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All the news for Saturday 4 January 2020

Indoor USMNT Drop Opening Match, USWNT Pick Up Win & Tie on First Day of Rohrmax Cup


Image Courtesy of Katherine Hennessy

VIENNA, Austria - January 3, 2020 - The red, white and blue was well represented on the opening day of the 2020 Rohrmax Cup in Vienna, Austria, with all three squads playing in the first three matches of the tournament. The U.S. Women's National Indoor Team's Blue squad faced Belarus to begin the day, tying 2-2. The second game featured the Indoor USMNT against the LUC Ronchin Lille club team, which the opposition claimed a 7-1 victory. Lastly, the women's USA Gold team wrapped up the day against the SV Arminen club team with a 4-1 win.

USA Blue 2 - 2 Belarus

Belarus controlled the early stages of the game as USA goalkeeper Sierra Espeland (Fredericksburg, Va.) was called upon to make a series of timely saves. After failing to capitalize on their first two penalty corners, Belarus found the goal on their third attempt to take a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute. USA rebounded well and created a number of chances culminating in a penalty corner shot by Ali Campbell (Lancaster, Pa.) that bounced off the post before halftime to leave them off the scoreboard for the time being.

USA put increased pressure on Belarus' defense at the start of the second half starting with Kelsey Briddell (Wilton, N.Y.) who forced a turnover on the boards and found Laura Hurff (Newark, Del.) on the edge of the circle. Hurff then beat the on rushing goalkeeper with a hard low shot to tie the game at 1-1. Hurff was in the thick of USA's resurgent play forcing turnovers. Rounding a defender on the top of the circle, she laid the ball off to Makayla Gallen (Glen Mills, Pa.) who found space on the far post to send it past the diving goalkeeper to give USA the 2-1 advantage with 6 minutes to play.
 
With the game opening up, Belarus responded off a penalty corner to tie it. USA fought hard to regain the lead and nearly succeeded when Mayv Clune (Quakertown, Pa.) had a penalty corner chance stopped on the line. Belarus' goalkeeper followed up with an outstanding save off a shot from Briddell as time ran out.

“It was a good start against a quality team,” said Jun Kentwell, Indoor USWNT Head Coach. “Kasey Tapman and Laura Hurff settled in well and showed their competitive edge.”

USA Gold 4 - 1 SV Arminen

USA Gold tallied two goals in each half to run away with a  4-1 win against the perennially strong host club SV Arminen. Beth Yeager (Rye, N.Y.) found Hope Rose (Dauphin, Pa.) with a penetrating pass who made no mistake with a strong high shot to open the scoring. A fine passing move that involved Corinne Zanolli (Newtown Square, Pa.) and Yeager who then slipped the ball to Ashley Sessa (Schwenksville, Pa.) to finish by the right post gave USA a 2-0 lead at the half.
After the break, SV Arminen came out determined in the opening minute and put a goal back to narrow the gap. However, USA immediately restored their two goal lead when Sessa picked up a clear on the half way line before she cut to the top of the circle and beat the goalkeeper in a 1-on-1 opportunity. Moments later Yeager saw her penalty corner effort halted by SV Arminien's goalkeeper but Rose made no mistake on the rebound with another strong high shot to extend the lead to 4-1. Zanolli nearly added another for USA when she hit the post on a penalty corner attempt.

“I was very pleased with the work rate and skills shown by Beth [Yeager], Hope [Rose] and Ashley [Sessa], three of our youngest players, today” commented Kentwell. "But there were areas we each need to improve as a team. I will be looking for the players to make adjustments tomorrow and show more quality in our play.”

USA 1 - 7 LUC Ronchin Lillie

A young Indoor USMNT fell in their opening match of the Rohrmax Cup 7-1 to France's elite LUC Ronchin Lille club. LUC set the pace from the start and notched their first goal at just under the 3-minute mark with a flick over the right shoulder of USA goalkeeper Stephen Dennis (Fairfield, Conn.). Four subsequent attempts in rapid succession yielded no result. USA settled in and earned their first penalty corner in the 6th minute with a quick conversion by Ajai Dhadwal (Agoura Hills, Calif.) to level the score at 1-1.

LUC increased the tempo and converted on their first penalty corner attempt in the 12th minute and scored two back-to-back goals in the last three minutes of the first period to bring the score to USA 1, LUC 4.

USA scrambled to regain composure in the second half against LUC's coordinated strikers who found three winning combinations to further extend their lead. The red, white, and blue stepped up to the higher intensity and created a few circle penetrations and opportunities but were unable to get off a clean shot. In the final minutes of the game, USA successfully denied two penalty corner attempts as the final score stood 7-1 to LUC.

"We played a very good first half but then two quick goals near the end of the period extended LUC's champions league to 4-1 by half time," said Alex Gheorghe, Indoor USMNT Head Coach. "In the second half, we created a few opportunities that we didn’t convert while LUC capitalized on their penalty corners. Overall it was a fantastic learning experience which the players will take into tomorrow’s game."

"We were obviously disappointed with the final scoreline of the game today," commented Alex Grassi (Brookeville, Md.), Indoor USMNT Captain. "This was the team’s first game together and that showed. Areas of improvement have been identified and we will focus on making those fixes moving forward. Looking forward to another good test in tomorrow’s game."

For more information regarding the upcoming Rohrmax Cup, including the full schedule and results, visit the event page by clicking here.

USFHA media release

Defeat to Ireland in Dublin for Scotland U18 Girls



Scotland U18 Girls’ lost the second of three test matches against Ireland in Dublin 2-1. It follows yesterday’s 1-1 draw and means Scotland need a win in the final contest to level the series. The matches kick start a year that will see the Scots play at the U18 EuroHockey Championships in Russia this summer.

Ireland started strongly and scored in the first quarter. Niamh McIvor opened the scoring after some great skill allowed her to provide a composed finish and make it 1-0 to Ireland in the opening quarter.

Despite enjoying good possession Ireland found the Scotland defence stubborn and keeping them with out with the Scottish D.

Ava Smith nearly equalised for Scotland as half time approached; she beat two players but her reverse shot was well saved and kept the Irish lead intact.

Scotland’s defence was under pressure again in the second half. Some great build up play from Ireland led to a great deflection from Emma O’Sullivan put Ireland two goals up in the third quarter.

It was in the final quarter that Scotland began to enjoy possession higher up the pitch and had a real go for the last ten minutes.

The pressure was rewarded when Scotland scored on the final whistle from a short corner. Good play by Katie Swanson won the corner and it was Swanson herself who dispatched the ball from the top of the D to make a final result of 2-1 to Ireland.

Head Coach Keith Smith said, “Today will provide some more good learning for the players, and experience in dealing with the pace and physicality of this level of hockey. Ireland posed us different problems today and we grew into the match and finished well.

“Tomorrow we’ll look to start stronger and change the momentum a bit by imposing ourselves better on the game. There’s a lot of work to do but we’re improving and we’ll look to keep making progress the more we play together.”

The third and final meeting between the two tomorrow will settle the series.

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Indian men's hockey team renews bid for glory 39 years since podium finish

Sundeep Misra


The Indian Men's Hockey Team is training in Bhubaneswar before the FIH Pro League kicks off at the city's Kalinga Stadium. Twitter @HockeyIndia

It’s that time of year when hopes are high, dreams soar, and aspirations escalate. The hockey city of Bhubaneswar is currently home to the Indian men’s team, which now camps there till they fly out for the 2020 Olympic Games. Indian captain Manpreet Singh says with an uncharacteristic rush of blood: “Our main target in 2020 is to reach the finals of the Olympics and believe me it's achievable.”

The last time India reached an Olympic final was at the 1980 Moscow Games. India won that final. That was 39 years back. Since then, we haven’t even reached an Olympic semi-final. It doesn’t mean we can’t. We have been close, quite a few times. But a few aspects, other than just skills have let us down. Manpreet gives a pointer here too. "But for that (reaching the Tokyo final), we have to maintain the consistency which we have shown in the entire 2019.”

The Indian captain is no stranger to Indian hockey’s ‘yo-yo’ form of consistency. Skills have never been an issue. But he would know, playing in his 3rd consecutive Olympic Games that every team captain in Pool A (India’s pool) is striving to be in the last four, on the Olympic podium.

Between now and the Olympics, India would play the Pro-League, most probably the Azlan Shah and of course the Asian Champions Trophy, quite a bit of hockey but enough to gauge potential, understand each player's character and keep injuries at bay.

Most coaches would already have started preparing for the Games, now that the Pools are out.

At Tokyo, the Pools (Men) are:

Pool A: Australia, Argentina, India, Spain, New Zealand, Japan

Pool B: Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Canada, South Africa

India play the World No 1 Australia, 4th ranked and Olympic Champions Argentina, 8th ranked Spain, 9th ranked New Zealand and hosts, 15th ranked Japan. Out of all these teams, only Japan wouldn’t be in the Pro League.

In Pool B, Canada and South Africa will not be playing the Pro League.

However, unlike most championships including the World Cup, at the Olympics, the playing field is levelled in an entirely different way; the matches are closer and tighter. Victories, defeats and draws are usually marked by errors in play, the result of massive pressure to get three points.

Japanese coach Siegfried Aikman believes stress management will be crucial “I think that like in the Olympic qualifiers, the teams will be under heavy pressure because of the risk not to make the quarter-finals. We could see for example in the Netherlands — Pakistan match that the Netherlands, an all-time favourite had trouble defeating Pakistan.

Same happened in the first match between India and Russia. The higher ranked teams did well in the 2nd match apart from some exceptions. Back to back matches reduced the chances for the lower-ranked teams but when it’s about one match many things can happen. In the preparation, stress management probably will be an issue, if we learn from the qualifiers.”

Former India coach Terry Walsh, who has also coached Australia to an Olympics bronze, and then the Netherlands to an Olympics silver, believes that the only strategy is ‘meticulous preparation’. “You know in the Olympics that you’re almost certainly going to need 10 points or more to be assured of being in the semi-finals; even 10 can be a little tricky if you’ve got three teams all very close in the pool phase,” feels Terry.

“The only high dividend low-risk strategy that I am aware of involves meticulous preparation. To my knowledge, there are no shortcuts. The reality is that you have to play each game in its entirety. Every three points and goal difference are the keys for each contest. Should you get distracted and start thinking about what might be following certain contests you can fall into some serious traps.”


Indian men's team players during its tour of Spain and Belgium in 2019. Twitter @HockeyIndia

On the face of it, India play four tricky opponents – Australia, Argentina, Spain and New Zealand. Manpreet Singh and his boys would need more than just confidence to pull their way through. In the 2019 Pro League, Spain had 16 points after 14 games and interestingly won five matches after a shoot-out.

The Kiwis had only 4 points after 14 matches losing four games in the shoot-out, ending up last. Evidence of a world order where teams are capable of scoring in the last few seconds; where grit becomes an enviable and mandatory quality.

Ric Charlesworth, arguably the most successful men’s and women’s coach and also a World Cup-winning captain for Australia believes ‘someone always surprises. “Every time you play an opponent you will learn but the Olympic experience is hard to replicate outside the Olympic Games,” says Ric.

“Pro League games will be different in their impact and nature with indeed different rules. But the majority of aspects will be the same. You need to be very careful prognosticating about what will happen. This is not something you can control. I am concerned about every team. Someone always surprises.”

India play New Zealand, Australia and Spain in their first three matches with the last two against Argentina and Japan. But does the order matter? Teams, anyway, have to win at least 3 matches, to have any realistic chances of qualifying unless the Pool is faced with a raft of draws.

Aikman explains the importance of the schedule. “It’s important, the more likely it is that you can win your first match it will comfort your players if you do so. From that moment you are on the positive side of the score to make it to the quarterfinals.  It’s also why the ranking is so important and so unfair.”

But the Japanese coach, whose team India vitally play last, in case of a few bad results and a crucial 3 pointer to be picked up, believes ‘If you want to win you need to beat every team and therefore you need to be prepared to play every opponent at any time.’ Safe words from a coach, any coach.

Terry feels the schedule is crucial. “Once the pools are declared you have a fairly good idea of what the playing order of the matches — but the schedule itself becomes crucial, especially when weather conditions can play a role as they will almost certainly do in Japan. Then it becomes a detailed preparation time. Confirming the finite details of your preparation schedule with specific targets and objectives become the priority. As an example, the allocated times of your matches can be very influential.”

Ric, however, believes upsets would be the order. “It is forever happening. As the teams get closer to one another it’s even more likely. There will be plenty of upsets.”

Since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, only three teams outside of the top four or six have managed to stand on the podium – South Korea (2000), Belgium (2016), both with silver medals. Argentina broke into the top four of an Olympic Games for the first time ever – winning the Olympic gold.

The last Olympic Games is what Ric is talking about when he says there will be surprises. Germany and the Netherlands finished 3rd and 4th; Australia finished 6th.


Indian men's hockey team chief coach Graham Reid with the team. Twitter @HockeyIndia

In a way, Manpreet’s confidence stems not only from the 5th place that India has maintained for a good part of two years but from a knowledge that not much separates the top six or eight teams at the moment. And when it comes down to just one game, irrespective of an opponent, a penalty corner, a brilliant strike, a defensive manoeuvre leading to a counter, anything inside of six seconds can decide a match and a possible semi-final at the Olympic Games.

Aikman believes Japan is ambitious enough. As hosts, sure, they have the pressure to perform. At the same time, they have the freedom to play knowing they are the lowest-ranked team in the competition. Everything is a bonus. “We in Japan are very ambitious and we will play to win,” says Aikman. “Time will tell if we can, but we will try and that’s what we are preparing. We are not preparing to lose our matches.”

“That opportunity is fantastic because we have nothing to lose, we are the lowest-ranked team, and everyone expects us to lose every match.  Can we change that before the Olympics? No! Do we have anything to lose? No! Then Why worry?”

A few months back, in an interview, Belgium coach Shane McLeod said he won’t be surprised if it’s a Belgium Vs India final. Terry doesn’t discount that. But says, “You’d be very brave to predict the two teams entering the final in the men’s tournament. You could never discount an India versus Belgium final, but I personally would find that difficult to see at this stage.”

But can the Pro League be a pointer to the Olympic podium? Terry says, “The Pro League finishes very close to the Olympic Games. Teams will be forced to use significant components of the Pro League as preparation for the Olympics. This for me is a flashing red light. I think it would be somewhat cavalier to believe that the same team will win both competitions. My view is that this will likely happen when one team is clearly better than the rest. At this stage, I don’t see that being the case.”

Manpreet, however, has an ally in Ric Charlesworth. The Australian predicts India and Australia in Pool A as possible semi-finalists with Netherlands and Belgium coming through from Pool B.

On Shane McLeod’s assertion of a possible India Vs Belgium Olympic final, Ric says, “Anything is possible, but it is mere speculation. Interesting that he (Shane) thinks Belgium will make it! I firmly believe India are a realistic medal chance. They were very close in Bhubaneswar with no luck.”

These are, in a way, fearless predictions. But, one also cannot ignore history. Before the 1980 Moscow Gold, India won gold in 1964, the last time, Tokyo hosted the Games. At times, Manpreet must be mumbling to himself, “History does repeat itself.”

Firstpost

Alex Danson back at Bisham Abbey from Monday


Alex Danson

Great Britain Hockey are delighted that Alex Danson will be back at Bisham Abbey on Monday.

Alex has been out injured with a mild traumatic brain injury suffered while on holiday in Kenya in late 2018.

Over the coming weeks and months, the fundamental priority is Alex's health and wellbeing. With an injury of this nature and the amount of time Alex has been out, there are some medium-term timescales, however the priority in the short-term is on bespoke support, aiding Alex’s full return to the pitch.

The first few weeks will be important as Alex’s builds on her training to date. There is no expectation of Alex making initial selection for the first FIH Pro League in January, and we will support and monitor Alex’s progress over the coming months.

Following an incredibly tough 2019, Alex has the full support of Great Britain Hockey and is an example to all in her resilience and commitment.

As the team prepare for the FIH Pro League and this summer's Olympics in Tokyo, the squad are delighted to have Alex back at Bisham.

Great Britain Hockey media release

Alex Danson returns to GB Hockey squad after ‘awful head injury’


Alex Danson will aim to make squad for Tokyo Olympics PIC: WORLD SPORT PICS

In a hugely positive statement, Alex Danson, the GB captain, announced on Friday that she would be rejoining the Great Britain Hockey programme on Monday in a bid to make the team for Tokyo 2020.

Her social media post was a major boost following 18 months out of the game after her “awful head injury” and the feeling that it would still be some weeks before the 34-year-old could return to contact hockey.

But the fighting GB forward, who has worked hard to regain full fitness in recent weeks, said: “The last 18 months have tested me to perhaps my limits, with my health, isolation and inability to do the things I used to do with such ease.

“I’m still not 100% but with time running out before the Tokyo Olympics now is my last chance to see what I can do.”

Danson’s recovery from a head injury sustained on holiday in 2018 has been well documented as she bid to highlight her mild traumatic brain injury to a wider audience.

Having endured months of headaches which forced her to spend hours at a time in a darkened room, she was only able to run 30 minutes for the first time after ‘one year and 37 days’.

In August, her triathlete younger sister, Claire, was then left paralysed following a collision on her bike with a tractor. Since then, the pair’s rehabilitation story has been an inspiration to many.

Danson’s announcement saw her pay tribute to her husband, Alex, who “has lived every second of this awful head injury with me. It’s not been easy, but through it all you always believed this day would come.”

In a message to her team-mates, Danson, who last played at the 2018 Women’s World Cup, added: “I’m not who I was, I have a richness of experience that only these last long months could have given me. I was determined that I would take more from this experience than it would take from me, I have.

“Every moment we have whether as a hockey player or in life, is a gift. An opportunity to move forward, to try, to be and to explore. But these moments are truly made by the people you share them with, I can not wait to be back with you all.”

Danson, who has yet to play under new coach Mark Hager, added that 2019 represented the first time that she had failed to play a game of international hockey in her 17-year playing career.

Friday’s news suggests that 2020 will be different.

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The Hockey Paper

Alex Danson: Olympic champion to return to Great Britain set-up after head injury


Recovering from head injury has been my biggest challenge - Danson. Photo: Andy Hooper/Daily Mail

Alex Danson will return to the Great Britain hockey set-up 18 months after suffering a head injury that she says "tested me to my limits".

Olympic gold medallist Danson has had long-term concussion after hitting her head on a wall in 2018.

The 34-year-old wrote that she was "still not 100%" but "time was running out" before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

"Every moment we have whether as a hockey player or in life, is a gift," Danson wrote on Instagram.

Danson will return to training with the rest of the players on the centralised programme on Monday, with the Tokyo Olympics beginning on 24 July.

"I'm not who I was, I have a richness of experience that only these last long months could have given me," she wrote.

"I was determined that I would take more from this experience than it would take from me, I have.

"These moments are truly made by the people you share them with, I can not wait to be back with you all."

Danson previously said she "lost her identity" after suffering the injury while laughing at a joke on holiday in Kenya.

She was part of the Great Britain team which won Olympic gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016, but has not played since captaining England in their World Cup quarter-final loss to the Netherlands in August 2018.

"The last 18 months have tested me to perhaps my limits, with my health, isolation and inability to do the things I used to do with such ease," she wrote.

"I am delighted that I am able to return to the place [where] I've spent more time in my life than I have at home."

BBC Sport

UniKL coach sees TNB as leading contenders for MHL title

By Jugjet Singh


Arul Selvaraj

UNIVERSITI Kuala Lumpur coach Arul Selvaraj is modest about their chances in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) this season.

The League champions instead picked Tenaga Nasional as the ‘silent favourites’.

‘We played a few friendlies with the other clubs and the local players had a good understanding among themselves.

‘That is expected as most of them have been playing together for more than five years.

‘As usual, the foreign players will arrive a few days before the Charity Shield. Hopefully they can combine well and fast with our locals,’said Arul.

The Charity Shield will kickstart the MHL on Jan 10 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

The match between UniKL and overall champions Terengganu Hockey Team also offers three points to the winner.

‘I pick Tenaga and THT to be our biggest rivals. Tenaga have a host of national players and I believe they will be the ‘silent killers’ this season.

‘But first, we will be gunning to beat THT for the valuable points to kickstart our campaign, which will be more than just defending our League title,’said Arul who is based in Dublin, Ireland.

Maybank, Nur Insafi, TNB Thunderbolts, Universiti Teknologi Mara and KL Hockey Academy make up the other teams.

In the women’s category,Mutiara Impian, Sabah, PKS Uniten, Police Blue Warriors, Terengganu Ladies HT and KL Hockey Academy will be the six vying for titles.

New Straits Times

Tenaga banking on youngsters to beef up the frontline

KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional’s strength in attack will be greatly affected with the absence of two national players when the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) gets under way.

Mohd Firhan Ashaari has yet to recover from a knee injury picked up last June while seasoned campaigner Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil has joined reigning league champions Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL).

Coach Nor Saiful Zaini said that they would definitely miss the duo’s services.

“It is unfortunate that Firhan still needs another two months to recover. He will also miss the chance to be called up for national training in March.

“Tengku Ahmad is vastly experienced and a hardworking forward who always gives his best. We wish him all the best with UniKL, ” said Nor Saiful.

In their absence, Nor Saiful has surprisingly included two young forwards – Muhd Amirul Hanif Mamat, a Form Four student of Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) and 17-year-old Muhajir Abdu Rauf from Sabah Malaysia Sports School.

“Although both are very young, we have faith in them. They recently featured in the six-nation Sultan of Johor Cup (last October) and did well to help Malaysia finish third.

“They have also proven themselves in training and it will be a good experience for them in the MHL, ” added Nor Saiful.

The former international is optimistic that their all-local line-up can hold their own against the foreign-powered teams in the eight-team league.

“We are gunning for the double – league and overall titles, ” said a confident Nor Saiful.

Tenaga will open their campaign against TNB-Thunderbolt at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Jan 10.

The Star of Malaysia

Top scorer Hanis hopes to shine with new team

By AFTAR SINGH


Impressive feat: Hanis Nadiah Onn (right) bagged 14 goals in the women’s hockey league last season.

KUALA LUMPUR: Last year’s top scorer in the women’s hockey league, Hanis Nadiah Onn, is looking at a better outing with debutants Hockey Academy (Hockademy) of Kuala Lumpur.

Last season, the national forward experienced joy and sorrow while turning out for PKS Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten).

The Johor-born player bagged 14 goals in the league but failed to help Uniten land any silverware.

Seven teams took part last year and Uniten finished a disappointing fourth.

The 23-year-old Hanis, who has represented Malaysia 75 times since 2016, said she was thrilled to bag the top scorer award.

“But despite being the top scorer, I failed to help Uniten retain the league title last year. Instead, we finished a poor fourth in the league and overall Cup competition. For this season, I want to experience playing for a new team and I’m hoping for better luck with them,” said Hanis, who has played in the national league since its inauguration in 2015.

Hanis, who has played in Germany with Wespen Zehlendorfer, said that although Hockademy are making their debut, they have enough talent to put up a strong challenge against title contenders Terengganu Ladies and Blue Warriors.

“There are some national players in our squad and we have vowed to give them a run for their money.

“I also want to score as many goals as possible to win my second top scorer award and help Hockademy bag one of the two titles.”

The other national players in the team are Wan Norfaiezah Saiuti, Fatin Syafika Mohd Sukri, Nuraini Abdul Rashid, Kirandeep Kaur, Nuramirah Syakirah Zulkifli and Qasidah Najwa.

Six teams will feature in the league and Hockademy will open their campaign against PKS-Uniten on Jan 11.

The Star of Malaysia

England Hockey Jaffa Super 6s

The Jaffa Super 6s Championships start this weekend with the teams in the Premier Divisions looking for a top four finish to qualify for the show piece Jaffa Super 6s Finals at  the Copperbox on Queen Olympic Park on Sunday 2nd February. Hockey’s big day out, indoors!!

There are nine teams in the Premier Division and Division One.

The top four teams in the Super 6s Premier Divisions will qualify for the Jaffa Super 6s Finals. The bottom two are relegated to Division One. Division One has two teams promoted and relegated from the division.

For Division Two, in the first weekend there will be six teams in each of the North and South divisions who play against each other. The top three teams from each division will then come together to form a National Division Two on the second weekend play for a place in Division One the following season.

The top two teams from the National Division Two will be promoted, with clubs finishing third and sixth qualifying for the Division Two North and Division Two South again the following season. The six teams who failed to qualify for the National Division Two will all be relegated back to their respective regional leagues the following season.

You can find details of all the Jaffa Super 6s leagues on the England Hockey Altius match management system including venue details, match schedules, appointments and teamlists. Live scores will be run during the competition.

You can find more details of the Jaffa Super 6s Finals and how to buy tickets here

England Hockey Board Media release

Safety in hockey: We need immediate changes, says Olympian coach

By Rod Gilmour


The reverse stick at junior level has concerned coaches PIC: WORLD SPORT PICS

A leading coach and two-time Olympian has called for immediate changes towards safety in the sport at junior level after expressing fears that the reverse stick hit could lead to a fatality.

John Shaw, who played at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, has coached full-time in hockey since 1991 and believes the game has never been more dangerous at grass roots level.

“I love the involvement but I’m seriously worried that the game is all over the place,” said the 57-year-old.

Speaking to The Hockey Paper for our December issue following Sam Ward’s injury and two tragic training pitch accidents in recent years, Shaw warned that there could be dire consequences if the rules are not looked into, including the increasing dangers of the reverse stick hit.

“It is a coconut shy and we are just waiting for the next death,” he said.

“When it comes to safety we have to change fast and make some strong decisions. It’s a necessity.

“We all know the game is dangerous but it’s a darn sight more dangerous now.

“Awareness levels are wrong and we need different rules for kids playing the game.”

Shaw cited a faster, harder game for the hazardous play currently being seen at grass roots level, mainly due to the rise of the tomahawk or reverse stick.

Shaw, who coaches at Southgate HC, said: “Our sport is fundamentally responsible.

“But we are playing a game now which is potentially lethal and there is a risk by putting players in at a low level [for a stick shot].”

“A lot of people say reverse stick is exciting – of course it is. I understand why kids are copying it [from elite level], but they don’t have the skill set on the edge of the stick.”

Shaw has now called for a respected hockey collective with knowledgeable insight to discuss the issue with England Hockey.

An England Hockey spokesperson said: “We ask all clubs and players to report any injuries via englandhockey.co.uk/injurymonitoring and from our most recent data we have not seen a change in the number of injuries from use of the reverse stick at junior level.

“The FIH have not raised this with us either, but we will continue to review the data provided to us and amend our regulations if deemed necessary.”

Our safety in hockey coverage

In our December issue – only available to subscribers – we produced a four-page special following overwhelming feedback from readers on the subject. A majority of responses centred on problems at junior level, which led to our front page story with John Shaw’s comments above. We also published a selection of readers’ emails, along with several stories on how safety is viewed in the game from hockey’s authorities.



Our coverage will be the first in a series of articles we will publish in 2020, with concerns growing from coaches across the country. We will be publishing more advice from leading figures as to how the game can be made safer at junior level as well as continuing to probe the sporting bodies and to ask whether the game as a whole is safe to play. It will be essential reading for parents, grass roots clubs and juniors with a passion for the game.



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!

The Hockey Paper

Stratford and Taranaki Hockey receive good feedback following Olympic qualifiers

By Alyssa Smith


Members of the Taranaki Synthetic Turf Trust. Stratford Press

The hockey Olympic qualifiers held in Stratford in November was not only successful for the Black Sticks, who secured their spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but also for the region and district, says Grant Boyde member of the Taranaki Synthetic Surf Trust.

A 40-page review of the Olympic qualifiers against Korea and the test series against Japan released by Hockey New Zealand has put Stratford in the spotlight.

The report included details about broadcast numbers, engagement and the overall success of the two events. Grant says Stratford should be extremely proud.

"Stratford really stepped up and the support made everyone feel welcome."

The total broadcast reach of the Black Sticks Men vs Japan test matches was over 127,556.

Grant says this a huge achievement.

"There was an average broadcast reach of 31,889 with each test. There was 3762 total hours watched with an average time of 940 hours per game. I'm absolutely blown away with the broadcast results."

The international search for the test series was most watched in Japan, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Chairman of the Synthetic Turf Trust, Lloyd Morgan says hosting the Olympic qualifiers was a great achievement.

"When comparing it to the other places that hosted the qualifiers like London and Vancouver, it really is a big achievement for Taranaki Hockey and Stratford."

The umpires and officials of the events also experienced a large part of the Stratford district while they were in Stratford, Grant says.

"The umpires and officials went to Whangamomona for meals and visited a number of other places. They saw a lot of the district."

Statistics released in the review show there was plenty of engagement with the matches.

Facebook activity over the two series show there was 57 posts with 20,365 post clicks, 13,588 engagements, 1,017 comments and 59,291 page views.

"We've profiled ourselves and put ourselves on the map," Grant says.

The New Zealand Herald