News for 23 July 2020
All the news for Thursday 23 July 2020
Flashback to ‘64! FIH marks one year to go until start of postponed Tokyo Olympics
On 23 July 2021, exactly one year from today, the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – which was due to begin this coming Friday but was postponed due to the COVID-19 global health pandemic – will finally begin, with the hockey competitions set to start a day later, on Saturday 24 July.
To mark the occasion, we step back in time to look at the hockey competition at Tokyo 1964, when Japan’s magnificent capital city hosted the first Olympic Games to take place in Asia. It was also the first Olympiads to feature Judo and Volleyball, two sports popular in Japan, and where future boxing world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier won gold despite competing with a broken thumb. Poignantly, the honour of lighting the Olympic flame was given to Yoshinori Sakai, who was born in Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, the same day that an atomic bomb was dropped on that city.
By the time of Tokyo 1964, the sport of hockey very much a fixture of the Olympic programme. The sport was making its tenth Olympic appearance and eighth in succession, having featured at every Games since 1928, an unbroken run that continues to this day. At the time still just a men’s competition – women’s hockey eventually debuted at Moscow 1980 – hockey was one of 19 different sports to feature at Tokyo 1964, with 226 athletes representing the 15 different nations that were all targeting a place on the podium.
The competition was played in three specially constructed hockey arenas in the Komazawa Olympic Park and marked the first time since Antwerp 1920 that all of the Olympic hockey matches took place at a single location. It provided the perfect setting for a superb event that would end with a dream final contested between two of hockey’s fiercest rivals, India and Pakistan.
Four years earlier, at the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, Pakistan ended India’s run of six successive Olympic gold medals. Before suffering that 1-0 defeat to the Green Shirts, India having won every Olympic hockey competition played since Antwerp 1928. Having lost against India in the final of the Melbourne 1956 Games, the triumph of 1960 was a hugely significant moment for Pakistan hockey, and they arrived in Tokyo determined to defend their title against an Indian team looking to reclaim their place at the summit of the sport.
It came as little surprise that both teams finished top of their respective groups to reach the semi-finals. In Group A, Pakistan stormed to six wins out of six, scoring 17 goals and conceding just three as they saw off the challenges of Australia – who finished second, also reaching the semi-finals – Kenya, Japan, Great Britain, Rhodesia and New Zealand. India’s journey to topping Group B was tarnished by draws against the United Team of Germany – a side containing players from both East and West Germany – and Spain, although victories against the Netherlands, Malaysia, Belgium, Canada and Hong Kong ensured that the team captained by Charanjit Singh finished top of the pile, joined in the semis by second-placed Spain.
The semi-finals both took place on 21 October 1964, where Pakistan overpowered Spain 3-0 and India claimed a 3-1 victory against, Australia, who would later take the bronze medal with a 3-2 extra time win over the Spaniards.
The Tokyo 1964 gold medal match was played on 23 October 196, being the third successive Olympic final to be contested between these two giants of Asian hockey. Just like the competitions of 1956 and 1960, the gold medal would be decided by a solitary goal. India’s Prithipal Singh – who had scored eleven goals in the tournament – proved to be the architect, firing a blistering penalty corner shot towards goal that clipped the pads of the Pakistan goalkeeper before hitting the foot of helpless defender Munir Dar on the goal line.
The resulting penalty stroke was emphatically converted by Mohinder Lal, as described by team-mate and fellow 1964 Olympic gold medallist Harbinder Singh in a 2016 interview with India’s News 18 network.
“On the morning of the final, Mohinder Lal told me that he would get a penalty stroke”, recalls former striker Harbinder. “He was our penalty stroke specialist. He said he was going to put it into the roof of the goal because the Pakistan keeper wasn’t very tall, and it would be out of his reach. That is exactly what happened. His shot went like a bullet and hit the top of the net. It was unbelievable.”
Mohinder’s goal proved enough for India to regain their Olympic title, giving them their seventh gold medal in eight competitions. However, they would have to wait until Moscow 1980 before claiming an eighth, with Pakistan going on to win the gold medal at Mexico 1968 before West Germany and New Zealand took the respective titles at Munich 1972 and Montreal 1970 respectively.
As we announced last week, the hockey competitions of the XXXII Olympiad – which will be played at the purpose-built Oi Hockey Stadium in Japan’s capital city – will begin on Saturday 24 July 2021, concluding on Friday 6 August.
In line with what was planned for this year, the opening match of next year’s Olympic Games will be contested between the men of Japan and Australia, with the host nation facing a stern test from the 2019 FIH Hockey Pro League champions - Olympic gold medallists at Athens 2004 – on 24 July (09:30 local time). The opening match of the women’s tournament will be played on the same day, with reigning world champions and current world number one the Netherlands – Olympic champions in 1984, 2008 and 2012 - taking on India (20:45 local time). The men’s and women’s gold medal matches will take place on 5 and 6 August respectively.
The full match schedule of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic hockey tournaments can be found by clicking here. To download a PDF of the competition schedule, click here.
In recognition of the original competition dates for the Tokyo 2020, between 25 July and 7 August the FIH website will be looking back at over a century of hockey at the Olympic Games, with a series of feature stories, flashbacks and interviews with hockey Olympians, both past and present.
#Tokyo2020
#HockeyInvites
#StrongerTogether
FIH site
Men's, Women's Hockey Captains Feels Indian Teams Are Ready For Tokyo Olympics
In the past few Olympics, Indian men's and women's hockey teams have had disastrous affairs.
Rani Rampal has led India to some outstanding performances lately. Twitter
Neither of them has particularly good Olympic memories to share, but men's hockey skipper Manpreet Singh and his women's counterpart Rani feel that their teams have learnt enough lessons to ensure that next year's Tokyo Games become a historic success story.
The past year has been quite productive for the Manpreet-led men's team which managed to maintain its consistency and qualify for the Olympics while also notching up good results in its maiden FIH Hockey Pro League campaign with wins against Netherlands, world champions Belgium and Australia.
"Looking at the way our squad has been performing in the last year, we certainly have a good chance to win a medal at the Olympics...we have enough time to evolve as a team as well," Manpreet was quoted as saying by Hockey India in a release.
"We just have to keep concentrating on carrying out the processes well and the results will take care of itself," he added.
Like the men, the year gone by has been a fruitful one for the women as well, which saw them produce some outstanding performances across tournaments.
They won the FIH Women's Series Finals Hiroshima 2019, the Olympic Test Event in Japan, and the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Odisha, along with victories in their tours of Spain, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and England.
"We have competed against top teams in the recent past and we have shown that our team has the capability of winning a medal and making our country proud at the Olympics," Rani said.
"Our team has been getting better with each tournament we have played and we will definitely improve our game even further in the next one year," she added.
With exactly a year to go for the Tokyo Games both captains recalled their experience at the Olympics.
Manpreet, who made his debut at the Olympics in 2012, said although the team ended last the London Games will hold a special place in his heart.
"I have been part of two Olympic Games so far, so I have gotten used to the big stage. However, there's always going to be a touch of nervousness floating around among the players as we start the one-year countdown," he said.
"The 2012 Olympic Games was certainly a disastrous campaign for us, but it will be special for me since it was my first Olympics.
"We went to the 2016 Olympic Games with a much better side and put up a better performance, but we didn't achieve our desired result there. We are certainly looking to up the ante in Tokyo," the 28-year-old added.
Speaking about her participation at the Rio Olympics -- where the Indian team ended last in Group B, managing just one draw -- Rani said the experience will help her make better decisions in Tokyo.
"It was great to be a part of the Olympics in Rio. We made history by qualifying for the tournament after 36 years.
"Even though we didn't register the best of results, I have certainly learned a lot by playing the Olympic Games matches in 2016," said Rani.
"I am sure all the players, who played in the 2016 Olympics, will make much better decisions on the pitch at the Tokyo Olympics, based on their experience in Rio," she added.
Outlook India
Former Indian hockey team captain Baskaran says execution is key for podium finish at Olympics
Ex-Indian hockey team captain Baskaran said for a podium finish every single player needs to give his minimum 80 per cent if not 100.
Former Indian hockey team captain V Baskaran (Photo | EPS)
NEW DELHI: Execution will be the key for India to achieve its dream of a podium finish at next year's Tokyo Games, reckons V Baskaran, who captained the Indian hockey team to its last Olympic gold medal in 1980.
With eight gold medals, Indian men's hockey team has been the most successful side in Olympic history but since the 1980 Moscow Games, the country has not had a podium finish.
The women's team, on the other hand, has qualified for the Olympics only thrice -- 1980 Moscow, 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo.
The team had finished fourth and sixth in 1980 and 2016 respectively.
"I feel for both men and women's team to execute to perfection. If they do, they can surely finish on the podium," wrote Baskaran in a column for Hockey India (HI).
The 69-year-old said for a podium finish "every single player needs to give his minimum 80 per cent if not 100."
"Every team at the Olympics come to win and they will do everything they can to stop you from giving your 100 per cent. Podium finishes cannot happen with just 4-5 players giving their 80 per cent and the rest giving their 60 per cent.
"Every single player needs to be consistent and for the Indian men's team Chief coach Graham Reid has pointed this out several times."
The Indian team will gear up for the Olympics with away matches in Hockey Pro League against Argentina (April 10 and 11), Great Britain (May 8 and 9), Spain (May 12 and 13) and Germany (May 18 and 19) before finally playing a home tie against New Zealand (May 29 and 30).
"While playing in Hockey Pro League against top teams it will set good momentum ahead of the Olympic Games, my advice is that the team should not read too much into the results," said Baskaran.
"Olympics will be a very different stage compared to the Hockey Pro League and each player will be playing about 200 minutes of play on average with back to back matches."
Talking about the women's team, the former coach said: "Since I have watched this Women's team closely too, I feel they have great potential to do well.
"They have shown good results against top teams in these past few years and they can surely be the dark horse in the tournament."
Baskaran also recalled the gold-medal winning feat of the Indian team at Moscow, crediting the achievement to the young but formidable team that included greats like Mohd Shahid, Zafar Iqbal, MM Somaya, MK Kaushik among others.
"I remember when the team for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games was announced, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw who was heading the All India Council of Sports paid us a visit in Bangalore. His confidence-oozing talk remained with me all through the Olympic Games.
"We were a very young squad and the media had particularly been quite critical of this fact. Barring Bir Bahadur Chhetri and myself, no one else in that team had played at the Olympics before. In fact, up until then, many had not even taken a flight much like the Indian cricket team from 1970s.
"I agree we were raw and there was no follow up after the 1978 Asian Games where we had a solid team."
It was after 16 years that India had reclaimed the gold medal at Moscow Games.
"When I look back, I am filled with pride about my team. We had picked the best 16 players out of the 24-25 who were selected for the camp in Bangalore. We had a formidable starting 11..."
"What brings me pride is that 7-8 players from this squad went on to play for India for another 8-10 years. They became the stars of Indian Hockey."
New Indian Express
PR Shreejesh: "Yes, my father sold a cow to buy me Goalkeeper's kit"
Team S2H
In state-of-the-art goalkeeping gear, PR Sreejesh is a familiar sight on our TV screens, guarding India’s citadel with customary verve and brilliance. It’s these attributes that have seen him cuddle the coveted Arjuna and Padmashree awards, making him the face of Indian hockey. Amazingly, it all started when his father sold a precious cow to buy him goalkeeping kit. There was then no turning back for Sreejesh.
He has come a long way.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. India’s man of the hour was PR Sreejesh. The moment – the new look shootout in the inaugural 2011 Asian Champions Trophy final against arch rivals Pakistan in Ordos, China.
The young hockey goalkeeper, long waiting in the sidelines, seized his moment. A spectacular – and courageous — performance spelled victory for his country and provided a badly needed fillip to the national team after a string of disappointments at the Asian Games and World Cup.
He was to perform an encore, again against Pakistan in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games final which booked India a direct berth in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Another sensational performance in the shootout against the Netherlands fetched India the bronze medal at the 2014-15 Hockey World League in Raipur – the country’s first medal at an FIH event in 33 years.
The 1.83m tall Sreejesh’s verve and energy has gone a long way in India’s rising graph in the decade gone and has seen the country’s rankings rise from double digits to currently No. 4.
www.stick2hockey.com caught up with the 32-year-old veteran of 234 international matches whose answers evoked the passion he expresses on the pitch.
Excerpts:
When did you take up hockey and what drew you to the game?
I was an athlete in my school days and in 2000, I joined GV Raja Sports School as an athlete. I used to short putt during that period. There were lots who were doing really well in athletics as well as other sports like football, cricket and basketball. I had also tried playing volleyball and basketball but I didn’t think I could excel in it. When I wanted to switch to another sport, I thought pursuing hockey would be a good idea as I would be starting from scratch like all the other kids. So in 2000, I started playing hockey.
Why goalkeeping?
Funnily, I hated running and I thought that if I chose goalkeeping then I wouldn’t have to run so much and I would only have to stand in one place and guard the post. This was obviously when I had little knowledge about the game (laughs).
You once said “goalkeeping is a crazy job and that no normal person would do it”. Please explain.
Yeah, one has to be crazy to take up goalkeeping because you are facing the ball which comes at 150kmph and you need to be fearless to make a save. Even if you make 50-60 saves, you will be remembered for that one goal you conceded. It is a thankless job.
I believe your father sold a cow to buy you goalkeeping gear? Is this true?
Yes, my father sold a cow. Coming from a farming family, it was financially difficult to pursue a demanding sport. The cow was a source of income for my family but in the early stage of my career, I needed good equipment and that would cost about Rs 5000-6000. My coach had advised my father to buy better equipment and he chose to sell the cow and buy me the gear.
Who has been the greatest influence on your game?
I never had any influencer. I never followed hockey so much when I was growing up. Even after I started playing, it took me a while before I watched my first international game. I used to collect news clippings on hockey but I didn’t follow anyone particular in the early stages. I had set small goals. The first target was to make the school team, then the district team and making the state team was a big deal. But it was when my coach said that if I do well in the nationals I would get selected for junior national camp, it became my next big dream.
The most memorable moment in your hockey career?
I have lot of best memories, like my first jersey. I wore it and stood in front of the mirror for hours. My debut in 2004 for junior India team was also memorable. My first World Cup match, in 2010 against Pakistan was also very memorable as well as the 2014 Asian Games. I feel in every match I have played for India there is something memorable and worth cherishing.
Your idol hockey goalkeeper?
Adrian D’Souza (Olympian and former international) used to be one of my idols. I used to look up to him so much that I would end up copying him but then he advised me to create my own style. Another goalkeeping idol of mine is Jaap Stockmann, the Netherlands goalkeeper. He and I exchange views and he advises me on how to rectify mistakes.
Your sporting idol (from any sport)?
I followed IM Vijayan (Indian football star) in my grooming stage. He was playing for the national team then and I read a lot about him. He comes from a poor background and yet never gave up on his dream. His story inspired me a lot. I also like Sachin (Tendulkar) , (MS) Dhoni, Virat (Kohli) and also (Dhanraj) Pillay ‘anna’. You can’t write on hockey without mentioning his name. He is an elder brother to all of us.
The Asian Champions Trophy in 2011 in China – a new format for the shootout and you excelled in it, helping India beat Pakistan in the final. Take us through that.
The 2011 Asian Champions Trophy was a breakthrough moment for me. I was always second goalkeeper to Bharat (Chettri) and Adrian. Bharat and I got to play a match each. I was very confident although I was never a big fan of penalty strokes. But doing well against Pakistan was a big moment for me. The new shootout format allows goalkeepers to show their skill. I was a bit tense but I decided to concentrate on stopping the ball now matter who the opponent. My coach and manager assured me that I was good and that I should just go ahead and do my best. That helped.
Do you think the new shootout (in place of the old tiebreaker) is not as much a lottery? Don’t you think there is more skill and ability rather than luck – for both striker and goalkeeper?
I think earlier, when it was a penalty stroke contest, it used to be an advantage to the striker because most of the time the goalkeeper could only hope to anticipate and make a lucky save. That was it. Now it’s equal opportunity where we get to fight for the ball, move with the ball and you get an opportunity to showcase your talent and skill. So far, I’ve been lucky enough to save goals in the shootout.
Many have suggested widening of the goals in hockey to make it more spectator appealing. You think that would be a good idea? Especially since it will bring goalkeepers more into action?
That is something that was tried in a series in Australia. They widened the post and changed the penalty corner format. But I don’t think it will make the game more interesting. Without equipment, it would be tough for the goalkeeper to cover the whole goal. It could help the strikers get better angles and score 10-20 goals which could make it more interesting for spectators. But for goalkeepers, it would be a huge challenge.
India have showed promise in the FIH Pro League this year which unfortunately is placed on hold. What are your thoughts and expectations for the Olympics next year (assuming of course all goes well with the containment of Covid-19)?
I think the FIH Pro League was an ideal platform for us to test ourselves before the Olympics and doing well against the top three teams in the world was a huge confidence booster. Doing well in these matches didn’t happen overnight but it was a result of tremendous hard work in the months leading to the Pro League. I think the postponement did disappoint all of us because we were in very good rhythm and stood a real chance of finishing in the top three in Tokyo. But now, we need to start afresh and hopefully can attain that level at the right time.
Another winning moment. ACT won Photo: K.Arumugam
What does the Kerala hockey body need to do to raise the profile and number of young players in the state? Surely your status as an India star would have helped the cause…
We need to introduce hockey in schools, create more opportunities to play hockey, and organize more tournaments in the state which is lacking in Kerala at the moment. We do have a lot of hockey lovers, but not enough hockey to watch. I feel hosting a 5-a-side matches could be a good idea to get more people to watch hockey. Once that happens, they will definitely become fans of the game. Also having more sports hostels and grooming local coaches will help the sport a lot.
Your opinion on Hockey Fives? In particular from the goalkeeping point of view?
I’ve never played it but I feel it’s very interesting. For goalkeepers, it can be challenging because goals could be scored from anywhere on the pitch. It’s a version where you could use your artistry or your brains – you could work out the angles to use the boards fixed around the pitch. I feel Hockey Fives would help develop the sport around the world. Countries that can’t afford (artificial) turfs or have enough water supply can introduce 5-a-side. It can popularise hockey like 20-20 did to cricket.
Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Suraj Karkera and Akash Chikte have shown promise. Is the future of Indian goalkeeping looking bright?
Krishan and Suraj are in the camp with me. They are all in their early twenties and have a very good future. With the match split into four quarters, coaches can give goalkeepers a chance by changing them every quarter unlike my time when I had to wait for years for an opportunity. These players now are getting good match experience, and in the next two-three years they will have enough experience to do really well on the world stage. They are also from same age group so there is good competition among themselves.
Did you not want to play club hockey in Europe? Did you receive any offers?
I would have loved to but my India job matters most for me and if time permits in the future maybe I will play.
What is your great big aim in hockey?
Winning a medal in the World Cup or Olympics. It is this elusive medal that makes me want to give 100 per cent in every training session. It made me overcome injury and makes me face criticism and help face challenges. The aim to win a medal makes me fly!
What is your occupation/ job outside hockey?
I work as deputy director in the Kerala education department. My job is to look after sports in schools and I love it. After all, I wanted to do something in my own field and help develop hockey and sports in general in the state.
FACTFILE
Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh
Born: May 8, 1988, Kochi, Kerala
INTERNATIONAL CAREER
Debut: 2006 (SAF Games, Colombo)
Caps: 234 (as on July 2020)
Asian Games: Gold: 2014 Incheon
Bronze: 2018 Jakarta
Asia Cup: Silver: 2013 Ipoh
Champions Trophy: Silver: 2016 London
Silver: 2018 Breda (The Netherlands)
Asian Champions Trophy: Gold: 2011 Ordos City (China)
Gold: 2016 Kuantan
Gold (joint with Pakistan), 2018 Muscat
Silver: 2012 Doha.
Hockey World League: Bronze: 2015 Raipur
CLUB CAREER
2005–2011: Chandigarh Comets
2011–2013: Indian Overseas Bank
2013–2014: Mumbai Magicians
2015–present: Uttar Pradesh Wizards
Stick2Hockey.com
Rayer & Ansley reflect on social media absence during 2018 World Cup
England Women HWC2018
Dealing with distractions on the pitch is a crucial element of being an elite athlete but distancing yourself from them off it can be quite a difficult challenge.
The invention of social media has certainly changed the way many of us experience the world now and it can be very hard to avoid seeing things that you don’t like and can upset you.
To avoid just that, during the 2018 Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup England’s women chose to come off all social media.
However it’s not always easy to break a habit such as that, as Ellie Rayer explained on the latest episode of Inside The Circle: The Podcast.
“It’s bad but a lot of people get so hooked and you unconsciously go on your phone, click and app and find yourself scrolling,” the midfielder explained.
“You’re not necessarily even doing anything but just scrolling and scrolling and scrolling. That was one of the reasons why I always go with a bag of things to entertain me because I find it quite scary just how much time you could spend sat on social media.
“By removing that from your day you suddenly have so much more time to focus on other things. It just wasn’t worth having anything that could throw us off in those scenarios.
“I didn’t delete the apps off my phone. I logged out of all of them and turned off notifications but didn’t delete them. I moved where the app was on my home screen, so I swapped where Instagram was with my calculator.
“It was ridiculous how many times subconsciously I’d go on my phone and be on my calculator because that’s where the Instagram app was before, which was a little bit scary.”
While it may have been hard for some players to initially break the habit of scrolling through social media, the whole squad were in agreement that it was the best thing for them.
Playing in a World Cup on home soil in front of 10,000 fans is one of the pinnacles of anyone’s career and the team wanted to make sure they were in the best possible frame of mind to maximise the situation and perform at their best.
“It is a way of ensuring that while you’re in the little bubble that you’re in that you’re just focusing on yourselves, not what people are saying about you good or bad,” Ansley explained.
“You can purely just focus on the performance, there’s no other distractions. With it being very well publicised, in London on home soil, a big World Cup etc. obviously the media attention is greater, you’re under a bit more scrutiny and it’s just very easy for people to see something that could throw them off. Or likewise someone is getting heaps and heaps of praise and someone else is not getting mentioned.
“What’s the point in putting yourself at any risk of seeing something you don’t want to which could potentially harm your performance? Ultimately we’re there to perform and to play hockey. That’s what we love doing and that was the most important thing we felt as a squad.
“It also makes everyone a bit more present and there as a team. It just becomes a habit. We don’t have phones at meal times anyway but when we have a bit of dead time you can just see that everyone goes to their phones and starts scrolling. But when social media is not a thing everyone is talking to each other and having a lovely time.”
Subscribe to Inside The Circle: The Podcast to hear this episode in full and catch up on any others that you may have missed:
Great Britain Hockey media release
Life Member - Carol Sheridan
It is unlikely Women’s Masters Hockey in Australia would be in as a healthy and popular condition as it finds itself in if it were not for Carol Sheridan.
Involved with Australian Women’s Masters since the first Australian Women’s Veterans 35+ team was selected in 1996 and in her appointment as Manager of the 1997 team, Carol is now in her 25th year of continuous voluntary service to Women’s Masters Hockey in Australia – an amazing achievement and commitment in anyone’s language.
Carol has been an outstanding servant of Women’s Masters Hockey, which continues to grow. Since 1997, Carol has attended and coordinated Australian Women’s teams at all Masters/Veteran International Events.
She has been involved in organising the Trans-Tasman Masters Challenge every time it has been held since 2000, and in that year she was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for services to Women’s Hockey Australia.
An International Coordinator of the National Women’s Veterans Committee from 2003-2015, Carol was also an integral part of the organisation of the Masters Hockey World Cup in Canberra in 2016 and fulfilled the position of International Events (Women) Coordinator of Hockey Australia Masters last year.
Carol is also a member of the highly respected Green & Gold Masters Club, having represented Australian Masters on at least 10 occasions as either an umpire, player, team manager or contingent coordinator.
What they said…
“I’m very proud and honoured and just so appreciative of all those people around me who have given me the passion to keep doing what I do. I know Life Membership is one of the greatest accolades and it’s just wonderful to know that those traditions are still continuing considering the changes to modern sport. I’m extremely overwhelmed that I was even nominated and recognised for something as prestigious as this.
I think the biggest impact was becoming associated when it was “Women’s Hockey Australia” in 1997 and part of that initial start of Veterans which is now Masters, and being on that journey with the women the whole way. To think I would never have had those opportunities without it falling on me so innocently.
I don’t play, I don’t select teams. I do the behind the scenes stuff, such as the logistics of getting to events, having accommodation and uniforms to wear and keep in contact with everyone which is really nice because you are part of the friendship. I’m accepted as one of ‘the gang’ and I love that.
Hockey has been a part of my life since 14 years of age. The progress of Women’s Masters has been absolutely staggering from where we’ve come from to where we are going and the support from so many people has been amazing.” Carol Sheridan
From those in the know…
“Carol is one of the most generous people I know regarding the time and commitment she has given to hockey at all levels. Her number one concern is always people and making sure their hockey experience is an outstanding and memorable one. Whether it’s at Baulkham Hills, the Parramatta Hockey Association or the national level, through her kindness and generosity Carol does everything in her power to make sure people have a great experience.” Carolyn Campbell (friend, CEO Netball NSW, Chair Sport NSW)
Team Manager/Contingent Coordination
Masters International Representations
Australia
1997 IMHT - Seoul, Korea (Team Manager)
1998 World Cup - Netherlands (Team Manager)
1998 IMHT - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Team Manager)
1999 IMHT - Brunei (Team Manager)
2000 Trans-Tasman - Auckland, New Zealand (Team Manager)
2001 IMHT - Singapore (Team Manager)
2002 Trans-Tasman - Brisbane (Team Manager)
2003 IMHT - Auckland, New Zealand (Team Manager)
2004 Trans-Tasman - Wellington, New Zealand (Team Manager)
2004 IMHT - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Team Manager)
2005 45’s Tri series v NZ - Sunshine Coast (CdeM)
2005 IMHT - Melbourne (HA Rep)
2006 Trans-Tasman - Hobart (Team Manager)
2007 IMHT - Birmingham, United Kingdom (CdeM)
2008 Trans-Tasman - Hamilton, New Zealand (CdeM)
2009 50’s/55’s Tri series v NZ - Auckland, New Zealand (CdeM)
2010 Trans-Tasman - Newcastle (CdeM)
2010 Champions Cup - Nottingham, United Kingdom (CdeM)
2011 International Invitational - Gold Coast (Coordinator)
2012 Oceania Development Tour - Fiji (Coordinator)
2012 Masters World Cup - Canterbury, United Kingdom (CdeM)
2013 Trans-Tasman - Auckland, New Zealand (Contingent Coordinator)
2013 European Masters Cup - Belfast, United Kingdom (Contingent Coordinator)
2014 Oceania Development Tour - Fiji (Contingent Coordinator)
2014 England Tour 35’s /55’s - Aldershot (Contingent Coordinator)
2014 FIH Masters World Cup - Rotterdam, Netherlands (Contingent Coordinator)
2015 Trans-Tasman - Melbourne (Organising Committee)
2016 Masters World Cup - Canberra (Organising Committee)
2017 Trans-Tasman - Whangarei, New Zealand (Contingent Coordinator)
2018 Masters World Cup - Terrassa, Spain (Contingent Coordinator)
2019 Trans-Tasman - Gold Coast (Contingent Coordinator)
Hockey Australia media release
Hockey Dreams Foundation goes from strength to strength
Hockey Dreams Foundation (HDF) has now been running for eight years. It began life as the Kadish Foundation, and was the brainchild of Dutchman Gijs Hardeman. When the initial Kadish Foundation project came to an end, Hardeman decided the work being done was too important to stop, and so HDF was founded.
The overarching objective of HDF is to create a better future for its students by enabling them to finish their education and seek opportunities and life chances that would otherwise not be available to them.
The vehicle for self-improvement is sport and it does this by educating young people as coaches: able to lead others but also to develop their own skills and abilities. Although it is a great example of sport for development, the coaches develop a wide range of personal and professional skills and qualities that transcends sport and enables them to follow a range of careers and professions that would have otherwise not been an option. Time-management, study skills, communication, networking, planning – these are all among the skills that the students learn through hockey but apply to life.
The HDF provides its students with the support, training and knowledge to become effective coaches but also supports and guides them through the secondary and tertiary education system.
With an ambitious plan to develop sustainable hockey coaching programmes in 10 countries, HDF is currently operating in three African countries: Zambia, where it all began; Malawi and Uganda.
HDF works on two levels. It helps its student/coaches access education, finish their studies and improve their life chances as a result. At the end of their time at the Academy they have a portfolio of education achievements, as well as personal and hockey-related courses.
The coaches develop leadership skills and specific hockey skills and knowledge. As part of the coach education, the participants have the opportunity to take FIH Academy courses in coaching and umpiring. There is also an opportunity, at advanced level, to go to the Netherlands to work alongside coaches in some of the top European clubs.
On a second level, HDF is also providing sporting opportunities for hundreds of youngsters through the coaching camps it runs. For the children attending the weekly community- or school-based coaching sessions, they are introduced to an environment where they can learn new skills, enjoy organised physical activity sessions, develop communication skills and make new friends. It also opens their eyes to the opportunities that sport offers, as the student coaches are ideal role models.
These figures tell the story of HDF’s success so far:
- There are currently 25 coaches working in the Academy.
- 2,157 children participate in weekly coaching clinics
- 1485 kids participating in eight mixed camps with a 50/50 gender split and a further 417 girls participating in three girls camps.
- 22 local schools are involved in the programme
Through HDF, the coaches take both umpiring and coaching qualifications, with many completing the FIH Umpiring Level 1 qualification as well as FIH Coach qualifications at Level 1 and 2.
Of the 25 coaches, five currently hold FIH Academy qualifications. A further three students have now graduated. Two of these graduates – Sam and Shadrick – work for private schools. Sam is also coach to the Zambia National Youth team: a highlight of his career so far was when he took Zambia to the Youth Olympic Games in 2018.
Just how difficult it is for some of the coaches to balance work, coaching and gaining an education is summed up by one of the Academy coaches, 24-year-old goalkeeper and hockey coach Richard Lungu from Zambia.
“Going to the school itself is quite the challenge for me because the town area – where my school is located – is about four to five kilometres from where I stay. The way I am going to my school really depends on whether I have money for the buses. If I do not have the money I have to walk which lasts me about two hours. This seems like a hassle and time-consuming but luckily managing to do both school and coaching is not a problem for me. I changed my coaching-schedules to twice a week from nine o’clock a.m. to two o’clock p.m for me to follow the school’s timetable with ease.”
Earlier this year, Zambia national women’s team captain Martha Kalomo became the first of the Zambia hockey coaches to graduate from university. She gained a diploma in Hospitality Management and still manages to combine captaining her national team and hockey coaching alongside her career.
For Martha, training and working as a HDF coach provided her with an allowance so that she could continue her studies. Perhaps more importantly, it also provided Martha with the confidence and self-esteem that saw her dare to chase her own dreams.
“Everything I have achieved is through the help of the HDF,” says Martha. “I do not know where my life would have been if I had not joined the program as my Mum did not have any money to send me to college. I have met a lot of different people throughout the program whom have encouraged me to continue working hard. To be honest, I did not know that I could have get this far when the program was only just starting, but to my surprise I got more out of it than I could have ever think of.”
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