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News for 13 November 2020

All the news for Friday 13 November 2020


Belgian top leagues get go-ahead for return to action



The Belgian men’s and women’s Honor Divisions will return on Sunday, November 22 after a four-week Covid-inflicted break in action.

The Belgian federation formally got the go ahead from the country’s sports ministers on Tuesday. The new schedule will allow the leagues to complete the first phase of the domestic season before Christmas with five rounds of action, along with back matches, on the agenda.

“We had very constructive discussions with the various stakeholders in order to refine the proposed protocols, which was based on the documents drawn up and approved by other federations such as basketball, volleyball and football,” said ARBH general secretary Serge Pilet.

“The aspects that were discussed concerned, for example, the wearing of masks for subs on the sidelines, the number of people allowed off the field to ensure the proper organisation of closed-door matches and the specifics of the tests used.”

La Gantoise have been leading the women’s competition by seven points with eight games played with KHC Dragons and Victory – with a game in hand – both on 15 points.

Orée are at the top of the men’s competition with 21 points from eight games with La Gantoise two points back but with a game in hand. Waterloo Ducks are in third with Royal Léopold completing the top four.

Euro Hockey League media release



2020 senior club hockey premiers



After a season like no other, players and teams across the country have navigated their way through their senior competitions to claim Grand Final victory. Congratulations to all the clubs on their successes and the associations for keeping hockey going during tough times.

HOCKEY ACT
Capital League 1 Men
Wests 8-7 Central

Capital League 1 Women
ANUWHC 5-3 TVHC

CL2 Men
Wests 1-0 St Patrick’s

CL2 Women
ANUWHC 1-0 St Patrick’s

State League 1 Men
St Patrick’s 3-1 OCHC

State League 1 Women
St Patrick’s White 3-1 Time Travellers

SL2 Women
Wests 1-0 ANUWHC

SL3 Men
QUHC 1-0 Central

SL3 Women
QUHC 3-1 St Patrick’s

SL4 Men
QUHC 3-2 Wests

SL4 Women
TVHC 1-0 St Patrick’s

HOCKEY NSW

SYDNEY WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE
Metropolitan League 1
Sydney Uni 3-0 ND Strikers

ML2
Macquarie Uni 2-1 Sydney Uni

ML3
Sydney Uni 3-1 UNSW

ML4
Sydney Uni 1-0 def. Glebe

ML5
Sydney Uni 2-2 St. George (Sydney Uni won shoot-out 3-2)

ML6
Sutherland 3-1 def. Ryde

MEN’S SYDNEY HOCKEY LEAGUE
Premier League 1
North West Strikers 3-2 Moorebank Hockey

PL2
Sutherland 2-1 Ryde Hunters Hill

PL3
Ryde Hunters Hill 6-0 Glebe

HUNTER COAST PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE (MEN)
Gosford Magpies 2-0 Norths Hockey Club

NDWHA PREMIER LEAGUE (NEWCASTLE WOMEN)
Oxfords v Gosford (TBC – Nov 14th)

CENTRAL WEST WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
Lithgow Panthers 2-0 St Pat’s

HOCKEY NT

DARWIN HOCKEY LEAGUE
A Men
Tigers 5-3 East Darwin Storm

A Women
Commerce Pints 3-0 Waratah

B Men
East Darwin Storm 4-1 Tigers

B Women
Waratah 4-2 Commerce Pints

C Men
East Darwin Storm 3-2 Tigers

C Women
Commerce Pints 1-0 Palmerston Saints

HOCKEY QUEENSLAND

BRISBANE HOCKEY ASSOCIATON (MEN)
Brisbane Hockey League 1
Labrador 2-1 Eastern Suburbs

BHL2
Eastern Suburbs 3-1 Redcliffe Leagues

BHL3
PR St Andrews 2-1 University of QLD

BHL4
Valley 4-1 University of QLD

BHL5
Valley 4-3 South West United

BHL6
Kedron Wavell 2-0 Northern Suburbs

BRISBANE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (WOMEN)
Brisbane Women’s Hockey Association 1
Kedron Wavell 2-1 University of QLD

BWHA2
University of QLD 3-0 Commercial

BWHA3
Kedron Wavell 2-0 Commercial

BWHA4
Eastern Suburbs 1-0 Ascot

BWHA5
Eastern Suburbs 3-1 Redcliffe

GOLD COAST HOCKEY ASSOCIATON (MEN)
Labrador 8-2 Coomera

GOLD COAST HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (WOMEN)
Burleigh 2-2 Capri (Burleigh won 3-0 in shootout)

TOWNSVILLE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (MEN)
Wests 4-2 Commercials

TOWNSVILLE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (WOMEN)
Wests 4-1 Brothers

CAIRNS HOCKEY (MEN)
D1 Saints
D2 Brothers
D3 Saints

CAIRNS HOCKEY (WOMEN)
D1 Souths
D2 Saints

MARYBOROUGH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (MEN)
FCL Granville 2-2 Magpies (Granville won 3-2 after extra time)

MARYBOROUGH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (WOMEN)
FCWL Brothers 5-3 Wallaroos



HOCKEY SA

SENIOR METROPOLITAN COMPETITION (MEN)
Premier League
Seacliff 2-0 Adelaide

Metro 1
Seacliff 1-0 Adelaide

M2
Port Adelaide District 6-2 Prince Alfred Collegians

M3
UniSA 3-2 Forestville

M4
Seacliff 1-0 North East

M5
Adelaide 1-0 Adelaide University

M6
Enfield 2-1 Port Adelaide District

SENIOR METROPOLITAN COMPETITION (WOMEN)
Premier League
Port Adelaide District 4-2 Adelaide

Metro 1
Port Adelaide District 3-2 Adelaide

M2
Seacliff 2-0 Adelaide

M3
North East 1-0 Woodville

M4
Port Adelaide District 1-0 Seacliff

M5
Grange Royals 5-4 Adelaide



HOCKEY TASMANIA

PREMIER LEAGUE
Premier League Men
NWG 3-0 University

Premier League Women
OHA 1-0 DiamondBacks

GREATER NORTHERN LEAGUE
Greater Northern League Men
South Launceston 4-3 Burnie Baptist

Greater Northern League Women
City Marians 3-0 West Devonport

OTHER LEAGUES
First Grade Men
NWG 5-2 Derwent

First Grade Women
OHA 4-3 NWG

Second Grade Men
OHA 4-3 Canterbury

Second Grade Women
DiamondBacks 1-0 University Black

Third Grade Men
OHA Red 4-1 DiamondBacks Maroon

Third Grade Women
NWG 4-0 University Black

Fourth Grade Men
OHA Red 2-0 NWG

Fourth Grade Women
Derwent 1-0 University

HOCKEY WA

PREMIER DIVISION
Premier 1 Men
Reds 3-2 UWA

Premier 1 Women
VPX 3-2 Hale

Hockey Australia media release



Hall of Fame - John McBryde



Selected in the 1960 Olympic team, John McBryde made his international debut for Australia against Pakistan, the titans of world hockey, on day one of the Rome Olympics.

The Queenslander quickly made right half his position and was widely regarded as a very attacking right half, often setting up his forwards with his fine passing skills but always back in defence when required.

John played in every international match for Australia until his retirement after the Great Britain series in Australia in 1966, when he moved to Canada to further his studies. So widely was he regarded by his then coach Charlie Morley and his peers, John was made captain for the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 – leading his team to Australia’s first Olympic Games medal by defeating Spain in the bronze medal match.

The 169th player capped to represent his country at hockey, John made a total of 41 international appearances.

John’s induction into the Hockey Australia Hall of Fame was ratified in 2019.

What he said…
“It is a great honour to have been inducted into the HA Hall of Fame, and especially to realise that I join many of my old team-mates, as well as others who preceded me and were an inspiration in my formative years. I consider myself very fortunate to have played hockey, a true family game in the dual sense that it can be played by all members of the family, men and women, girls and boys, and that the international community of players is a world-wide hockey family. Hockey is a game which has taken me to over 50 countries around the globe, where life-long friendships have been made over a period spanning more than 70 years. I also acknowledge how lucky and privileged I was to have been Captain of the Australian Team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and thus the first Australian to be presented with an Olympic Hockey Medal. My very best wishes to Hockey Australia and all members of the Association.” John McBryde

From those in the know…
“John McBryde will always be remembered as an elite hockey player and a fine sportsman.” Richard Aggiss (former Australian Men’s Hockey Coach)

Hockey Australia media release



Beeston Targeting More Success Following Cup Glory



As hockey clubs across the country enter another weekend of no activity, we chat to a trio from one of the country’s many proactive and forward-thinking clubs to find out how their season is holding up to the impact and disruption caused by Covid-19.

Beeston Hockey Club, which is based at Nottingham Hockey Centre, has forged ahead with its development plans in recent years, including a collaboration with Nottingham High School to make it one of the largest clubs outside the Netherlands. In 2018 the club launched Bee TV, which airs its men’s and women’s Premier Division home matches. It has even released its own Beeston Gin.

However, even a go-getting club such as Beeston has had to put some plans on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic. We speak to men’s head coach Mark Wadsley; first team stalwart Gareth Griffiths, who has grown up at the club and is part of the Great Britain Elite Development Programme (EDP) squad; and Graham Griffiths, the first team manager and club chairman.



For Wadsley, the season so far has been positive when it comes to performance. A cup win at the beginning of the season and only one loss in the league is a good return for the squad. However, Wadsley is disappointed that the team has only secured eight points so far, with two draws showing that the team has some work to do when it comes to finishing the game strongly.

“We felt, with the style of hockey we have played, we could potentially have gained a few more points and so are a little disappointed to be on eight points,” says the head coach. ‘However, we need to mature as a team and be more consistent so that we play for 70 mins.”

The style of hockey he refers to is free-flowing and attacking. It is one that Wadsley and assistant coach Stephen Wood feels suits the players who turn out for Beeston. The key now is to counter the fast attacks with some solid defensive play.

The use of virtual team meetings and WhatsApp groups for smaller groups of players is something that has emerged from the Covid situation. These enhancements to the groups’ communications is something that Wadsley feels will continue to be used in the future.

As a player Gareth Griffiths has had to adapt to the differences presented by Covid. The 21-year-old midfielder explains that both training and matches have been impacted by players being absent because of self-isolation. However, he stresses that preparations have been as thorough as ever, with a lot of time spent studying the opposition and discussing the way the team will approach each match.

He says, despite any Covid-related upheaval, the atmosphere among the team remains as upbeat and positive as ever.

“We’ve got a good group which is pretty resilient and has been together for a few years so we know what to expect from each other,” he says. “Home games are always pretty special because of what goes on behind the scenes at Beeston with the facility and Bee TV. It’s really exciting at Beeston on match days and I hope other clubs can follow suit with the Beeston match day experience.”



The season has already presented its high and low points for the squad. Griffiths says: “Winning the Tier One Cup Final was a great way to start the season. Silverware is a massive boost and is important for the club.

“The low point came in our last game before the lockdown. it was a 3-3 draw away at East Grinstead. We felt we’d done enough to come away with the points but were pretty naive in seeing the game out. You often learn more when you don’t win and I think we’ve learnt our lessons from this game and this can only help us moving forward.”

As clubs around the country come to terms with closed facilities, club chairman Graham Griffiths sums up what a month of lockdown means for the Nottingham outfit.

“The latest lockdown will present us with huge challenges. Most clubs are about to lose bar and catering income. Sponsorship will start to dry up and there will be numerous problems with the availability of pitches. The challenge will be in keeping players, staff and members motivated and ready to kick on when the sun shines again.”

England Hockey Board Media release



Indoor season forced to adapt at local, national and Euro level


Railway Union’s women’s Euro trip has been cancelled for the time being.

The Irish indoor season is set for an overhaul with Covid-19 restrictions leading to postponements at Leinster, national and European level this winter.

The Leinster board has taken the decision to suspend the provincial Indoor season – originally scheduled for December and January. They hope to play the competitions later in the new year if possible, potentially even in the summer, if restrictions and the updated calendar allows.

As a knock-on effect, the National Indoor finals will be unable to take place as scheduled February 7, 2021 as per the Hockey Ireland existing calendar of events. The indoor committee will liaise with the Competitions Committee and Provinces to secure a date which will be announced in due course.

The European indoor club competitions have been cancelled with Railway Union’s men and women the sides who had been preparing for trips to Almere (Netherlands) and Siauliai (Lithuania).

Whether they get the chance to represent in Ireland in 2022 will be a matter for debate, depending on whether an Irish league can be played in 2021.  

The EHF has decided that each national association can decide which team they will submit as their representative for the 2022 Indoor Club Championships; this can be either their national indoor team of 2020 or their national indoor team of 2021.

The EuroHockey Indoor Junior Championships have been placed on hold with the Irish Under-21 men’s trip to Paredes, Portugal and Sveti Ivan Zelina, Croatia provisionally moved to December 2021.

The Hook



Field Hockey Canada builds a high-performance structure fit for a high performing future



Following the HP system review in the summer, Field Hockey Canada restructured and has a high-performance team eyeing podium success

One of the many benefits of team sport is the broader advantage of being part of something bigger than yourself. In field hockey, you are rarely alone in the moments on the field of play. You have teammates who share the highs that success brings. It is fitting therefore that Field Hockey Canada is committed to building a Team of Teams structure within the organization as we build our sport at all levels.  

 Together, our community is one large team that reaches from grassroots to high performance. Together we strive for goals at all levels: to increase participation numbers and quality of experience, to deliver podium success at the international level. From masters hockey, to technical officials and umpires; from coaches, staff, volunteers to our partners and stakeholders we are a collective, a Team of Teams, united on our mission.

After a successful 2019 on and off the field, FHC pushed forward ready at all levels for an Olympic–themed 2020. When the COVID-19 global pandemic shut down training and competition in the spring, like all of us around the world, FHC’s operations had to quickly pivot. For our national teams, this was dramatic. The Men’s National Team saw a summer that included Olympic postponement, while FHC’s immediate priority in March was to return our Women’s National Team centralized program from Europe back to home soil.  

Field Hockey Canada then had to quickly reimagine what 2020 would be and seized the opportunity and worked hard off the field to set up short- and long-term success.

CEO Susan Ahrens speaks about what the transformation has looked like the reflects on the last eight months.

“Whilst the pandemic is horrific in so many ways —our hearts are with everyone who is suffering at this time — Field Hockey Canada has tried to make the best of this unusual pause in activity. It has been uplifting to see the sports community come together. From working closely with our PSO members to shape a safe return to play, to building stronger ties with clubs and partners, this year has thankfully continued to bring progress in many areas,” Ahrens said.

“Much of this process comes down to our wonderful community. Our army of volunteers who work on the ground and in our committees — too many to mention individually but each and every one a true team player building our team and our sport. Our new high-performance structure and is perhaps our most visible transformation. They are now ideally positioned to take our national teams to the next level.”

One of the major advantages to hiring world class coaches is the opportunity to live the Team of Teams approach to a high-performance structure and create connections within Field Hockey Canada’s coaching staff across our National Team programs.   

As High Performance Director Adam Janssen explains “Andre Henning, the Men’s National Team Head Coach, will lead the team in camps, tours and competitions, as well as training blocks in Canada. Meanwhile Andrew Wilson, the Women’s National Team Head Coach, is relocating to Vancouver this month. In 2021, Andrew will work across both programs for athletes based in Vancouver during the lead up to the Tokyo. Andre and Andrew are two top coaches who are committed to sharing ideas and experiences for the benefit all athletes. It is the long–term goal of Field Hockey Canada to continue to create program integration like this across both programs; to utilize the experience, expertise and coaching ability to best support all our National Team athletes.”

The organizational transformation of the high-performance system is the most visible building of our teams, but Field Hockey Canada has teams operating across all portfolios. These are teams of experts who lead our committee work in areas such as coaching and officials and umpiring education. They are the vital teams who are driving forward the development of the sport and we will look forward to continuing to grow our Team of Teams and celebrate our collective achievements on and off the field in the coming months and years.

Field Hockey Canada media release



The Story of Sandeep Singh: Fighting Back



Nothing brings joy and satisfaction than seeing your hard work pay off. But, a sudden accident can bring you stumbling back to ground zero. Field hockey legend Sandeep Singh proves that it is possible to get back on your feet.

At the peak of his career, an accidental gunshot left Sandeep paralyzed from the waist down. Still, he recovered and re-established himself as a formidable player in the national team.

A talented young hockey player

Sandeep Singh was born in 1986 in Shahabad, a small town in northern India. His elder brother inspired him to pick up field hockey. During his final year of high school, a talent scout discovered and recruited him into the Indian national team.

Sandeep made his international field hockey debut in January 2004 in Malaysia’s Sultan Azian Shah Cup. Over the next two years, he demonstrated a distinctive prowess in drag flicking, a skill that gave him the nickname “Flicker Singh.”

A career-ending accident

On 21st August 2006, Sandeep boarded the Shatabadi Express from his hometown to Delhi. He was traveling to join his team, which was leaving for the World Cup in two days. During the journey, an assistant inspector of the Railway Police Force accidentally shot him. The bullet went through his lower-back region, paralyzing him on the spot.

The officer was horrified when he realized he had shot a national hockey team player. The train stopped immediately, and Sandeep was rushed to the nearest hospital.

The grueling road to recovery

Sandeep woke up in the hospital bed three days later. He quickly realized he could not feel his legs. Confined to his bed, he could only watch on TV as his team ended up second-last in the World Cup.

“Whenever I saw the team on TV, I was crying from the inside. I just wanted to go and play.” Singh recalls.

Over the year that followed, Sandeep relentlessly tried to get back on his feet. He was in physiotherapy for as long as ten hours a day. He would request his brother to take him out to watch local field hockey games during the weekends.

Fans often came to him with all sorts of gifts and well wishes. Every time someone asked whether he would return to the field, his answer was a resounding yes.

This persevering spirit pushed him through the grueling pain and tough therapy sessions. Thanks to a great deal of resilience and dedication, Bear Grylls finally recovered.

After a long and troubling 13 months, the combination of therapy, fan motivation, and personal determination bore fruit. Sandeep could finally swing a hockey stick in the field.

Back in the game

Sandeep was accepted back into the national team in 2008. He trained long and hard, and by the end of 2009, he had regained his status as a top hockey player.

He also became the team’s captain and inspired it to clinch the year’s Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. Three years later, India qualified for the Summer Olympics in London after an 8-year gap.

Sandeep retired from the national field hockey team in 2014. He continues to be an active player as part of the Indian hockey club Ranchi Rays.

Despite a terrible accident that almost ended his life, Sandeep made a miraculous comeback through sheer determination and unrelenting passion.

The takeaway is this:

So, have you recently experienced a significant financial setback? Has COVID-19 dealt a blow on your promising business venture or employment? Let the story of Sandeep Singh give you the courage to get back on your feet.

“When I had an accident in 2006, no one believed that I would return to the ground, but I did.”
Sandeep Singh

Finance and Markets



Sean Curran steps down as World Masters Hockey president


FIH chief Thierry Weil, left, pictured with WMH president Sean Curran

Sean Curran has been praised for leaving a “tremendous legacy” after stepping down as World Masters Hockey president.

Under Curran’s stewardship, it took two years for Masters hockey to come under one association with the formation of WMH and a single body recognised by the International Hockey Federation.

The highly active masters’ hockey has thousands of players from aged 35+ to well over 80. It is a flourishing scene and the various Masters World Cups this year and next were set to bring sponsorship and coverage to the sport until the pandemic set in.

A WMH statement read: “Sean indicated from day one that he was prepared to lead the implementation of the strategy and that as soon as this was achieved, he would move on. Sean believes he has taken WMH as far as he can at this stage of its development.

“Members of the executive board have expressed and recorded their appreciation of Sean’s commitment, endless hours of leadership, contribution to the strategy framework and chairing of several WMH standing committees.”

Curran’s work was heralded by masters’ players on social media, with one saying that the Irishman had left a “tremendous legacy”. Blaise Monteiro wrote: “Thank you Sean for your leadership, guidance and the hard work you have put in.”

Scot Glenn Paton has agreed to take on the role of president until the next WMH Congress in 2021.

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The Hockey Paper



Hristov combines love of history and hockey



It is true to say that much of Bulgaria’s hockey activity revolves around Kaloyan Hristov.

The fervent hockey supporter founded Slavia 1921, a hockey club that regularly competes on the European hockey scene in the outdoor and indoor championships. Hristov, who has been involved in hockey for more than 20 years, says he was inspired to name the club Slavia 1921 after the football club that his family have followed for the past three generations.

The newly formed team got off to a good start. They won their opening match 4-2 – a moment of immense pride to Hristov – and so began the new club’s journey. Despite appearing in European Hockey competitions, Slavia 1921 is still searching for a home ground, so Hristov and the players have to be creative about how and where they train.

Hristov is also instrumental in bringing competitive hockey to Bulgaria. He organises numerous hockey tournaments at both national and continental level. In 2020, Slavia hosted the EuroHockey Club Challenge I Indoor competition for men, a huge feat for such a newly formed club.

Needless to say, while the events are in progress, Hristov is always to be found at the heart of running the events in a range of voluntary roles.

In his words, Hristov explains how he is helping develop hockey and competitive opportunities in Bulgaria.

“For the past two years I've been a zonal coordinator in the Bulgarian Hockey Federation. Thanks to the trust that the management of the federation has in me I managed to create a chain of tournaments called 'Remember the Heroes'. We manage to run three tournaments each year.

“One of the purposes we have is to have our youngest competitors to get acquainted with the history of the greatest Bulgarian heroes, every participant receives a small book/leaflet with brief history of the feats of our national heroes. Our aim with this is to achieve a kind of symbiosis between hockey and national history thus motivate the children for both sports and patriotism.”

For the past two years, the genial Bulgarian has also been a tournament director for a competition aimed at children up to the age of 12, ensuring the next generation develop a love of the sport.

And his dedication to sport extends beyond hockey. He was also heavily involved in the organisation of the European week of sport in Sofia in 2019.

Hristov is proud of Bulgaria’s hockey heritage. Although the sport fell off the public radar for a while in recent times, hockey has been played in Bulgaria since 1920.

“My will and focus are to get hockey back to where it belongs – among the major sports in my country,” says Hristov. “Unfortunately, Slavia 1921 does not yet have a link to children's school: one of the obstacles to that has been the COVID-19 pandemic. I really hope and will do my best to do that in 2021. We manage to gather volunteers and players for the field hockey with a lot of work and love dedicated to the sport.

“All my life I've been trying to be as useful as possible, the smile on the children's faces and the satisfaction of a job well done have always been the drivers for me.”

FIH site



Hockey community turns out in great numbers for gender equality webinar



More than 70 participants joined a panel of guests on a webinar that is the forerunner to a series of online events exploring gender equality.

Led by Marijke Fleuren, President of the European Hockey Federation, organised by the FIH Academy team and hosted by FIH writer Sarah Juggins, the webinar sought to raise awareness of gender equality issues from across the world.

The panelists were drawn from umpiring, competing and administration. Umpires Wanri Venter and Stephen Rogers spoke about their experiences as two of the first people to umpire as part of a mixed gender team. Maureen Craig-Rosseau called on her experiences as both a match official and as a Board member of both FIH and the Pan American Hockey Federation; and Thomas Briels represented the athlete community. The Belgium captain spoke about the fact that his level of awareness around equality issues had risen in recent years.

The absorbing conversation was listened to by an audience that came from across the globe and the entire webinar will be available as a recording for anyone who missed it, due to time differences.

Following the discussions, FIH has asked that any follow-up questions are directed to Valérie Horyna at the FIH –This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – who will be compiling a list of topics that continental federations may choose to take into the follow-up webinar events.

Marijke Fleuren, who is also on the IOC Women’s Commission and chair of the FIH Women in Sport Committee opened the webinar by outlining work that has been going on at FIH Board level to promote gender equality. She pointed out however, that there is still much to be done and, in different parts of the world, women and girls were facing very different issues and challenges.

While all four panelists were able to provide numerous examples of good practice when it comes to gender equality, there were also several points raised that will resonate with the global audience. Rousseau spoke of the fact that women often have to work harder to get the same approbation as their male counterparts – a point that Venter agreed on.

South African Venter, also spoke of the domestic demands on women’s time that often means they can’t attend coaching sessions or training courses and this can create a barrier to them reaching the top levels of the sport.

In Australia, Rogers said there was a very positive approach to female umpires and coaches, and Briels went a step further by saying that he now didn’t notice whether an umpire was male or female; it was purely about the level of competence.

The group spoke about positive discrimination but the general consensus was that any promotion or leadership role must be learnt by right and competence, not due to gender. Rousseau raised a point about the importance of succession planning and explained how a good strategy for succession planning could lead to an equitable board, with the most competent people appointed.

A comment from one member of the audience spoke about the ultimate goal being a time and place when gender no longer needed to be something to comment on, because everyone was treated equally.

In a world where many variables – culture, politics, religion to name a few – create a range of vastly different situations, Venter’s advice to “rock the boat, but rock it gently”  seems prescient.

The next step is for each continent to decide on their own strategy for moving their own gender equality policy forwards. Representatives from each continental federation are invited to contact Valérie Hornya, who is Secretary of the FIH Women in Sport Committee, to discuss their strategy. As Fleuren pointed out in her opening comments: for some continental and national associations, this could mean bold solutions, for others it will be tiny steps – albeit all moving along the same pathway.

#EquallyAmazing

FIH site

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