News for 10 October 2020
All the news for Saturday 10 October 2020
66th edition of the National Senior Hockey Championship
Pakistan's domestic hockey’s premier event, the 66th edition of the National Senior Hockey Championship, will be played from 3rd to 15th November and its venue will be intimated shortly.
According to the ranking of 65th National Senior Hockey Championship, eight teams have qualified for the 66th edition of the Event, said a spokesman for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) here on Friday.
Following are the participating teams:
National Bank of Pakistan, Sui Southern Gas Company, WAPDA, Pakistan Army, PIAC, Pakistan Navy, Port Qasim and Pakistan Police.
He said previously, Tray Hockey Championship was the most beneficial and regular event of the PHF Calendar of activities, which was at a standstill from 2015 till to-date.
“Keeping in view the benefits of this Championship, the PHF intends to reactivate the Tray Championship,” he said adding “It has been decided to organise this event in a most befitting manner from 20th to 31st October 2020 (venue will be intimated, shortly)”.
The following teams are eligible to participate in the Tray Championship from which the top three teams will qualify for the 66th National Senior Championship: Pakistan Air Force, Mari Petroleum, Pakistan Railways, Punjab, KPK, Sindh, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJ&K, Pakistan Customs, PTV, POF, Suit Northern Gas Pipelines, Higher Education Commission, Zarai Taraqiati Bank, Fauji Foundation and Pakistan Steel Mills.
The Nation
Senior Hockey likely to be held in Pindi
RAWALPINDI: The 66th edition of Pakistan's National Senior Hockey Championship will be held from November 3-15 most probably here at the newly laid synthetic blue turf at Ayub Park.
“We are trying to hold qualifying as well as main round at the newly laid turf. However, we have yet to finalise the venue as still there are some formalities to be inked,” an official of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said.
He added that in all probabilities, the final round of the event will be held at the synthetic turf.
“In any case if holding of both the rounds at the same venue is not possible then we would be organising the qualifying round in Lahore,” he said.
Eight teams including National Bank, Sui Southern Gas Company, Wapda, Army, PIAC, Navy, Port Qasim and Police have been placed in the main round while eighteen others will vie for three places available.
The qualifying round has been named as Tray Hockey Championship to be staged from October 20-31 and the venue will be intimated, shortly.
The teams for this event include PAF, Mari Petroleum, Railways, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, Customs, PTV, POF, SNGPL, HEC, ZTBL, Fauji Foundation, and Pak Steel Mills. Three qualifiers will make it to 11-team national championship. The main round will be played on a round-robin league basis with each team playing the other before the semi-finals and final.
“Our main teams require maximum exposure and matches. The selectors also want maximum hockey from the contenders to pick the best players for upcoming international events,” the PHF official said. The best eight teams were picked on the basis of rankings.
The News International
Another one bites the dust
By Jugjet Singh
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) competitions committee chairman Datuk Seri Anil Jeet Singh says the decision was made after consulting the various government departments.
Covid-19 won another battle against local sports when the Junior Hockey League (JHL) became its latest victim.
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) took into consideration the safety of students when calling off the Under-19 tournament, incepted in 1995.
MHC competitions committee chairman Datuk Seri Anil Jeet Singh said the national body took the painful decision after consulting the various government departments.
Next in line for a review is the national under-14 and 16 boys and girls' tournaments. The national body will decide later this month.
"This year's JHL had to be cancelled due to the recent spike in Covid-19 cases.
"We made the decision after consulting the Education Ministry, Health Ministry and the National Security Council.
"It will be too risky to organise a tournament involving Under-19 players at the moment.
"The tournament will involve students from schools, colleges and universities. I believe parents and the clubs will have their reservations if we continue with it," said Anil yesterday.
The Covid-19 numbers in the country were at the lowest when the MHC were given the nod to organise the Razak Cup last month.
The only other event successfully held this year was the Malaysia Hockey League, which was completed before the government enforced the Movement Control Order in mid-March.
"The MHC would like to work with the various government agencies to break the spike and spread of Covid-19.
"We will decide on the other two tournaments left on our calendar (national under-14 and 16 boys and girls' tournaments) later this month," Anil added.
Double champions SSTMI Thunderbolts coach Wan Roslan Rahman echoed MHL's decision to call off the JHL.
"Even though, we can't defend our titles this year, it's a good decision to shelve the JHL this year. There is always next season to defend our crowns," said the coach.
New Straits Times
Athlete Spotlight: Brynn Zorilla
Each athlete that wears the red, white and blue has a unique story to how their careers came to fruition. From the junior level to the senior squad, USA Field Hockey is putting national team athletes under the spotlight to share their journeys.
Sports provide life lessons on and off the field, and can often times provide experience that cannot be made in the classroom. A combination of both has helped shape U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team athlete Brynn Zorilla into the person she is today, with a bright future ahead of her athletically and career wise.
Zorilla played just about every sport one could growing up on the West Coast, including basketball, soccer, volleyball and track and field. She found field hockey through her older sister and wanting to follow in her footsteps, she picked up a stick in middle school with great excitement.
“I think each sport taught me valuable lessons about becoming the best version of myself as a person and an athlete,” said Zorilla. “But from the first time I picked up a field hockey stick, I was hooked on the sport.”
The Vista, Calif. native’s career propelled through high school, where she was heavily active as a multi-sport athlete, club competitions and extracurricular activities, in addition to field hockey at Rancho Buena Vista. Zorilla earned several honors as a Longhorn, such as Avocado East Player of the Year as a senior in 2018, first team All-League selection (x4), first team All-CIF San Diego (x2), second team All-CIF San Diego (x2) and team MVP (x2). She also excelled academically and earned AP Scholar with Distinction honors, as well as High School Sports Associaiton (HSAA) Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2018. Despite her busy school and student-athletic schedules, Zorilla was also an active participant with the RUSH field hockey club as well as the Olympic Development Pathway.
“One thing that was pretty unique was that field hockey is small in California, so I was constantly traveling with either RUSH or [Team] USA to train and compete,” continued Zorilla. “It became a joke with my friends to take guesses about where in the world I was if I missed a day of school.”
Joking aside, in reality, Zorilla became a frequently flyer over the next several years, working on school assignments at the airport, in hotel rooms and between practice sessions while conquering jet lag when training meant heading to the East Coast for the weekend. Although challenging, she admits that the consistent travel helped mold her into a more independent individual.
Zorilla was quick to note and credit the coaching staff and philosophies of RUSH played a big part in turning field hockey into her favorite sport.
“My coach, Brian Schledorn, as well as the great assistant coaches he brought in over the years have been so crucial to establishing a strong foundation and fostering my development both as a player and a person. I will always be grateful for those experiences and the continued support I feel from our RUSH Family.”
In between high school matches and RUSH, she became a recognizable body on the pitch in Futures where she competed in the 2016 AAU Junior Olympic Games. That same year Zorilla was named to the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team and went on multiple international tours through 2017 to Ireland and Germany. She was promoted to the U-19 USWNT in 2018 before her current roster spot with the U-21 squad, which most recently competed against Canada’s U-21 Women’s National Team in February at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.
“I began my journey in the Olympic Development Pathway my freshman year of high school because I had some friends that were joining Futures and it seemed like a fun way to improve as a player over the weekends,” recalled Zorilla. “I had no idea that it could lead to so much more. I was then selected to compete at the National Futures [Championship], which my naïve self thought was the end point. I remember I was packing up my stuff to fly home to California after the tournament ended when I received a couple of texts saying 'congratulations', but I was clueless about what they were referring to.”
Through it all, finding the balance between athletics and academics was essential for Zorilla, especially when it came time to college. The University of California, Berkeley was the perfect fit as a top public school close to home and where she could compete in the NCAA, but Zorilla also wanted to be part of helping grow the game in the Golden State.
“Field hockey is much smaller on the West Coast compared to the East Coast and I wanted to be part of the movement to grow California [field] hockey, which is needed now more than ever with two of four collegiate programs in California being cut within the last two years,” said Zorilla.
She made an immediate impact for UC Berkeley and has appeared in all but two games through her first two collegiate seasons. She was also named the 2018 America East All-Rookie and is a two-time America East All-Conference selection, NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad and America East Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Now a junior, she hopes to grow the game while pursuing her degree in public health, with aspirations on the horizon to ultimately earn a decorate in physical therapy in the years to come. Again citing the sport, Zorilla credits field hockey in helping mold her into the person she is today, specifically in being able to see the bigger picture.
“That has come in many forms such as being able to prioritize my time in an effort to balance field hockey, academics and social connections as well as traveling to other countries, experiencing new cultures, and understanding how there is so much more to life than our individuals trials and tribulations,” said Zorilla. “It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day aspects of life, but I think field hockey has molded my mindset into one that is much more flexible and open to change.”
That flexibility to adapt to the unknown has been especially put to the test in the bulk of 2020 through the uncertainty of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In California, team training and games have been at a standstill as play and large gatherings have been restricted or suspended. That made this past summer uniquely challenging for countless athletes across the country, including Zorilla. To counter it and stay active, she reconnected with her coaches at RUSH and former teammates to conduct small group trainings. She also stayed in contact with her Golden Bears and Junior USWNT teammates throughout quarantine primarily over Zoom calls, which held a large amount of individual responsibility in staying conditioned and ready to return to play when the time came.
Zorilla also stayed busy throughout the pandemic by volunteering at food banks. In the spring, she organized a fundraiser for the San Francisco Food Bank, which included the work of the California field hockey team, along with the University of California, Davis and Stanford squads. She is currently back home in the San Diego area, where she continues to volunteer in a similar position.
"It is easy to get caught up in the day to day aspects of life, but I think field hockey has molded my mindset into one that is much more flexible and open to change.”
Brynn Zorilla
USFHA media release
Previews: English Men's Hockey League Round 4
East Grinstead will make the 20-mile journey to Surbiton determined to put an end to the reigning Men’s Hockey League Premier Division champion’s winning streak.
Both teams have got off to a flying start in the league this season, although East Grinstead faltered slightly with a 2-2 draw against Brooklands MU, while Surbiton have recorded three wins from three.
Surbiton head coach Mark Pearn says he is “reasonably content” with the way his team has started, particularly having won at Durham and Beeston – two of their furthest away games.
Looking ahead he says: “As we play the four strongest sides in a row just before the mid-season break, we were very aware that we had no margin for error in these early matches. Any dropped points in this shorter season might be tough to claw back.
“I am delighted that the guys are not spending time reflecting on their past successes but have come back this season with a desire to set even higher standards for themselves and each other.”
However, Pearn is nothing if not a perfectionist and, despite the 100% win record so far this season, there are things he is looking to improve upon.
“We are working hard on trying to be more patient at the start of matches as we are more than capable of taking the game away from our opponents in the second half,” he added.
“We just need to keep it tight defensively in the beginning and have the confidence to know that, at some point, we will dominate possession and be able to create several goalscoring opportunities.”
East Grinstead captain Simon Faulkner has said that East Grinstead, under the new coaching team of Tim Deakin and David Beckett, are approaching this season with a very different mindset and a new style of play. The unknown quality in their near neighbours is something of which Pearn, who spent 10 years at the Sussex club, is very aware.
“It is still early in the season so we have not had a chance to see a lot of East Grinstead yet. As a relatively new team under new leadership, it brings a sense of the unknown that we might need time to adjust to on Saturday evening. We will work hard off the pitch this week to try and learn as much as we can so that we give the players all the information they need to continue our positive start to the season.”
Wimbledon and Hampstead & Westminster will make for an entertaining fixture as two teams set on playing attacking, open hockey. Wimbledon has quality all over the pitch but Hampstead & Westminster is a team where everyone works hard for each other and has its own creativity and style of play that can pose a challenge to anyone in the league.
Beeston and Durham University will clash on Sunday with both teams still searching for a first win of the season. For Beeston, the priority will be defensive responsibilities. The team have shown they can create chances and score goals, but their past two matches have seen the opposition given the opportunity to exploit mistakes.
Durham University’s coaching team, Jamie Cachia and Gareth Weaver-Tyler will be hoping that the students discover their flow this weekend and start to build the necessary momentum to create scoring opportunities and make their mark on the league.
It is a similar story for Exeter University, who currently sit just above Durham on goal difference. The west country team scored goals against both Hampstead & Westminster and East Grinstead, so in patches they are competing well in the league. Unfortunately, they are currently not sustaining the necessary pressure on their opponents - which is something they will seek to do when they visit Old Georgians this weekend.
FIXTURES
Men’s Hockey League (Sat, 10 October 2020):
Premier Division
Brooklands MU v Holcombe - game off
Surbiton v East Grinstead 18:00
Wimbledon v Hampstead & Westminster 18:00
Division One North
Cardiff & Met v Sheffield Hallam - game off
Division One South
Old Cranleighans v Teddington 17:00
Conference East
Bromley & Beckenhan v Richmond 17:30
St Albans v Old Loughtonians 18:00
Wapping v Spencer 16:00
Conference North
Timperley v Preston 18:00
Men’s Hockey League (Sun, 11 October 2020):
Premier Division
Beeston v Univ of Durham 14:00
Old Georgians v Univ of Exeter 1300
Division One North
Univ of Birmingham v Loughborough Students 12:30
Bowdon v Deeside Ramblers 13:30
Olton & West Warwicks v Univ of Nottingham - game off
City of Peterborough v Cambridge City 14:00
Division One South
Canterbury v Southgate 12:45
Havant v Sevenoaks 14:00
Oxford Hawks v Team Bath Buccaneers 14:00
Reading v Brighton & Hove 13:30
Conference East
Harleston Magpies v London Wayfarers 14:00
West Herts v London Edwardians 13:30
Conference North
Doncaster v Barford Tigers - game off
Lichfield v Didsbury Northern 13:30
Univ of Birmingham 2s v Leeds 14:30
Univ of Durham 2s v Belper 13:00
Conference West
Isca v Fareham 12:00
Cheltenham v Khalsa Leamington 12:30
Plymouth Marjon v Harborne 13:00
Chichester v Ashmoor 14:00
Univ of Bristol v Cardiff Univ 14:00
Some clubs have requested a postponement of matches this weekend in line with our Covid regulations. In a small number of cases where there is clear and detailed evidence of mass unavailability this request has been granted. The teams who have been granted a postponement are University of Nottingham Men’s and Women’s teams and Sheffield Hallam Men.
England Hockey Board Media release
Old Georgians to welcome live hockey broadcast for first time
By Cassie Worth
Old Georgians will see live TV cameras at club on Sunday PIC: Simon Parker
Old Georgians have taken advantage of the hockey spectator lockout at its home games by becoming the latest club to see the value of professional live broadcasting.
The Surrey club will welcome live cameras and commentator Simon Mason in for the first time when the Men’s 1s Premier Division clash against University of Exeter on Sunday is livestreamed by Galvanised Media.
The move follows Beeston HC’s success in regular quality live broadcasts, which has seen highlights become available on the regional free-to-air Notts TV – and some impressive audience figures to go with it.
Old Georgians’ club president Chris Jansen told THP: “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved since the club was founded in 1995 and what better way to celebrate our 25th year than to do our bit to help raise the profile of the sport we all love.
“We have long believed that the exceptional hockey talent this country produces deserves to be showcased properly on the big stage and of course this is particularly relevant in current times where spectating is understandably somewhat limited and people may be reluctant to attend games.”
Mike Hughes, OGs men’s coach, said the live platform was “huge” for the club.
He said: “It’s been made increasingly obvious that domestic hockey needs to be prioritised in this country and the commercial success of clubs will play a huge part in this.
“After the six months we’ve had, I’m just delighted that both sets of players can begin to get the recognition they deserve for all the commitment, hard work and dedication they’ve shown to their clubs.”
Jansen added that excitement is at “an all-time high” across the club as it embarks on its second season in the top flight.
“This latest initiative is just another example of how we want to keep pushing boundaries and sustain the vibrant, positive culture of our amazing club,” he said.
OGs will broadcast live across its platforms on Sunday. Follow OGs on Twitter for live links.
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Rathgar, C of I and Harlequins opt against travel over Covid concerns
Rathgar decided against travelling to Belfast. Pic: Adrian Boehm
Rathgar’s men, Cork C of I’s women and both Cork Harlequins teams have opted against travelling for their respective out-of-province games over Covid-19 concerns.
While all 26 counties in Ireland have been elevated to Level 3 in the framework of restrictive measures, elite sport is exempt from such measures and can go ahead as planned.
In consultation with Sport Ireland, the EY Hockey Leagues, the Irish Senior Cup and the top leagues in each province – including the top two leagues in Leinster – have been deemed elite.
As such, it means the top end of the club game continue as originally scheduled while clubs who do not travel are subject to Hockey Ireland rules.
In the Irish Senior Cup, this is rule 13.1 which states that clubs not fielding will be deemed to have forfeited the tie. For the EYHL, a 5-0 defeat is the listed punishment but Hockey Ireland is open to receiving submissions to explain individual decisions before making a final judgement.
Gar were due to play Instonians in Belfast but stated, that, in consultation with their club committee, they have “decided not to travel to Northern Ireland this Saturday to play the Irish Senior Cup fixture against Instonians.
“The trend of increasing C-19 cases in NI has been a concern. The health and safety of our members and their families is paramount.”
Cork C of I’s women will not be travelling to Corinthian for their Senior Cup tie. Team manager Sarah Jones told The Hook of their reasons, stating: “We have not taken the decision lightly but must consider player welfare, health and safety.
“Four of our players are frontline workers with the HSE. Cork University Hospital yesterday asked their staff to reduce their contacts and those who are from Dublin and Belfast were asked not to go home.
“We also have a Covid positive player, so you can understand how our players are reluctant to break Government Guidelines and travel.
“While I commend Hockey Ireland in gaining Elite Sport status, they are irresponsible in their decision with expecting a Division 1 team to travel when, we, at this level do not have access to weekly Covid check as rugby, soccer etc have and are professional/semi professional players.
“[It is unfair] to expect each player to drive, play a game possibly in the rain, get back into the car without access to changing facilities and no refreshments then drive back to Cork without stopping and possibly be stuck in the Garda checks.”
C of I’s decision is an interesting one as their men’s team will go to play Portrane in their Irish Senior Cup round one game.
The club’s management – which oversees both men’s and women’s section – said they “are extremely unhappy that our players have been put in this position. They are not in favour of either team travelling at this time. However, they have generously but reluctantly allowed the decision to be made by the players”.
As such, the men travel but have agreed to undertake the following measures which are intended to reduce the risk of infection in addition to standard Sport Ireland guidelines. These include:
- Reducing squad numbers travelling
- Limiting non-playing persons travelling
- Minimising car sharing (complying with best practice where it is unavoidable)
- No stops on journey
- No showers at away club
- No training on Tuesday and Thursday following return
- No person who travels may coach any other team or junior section in the club in the coming weeks.
Cork Harlequins’ men were due at Railway Union on Saturday but Richard Gash stated their reasons against travelling.
“Given the substantial increase in the number of Covid-19 cases across Ireland, after careful consideration the players have collectively decided not to travel for the ISC match agains Railway Union. While a difficult decision to make, we feel this is entirely justifiable and the correct course of action given the serious situation outlined by public health officials over the weekend.
“As a club, we have a duty of care towards our members and need to be mindful that hockey is just one aspect of their daily lives; it is incumbent upon the club to minimise the additional risks posed to themselves and their families if they were to travel. 
Cork C of I requested a postponement to their Irish Senior Cup date with Corinthian. Pic: Adrian Boehm
“We are communicating with Hockey Ireland and are mindful of the guidance issued to Hockey Ireland by the Government’s Return to Sport Expert Group which has told all sports that competition should be on an opt-in basis and that athletes are not be penalised if they wish to opt-out of activity.
“While we understand that on this occasion we may have to forfeit the match, we are hoping that Hockey Ireland will take the Government’s advice on board and we won’t be unduly punished for this decision, which we feel is in the best interest of our players and their families.”
A Thursday night meeting said there will be no further punishments for non-travel to Senior Cup games beyond the forfeiture of the match.
Cork Harlequins’ women, meanwhile, will not go to Belfast Harlequins in the EYHL on Saturday, the second time this term they have made such a decision.
They requested a postponement but Hockey Ireland reaffirmed the game should go ahead and so will now adjudicate on what happens next.
It means five matches in the two tiers of the EYHL now are awaiting a judgement – Harlequins’ games at Muckross and Belfast Quins, UCC’s EYHL2 game at Trinity, Cork C of I’s match at Monkstown along with the men’s EY game between Pembroke and Banbridge.
It means Hockey Ireland have a serious headache already this season in their endeavours to get a meaningful competition played, one which the governing body is not alone in grappling with.
UEFA has already seen clubs forfeit fixtures in their European competitions dealing with travel restrictions. The rules are currently being tested in Italy’s Serie A where Napoli refused to play Juventus after they were advised by their local health authority not to travel from Naples to Turin.
In rugby’s Gallagher Premiership in England, 16 Sale Sharks players and three staff tested positive ahead of their tie with Worcester Warriors. In the circumstances, a refix was agreed, shifting the tie from last Sunday to Wednesday.
However, on the same day, Northampton Saints were forced to forfeit their tie with Gloucester 20-0 with the former left short of front-row options after a number of players were advised to self-isolate following a track and trace audit.
Sports lawyer Jonny Madill – a former player with Instonians before moving to London – works with leagues, clubs and players across various sports at sports law firm Sheridans – and says it is hugely important for Hockey Ireland to establish “clear and fair” EYHL regulations sooner rather than later to head off a quagmire of appeals, the like of which was seen last summer over the decision to void the EYHL season.
“Every sport and every league is and will be dealing with this issue,” he told The Hook. “I have a degree of sympathy for Hockey Ireland and any league or sporting body because you can’t simply postpone every weekend and still have a chance of getting through the season.
“Just like the season curtailment issue, there is no precedent for it in sport, never mind hockey. Nobody has ever had to deal with this before but the onus is on the league body to consult with clubs and have an agreed set of rules in place to mitigate risks of similar disputes arising next April, May and June.”
“In professional sport, the automatic forfeit rule if you cannot field players makes sense. For example, in football the UEFA model is that if a club has 13 available players including a goalkeeper, the match must go ahead or a forfeit will apply, and this has trickled down to domestic leagues and competitions.
“However, this doesn’t necessarily always work for an amateur sport like hockey in Ireland where there are nuances and exceptional circumstances at play. Many clubs will have frontline workers, and then there is the fact that different government guidelines and restrictions apply north and south and in different counties.
“That is where Hockey Ireland needs to find the right balance in its rules. Some sports have decided to have an independent panel decide on postponement requests by clubs in special circumstances and that is certainly one approach that could work well here.”
The Hook
Cork Harlequins await potential sanction as they confirm they won't travel for cup tie
The governing body did clarify it will invite submissions to explain their reasons for not travelling before formally imposing any sanction
Stephen Findlater
Cork Harlequins and Rathgar’s men have already confirmed they will not travel for the first round of the Irish Senior Cup this weekend while several other clubs are understood to have lodged postponement requests to Hockey Ireland due to Covid-19 concerns.
Quins and Rathgar have withdrawn from games at Railway Union and Instonians, respectively, in full knowledge they will be likely be deemed to have forfeited the ties with fears over further repercussions.
It follows the refusal of three Cork-based women’s clubs to travel to the opening round of the EY Hockey Leagues a fortnight ago.
The governing body did clarify it will invite submissions to explain their reasons for not travelling before formally imposing any sanction.
But the rulebook states - updated with an appendix to cover the current pandemic - non-fulfillment of fixtures which have been given the go-ahead by Sport Ireland and Hockey Ireland will amount to a forfeit.
Sports lawyer Jonny Madill – a former player with Instonians before moving to London - works with leagues, clubs and players across various sports at sports law firm Sheridans.
He says it is imperative Hockey Ireland clearly lays out the regulations sooner rather than later to head off a quagmire of appeals like the ones seen last summer over the decision to void the EYHL season.
“Every sport and every league is and will be dealing with this issue,” he told the Irish Examiner. “I have a degree of sympathy for Hockey Ireland and any league or sporting body because you can’t simply postpone every weekend and still have a chance of getting through the season.
“Just like the season curtailment issue, there is no precedent for it in sport, nevermind hockey. Nobody has ever had to deal with this before but the onus is on the league body to consult with clubs and have an agreed set of rules in place to mitigate risks of similar disputes arising next April, May and June.
“In professional sport, the automatic forfeit rule if you cannot field players makes sense. For example, in football the UEFA model is that if a club has 13 available players including a goalkeeper, the match must go ahead or a forfeit will apply, and this has trickled down to domestic leagues and competitions.
“This doesn’t necessarily always work for an amateur sport like hockey where there are nuances and exceptional circumstances at play.
Many clubs will have frontline workers, and then there is the fact that different government guidelines and restrictions apply north and south and in different counties.
“That is where Hockey Ireland needs to find the right balance in its rules. Some sports have decided to have an independent panel decide on postponement requests by clubs in special circumstances and that is certainly one approach that could work well here.”
The Irish Examiner
Hockey New Zealand 2019 Community Umpire of the Year: John Harvey
As an umpire, umpire mentor, umpire manager, player and coach in Counties Manakau, John Harvey is well and truly intertwined in the hockey community in the area.
John has been involved in hockey for more than 30 years now and epitomises the community volunteer in our sport. He goes beyond to help the development of junior umpires in the Counties Manukau Association and is at the turf every day during the season despite working more than forty minutes away from the turf. These are just a few reasons why John Harvey has been named the 2019 Community Umpire of the Year.
John initially got into the sport because he wanted to play something ‘non-contact’ due to injuries he had when he was at high school. On his hockey journey over the years, he found a place in the umpire community where he has made an impact in the Counties Manakau Association.
Not only is John a critical mentor in the junior umpire development space, but he is one of the elite umpires in the region and has been known to take on whatever appointment that he is given from the intercity grade through to secondary schools.
A man who believes that you are always learning, in 2019, John purchased headsets for junior umpires stepping up to higher-level games to help their confidence and support on the field. This meant those junior umpires felt safer on the turf.
John wanted to thank the hockey community upon receiving the award for all the “effort that everyone puts into the sport”.
At Hockey New Zealand, we believe people like John are what makes our sport tick over, so congratulations on this award, John, and thank you for your efforts over the years.
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Control the controllables: India hockey coach on how to improve mental health
World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 to raise awareness on mental health issues. Indian women’s hockey team is learning the Dutch way.
By Naveen Peter ·
The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult to deal with.
These unprecedented times have also seen a rising number of mental health cases globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO) attributes it to the ‘repercussions regarding what is happening during this pandemic for people.’
Elite athletes aren’t immune to this either. With no competitions for long periods and doubts over sports programming at large, it has posed a new challenge for the players.
But for Sjoerd Marijne, coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, adapting to the prevalent situation is key.
“Yes, it absolutely helps. Because if you don’t do anything, your mind is going to play with you and then it’s very difficult to control the voices in your head,” he told the Olympic Channel.
“One voice in your head will say yes, and the other one will say that you can’t do it. You have to avoid the negative things, keep away from it, because that’s when you’re going to struggle.”
WHO observes World Mental Health Day every year on October 10 to raise awareness about mental health issues and ways to deal with them.
A motivational speaker himself, 46-year-old Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne opened up to the Olympic Channel to discuss the mental side of the athletes and how he is working with the women in the Indian hockey team to address them.
Excerpts from interview with Sjoerd Marijne:
Staying away from something you love is often difficult. For athletes being away from competitions and training is no different. How have you addressed this situation?
I like to be proactive. As you know — in these times when you quarantine for 14 days and also spend most of your time locked up in a room — it’s going to be hard. But we chose to use this time in a good and productive way.
One aspect that we have been focusing on right now is mindfulness. It’s a way to deal with such circumstances. It’s more like accepting the situation the way it is. This means we can’t change it. And the moment you stop worrying about things that are not in your control, there’s no negative energy. That can keep you calm and in control. That’s what we have been asking the team to work upon.
The importance of mental health, as a concept, has not quite caught on in India. How has the team adjusted to your philosophy?
It’s taken time but the girls understand it. I tend to break it down for them. I tell them to focus on what they can control. We can’t control when the pandemic will end or how life will be post the pandemic. It’s not something that we like to hear. But when you think more about it you get negative thoughts and it’s better to avoid these negative thoughts.
Sjoerd Marijne has been actively working on ensuring that the Indian hockey women’s team is in good mental health.
In my case, I wanted to go home but it was not possible. I can be angry but the situation isn’t changing. Now I have to make the best out of this situation. It’s completely about one’s mindset.
When I am thinking about going home, or things that I can’t control and get upset about it, my energy levels go down.
So how do you address this?
I look at it as having small targets in life. Like in any organisation, everyone has their own targets which affect the target that the organisation sets for themselves. But as an individual, I can’t be worried about the bigger target. Instead, if I end up achieving my goal, the organisation benefits. So, I push myself to reach that goal instead of worrying about and pressuring myself about the organisation’s target. Our life runs on a similar principle. We live day by day.
We cannot be thinking about what we have to do in a few months or in a few years time. But instead, try to be happy daily.
This doesn’t mean that sometimes we won’t feel the negative energy. You have to let it happen to you because that's normal. But as soon as you realise how you feel, you need to take steps to address it.
How difficult is it to keep negative thoughts away? How do you ensure that you apply it in your day to day life?
I know that it’s easier said than done. But I also realise that it’s better to think about things you can control than the things you can’t. Like, I started writing a book during the lockdown because writing gives me energy. It feels like I did something productive. Something that I can feel good about. And that energy is carried forward to the next day.
I can also watch movies by sitting in my room and not think about how I can’t go home. It’s about trying to do something useful in my time. So by doing these things you get positive energy and you stay away from negative thoughts.
The girls have their own routines, and that’s something that comes in handy in such situations.
Competing and training is the bread and butter of any elite athlete. How did the women’s hockey team manage to stay away from its natural habitat?
It was a bit odd in the beginning, but as I said, it’s about adapting to the situation. The good thing was that they got time to visit their family.
Remember, they were really hungry to play. But I think, sometimes it’s better to break the chain and have some rest and let that hunger grow.
When they started practising during the lockdown one could see that hunger in them.
In the past, you have spoken about the importance of staying on top of everything with the team. How has it been in the past few months?
It’s been difficult given the uncertainty but I am dealing well with the situation. Because it is the way it is and we can’t change that. It’s about what you can control and what you cannot control.
What is the future looking like?
We are planning towards the Tokyo Olympics, but we still don’t know if we can go on a tour in the coming months. In hockey, playing matches are extremely important, but we don’t have clarity on that yet. So, we do the next best thing; train as hard as we can.
Hockey India and the SAI (Sports Authority of India) are working hard on ensuring that we can get back to competing soon.
It’s all about doing what we can by dealing with things and accepting things the way they are. It’s about adapting to the situation at hand and making the most of the things that we can control.
Olympic Channel
Helen Richardson-Walsh: "Be kind to yourself, don't judge the thoughts & emotions"
Helen Richardson-Walsh v Ned, 2015 Euros
As part of #WorldMentalHealthDay, we spoke to Helen Richardson-Walsh about the importance of England Hockey signing up to the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation and why we should all be kind to ourselves.
“With any industry, or in any walk of life, people always look to the top. Whatever you’re doing, within that area you always look to those people who are at the top of their game or at the top of the industry and if they’re role modelling those behaviours then they’re more likely to do them. It’s incredibly important that England Hockey has signed up [to the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation] because so, so many people play hockey in this country. The more we can get it filtered down to clubs, the better.
“We’ve seen it with Flyerz and disability hockey – now England Hockey are actively involved there’s been a much bigger uptake purely because of the publicity generated. If anyone wants to encourage certain behaviours then it needs to be role modelled and England Hockey are in the best position to do that. People will be looking for them to show the way and how it can be done at their clubs as well.
“I think there’s been so much good stuff happening [in relation to mental health and sport]. Athletes speaking up; campaigns being led by Mind or Heads Together; the work Prince William has done with footballers, which has been massive because of the reach it had and the demographic of young men who have been brought up to believe that they shouldn’t show emotion and shouldn’t talk about their feelings. That’s a very important demographic to be hitting with important messages around mental health and the importance of speaking about it.
“I think we are starting to change the view of mental health and how everyone can play a role. But it’s very deep inside of us – most of us have been brought up in a way, especially in this country, where you don’t express those things. It’s very deep rooted and very unconscious for a lot of us. When I see something or a behaviour that I’m not sure about, I have to check myself and I’ve experienced an issue with mental health. There are so many times when we just say things off the cuff or we don’t necessarily support people around us because we just don’t understand what it’s like.
“In a sporting context, coaches have a huge role in this because of the power that they hold. Governing bodies do as well and that’s why it’s so important that England Hockey have signed up so they can get their coaches on board with this, making them aware of it first and foremost and then start to try to recognise things. It’s just about caring and that’s what it comes back to. Just caring for that individual.
“I’d certainly say to those people who are struggling to speak up, find that one person who you trust and can try and have that conversation with. And there’s a message for those people who may be on the receiving end of the conversation about how incredibly important your reaction is when somebody is opening up to you. You may not know what to do but it’s just about caring for them and saying you’re there for them without judgement is all you need to do really, which I think is a key thing.
“Trying not to judge myself and being kind to myself was probably one of the main things for me. I wasn’t kind to myself and I know a lot of people who, when they are struggling, get into a place where the voices in your head start doubting yourself, saying you’re never quite good enough and that feeling of not being enough can weight down really heavily.
“That’s the thing that I learned, to be kind to myself and not judge the thoughts, emotions and feelings that I was having. Just let them come in and let them sit there if necessary but not judge them because that’s how the negative spiral that comes in and gets worse and worse and worse. Be kind to yourself.”
England Hockey Board Media release
Interact with players before training, says hockey legend Sandeep Singh
Sandeep Singh - File photo
Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Minister and hockey legend Sandeep Singh interacted with young players and coaches at Tau Devi Lal Sports Stadium in Sector 3 here this morning.
The former Indian captain and two-time Olympian shared mental and physical health lessons with the players while presiding over a mental health camp organised by the Haryana Sports Department in coordination with The Art of Living Foundation.
The minister also had a virtual session on mental health with all district sports officers (DSOs), coaches and young sportspersons from across the state.
“When it comes to sports, having mental strength is nearly as important for players as physical fitness. During anxiety, the player can neither concentrate on the game nor can he give better performance. Therefore, it is necessary to be mentally sound before coming onto the field,” he told the young players.
“Winning and losing are part of the game. If a player enters the field with clear thinking and determination, he can make valuable contribution to his team to register a win,” he added.
He urged the coaches to interact with the players before training and matches to boost their mental health.
The Tribune
England Hockey sign up to the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation
Back To Hockey Laughter
England Hockey are pleased to announce that we have signed up to The Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation.
Developed by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the Professional Players Federation and Mind, the Mental Health Charter sets out how organisations can adopt good mental health practice across their sport.
Our aim is to raise awareness and embed good mental health practice not just for our employees but for our clubs, athletes and everyone involved in hockey.
We want to create an environment and culture based on shared values, trust and inclusion, one where wellbeing and good mental health is integrated into day-to-day practices and one that provides guidance and support.
A working group has been established to help raise awareness, educate and assist as many people as possible and we are also launching our own mental wellbeing campaign entitled ‘Goal In Mind’ to help achieve this.
Michele Townsend, HR Manager at England Hockey, said: “I’d like to think that England Hockey genuinely cares about mental wellbeing in our sport but, if we are truly going to make a difference, then we all have to play our part and champion positive mental wellbeing for everyone.
“I am very excited about our mental wellbeing campaign – Goal In Mind - which focusses on supporting everyone in our sport to achieve their mental wellbeing goals in the same way they would other organisational and personal goals. Our ultimate goal is for all involved in our sport to have heathy minds.”
Former international star Helen Richardson-Walsh, who has opened up about her mental health and battles with depression, also welcomed the move.
“I’m really pleased that England Hockey have decided to sign up,” the 2016 Olympic gold medallist said.
“If anyone wants to encourage certain behaviours then it needs to be role modelled and England Hockey are in the best position to do that. People will be looking for them to show the way and how it can be done at their clubs as well.
“Whatever you’re doing, you always look to those people who are at the top of their game or at the top of the industry and if they’re role modelling those behaviours then you’re more likely to do them. It’s incredibly important that England Hockey are doing this campaign because so, so many people play hockey in this country. The more we can get it filtered down to clubs, the better.”
England Hockey Board Media release
Message from England Hockey following inquest into the passing of Luke Hobson
From Nick Pink, Chief Executive of England Hockey
Blueharts Hockey Club raise more than £10,000 for Air Ambulance
This week I attended the inquest into the terribly sad death of Luke Hobson at Blueharts Hockey Club in March 2019. Luke was playing with friends when he was accidentally struck by a hockey stick.
Firstly, Luke’s parents Helen and Peter have been incredible. Clearly grieving for their kind and loving son who was thriving at school and in sport, they have been steadfast over the last 18 months that they wish only to know how their son passed away and want to make sure lessons are put in place for the future of the sport. We would like to offer our continued condolences to them.
In addition, we at England Hockey have the utmost admiration for everyone connected with Blueharts Hockey Club. In exceptionally difficult circumstances, they have worked together, have named their new pitch after Luke [photographed above last year], raised a significant amount for East Anglian Air Ambulance and put in some important learning steps on the back of this tragic event.
With the inquest having concluded this week, I felt it important to communicate with the hockey community. Most importantly for the reasons above; to place on record our admiration for all affected by Luke’s passing. In addition, at this juncture I wish to briefly outline our next steps over the coming weeks:
1) Updating the Playing Safe Hockey guidance, aimed at organisers of hockey activity. Luke’s parents will be part of this process, as will member clubs.
2) Reviewing the health and safety information within coach education and training.
3) Reminding everyone within the sport to please report all injuries via the Injury Monitoring tool. This process will become part of our club affiliation process and is available here.
The commitments above will be developed and communicated to you all, were confirmed as important outcomes of the inquest and I know that this will be embraced by volunteers involved in hockey up and down the country.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and please look out for the Playing Safe Hockey guidance in the coming weeks.
England Hockey Board Media release
Hockey equipment gets stamp of FIH Approval
The FIH Quality Programme is expanding its reach beyond hockey turfs and fields to include quality standards for a range of field equipment.
This is a natural progression for a sport that aspires to high levels of professionalism across all levels of the game. FIH Approved will provide the quality stamp necessary for those who are looking to invest in hockey facilities and equipment. Financial pressure means that hockey organisations must be confident that they are investing into infrastructure and equipment that will prove durable, has high quality and is safe.
The overall aim of the FIH Quality Programme is to encourage, support and assist national associations, clubs and other hockey providers to develop facilities and infrastructure that will raise the overall standard of the sport and inspire confidence among the hockey community and the wider sporting world that hockey is a sport that is professional, forward-looking and strategically adept.
Deportive Manquehue Hockey Club, Santiago, Chile is one hockey club that has FIH Approval to ensure their investment has been made in the right areas. "Our new hockey field was a major investment for the club. Knowing that we were using a FIH Certified Manufacturer that was installing a FIH Approved Product and that everything was being checked by a FIH Accredited Test Institute, gave us great comfort and ensured we would get the great field we wanted.." said Martin Schafer, a Board Member at the Club
Equipment that will be approved under the expanded programme includes: hockey goals, indoor hockey goals, Hockey5s rebound boards, indoor hockey side-boards, team benches and Technical Official’s booths.
For some of the field equipment, FIH has established two tier classes of approval based upon the intended use of the equipment. For example, in the case of goals, Class 1 are freestanding with integral weights to ensure the goals do not tilt; Class 2 goals come with ground anchors or separate weights.
The standards, which have been developed with leading manufacturers and considering existing international standards, allow for some flexibility. In the case of team shelters, the FIH Approved shelters provides seating for a minimum of six people but depending on the number of seats required for a particular event, the number of seats required may vary. In this case, those responsible for buying equipment are advised to check with their national association.
By expanding the range of standards to include field equipment, the FIH Quality Programme will further increase high standards of hockey provision and protect the investments being made across the international hockey scene.
Alastair Cox, who is Manager of the FIH Quality programme says: “A hockey facility is the biggest single investment anyone involved with our sport will make. It has to provide a great hockey playing experience and be able to do so for an acceptable period of time.
“A key component of a hockey facility is the equipment used on or in association with the pitch or Hockey5s court. Responding to market requests, the FIH has expanded its Quality Programme to include these important pieces of field equipment.
“By incorporating the FIH Quality Programme into your plans you can be confident you are selecting the best field equipment on the market and are working with partners that share in the FIH vision of making hockey more enjoyable, more sustainable and more accessible around the world.”
By providing benchmarks – which particularly focus on quality and safety aspects – against which products will be assessed, FIH is setting the standard to which all providers of competitive hockey around the globe should be looking for when they are considering making an investment into their facilities.
Initial feedback from equipment manufacturers has been incredibly positive and a number are now in the process of having their equipment independently assessed so they can apply to have their equipment FIH Approved. The FIH is delighted by this response and wants to encourage all manufacturers of hockey field equipment to consider FIH Approval.
When a piece of field equipment becomes FIH Approved it will be listed on dedicated field equipment page on the FIH website, providing consumers with an up to date list of the best hockey field equipment available.
FIH site
Kalinga Stadium completes two-year milestone since being refurbished for Hockey Men's World Cup 2018
New Delhi [India], October 10 (ANI): The Kalinga Stadium on Saturday completed a two-year milestone since being refurbished for the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.
Through the efforts of the Odisha government and Hockey India, many additions were made to the stadium to create an enthralling experience for fans and players. Both practice and main turfs were relaid with new blue turf as per the International Hockey Federation (FIH) specifications.
"Providing the best facilities for our players and fans is a topmost priority and we are always grateful to the Odisha Government for sharing this vision. It has been fantastic to see the way the Kalinga Stadium has been appreciated by one and all in the last two years. We are looking forward to organising many more big tournaments at the Kalinga Stadium in the future," Gyanendro Ningombam, Officiating President, Hockey India said in an official release.
The capacity of the main stadium was increased to 15,000. Two new galleries, one on North and other on the Southside, was added to the iconic venue, making it a total of four grand Stands.
The opening of the refurbished Kalinga Stadium was marked with an exhibition match between hockey legends Dhanraj Pillay and Dilip Tirkey's teams on October 10, 2018.
The Competitions Department of Hockey India designed and implemented four player's changing rooms in the refurbished stadium. Three dedicated goalkeeper equipment rooms were also designed keeping in mind the elaborate kitting that a goalkeeper has and a dedicated umpire's changing room was added as well.
An exclusive lounge for the players and officials was constructed, while a dedicated media centre, special boxes for VIPs, and Officials were created at the venue. Also, a Walk of Champions was created, showcasing the World Cup winners starting from 1971 to 2014 dedicated to Men's Hockey World Champions and the athletes participating in the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.
The Kalinga stadium, which has come to be known as one of the best hockey stadiums in the world, has hosted many top-level tournaments since the Hockey Men's World Cup 2018. The competitions include FIH Men's Series Finals, FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers (Men and Women), and FIH Hockey Pro League.
Business World
Mandeep Mor is excited his hometown getting an international standard turf
Mandeep Mor in action for India. Photo: Hockey India
New Delh: It always feels nice when your hometown gets an international standard sportsfield. India’s up and coming drag flicker Mandeep Mor, who is from Narwana (Haryana) is in that joyous situation. He is almost thrilled that his native now has a FIH-certified hockey pitch at the Navdeep Stadium, a popular hub for sports.
Mor, who led Indian colts to silver at the Sultan of Johor Cup last year, believes this new turf will give players from this region the exposure of playing on turf from a very young age. He said, “I can’t express what this means to players from this region. A small village like ours has an international standard pitch is a very big occasion for players from here.” exclaimed Mor.
“People may find it strange that we are celebrating the opening of a new turf but for us this is huge because earlier, if we (players from Narwana) wished to play on turf, we had to travel all the way to Shahbad Markanda which is approximately 122 kms from Narwana and takes about 2 hours by bus. That was the nearest available turf for players from Narwana,” he said.
New international turf laid at Narvana, 13th turf in Haryana. Photo: Hockey India
Hockey India has over the years encouraged its State Member Units to install artificial pitches in their respective regions in order to grow the sport further. The emphasis has been on improving playing conditions and infrastructure in small towns in order to develop the sport and provide opportunities for youngsters to hone their skills in hockey. As a result of this proactive approach, India has become the second country in the world to have recorded the largest number of FIH Global category certified pitches. As per Hockey India records, India currently has 187 pitches out of which 38 of them are 5-a-side hockey/ practice pitches.
Haryana alone has 13 full-size pitches and 2 pitches for 5-a-side hockey/ practice pitches.
Mor explained that this new development will ensure players don’t have to struggle when they transition from playing on grass to turf. “I started playing at the age of 14 on grass. The first time I ever played on turf was at the age of 16 when I moved to the Chandigarh Hockey Academy. At first, I found it difficult on turf because the ball moves much faster, controlling the ball and maneuvering was tough. It took me a while to get adjusted,” he admitted.
Since the Navdeep Stadium opened up its gates for players to use the new turf, aspiring youngsters from near-by villages have been flocking to the newly-laid hockey pitch. “It’s been a few weeks since the turf was open to use. It is open to everyone (former players, current players etc) and the excitement is evident because many players are coming from nearby villages to play here but we all ensure we follow the social distancing norms and SOPs by Hockey India and the Government.” stated Mor.
Stick2Hockey.com
Upminster Hockey Club raises almost £1700 for hospice charity with Euros-inspired challenge
Cash Boyle
Upminster Hockey Club raised £1,680 for Havens Hospices by having their teams walk, run or cycle a combined 15,252km. Pictured here is director of hockey Matt Malby and his son Max. Picture: Havens Hospices
Upminster Hockey Club has raised almost £1,700 for Havens Hospices after taking on a month-long challenge inspired by the Euro football championships.
After Euro 2020 was cancelled this summer, the Havering club decided to put its own spin on the shelved competition by having its teams walk, run or cycle the equivalent distance from London to the 11 intended host cities.
With destinations as close to home as Glasgow, and as far away as Baku in Azerbaijan, the target to hit was 15,252km — the total distance from the capital to all 11 host cities.
Eleven of the club’s teams more than doubled that target by notching up an incredible 32,339km over 31 days, raising £1,680 for the hospice charity in the process.
Club member and challenge organiser Ryan Hodges wanted to recognise the vital work undertaken by the charity, which provides free palliative nursing and supportive care to young adults and children with complex or incurable conditions across Essex.
He said: “The original idea was just to keep us fit during the summer and with the uncertainty of a return we decided to raise funds for the club.
“However, with all the amazing work the NHS and key workers were doing during the pandemic we decided to donate half of the funds raised to Havens Hospices, a local charity which continue to do amazing things.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for their huge efforts in raising this amazing amount of money for the club and for the charity.”
The hockey club’s contribution was particularly welcome in the current climate says the charity’s voluntary income team leader Emma Hamilton: “Due to the coronavirus all of our public fundraising events were cancelled this year but the charity’s supporters have been amazing at finding other ways to support
our hospice care by setting up their own imaginative virtual events.
“A huge thank you to Ryan and everyone at the Upminster Hockey Club — our hospice care can only exist because of the support and generosity from people like you who help us continue ‘Making every day count’ for everyone we care for.”
A number of fundraising ideas which will help support Havens Hospice can be found on its website — visit havenshospices.org.uk.
Romford Recorder