The Netherlands are investing more into Hockey 5s thanks to an extended partnership with long-term sponsor Rabobank.
In addition to the main sponsorship of the Dutch teams, the bank’s name will appear on the shirts of the national youth teams, while it will also back Hockey 5’s Rabo Club Tour and Rabo City League.
The aim is to further engage with the 16 to 24-year-old demographic.
With the Rabo City League, the bank, together with the hockey association in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Utrecht, is holding a tournament specifically for young people between 18 and 24.
Chris Kersbergen, Global Head of Brand at Rabobank, said: “It is a conscious choice for us to stick with hockey. It is one of our crown jewels. We already did that with top-level sports and the Hockey Foundation. Now we are adding youth teams and hockey 5s. For us, these young target groups are important.”
Kersbergen is also enthusiastic about the Hockey 5’s concept. He added: “We hope that Hockey 5’s will bring to hockey what beach volleyball brought to volleyball.
“Of course, it is still in its infancy, but we are happy to take on the challenge with the hockey association to make it bigger and more mature. To ensure that it comes out of the experimental phase – that the field size and the type of edging, for example, are clear. So that it then becomes scalable and we can hopefully retain more young people for the sport.”
Dutch hockey director Erik Gerritsen said of the deal: “We are really happy that Rabobank has expanded its sponsorship package. That is not something that can be taken for granted, especially in these times. In addition: Rabobank already does a lot for us.”
