News for 19 April 2020
All the news for Sunday 19 April 2020
Pro League could be cancelled if majority of games not played by 8 August
By Katie Shanahan
GB women's captain Hollie Pearne-Webb hopes the Pro League will be able to continue
The Pro League could be cancelled if a majority of the remaining matches are not played by 8 August, says the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The annual global competition - which features Great Britain's men and women - has been postponed until 17 May because of the coronavirus pandemic, with only a third of matches played.
FIH sport director Jon Wyatt said taking the "difficult decision" to declare the league null and void was the "most likely outcome" if no more fixtures can be played.
The FIH told BBC Sport it had come to a unanimous agreement with competing nations to extend the Pro League for three months. This would "keep the opportunity open" to finish the season, which normally runs from January to June.
But, with this summer's Tokyo Olympic Games postponed until 2021, and no hockey being played around the world, the FIH is preparing for the worst.
"If we don't manage to play any more matches because the situation around the world doesn't improve, then I think the most likely outcome is we call the league null and void," said Wyatt.
"It's difficult to see us playing too many more matches. If the number of cases continue to escalate around the world and the situation carries on for the next month or two months, then at some point we'll have to make that difficult decision."
Because of the way the Pro League is structured, Germany's women are yet to play a match, while Argentina have played eight of their scheduled 16 fixtures.
BBC Sport understands 8 August has been chosen as the potential cut-off date because it would have been the last day of the Olympics and allows athletes to rest before the domestic season starts in September.
The Irish Hockey League has already been declared null and void after Hockey Ireland deemed there were too many games remaining to determine a final ranking.
GB women's captain Hollie Pearne-Webb said it would be "disappointing" if the Pro League could not be completed.
But she added: "I'm sure GB Hockey would be trying to put in place some alternate international matches for us."
And coach Mark Hager is already mapping out plans with Germany, Spain and South Africa.
"I've been in contact about the possibility of playing some matches once we're all cleared," he said.
"If the Pro League was cancelled, we would still be able to manufacture or get some competition."
The team were due to play a Test series in South Africa in March but that was cancelled because of coronavirus.
Hager hopes it will be rescheduled for the winter to help prepare the team for the conditions they will face in Tokyo next year.
While the players await the decision, they have been bonding during group yoga sessions, quizzes and painting by numbers - all done remotely.
Pearne-Webb is trying to "keep busy" - juggling a management accountancy job at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, volunteering, and training.
That includes converting her garage into a gym and using house plants as defenders.
"What's been really nice is we've found time to speak to individuals in our squad and ask them how their day's been or chat about their family," she said.
"You learn to appreciate each other more. As a squad you become better when you know each other so well and that shows on the pitch."
BBC Sport
Bloemendaal welcome three new arrivals for next season
HC Bloemendaal has supplemented their panel for next season with Tom Hiebendaal, Daan Dullemeijer and Sam Figge set to join the club, replacing Mats de Groot, Sander ‘t Hart and Oliver Polkamp who are moving on.
Speaking about the additions, Bloemendaal top hockey board member said: “These are strange times. Hockey is currently not the most important thing but, on the other hand, we are now very much looking forward to playing hockey again soon or in the new season.
“Together with the new coach Rick Mathijssen, we are therefore continuing to build a strong team that can compete for prizes.”
Hiebendaal joins from the German champion Mühlheim Uhlenhorst having previously played for AH&BC Amsterdam and HGC. Dullemeijer was a defender at Hurley while Figge comes from the youth section of Oranje-Rood. He has previously played for the Dutch Under-18s.
Hiebendaal said of his move: “Bloemendaal is a wonderful club with a great history. It is a warm family club with a lot of committed people.
"Bloemendaal is a team with world players and names from the Dutch national team. I hope to further increase my own level here.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Thiéry to switch from Léopold to Orée
Dorian Thiéry will join the ambitious Orée project next season, making the switch from Royal Léopold, where he will link up with John-John Dohmen and outgoing Waterloo Ducks coach Xavier de Greve.
Speaking about the move, the 25-year-old – capped 64 times by Belgium – says he is excited about the new challenge.
“I needed to challenge myself in line with my ambitions,” he told the HockeyBelgium website. “I received quite a few offers but the one from Orée immediately met my expectations.
“We will have a very competitive team next season. I will also be able to work for the youth school at the girls’ level. I will also participate in a longer term project for boys and girls.
“I want to bring my experience and collaborate on a daily basis with the young people of Orée.
“I have talked a lot with Xavier De Greve but also with John-John Dohmen with whom I am in very regular contact. I know they expect a lot from me on and off the pitch.”
Thiéry played for 10 years with Léopold, winning the Belgian championship in 2019.
“Some will question this choice and I can perfectly understand them. But I know that this decision will be of added value for the rest of my career. I will work with experienced people but also younger people who can still help me progress.“
Euro Hockey League media release
Schlingemann returns to Netherlands after successful spell at Mülheim
Omar Schlingemann is set for a return to the Netherlands after six years coaching in Germany, one highlighted by Uhlenhorst Mülheim’s rise to the national title last season.
The Dutchman has been signed up by Hoofdklasse club Klein Zwitserland as successor to men’s coach Carlos Castaño.
Schlingemann said of his new club: “HC Klein Zwitserland is a wonderful club with great ambition and a ‘doers’ mentality. Those are two important factors necessary to be successful at the highest level.
“I am looking forward to start and continue working with the team, staff and club following their impressive advances in recent years.
“After six years in Germany, it is great to return to the Netherlands. Klein Zwitserland is a proud club with a great history and that appeals to me. ”
Euro Hockey League media release
Hockey India, SAI collaborate to conduct online coaching sessions
These online education sessions will be aimed at providing high level knowledge to hockey coaches around the country through video conference.
In a bid to make use of the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hockey India and Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Saturday announced the introduction of a 21-day Coaches Development Sessions (CDS).
The initiative is part of SAI’s MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) workshop for coaches, which was launched on April 16.
These online education sessions will be aimed at providing high level knowledge to hockey coaches around the country through video conference.
Since these coaches are present at various levels, the coaches development sessions will be classified into two sessions - ‘basic’ and ‘intermediate’ -- and will be conducted by Hockey India’s foreign national team coaches, scientific advisors and director, High Performance.
The basic sessions will be conducted by Erik Wonink (coach, Indian junior women’s team), and will feature candidates who are non SAI-accredited hockey coaches.
These coaches have been given the opportunity to get enrolled for the sessions regardless of their qualification, and will be registered by Hockey India on the Hockey India Online Academy Platform.
The sessions will be held from Monday to Friday.
The ‘intermediate’ sessions will be conducted by Graham Reid (chief coach, Indian men’s team), Sjoerd Marijne (head coach of Indian women’s team), Chris Ciriello (analytical coach, men’s team), Janneke Schopman (analytical coach, women’s team), Robin Arkell (scientific advisor, men’s team) and Wayne Lombard (Scientific Advisor, women’s team).
The candidates for these sessions will include SAI-accredited coaches who have successfully passed the Hockey India Level ‘1’ Certification (or above). The Level ‘Intermediate’ coaching sessions will also be held from Monday to Friday.
Hockey India president Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad said, “These sessions will them them gain high-level knowledge from our foreign coaches, scientific advisors and director, High Performance.”
Sandip Pradhan, SAI’s director general, said, “This is the first time that an online workshop for coaches of this magnitude is taking place.
“In a conscious effort to use this lean period to upgrade the knowledge of coaches, Sports Authority of India has collaborated with 16 NSFs, including Hockey India, to devise online coaching opportunities for our coaches from around the country.”
Sportstar
Uganda Sikh brothers set a unique record at Munich Olympics Hockey
by Dil Bahra
Uganda set up a unique record at Munich 1972 Olympic Games by including three pairs of brothers in the 1972 squad.
Making their one and only appearance at Olympic hockey, the squad of eighteen players included nine Sikhs. Of these nine, there were three pairs of brothers.
When Uganda played Germany on 1 September 1972, in their pool match, they created a unique record in Olympics by fielding three pairs of brothers in their team of eleven.
Brothers Rajinder & Amarjit Singh Sandhu; Ajit & Kuldip Singh Bhogal; Upkar & Jagdish Singh Kapoor all played in this match which ended in a 1 – 1 draw with Kuldip Singh Bhogal, the Ugandan forward, scoring his team’s goal.
Three brothers, however, have played in the same team before at Olympic Games, including the infamous Australian Pearce brothers.
The political climate in Uganda shortly after the Olympic Games meant that all the Asian players had to leave the country on their return.
The full Uganda squad is listed on my website.
Sikhs in Hockey
Kirandeep bounces back quickly and is raring to go
KUALA LUMPUR: When national player Kirandeep Kaur suffered a five-inch muscle tear in her left thigh during national junior hockey training, she had been resigned to a long layoff – for at least two months.
However, she has healed quicker than she expected. Just five weeks after the injury suffered at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil, the City lass is ready for action again.
The Form Five Student of SMK Bukit Bandaraya in Bangsar, said that she felt fine but had yet to go for a check-up at the National Sports Institute (ISN) in Bukit Jalil.
“I will only be able to go to ISN once the movement control order (MCO) is lifted and I hope it will be by the end of this month.
“There is no pain in my thigh and I’ve started doing the training programme given to me by the national coach Lailin (Abu Hassan) the last few days.
“I’m able to do all exercises given by the coach and this is a big relief for me. I feel I have fully recovered, ” said the 17-year-old Kirandeep, who was called up for training in preparation for the Junior Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan, in February.
The tournament had been scheduled for April 6-12 but has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The tournament is the qualifying meet for the 2021 Junior World Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Kirandeep, who marshals the midfield, helped the Hockey Academy (Hockademy) of KL to win the National Women’s Hockey League in February.
She said this was the first time she suffered an injury since receiving a national call-up in 2018.
“I hope the training will begin by next month so we will have enough time to prepare a strong team for the tournament, ” said Kirandeep, who has represented Malaysia 25 times in tournaments since making her debut in the FIH World Series in Singapore in 2018.
Her last assignment with the national team was the FIH World Series in Banbridge, Ireland, in June last year, when Malaysia finished third behind champions South Korea and runners-up Ireland.
The Star of Malaysia
Sportstar archives: The way forward for Indian hockey according to Ajitpal Singh
In this archive interview, one of the greatest midfield generals in Indian hockey talks about the standard of umpiring and competition for places in the national side.
S. R. Suryanarayan
Ajitpal Singh, one of the greatest midfield generals of Indian hockey - THE HINDU ARCHIVES
They called him one of India's greatest midfield generals on the hockey field. With three Olympics and as many World Cup participation, both as skipper and player, apart from a host of internationals, he has a Arjuna award to decorate them all. It was little wonder that Ajitpal Singh should have earned such an encomium.
"The ability at interceptions, intelligence to control the game and perfect positional play" are the three vital prerequisites of a good centre-half, said Ajitpal who had held that position with the grace and efficiency that matches his dignified personality.
At 38, Ajitpal, a Deputy Commandant with the Border Security Force, was not exactly young but that hardly reflected in his physical fitness for he was fit as a fiddle. The Palghat Nationals was the first he missed since he started playing for his State way back in 1966.
"I had to serve my unit for the National Police Games at Trivandrum and so could not make it to the Nationals", said Ajitpal. So though not a witness, he had nevertheless learnt about the happenings during the National—the umpiring, players' indiscipline etc. But little did he realise he would himself be in the midst of such a situation during the Police Games.
Mounting tension: It was the semifinal and BSF had just squeaked past CRPF with a solitary goal in a match which displayed little good hockey but more of frayed tempers. "It should not have happened, rather it should not have been allowed to happen", said Ajitpal wearing a scornful look. While he held no brief for indiscipline, he still felt much of it emanated through rank poor umpiring. "As a player I must say it is with great stress and strain that we play and when it is a needle match, the added tension is also there. A vital lapse here or there is as crucial as vital opportunity lost. The umpires controlling the game should realise that".
The cause: Ajitpal is frank that "umpiring in India is of very poor standards barring exceptions. Whether one likes it or not, it is a fact that interpretation of rules are totally different if not contradictory by umpires abroad and more often than not international tournaments are normally dominated by foreign umpires. When India loses in an international engagement, the blame immediately falls on umpiring. Little wonder this, for Indians are suited to the umpiring at home".
Clinics for umpires: It is necessary, Ajitpal felt, that the Indian Hockey Federation should send umpires to watch tournaments abroad to learn the interpretations of the rules. Besides best umpires from abroad could be invited to hold clinics here. Apart from all that, it was essential that more of young blood was introduced in umpiring preferably those who have had active hockey career. For only then would a player's temperament be looked at in the proper perspective.
All round weakness: Commenting on the present standard, he said: "Yes the situation is bad. In my days for each position there were at least three or four players competing with each other. So getting into the final eleven meant a big thing. Now, do we have a good substitute for a Zafar Iqbal or Merwyn Fernandes? Besides it is pointless now to try pinpointing the team's weakness. The weakness is all round because the game as such holds less attraction now”.
"The game has also caught up fast in the outside world. Australia and Germany, to name only two, are as skilled as the Indians". But rather than trying for a wholesale change in the Indian style of playing, Ajitpal felt India could do well by supplementing its game, with the tricks that the others have. It is here that Ajitpal felt the services of foreign coach could have been of help. "What is also essential," said Ajitpal "is to doing away with coaches who still talk of old stratagem. The need is to give pep to the game and win back the confidence, the game had held in the-public mind."
Did the change in surface affected India's game? Ajitpal felt to some extent it is true because playing had become very demanding. "On astro turf the team that has maximum possession of the ball dictates the play."
(This interview was first published in the Sportstar Magazine in 1985)
Sportstar
USA Field Hockey Coloring Book
Ashley Hoffman
Grab your crayons, colored pencils, markers or paints - the USA Field Hockey Coloring Book is here! This 41-page book features the current U.S. Men's and Women's National Team athletes and will be sure to give you and your family something to do while staying at home.
Share your creations with USA Field Hockey on social media by tagging @USAFieldHockey.
DOWNLOAD USA FIELD HOCKEY COLORING BOOK (.PDF)
Coloring Pages Examples:
USFHA media release
