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All the news for Friday 19 June 2020

Lily Owsley: Unleashing the competitive 'animal' within


Lily Owsley Scores Rio 2016

Lily Owsley is one of those players it’s almost impossible to avoid noticing on the hockey pitch.

With pace to burn, stunning control and unbelievable stamina, the Hampstead & Westminster player is never far from where the action is taking place.

However it’s arguably another quality that makes her stand out more than anything else – her passion and desire to win.

This is something that has seen her put in some of her best performances on the biggest occasions. She scored in the semi-final and final of both the 2014 Commonwealth Games (where England won silver) and the 2015 EuroHockey Championships, where England famously claimed gold in front of 5,000 adoring home fans.

She then notched four goals – including scoring in the final – as Great Britain won that incredible gold at Rio 2016.

Speaking with fellow England and GB international Emily Defroand on #CuppaNNatter last week, Owsley explained why she thinks this is the case.

“I don’t play hockey to train, I play hockey because I love games and big competitions,” the 2015 FIH Rising Star of the Year stated.

“I feel like, putting everything else aside, my biggest strength is my competitive edge and my desperation to win at all costs at times. So when it comes to a big game you have so much more to lose – when it comes to a final you’re either going to win or lose it, when you’re playing in a semi you’re either going to make the final or you’re not.

“I don’t think I turn up just for the big games, it’s probably just my desperation to win is higher or my competitive edge is higher and that ‘animal’ comes out a little bit.”

As with many elite athletes though, this level of competitiveness is not solely limited to their sporting arena.

This can often spill over into ‘normal’ life too, including something as innocent as playing board games with family members.

The 25-year-old said: “I think it’s innate. I don’t think I’ve ever fallen out with anyone in my life but if I were to it would be over a game of something like Monopoly. Ask my friends from home, nobody wants to play games with me anymore.

“It’s whatever element of my life it is – I can’t even tell you about my family quizzes, it’s a nightmare. Anything with any form of competitiveness, I think I just can’t help myself – I just turn into a monster.

“I wouldn’t want to be around myself when we’re playing Articulate or even holiday tennis. You hate that person that takes it that seriously and I’m that person. I hate myself for it but I can’t help it.

“That comes straight into my game of hockey. As soon as I cross that line I just want to win and that’s maybe where that aggressiveness comes from and that desperation or desire to win. I think it’s just in people and in some aspects of your life it’s good.”

Great Britain Hockey media release

England U18 Girls taking on US in unique virtual challenge


England U18 Girls 2020

Creativity has been key during lockdown.

With matches cancelled and restrictions in place meaning most of us have been housebound, it’s been imperative to find unique ways of keeping ourselves fit and sharp for when we can get back out there and play hockey.

Technology has been a key part in all of this and nowhere has this been better used than in the new virtual competition between the England U18 Girls’ team and their American counterparts, Rise USWNT.

Having had all their planned trips this spring and summer cancelled, Sarah Kelleher – the head coach of the U18s – got in contact with her American counterparts to set up a challenge between the two sets of players.

Having started on Friday 12 June and running until Friday 26 June, athletes from each nation have been split into groups and tasked with completing a combination of tasks focusing on their physical, core and technical attributes.

Each athlete will be keeping their own individual score which will then be used to help calculate the group score. At the end of the two weeks, a virtual closing ceremony will take place when an overall group champion will be announced alongside individual awards for the top performers in each exercise.

“We were disappointed not to be able to play each other in May as planned and a USA v England Virtual Challenge felt like a great way to add another level of competition and engagement to our programs as they come to an end this year,” said Kelleher.

“This period of not being able to be play together has allowed players to learn about their self-motivation, desire to develop as players and the power of togetherness in how they have supported each other.”

Both nations believe the USA v England Virtual Challenge is a great way to keep the teams involved internally as well as provide an informal way to collaborate and highlight healthy competition.

England Hockey Board Media release

Stockbroekx joins the big moves to Orée



Manu Stockbroekx has become the latest high profile face to move to Orée next season with the 26-year-old moving from KHC Dragons.  

Stockbroekx – who won the EHL with Bloemendaal in 2018 – follows John-John Dohmen and Dorian Thiéry as well as EHL-winning coach Xavier de Greve to the club. The surprise moves come amid an eye-catching week in the Belgian transfer realm.

Marco Miltkau – the second highest goalscorer in EHL history – is set to move on from La Gantoise to Klein Zwitserland in the Dutch Hoofdklasse following one year in Belgian hockey.

There, he will be joined by Richard Wijtenburg-Smith (from Hampstead & Westminster) and Max Kapaun, an old team of Miltkau from his days at UHC Hamburg.

Pieter van Straaten is another former EHL winner on the move; he will link up with his brother Niels at Antwerp, switching from Waterloo Ducks.

Euro Hockey League media release

Teenage hockey prodigy Emma Findlay eyes Black Sticks call up

By Christian Fuller


Emma Findlay was awarded the Your Solutions High Performance Athlete Development Scholarship. Photo / Paul Taylor

A Napier teenager has been given a helping hand towards her goal of playing for the New Zealand women's Black Sticks.

Emma Findlay was named the winner of the Your Solutions High Performance Athlete Development Scholarship in March.

As a result, the Taradale High School student was rewarded with a year's strength and conditioning development programme membership in the new Athletic Development Training Centre at the EIT Institute of Sport and Health.

The 16-year-old, who plays cricket and basketball and competes in triathlon, cross-country and more, said hockey remains her number one priority.

"The scholarship allows me to work with a trainer a couple of days a week, who helps me use the equipment to better myself and gives me a personal programme," Emma said.

"I only managed to complete about two sessions before lockdown. But they incorporated movements that I do within hockey into workouts, which is very handy."

Emma added: "I'm in an elite group with the top players in Hawke's Bay at the moment, but my overriding goal is to become a Black Stick."


The 16-year-old hockey star said her ultimate goal is to play for the New Zealand Black Sticks. Photo / Paul Taylor

The scholarship also allows access to nutritional and psychology development schemes, as well as training kit and more.

Your Solutions managing director Adam Satherley said the athletes chosen must be "really passionate about sport and wanting to take it to the next level".

"This is a fantastic opportunity for an up and coming sportsperson wanting to take their sport to the next level who may not otherwise be able to afford the programme," he said.

Emma said the programme was designed for specific sports, with her focus on hockey.

"I was going to be playing with the Under-18s Hawke's Bay team this year, but because of Covid-19 the tournament is no longer happening," she said.

"But, I'm very excited to be back playing hockey again and seeing what this season has in store."

She added: "The programme is there to suit any and every sport, but I am looking to develop myself and become a New Zealand player in the future, hopefully."

Emma, daughter of local hockey coach Graeme Findlay, said her father had acted as an inspiration throughout her hockey-playing.

"He's been my coach for the majority of my teams over the years, which has been really cool," she said.

"And getting to train with him and play with him occasionally doesn't add any more pressure, more excitement."

The New Zealand Herald

New Zealand Club hockey rings in changes ahead of return


Michaela Curtis will line up for the College premier team in this year's women's club competition (file photo) David Unwin/Stuff

A revamped women’s competition and a couple of changes in the men’s grade mark the start of the Manawatū club season.

Club hockey, delayed by Covid-19, starts at Palmerston North's twin turfs on Saturday and this year the women’s premier and reserve grades have been merged into one division of 13 teams.

All teams will play each other in a round-robin, then split into three different grades of four, four and five teams, respectively.

Heavy rain meant last year’s finals were abandoned and the men’s title was shared by College and Levin, while High School Hockey Club and College shared the women's.

College this year has three teams in the women's grade. Narelle O'Connor is coach and Andrew Bethwaite assistant coach of the premier team, which includes Black Sticks legend Kaya Whitelock and returning international Michaela Curtis.

Verity Sharland is coaching College's second team and Fiona Chard the development team.

Bush is a new team this year and Feilding Old Girls were a new team last season. Whanganui have not entered a team and Palmerston North Girls' High School is playing in the schools' competition.

High School Hockey Club also have three sides, the A, B and Evergreens teams.

Wendy Ridd will be player-coach for High School’s top side and they have most of their players back from last season.

Anna Willocks, Ella Pulcrow and Ella Bayley will all play, while Tayla Hansen and Kate Blincoe are back from the United States for the season.

Linda Berg is coaching the High School seconds and Vanessa Ropitini the Evergreens.

In the men's competition, Whanganui are back in the top flight and Palmerston North Boys' High School are in the second division.

High School Hockey Club will this year be coach by Tony Brougham and a few former players are back in the mix.

Todd McHardy returns from Melbourne, goalkeeper Regan Evitt has come from Massey and Matthew Brougham is back.

Most of last year’s squad are back and there have been no key losses.

Levin Hockey will be coached again by Corey Prouting and have had little turnover this season.

Goalkeeper Angus Griffin, defender Hayden Krivan and midfielder Jackson Hirini all return and forward Mattie Wilson is back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Last year’s captain Sam Davies has moved to Wellington.

College have co-coaches this year in Doug Somerville and Lloyd Myles.

Somerville was confident he had a strong squad this year and may play a different style.

They have picked up New Zealand under-18 forward Patrick Madder, from Whanganui, and forward James Akuhata, from Palmerston North Boys’ High School.

Key men Angus Hazlett, Merv Young, Matt Chard and Warren Phillips, the latter two who will be co-captains, all return.

Marist have retained most of their players from last year, under coach Alastair Grieve. They've gained Julius Cousins, a midfield-striker, and Caleb Hanson, who plays up front.

Whanganui rise from the second division and will be captained by midfielder Calum​ Wilbur. Craig Ritani is player-coach.

Midfield striker Tyler Nicoll-Hylton is tipped as a player to watch, while Matt Collingwood returns. The squad of 19 includes two Whanganui Collegiate students and one from Whanganui High School.

Brandon Roach coaches Massey, which will be captained by Mac Wilcox. Jake Blanks and goalie Hayden Mullens join the squad.

Boys' High and Girls' High are playing in the new inter-city secondary school competition for teams from Manawatū, Horowhenua, Whanganui and Wairarapa.

In the girls’ grade are Girls’ High, Waiopehu College, Feilding High School, St Matthew’s Collegiate from Masterton, Nga Tawa Diocesan School, Whanganui Collegiate School, Wairarapa College and Whanganui High School.

In the boys’ grade are Boys’ High, Wairarapa College, Feilding, Rathkeale College, Cornerstone Christian School, Whanganui High School, Waiopehu and Whanganui Collegiate.

Stuff

Build it and they will come



Without a pitch on which to train and play, there can be no hockey.

That is the message that comes loud and clear from FIH Facilities Manager Alastair Cox and it is also a message that has been recognised by the FIH Academy.

In the past few weeks, Cox has hosted two online Facilities Workshops as part of the FIH Academy’s recently-launched series of online webinars aimed at providing support to National Associations.

The FIH Academy National Association Development Series takes the form of webinars, workshops, courses, key-notes or discussions. It has been developed to help fulfil the FIH mission to support National Associations to develop and grow the game. The Facilities Workshops are providing an opportunity for people within National Associations who are charged with developing a facilities strategy to discuss issues, give and receive guidance and generally to air thoughts. Members of the FIH Quality Programme also joined the workshops, allowing them to hear about the issues and solutions hockey is developing and share their experiences working with hockey and other sports.

During the first two online sessions, which were attended by representatives from four Continental Federations as well as National Association representatives, Cox reports that chief among the topics under discussion were the benefits of multi-sport facilities and the growth and adoption of Hockey5s and its impact upon the sport.

What also became apparent to those involved in the webinar was that, while the focus was on just those three areas, within those areas there exists a wide range of issues, concerns and challenges. What was a problem for hockey administrators in northern Europe was very different to challenges faced by developing nations in Africa. Even within the same continent, Pan America for example, a nation such as Guyana faces very different issues to nations such as the USA or Argentina.

As Cox points out: “Developing a strategy in England is totally different to developing a strategy in Ghana for example. But that was the starting point. We talked about options available, pros and cons of different types of facilities; different versions of the game; the need to improve, develop, sustain and improve facilities.”

And while there were many differences from nation to nation, there were also many areas of commonality. Whether it is a hockey club in Australia or a town in Guyana, one of the biggest issues is likely to be availability of facilities. Many clubs and teams around the globe do not own their own facilities and may be at the whim of local authorities or other landowners.

One way of securing facilities is to make them financially sustainable and this is where the concept of multi-sport pitches is grabbing the interest of National Associations and their members.

Following examples of successful multi-sport pitches in Australia and the UK, the message that Cox is anxious to get across to the National Associations is that if you develop a pitch that you can play a number of sports on, then you instantly get more users into the facility. If you are a government-owned facility then that is great way to address issues of value to the community. As an example, Cox cites the example of tennis, netball and hockey all using the same surface, but adds that each National Association will have its own ideas of which sports would suit the surface and best serve the local community.

The use of multi-sport surfaces led into a discussion about Hockey5s and its place in the growth of hockey. For national associations for whom the price of full-sized pitches are prohibitive and where hockey is still in its infancy, then playing Hockey5s on small-sized multi-sport pitches is a logical solution. The players get to experience the game on a good quality surface, the competition in Hockey5s is strong and the pitches are far more financially sustainable with many users from different sports.

“Over 60 per cent of the cost of a carpet is under the playing  surface,” says Cox. “The drainage, the foundations, base and so on, is where much of the cost will lie. So if a National Association can’t afford a full-sized pitch, then a small pitch can be the solution. You don’t necessarily need full-sized pitches for the foundation and participation levels of the sport, maybe the answer is to put a number of small-sized pitches in heavily populated centres across a country. The workshops also discussed how small-sided multi-sport areas can be an attractive investment for companies wishing to invest in sport through their corporate social responsibility programmes. Certainly many of the national associations on the webinar could see this was a great opportunity to increase facilities and grow the game.

“I think the main message that everyone took away from the two sessions is that there is a lack of facilities for the sport, which is directly linked to money. There is also a recognition that you can’t build good quality hockey fields cheaply, so a multi-sport pitch is a way of getting people through the door and making the facility sustainable. There is also a rapidly growing awareness of the  opportunities offered by a multi-sport pitch.”

FIH site

Celebrating the Life of Alice Putnam Willetts



USA Field Hockey celebrates the life of Alice Putnam Willetts, a member of the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 1988, who passed away peacefully earlier this month at the age of 94. She was a field hockey pioneer, selected to the U.S. Women’s National Team in 1946, the first team to be selected post-World War II. She remained a member of the team for nine years, until 1955. A multi-sport athlete, Willetts was also a member of the US Lacrosse team.

A native of Swarthmore, Pa., Willetts was a four-year participant in field hockey, basketball and tennis at Temple University. Among her many accomplishments as an athlete and leader, Willetts introduced lacrosse to Temple and coached it for three years. After graduating magna cum laude in 1947, Willetts returned to Swarthmore High School to teach. During this time, she organized and ran the Girls’ Athletic Association, which sponsored mother-daughter and father-daughter initiatives, events and various other morale-focused projects. While juggling students in the classroom, she also coached three varsity and junior varsity teams each year, sometimes with as many as four teams underneath the junior varsity level. She did this to ensure all interested athletes had the opportunity to be on a team and play. In all, Willetts always encouraged her students to actively participate in the classroom and on the field. She also went on to teach at Swarthmore College, Shipely School and Strath Haven High School before retiring in 1986.

Her dedication to field hockey and athletics in general led to her induction into several Halls of Fame over her lifetime, including the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, US Lacrosse Philadelphia Chapter, Temple University Athletics, Delaware County, Pennsylvania State and Strath Haven. Thank you to Willetts for her many contributions to sports, field hockey and USA Field Hockey and sincere condolences to her friends and family from the entire USA Field Hockey Family.

USFHA media release