how lucky I’ve been to play with so many great players and teams. To contribute to success gives you a sense of fulfillment. Jamie is a great friend so it’s something special that we can share but it’s not too much more than that.

Has your flexibility and charmed injury run been the catalyst for this record, or would that under sell your other attributes?

EO: Having positional flexibility is something I trained and learned from a young age. The training we had at the Tasmanian Institute of Sport was about learning all of the fundamentals. I have always thought it helped a lot and knowing the game from all aspects helps your development and understanding.

After such a long career, how have you maintained your passion for the sport and drive towards another Olympics?

EO: The Olympics is such an amazing event. In hockey, every team has trained harder and more professionally than they have at any other stage in the cycle. So you are playing against the absolute best and at the same time you prepare yourself to meet that challenge.

If you could change one thing about hockey, what would it be and why?

EO: Hockey has had some awesome rule changes that have sped up the sport. Certainly, the self-pass rule where you can now play on from a free hit was the best we have seen to increase the speed of the game. Rules around safety have been implemented which help and there are further developments that will be made to keep the game safe for everyone.

What’s your main piece of advice for junior players?

EO: Advice to junior players would just be to enjoy the game. Enjoy playing but also enjoy trying to become as good as you can be if you find you are that way inclined. Be inclusive and always put the team ahead of yourself.

Hockey Australia media release

Australia’s Eddie Ockenden set to become most capped Kookaburra


Australia’s Eddie Ockenden takes on England PIC: World Sport Pics

Eddie Ockenden is set to surpass Jamie Dwyer’s all time record of 365 Kookaburras appearances this weekend.

Ockenden, who was named the 2019 Kookaburras Player of the Year, will become Australia’s most capped male when he takes the field in this weekend’s two FIH Pro League matches against Argentina in Perth.

Currently with 364 appearances to his name, the 32-year-old co-captain will equal the 365 game record of Australian hockey legend Jamie Dwyer on Friday before eclipsing it on Saturday.

A triple Olympian who has been part of two World Cup-winning teams and three Commonwealth gold medal teams, Ockenden made his debut as a 19-year-old in 2006 and has gone from attack to defence in that time.

“In the scheme of things, it doesn’t feel like it means a lot because it is just a number of games, but when I sit back and think about it, it means a lot to have been in this team for this amount of time,” said Ockenden.

“I reflect on the guys that I have been able to play alongside and the friendships and my best mates in this team, so I think that is really cool…they are the things I have been reflecting on.”

“It is a special team and I love being part of the Kookaburras so that is what means the most to me.”

Colin Batch, Kookaburras head coach, said: “Eddie doesn’t chase these sorts of accolades. He has been a super player for the Kookaburras … we love Eddie Ockenden and Eddie Ockenden loves the Kookaburras.”

Subscribe to our print or digital edition for the bigger picture in 2020. Discounts with our partners and major savings on our digital product for global readers. Find out which subscription suits you best. Sign up now!

It’s a huge year for the sport – and our mission is for all juniors, grass roots, masters and general hockey lovers to read the game

The Hockey Paper

USA Field Hockey to Host 2021 WMH Masters Indoor World Cup



COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Field Hockey is excited to announce that the next World Masters Hockey (WMH) Masters Indoor World Cup will be hosted in the United States. This prestigious international competition will take place from March 10 to 14, 2021 at The Training Center in Spring City, Pa. and will include the O-40, O-45, O-50 and O-55 age divisions for both men and women. More than 40 total teams are expected to participate from all regions of the world.

Organization of this event is led by David Sculley, chairperson of the WMH Masters Indoor World Cup organizing committee for USA Field Hockey and a participant on the U.S. Men's Masters Team in the last two masters indoor world cup events. Sculley will be in close partnership with renowned tournament director Nigel Traverso, U.S. Women's Masters Team athlete Maria Keesling, and USA Field Hockey's Lifetime Engagement Promoter Kendra Lucking and National Development Director Sally Goggin, as well as additional members of the USA Field Hockey staff. These volunteers are committed to providing a world-class event which is a competitive and fun experience for all participants.

“At the WMH Masters Indoor World Cup, you get the best men’s and women’s players in the world at their age groups - folks like Carsten Fischer of Germany, Ken Periera of Canada, or our very own Pat Cota of the United States,” noted Sculley. “The competition is fierce and played at a very high-level, but there is also a genuine spirit of international camaraderie that makes the event truly magical. We look forward to welcoming top masters indoor teams from across the globe.”

In December 2019, WMH opened the bidding process for the Masters Indoor World Cup. With a submission of interest bid due January 16, 2020, details of the submission process where promptly circulated to the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Masters Committees. Sculley, with the assistance of other committee members Peter Jones and Jeremy Roberts, and Maria Keesling and Pam Stuper from the U.S. Women’s Masters Committee, began reaching out to stakeholders in the United States indoor community. The group was fortunate to add Goggin, Lucking and Traverso, in addition to USA Field Hockey's Director of Umpiring Steve Horgan, and Director of Futures and Programs Lisa McCoy.

The bid was strengthened immensely by the aid of Richard Kentwell of WC Eagles who agreed to host the event at The Training Center. As the detailed bid was prepared, the group collaborated on event planning alongside local leaders like Jon Scheuren of the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board and Paul Tornetta of The Proving Grounds, who offered much local support to help secure the bid and lay groundwork for a successful tournament. Thanks to the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board for their generous support of this event, and their organization for athletes who will be staying in the King of Prussia, Pa. area.



"Masters hockey has exploded in the last ten years in both the indoor and outdoor competition formats," added Goggin. "The United States has a thriving Masters community made up of talented and passionate men and women who love and embrace field hockey as a sport for life. Their dedication to train and compete at the highest level is inspiring, exciting and bodes well for the future growth of hockey in the United States and beyond. A huge thank you to Pam Stuper, Maria Keesling, Peter Jones, Warren Prestwich and other leaders in the Masters community, as well as David Sculley and other Masters players for promoting and developing hockey and being living examples of the joy of lifetime engagement.”

“This is a huge opportunity for the Masters and Adult indoor field hockey community," said Lucking. "Thank you to the many excellent leaders providing competitive indoor opportunities for adult and masters athletes in the United States which has contributed to the growth in engagement and participation enabling USA to win this bid. I am very excited for this event and for it to be a focal point in the country to continue building a lasting structure to fuel the growth of adult and masters indoor competition.”

U.S. Masters field hockey formally began in 2012 when a men’s O-45 team was entered in the first FIH Masters World Cup which was held in Canterbury, England. This was at the initiative of Jones and Simon Gray. In 2014 men's and women's squads were entered in the O-40 and O-50 age divisions of the Masters World Cup in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In 2016, USA was represented by men's and women's teams in the O-40 and O-45 age divisions at the Masters World Cup in Canberra, Australia. At the 2017 IMHA Masters Indoor World Cup in Krefeld, Germany, the U.S. Masters Committee entered an O-40 women's squad and O-40 and O-50 men’s teams. The 2018 Masters World Cup in Barcelona, Spain saw a further increase in representation by USA teams with the women entering O-35, O-40, O-45, O-50 and O-55 teams and the men entering O-40, O-45, O-50 and O-55 squads. The red, white and blue also played in the FIH Grand Masters World Cup in the men's O-60 division in Barcelona. In 2019, the second WMH Masters Indoor World Cup was held in Hong Kong, where USA entered teams in the women’s O-40 and men’s O-40 and O-50 divisions.



Preparations are currently underway for the 2020 WMH Masters World Cup.

USA Field Hockey and the 2021 WMH Masters Indoor World Cup Committee will be seeking volunteers and sponsors to support the tournament’s organization and execution. If you are interested in working on this exciting event, please contact David Sculley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Details for trials for the U.S. Women's Masters Indoor Squad can be found by clicking here. Registration closes Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Details for trials for the U.S. Men’s Masters Indoor Squads will be announced shortly and are currently expected to take place in early June, 2020.

USFHA media release

Another tournament for MHC to worry about

By Jugjet Singh

AFTER the postponement of the Azlan Shah Cup to September, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are now concerned about the qualifier for the women’s junior World Cup.

The qualifier, the women’s Junior Asia Cup is slated to be held on April 6-12 in Kakamigahara, Japan.

The Azlan Shah Cup was supposed to be held on April 11-18 in Ipoh, but was postponed to Sept 24-Oct 3 following the Covid-19 outbreak.

“My main concern now is the women’s Junior Asia Cup as it also doubles up as a Junior World Cup qualifier.

“The tournament will be held in Japan in April, and the MHC is awaiting news from the AHF (Asian Hockey Confederation) and FIH (International Hockey Federation) on whether the tournament will carry on or be postponed as well because of Covid-19,” said MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal.

In the meantime, Dutchman Roelant Oltmans will carry on with his job even though his earlier KPI was to finish in the top-two in the Azlan Shah Cup.

Yesterday, Oltmans held a training session as usual, and flicker Razie Rahim saw a bright side in the Azlan Shah Cup postponement.

“I believe the postponement is a blessing in disguise as now the players will have more time to train and become familiar with each other before we play in September,” said Razie.

Oltmans dropped five stalwarts and injected 11 youths into his team recently.

Plans are also afoot for the national team to play a series of international friendlies.

The Canadian team may arrive in July before heading to Japan for the Olympics, and there are plans to host a three-nation with New Zealand and Pakistan in June in Kuantan.

Yesterday, Oltmans released eight of his players to join the national juniors for the men’s Junior Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 4-14.

The eight are Nur Asyraf Ishak, Arif Syafie Ishak, Shello Silverius, Arif Sabron, Akhimullah Anuar Esook, Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal, Nor Firdaus Rosdi and Amirul Hanif Mamat.

New Straits Times

Hockey coach Oltmans eyes 20 match run-up ahead of Sultan Azlan Shah Cup


Roelant Oltmans’ coaching team has already made contact with several countries to arrange for friendly matches during April and May to maintain the team's match fitness. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 ― National men's hockey squad head coach Roelant Oltmans is aiming for his team to play up to 20 international matches before they march into the 2020 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament which has been rescheduled to September.

His coaching team has already made contact with several countries to arrange for friendly matches during  April and May to maintain the team's match fitness. Also on the cards is a European tour in July.

“Twenty matches are okay before the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup,” Oltmans told reporters after the national squad training session at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil here today.

The tournament, initially slated to take place from April 11 to 18, has been postponed due to the Covid-19 situation.

The 29th edition of the event will be Oltmans'  first major competition since he began as head coach of the Malaysian Tigers in October 2018.

“We will be having the New Zealand team in June. It is likely that will come to Kuantan and we will play a number of matches there,” he said.

Oltmans said with the presence of a new set of players, it would be good to see how they perform on the international stage.

On the postponement of the tournament due to Covid-19, he said the health of the players is more important than hockey at this moment.

National defender, Muhammad Razie Abdul Rahim, meanwhile,  said the tournament’s postponement will allow more time for the national team’s rebuilding process.

The 32-year-old, however, also believes there was no better yardstick of a team’s progress than playing against international opposition.

The organising committee of the 2020 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup has proposed that the tournament be held from September 24 to October 3.

Malay Mail

No lack of matches for hockey boys

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the postponement of the six-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, there will be no lack of matches for the national hockey team.

The tournament, which had been scheduled from April 11-18, has been postponed to Sept 24-Oct 3 due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

National coach Roelant Oltmans said there was nothing to be worried about with the postponement as the team had enough matches to play in the next four months.

“Two teams which will feature in Tokyo Olympics will be coming to Kuala Lumpur to play against the national team either in April or May. I will only reveal the two teams next week, ” he said.

He added that New Zealand team will be in Malaysia in June to play a series of matches in Kuala Lumpur and also in Kuantan in preparation for the Olympics.

“We will also be going to Europe in July to play in a four-nation meet in Spain. The other countries in the meet are Germany and Ireland.

“We are expecting to play seven matches in Europe and those matches will be enough for the team to prepare for the postponed Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, ” said Oltmans.Oltmans said the postponement would also give him time to prepare a strong team for the tournament.

“We have 34 players in the training squad but eight have been released to join the National Junior in preparation for the Junior Asia Cup (in Dhaka, Bangladesh from June 4-14), which is a tournament to qualify for the Junior World Cup in 2021, ” said Oltmans.

The eight players released to train with the junior team are Mohd Nur Asyraf Ishak, Mohd Arif Syafie Ishak, Shello Silverius, Arif Sabron, Mohd Akhimullah Anuar Esook, Mohd Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal, Mohd Nor Firdaus Rosdi and Mohd Amirul Hanif Mamat.

The other teams to feature in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup are 10-time champions Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Pakistan.

Australia, Canada and Japan will feature in the Olympics from July 24 to Aug 9.

The Star of Malaysia

Personal success not as important as team achievements: India hockey team forward Mandeep Singh

Mandeep said that when he saw his teammates win awards at the Hockey India 2nd Annual Awards in 2016, it inspired him to work harder.


India hockey team forward Mandeep Singh (Photo | EPS)

NEW DELHI: India hockey team forward Mandeep Singh, who has been nominated for the Dhruv Batra Player of the Year 2019 (Male) and Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year 2019, believes individual success is not as important as the team''s achievements.

"I am happy to be nominated for the awards and I am nominated only because of my team''s hard work and success last year. These awards are a big motivation for players as the team gets an opportunity to work harder," said Mandeep.

"However, individual successes are not as important as the team''s achievements. Last year was very special for us. We qualified for the 2020 Olympics at home and my personal performance was good too," he added.

Mandeep, who had a stellar 2019, scored 20 goals during the course of the year and played a crucial role in India''s victories at the FIH Series Finals and Olympic Qualifiers last year. He netted eight goals at the 28th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, two goals at the FIH Series Finals, six goals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Test Event, two goals during the Belgium tour and two goals at the Olympic Qualifiers.

Mandeep said that when he saw his teammates win awards at the Hockey India 2nd Annual Awards in 2016, it inspired him to work harder. "When I saw my teammates win Hockey India Awards in 2016, I was very inspired to work hard for my team. I am sure it''s a very special moment to receive awards in front of the whole hockey fraternity."

The Indian team has performed brilliantly at the FIH Pro League so far. They have played toe-to-toe against the top three teams - Belgium, Australia and Netherlands in the tournament. Mandeep said that the competition serves as good preparation for the all-important Tokyo Olympics.

"We have started the FIH Hockey Pro League very well. We played good matches against Netherlands, Belgium and Australia. The team is carrying out practice sessions day by day and all players are supporting each other during training and matches," he said.

"We have never let pressure affect our performances. This competition serves as a good platform to test ourselves against top teams in the world ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics," he added.

New Indian Express

Ex-Kenya star to play for US in Masters World Cup
         
By VICTOR OTIENO


Raquel Otieno dribbles a ball outside her apartment in Mamboleo, Kisumu County. Otieno, through the Tunza Sports Academy, is determined to develop hockey and boxing, among other sports, among the less privileged youth. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

Former Kenyan International Raquel Otieno hopes that her selection in the team that will represent United States of America in this year’s Masters Hockey World Cup will inspire upcoming players back home.

Otieno, who holds a dual citizenship, made the squad that will compete in the World Cup which features women over 45 years.

The competition will take place in Cape Town, South Africa from September 19 to 28.

“I hope that as the first Kenyan female hockey player to feature in the Masters Hockey World Cup, young players from Kenya and other underdeveloped nations will be inspired and believe that people who soar are those who refuse to sit back,” said Otieno.

The competition started in 2012 with the aim of retaining former hockey players across the globe in the game.

The event is held after every two years both indoor and outdoor.

Only players who are above 35 years are eligible to compete, but under different age categories.

To qualify for the competition, interested teams submit their application within the set deadline to World Masters Hockey and the International Hockey Federation.

Thereafter, the eligibility of the players are determined by the two organisations.

Hosts South Africa, Ghana and Zimbabwe will be Africa’s only representatives in the event, which has attracted more than 50 countries.

Otieno, who can play both in defence and midfield, missed the 2018 World Cup held in Spain because of a knee injury she suffered in the run up to the competition.

Apart from helping US perform better, the 45-year-old said part of her mission at the competition is to promote Kenya’s hockey.

“For me, this is a sports diplomacy mission for the two countries. I will use the platform as a field hockey ambassador for both USA and Kenya,” she said.

Otieno played for Kenya women’s hockey national team between 2001 and 2004.

She featured in the 2003 All African Games in Abuja, Nigeria, and Afro-Asia Games held in India same year.

For club competition, she played for Blazers (formerly Telkom) , Inter-capitale and Blue Eaglets (both disbanded), Mombasa Sports Club and Sliders, before moving to the US in 2007.

She is a coach at the GForce Filed Hockey Club in US and a technical official at the Junior Premier Hockey League and Pan American Hockey Federation.

Back at home, she is the founder of Tunza Sports Academy, a non-profit sports foundation which aims at promoting Kenya’s hockey and boxing.

Daily Nation

Hockademy duo go SkyHigh at Dandenong


From left: Hockey Academy (Hockademy) of Kuala Lumpur defender Mohd Fikri Amer Runnizar, coach S. Selvaraju, Hockademy president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin and forward Zafri Afiq Nor Azlan.

KUALA LUMPUR: Hockey Academy (Hockademy) of Kuala Lumpur youngsters Mohd Fikri Amer Runnizar and Zafri Afiq Nor Azlan will get the chance of a lifetime after being chosen to feature in the Australian Hockey League.

The 21-year-old defender Mohd Fikri and 20-year-old forward Zafri Afiq will play for Division One club Greater Dandenong Warriors, which is based in Melbourne.

The duo, who played for debutants Hockademy in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL), which ended last month, will play for six months in the Australian League, which begins next month.

Hockademy president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin said the Australian club chose Fikri and Zafri to join the club based on videos of them playing in the MHL.

“Greater Dandenong Warriors club were pleased with their performance in the local league and gave them a contract for six months to play in their league.

“The duo are also the best among our juniors at Hockademy. We must thank our (Hockademy) coach S. Selvaraju for helping Fikri and Zafri to realise their hope to feature in the Australian League, ” said Megat.

“It is an opportunity of a lifetime for these two youngsters to learn as much as they can by playing in the Australia League, which is one of the best leagues in the world.

“Australia are the powerhouse in hockey as they have won all major titles in the world.

“The club will provide the players with accommodation and an allowance while Hockademy corporate partners, GIG Technology Holdings Sdn Bhd will pay for the players’ flight tickets and visa, ” said Megat.

Zafri, who played for Malaysia in the Under-16 four-nation tournament in Mannheim, Germany in 2016, said it was a dream come true to play in the Australian League.

“It will be a learning curve for me and Fikri to gain as much experience playing against top clubs in Melbourne.

“I will do my best to play as many matches as possible in the league to improve my skills and also my scoring ability, ” said Zafri, who scored two goals for Hockademy in the MHL this season.

Fikri said he was excited to play for the first time in a foreign league and he is not going to waste this opportunity to learn every aspect of game by playing in Australia.

“My mission is to be a national player and I want to learn from the coaches of club in Melbourne to be one fine defender, ” said Fikri.

The Star of Malaysia

NextGEN athletes return motivated from Chula Vista training tour

Test matches against USA set benchmark for Junior Pan American Championships



Team Canada’s NextGEN program made a sojourn down to Chula Vista California last week for a training tour and test matches against the United States development program. Canada sent three squads (U16, U18 and U21) over 10 days.

For Grace Delmotte, a grade-12 student at Handsworth Secondary School in North Vancouver, the jump to international play means a faster pace and overall higher competition.

“The main difference I notice, compared to playing at home, is the speed of the play,” she said. “It’s just that much higher and the competition is that much tougher.”

For a 17-year-old with senior national team hopes, Delmotte has already built a solid resume as a player. She plays with West Vancouver Field Hockey Club, plays for her high school team, competes in the summer for Team B.C. and has been a member of Canada’s Junior Development System for a few years.

Although Canada didn’t come away with any wins in Chula Vista last week, Delmotte noted that playing in competitive games against USA demonstrates the level they need to be at and identifies weaknesses in Canada’s games. Delmotte, who is committed to playing for Wake Forest University next year in the NCAA, said that it is important for Canada to get repetitions against a strong team like the US, especially in a Junior World Cup qualifying year.

“It’s good to play a team like the US. We know we’ll have to play against them during qualifying, so we all realized that’s the level we need to get to at least,” she said.




Members of the U18 NextGEN group participate in test-matches against USA in Chula Vista, CA. Photo/Field Hockey USA

More than anything for Field Hockey Canada NextGEN Director, Patrick Tshutshani, this was an opportunity to bring players from across the country together in the same environment.

“Instead of evaluating players at an east camp and then a west camp, we were able to bring everyone in to play together,” Tshutshani said. “We had 34 U18 athletes, and we mixed it up to try to find and develop synergy between the athletes.”

Tshutshani, originally from South Africa, took on the role of NextGEN Director and junior national head coach last year. He spent the first half of his tenure learning about the Canadian hockey environment and supporting the senior national team while living in the Toronto. He recently moved to Vancouver and has since set up a structured training system for the NextGEN athletes in Vancouver and Victoria. In addition to the U18 group, Tshutshani also managed 18 athletes from the U16 age-group and 18 players in the U21 age-category. He said the purpose of the U16 age category is to identify young athletes with potential and accelerate their development and support. He notes how valuable it is for the athletes to get access to international experience at a young age.

“Regular access to international competition at the U-16 level is critical to team and individual success,” he said. “They are learning how to play in pressure moments.”

According to Tshutshani, the purpose of the tour was about establishing benchmarks and changing the way the teams defines success through results.

“To tell you the truth, we never once spoke about scores or game results,” he said. “It was all about the process last week. We were there to learn and develop our tactical and technical skills and our mental and physical game. The athletes are great, they are like sponges, they want to learn and grow.”




Team Canada plays against Team USA during the NextGEN Tour to Chula Vista, CA. Photo/USA Field Hockey

With junior Pan American Championships approaching, Tshutshani, Delmotte and the other NextGEN athletes know that they will need to make strides to put up results against the powerhouse-countries in the Pan American region.

As a 17-year old at this juncture of the cycle, Delmotte knows it will be on her peer-group to carry the NextGEN program forward, if all goes well at the Pan American Championships.

“We know that when some of the U21 players age-out after qualifiers, we’ll be the core group moving forward towards the World Cup,” she said. “Playing against USA last week just shows the level we need to get to if we want to be successful.”

The NextGEN women’s program will continue to train in their daily environments and meet for tournaments and camps throughout the year leading up to fall qualifiers. Follow along on Field Hockey Canada’s social media and website for updates along the way.

Field Hockey Canada media release

Hockey India to organise Khelo India Women's League

The Under-21 league would be held in three phases across three different venues – Delhi (March 23-), Bengaluru (July 13-19) and Bhubaneswar (November 22-29).

Uthra Ganesan

In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Hockey India in association with the Sports Authority of India would organise the first Khelo India Women's Hockey League in phases, starting later this month and continuing till November 2020.

The Under-21 league would be held in three phases across three different venues – Delhi (March 23-), Bengaluru (July 13-19) and Bhubaneswar (November 22-29). “The number of national-level competitions currently being held in women’s hockey is limited and we felt the need to create this league so that more talent could be identified,” Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said.

The first two phases would see 14 teams divided into two pools of seven each playing in a round-robin format. Phase three would include classification matches and finals based on the rankings after the frist two phases. The teams would be drawn from registered academies and Public Sector Units and finalised on a first-come-first-serve basis subject to confirmation of acceptance of the terms of participation.

While the Central government, along with various state governments, have been organising Khelo India events across age-groups, this is the first time a single-sport league has been finalised and organised by a sports federation. “With this new initiative, we want to provide a platform to young women players to play at a high level consistently across the year and potentially becoming a part of the National team set-up in the future,” Hockey India president Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad said.

Sportstar

Proposed league a shot in the arm for Indian girls

K. Arumugam


Indian girls won Silver at the recent Asian Games where men got bronze

Nothing is more sweetening than the today's announcement of Women's Hockey League for Under-21 girls in India. Despite equally (if not more) performing on international arena as that of their men's counterparts, Indian women don't get matching and adequate attention from the trustees of the sport, Hockey India. Women hockey in India survived due to the solid support extended by two government arms, Sports Authority of India and Indian Railways. The former funds its elite programs besides scouting and training talents, while the latter is the sole provider of permanent jobs (90%). Hockey India does conduct National Championships but hardly does it go beyond. Hardly does it bid any big ticket Asia or FIH tournaments for women, to quote a point, while it goes bullish for men. Successful bidding of successive Jr and Sr World Cups is a point to note.

It is in this context that reliable promoter of women's hockey in India, the Government of India has come out again to lift it to the next level.

Sports Authority of India in association with Hockey India today announced the first edition of the Khelo India Women's Hockey League (Under 21).

This will do a world of good for the development of Women's hockey at domestic level. There is paucity of tournaments for girls. They need platform for showcasing their game which has been increasingly less over decades. This league, though in brief spells, fills up the vacuum to a large extent.

The proposed league will be held at three different venues across the country in three phases between March - November 2020. Phase 1 will be held from March 23 to 29, 2020 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, Phase 2 will be held from July 13 to 19, 2020 at the SAI Center in Bengaluru, and Phase 3 from November 22 to 29, 2020 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Speaking about the first-of-its-kind initiative, Shri. Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports said, “The effort of the Government is to create talent identification platforms for athletes from multiple sports through the Khelo India Scheme. In women's hockey, the number of national-level competitions currently being held in India are limited and therefore we felt the need to create this league so that more talent could be identified in the U-21 category. I am sure this league will bring forth many talented hockey players."

A total of 14 teams will take part in the first season of the League, with the participation of teams being accepted on a first come, first serve basis, subject to confirmation of acceptance of the relevant terms of participation. These 14 teams will be divided into two Pools of seven teams each for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the League, which shall follow a round-robin format, with each team playing a total of six matches each in both the Phases.

Phase 3 will consist of classification matches based on the rankings of teams after the conclusion of the first two Phases. A Final match will also be held to determine the Champions.

The League will be played by various academies registered under Hockey India and Public Sector Units' teams, as per the latest FIH Outdoor Regulations and FIH Rules of Hockey, and by players born on or after 01 January 2000, with each of the 14 teams consisting of 18 players and 4 support staff (Head Coach, Team Manager, Medical Doctor and Physiotherapist).

Stick2Hockey.com

Update: English League finals dates and promotion / relegation format


Surbiton earn Investec Women's Hockey League title

Men's and Investec Women's League Finals

The top four teams in the Men's and Investec Women's Premier Divisions play off against each other to be crowned champions.

In the semi-finals, 1st play against 4th, and 2nd play 3rd. The winning semi-finalists qualify for the final. As requested by teams the semi-finals are at home club venues. Men’s semis are on 29 March, Women’s semis are on 4 April in order to ensure availability of international players.

The team finishing top of the Division at the end of the regular season take England’s second place in the following season’s European Club Championships (EH) while the winners of the final are league champions and take England’s top place. If this is the same team then the losers of the final take the second European place.   

The League Finals are on Sunday 5 April at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.

12:00 – Men’s finals
14:30 – Women’s final

Promotion & Relegation – Premier Division and Division 1 North & Division 1 South

The team finishing 10th in the Premier Division is relegated.

The winners of Division 1 North & Division 1 South play off in a one-off match on 29 March at a neutral venue, Nottingham Hockey Centre. The winners of this match are promoted to the Premier Division.

The losers of this game play against the team finishing 9th in the Premier Division over two matches with the winners on the aggregate score earning/retaining a Premier Division place.

5 April – Losers of Division 1 North & Division 1 South play off v 9th Premier Division – Match 1
18 April – 9th Premier Division v Losers of Division 1 North & Division 1 South play off – Match 2

Promotion & Relegation – Division 1 North & Division 1 South and Conference East, Conference North & Conference West
The teams finishing 10th in Division 1 North & Division 1 South are relegated to the Conferences. The three Conference winners are promoted.

Out of the two teams finishing 9th in Division 1 North & Division 1 South, the team with the best playing record over the season will retain their Division 1 status. The other team is relegated to the Conferences.

Promotion & Relegation – Conference East, Conference North & Conference West and Regional Premier Divisions

The teams finishing 10th in Conference East, Conference North & Conference West are relegated to the Regional Leagues. The five Regional League winners are promoted.

Out of the three teams finishing 9th in Conference East, Conference North & Conference West, the team with the best playing record over the season will retain their Conference status. The other two teams are relegated to the Conferences.

League Positions
Where teams are equal on points the following method shall determine their positions in order:
1. Highest number of matches won.
2. Highest goal difference.
3. Highest number of goals scored.
4. If teams are still equal a play-off will be arranged if this will determine a promotion/relegation/qualification issue 

This will also be used if there is equality on points in the 9th placed teams in Division 1 North & Division 1 South and Conference East, Conference North & Conference West.

England Hockey Board Media release

Big weekend as Premiership and Scottish Cup action awaits



After last weekend`s action only two teams remain locked at the top of the women`s Premiership – Clydesdale Western are slightly ahead of Edinburgh University on goal difference, and both will aim to hold on to that status against Gordonians and Hillhead respectively.

Meanwhile, in the men`s competition Grange have opened up an eight point cushion, a position they would hope to consolidate at home to Watsonians on Saturday.

Sunday sees the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup (men & women).

The game of the day among the top group is Watsonians` visit to Dundee Wanderers at Dalnacraig. Last weekend, Watsonians lost out by the odd goal in three to Edinburgh University while Wanderers were held to a 1-1 draw by GHK, and consequently both lost some ground in the race for the title.

The initial fixture back in September produced a slender single goal victory for the Taysiders, Vikki Bunce doing the honours that day. The reality is that the loser is in danger of dropping out of the top four – while a draw would probably suit neither side.

After their victory over Gordonians Western Wildcats have moved into third spot on goal difference over Wanderers, and coach Kaz Cuthbert would fancy her chances against Glasgow University, especially as they won the first encounter 6-0.

After last weekend`s victory over Glasgow University, Grove Menzieshill could consolidate their sixth position with a home win over GHK. They did manage that back in September, a 3-1 win with Sam Sangster getting two of them.

But the Glasgow side started off the second half of the season with a gutsy 1-1 draw with Dundee Wanderers, so will be no pushover.

In the men`s league Grange are undoubtedly the team to stop – and Kelburne came close last weekend. On Saturday the champions are at home to Edinburgh neighbours Watsonians and must be favourites to extend their unbeaten run.

So that means that the chasing pack must also keep winning in order to avoid the gap at the top getting larger.

So second-placed Western Wildcats need to take the three points at Hillhead.  Coach Vishal Marwaha might be confident as his charges won the initial fixture 7-0 with Andrew McConnell, Fraser Moran, Niall Sommerville and Rob Harwood all pitching in to the flow of goals.

After last weekend`s 4-2 win over Hillhead, Grove Menzieshill are now only a point behind the Wildcats, but that will only be maintained if they can see off Kelburne at DISC. If Kelburne can repeat their encouraging performance of last weekend against Grange, that may not be so easy.

There were distinct signs of promise in the Paisley ranks, they looked fitter and sharper, but need to take the chances to score when they become available.

Fourth-placed Edinburgh University are at home to an Uddingston side that are pushing for a top four place. The students certainly provide full value on the goal front, in their two games since the winter shut down they have scored 14 goals and conceded eight – ideal for the spectators.

In the final game on the card Clydesdale travel to Dundee Wanderers who are in need of the three points to get off the bottom spot.

Undoubtedly the tie of the day in Sunday`s Scottish Cup programme is the women`s clash between Watsonians and Western Wildcats. This could be a very close affair, only one point separates the sides in the Premiership.

However, Wildcats triumphed in the league encounter by 3-0 with Rona Stewart, Ava Smith and Rachel Bain on target.

Edinburgh should get the better of the all-University clash at Stirling while Grove Menzieshill may find second division`s Fjordhus Reivers a tricky nut to crack in the Borders.

The all-second division clash between Erskine Stewarts Melville and Uddingston could be an intriguing confrontation. The Lanarkshire side are five points ahead of their Edinburgh rivals in the table, but the latest meeting of the sides ended in a 1-1 draw.

In the men`s competition holders Grange, Edinburgh University and Grove Menzieshill will hope to advance against second division opposition.

However, Western Wildcats are back at Hillhead for the second time in the weekend, and that sort of double header can sometimes present its own problems – for both sides.

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Celebrating International Women’s Day with Russia and Ukraine



International Women's Day gives the global hockey community the perfect opportunity to showcase and celebrate some of the great work being carried out by women across the world. Many of the women celebrated during our week-long recognition of achievements have become leaders within our sport and are the driving forces behind change, progress and development.

Whether it is having the vision to provide leadership experience opportunities through  coaching hockey or whether it is developing the skills to lead a national team, these are all instances where the hockey community is demonstrating yet again, its huge and uncompromising approach to equality in all aspects of life.

Day four - Europe

As we continue our week long celebration of  International Women’s Day, we talk to two European coaches who are representative of a growing number of elite level female coaches operating at the very top level of the sport.

Former Russian international Svetlana Ivanova is Head Coach of both the Russian national team and top Russian club side Dinamo-Electrostal, while Svitlana Makaieva is the long-serving Head Coach to both the outdoor and indoor Ukrainian women’s national hockey teams.

For Makaieva, coaching is a life-long passion. She says: “I love sports, I love to work with committed players and staff and see the team make progress and get results. I also love to teach the value that sport can have to young people. In coaching, all these things come together."

When it comes to coaching style, Makaieva is unashamedly ‘old school’ in her style. She says: “Discipline, hard work and team structure are things I certainly bring to the role. I’m also always looking for new things that can benefit our team. But the most important thing I bring is passion for hockey. In Ukraine we talk about “our hockey family”. That refers to everyone in Ukraine and around the world who shares the passion for hockey.”

While Ivanova has only recently become the national team Head Coach, her passion for coaching was first ignited when she was a teenager. “At school I had been playing basketball before I started playing hockey. Once my PE teacher offered us, eight-graders, the chance to supervise the junior basketball players. So I had a few girls from the sixth grade under my patronage. It was my first experience as a coach.

“Later then, when I started playing in the Russian masters national team, I felt that in the future I could convey my experience to younger players. The decision to become a coach I consider as a conscious choice.


“I like my job because I can see the real result of the effort. Because each day is nothing like the previous one. The coach has powerful motivation — to create the team, to set the goal and pursue it with the players.”

When it comes to gender and coaching, the two Head Coaches agree that whether you are a male or female coach, many of the demands are the same. Mental toughness; developing a coaching style that suits the coach and the players; tactical knowledge and technical know-how are all essential elements whatever the coach’s gender.

Both coaches also agree however, that there are some fundamental differences in the social interactions or communication styles when it comes to coaching male and female players.

“From a social perspective I think players interact differently towards male or female coaches”, says Makaieva. “From a sports perspective on the field during training and matches, or off the field during training sessions, it’s more the style and personality that leads to players interacting differently then the gender.



And Ivanova adds: “The requirements are the same. The woman has to be as strong, mentally, as a man. About differences, I find female team players communicate differently with male coaches. Often they can’t completely open up psychologically. There are questions girls are ashamed to ask, they don’t always trust their own judgements. So there’s some barriers.”

What have been the proudest moments for these two inspirational coaches to date?

“There are few of these moments,” says Ivanova. “At 37 I have finished my playing career in Italy. I’ve started working as a coach and brought the junior team to the highest division of the Europe championship.

“Also the qualification matches [against Australia] for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. It was a really interesting process. Yes, we lost to the Australian team in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers, but the game my players showed against those who were ranked second in the world is not something to be ashamed of. Our national team believed that everything was possible. One only has to work hard.

“And of course, at the European Indoor Hockey Champions Cup 2019 in Hamburg, Dinamo-Electrostal won the silver medal – that was a proud moment.”

For Makaieva, the treasure chest of memories is a large one but winning the European Indoor Championships in 2010 remains at the top of the list. She adds that seeing her Ukraine players leading club sides across Europe also makes her feel very proud.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Ivanova and her squad will be downing their sticks after training and having a fun kick around with a football, followed by a barbecue. It has, she says, become something of a tradition.

Meanwhile, as the Ukrainian Head Coach reflects on the messages behind International Women’s Day, she says it is not so much about gender as what skills you bring to the role. “It’s no longer such a rarity to have a woman as coach to a women’s team. In hockey we say: every person is equally amazing. I think so too. In a team staff you need different skill sets and different personalities to keep the saw sharp.”

#IWD2020
#EachForEqual

FIH site

PHF employees in Lahore, Karachi not paid for two months

KARACHI: The employees of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) in Lahore and Karachi have not been paid salaries for the last two months, ‘The News’ learnt on Wednesday.

Informed sources said that PHF had been facing a shortage of funds for many months. For the same reason, the activities of Pakistan team at international level have been affected. The Green-shirts have missed some international events.

The PHF has not received any big amount from the federal government, so its financial crisis is getting worse day by day. The staffers in Karachi office had been facing the late salary issue for many months but now those working at the Lahore office are also facing this problem.

The PHF bore the expenses of the first phase of the training camp of the senior team for Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament by getting loans, the sources said. It is pertinent to mention here that Sultan Azlan Shah tournament, which was scheduled to be held next month in Malaysia, has been postponed because of the outbreak of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the PHF has not yet decided whether to start the second phase of the training camp or not. It announced that the second phase will be held from March 5, but the national selection committee, which was to be announce the names of the players on March 3, has not yet done so.

Khwaja Junaid, the head coach of Pakistan, was not available for comment. The sources said that the head coach was waiting for the final decision of PHF secretary Asif Bajwa about the training camp.

The training camp for the junior team is also due to be started to prepare for Junior Asia Cup 2020 and Junior Hockey World Cup 2021. Sources in the PHF said that due to financial crisis and postponement of Sultan Azlan Shah tournament, the training camp of national senior team was likely to be postponed.

The News International