Great Britain and England international Henry Weir has backed our #watchyour1s campaign after Old Georgians were lifted by home support at the weekend.
“It was such a brilliant atmosphere following the Watch Your 1s campaign,” said Weir. “Having that level of support for both teams pushes the hockey to another level.”
Weir added that putting more focus into club attendances were “very important if we want to take a step forward with the sport in this country.”
Old Georgians crowd lifted Premier Division clash
He said: “As a sport, we have always found it hard to generate large and consistent crowds, at Premier Division and sometimes international matches.
“Clubs and our governing body are set up to prioritise participation, which serves the country in many positive ways.
“Unfortunately, this can be to the detriment of our sport, as a well-followed, well-supported and commercially attractive investment of time and money.”
Old Georgians played out a memorable 10-6 win over Oxted last season
On Sunday, Old Georgians held a prize draw and urged more locals to attend the top flight clash – and Weir says that it’s up to more clubs to focus in on peripheral entertainment for supporters to make the experience more attractive in the long run.
He added: “Club-led events like this are helping to bridge the gap and push our sport to become not only a great game to play but also a fun, exciting and atmospheric game to watch.”
The Hockey Paper’s Watch Your 1s competition and campaign is running for a second year. Clubs have until the end of November to get their entry in.
Glynn will work with new head coach David Ralph as they work towards shaping an England side ahead of a packed 2022 schedule.
Her guidance and attacking guile has seen no less than 14 players score since Glynn joined the programme.
Great Britain scored 18 goals at the Olympics – only The Netherlands scored more – and beating USA 5-0 and 5-1 in the FIH Hockey Pro League back in May.
She said: “It is a huge privilege for me to be part of this world class programme and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here since joining.
I have huge belief in the programme and I very much look forward to supporting the direction David Ralph can now take us in.”
After her career was cut short by injury, Glynn began coaching in New Zealand’s junior set up, transitioning to the senior women in 2019, before moving across to England and Great Britain last year.
Ralph said: “Katie has had a huge influence on the attacking side of our game and her work with the team and individuals has been of an exceptional standard. Along with Katie’s excellent coaching contributions, her energy, hard work and passion have really stood out in her time with us and there is no doubt that Katie was integral to the team winning Bronze in Tokyo.
“All players and staff have enjoyed working with Katie and I really look forward to continuing to work with her.”
Make: Kuka Model: Chromium Shape: XL 24 Bow: Extra Low – 24.5mm, 200mm from head Carbon: 95% Toray Super Carbon Price: £180
Features:
The superb extra-low bow combined with a very well-balanced shaft allows players to have the edge on 3D, scoop and tomahawk skills, no matter which position you play. The XL24 features high carbon making it super stiff for high velocity shots. There is Touch compound that helps to keep the ball under control at the head contact point. This is the premium 95% carbon stick, but it is also available with lower carbon to allow access to all levels of players.
THP Verdict:
If you like stiff feel sticks, then the Kuka is certainly one you should consider. The touch is good, it’s great to dribble with and the slap and hit are solid. It is also much easier to use than some of the premium offerings so is appropriate for players of all standards and positions.
In our regular anything goes Q&A, we speak to players and coaches on topics ranging from temptations, influences, fashion sense and match teas. This week: GB EDP and Hampstead & Westminster goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard
At home
What was your earliest ambition? I wanted to be a chef that was in charge of all the puddings! Hockey wise, I remember telling someone in the primary school playground that I wanted to go to the Olympics.
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In an interview published on the FIH website, chief executive Thierry Weil says world hockey “will work on the future Stars Awards with the global hockey community”after India won all eight categories in 2021 awards
If, in an Olympic year, the Gold medallists don’t win any Award and another nation gets all of them, it is clear that this won’t come across well! Therefore, I of course do understand the disappointment and also, to some extent, the anger, especially of the teams concerned. At the same time, I want to congratulate the winners.
They were all nominated by an expert committee – made of FIH, FIH Athletes Committee and high performance representatives – and therefore were as much entitled as the others to win! And both Indian teams had a fantastic performance at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. I assume that the natural joy which they should rightly feel by winning such an Award may have been altered by all this, and that is not nice either.
Do you think the current voting process is right?
I’m not sure if there is any ideal process, to be honest. But this process – as long as it is implemented by everybody – should work. It is very similar to what is applied successfully by other organisations. It gives the chance to major hockey stakeholders – teams, players, coaches, fans and media – to cast a vote for the most important yearly awards in global hockey, while a higher weight is given to national team coaches and captains.
Was it a new process this time?
No, it was pretty much the same as last time. There were two differences. Firstly, we made it compulsory for the National Associations that their votes should come from their national team coaches and captains; I believe that everybody will agree that this was the right thing to do in order to increase the technical legitimacy of the vote. Secondly, the voting process for the coaches was the same as the one for the athletes this time (while the FIH Coach of the Year Award was determined by an FIH panel previously).
India’s stopper was in inspired form against Team GB in Tokyo PIC: Reuters
Was this vote transparent enough? Shouldn’t you publish the individual votes, at least for the National Associations and media?
Before the vote, we explained in detail the voting process as well as the weight given to the various voting groups. And after the vote, we published all results, from every voting group and for all nominees. Revealing who voted for whom is a question which we should have a look at. Will it bring something or not, I can’t tell at this stage. But we should not exclude any option before examining them.
Is it really a good idea to have fans voting for an Award which is meant to define the best athletes and coaches from a technical perspective?
Our overall strategy at FIH is to put athletes and fans at the centre of everything we do. So, it is essential to give fans an option to express their views. If in this regard the current process is the right one or not, is something we will need to analyse of course. But clearly we need to involve the fans one way or the other.
After all, thanks to this vote, we will have the opportunity to engage with almost 300,000 fans. This is not only good for India – where most of these fans are coming from – but for the growth of our sport overall and therefore the whole hockey community! Also, as we’ve mentioned on the day of the vote, all winning athletes have topped the standings in each of the three voting groups (National Associations / Fans and Players / Media). In other words, even if fans wouldn’t have voted, the winning athletes would have been the same.
Carlos Retegui congratulates Alyson Annan as Netherlands won gold PIC: Eurosport UK
How do you explain that almost half of the National Associations (NAs) did not take the opportunity to vote?
I have to admit that I have no answer to this yet. Maybe we haven’t been clear enough? But we did send reminders to the NAs before the end of the vote. And I have personally contacted several members of the hockey community to warn them about this situation, and I know they were active. But still, many National Associations did not cast their vote. Clearly this had by far the biggest impact on the results. If you set up a jury but half of this jury doesn’t vote, how can you expect that people will unanimously accept the results? In our analysis, we will have to establish why this situation happened.
Will the process remain the same in the future?
I can’t answer this question before we do a thorough analysis. But I can tell you that we will work on the future Stars Awards with the global hockey community. We will engage with many stakeholders to come up with a process which receives the support of most, and then go with it for next year. These Awards are here to promote hockey, athletes and coaches. It isn’t good for anybody if they lead to controversy. I’ve already engaged with a few and will continue to do so. We will most likely create a Task Force to look at this. And I’m absolutely convinced that we will find a compromise which will ensure that the global hockey community celebrates these Awards in the future.
In the third part of a special series on junior hockey coaching, TODD WILLIAMS says importance of technical development through drills can’t be underestimated
If you’ve happened to read my last couple of columns, you may have noticed some references to the way England Hockey expects the game to be coached.
Make: Gryphon Model: Tour XXI Shape: Pro 25 Bow: Low – 25mm, 250mm from head Carbon: 100% Carbon Quotient Price: c. £300
Features:
The GXXI TOUR Series is a result of years of development to achieve the ultimate level of power and balance for a hockey stick. Designed with superior stiffness to bring the highest quality ball speed and a responsive touch for elite players looking for a crisp feel in their hands.
The composition of the stick creates a lightweight feel with a high balance point for intuitive stick control. Made with Kraibon® Technology which produces a smooth and durable internal construction. The 6K Carbon Fibre provides a slick finish for this elite level stick.
THP Verdict:
The 21st Generation gryphon tour is a top of the range stick for high level players all over the park. It is hard to find a weakness in this stick, it’s just a matter of considering which is the best shape for you and you can check out our shape guide to find out.
In our exclusive video series, Heidi Wells, England over-50s Masters player and chartered physiotherapist, talks about the importance of Sports Body Conditioning, as she discusses and explains the importance of our body core and the muscle groups that make up this key body area.
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The men’s Premier Division saw Old Georgians, Hampstead & Westminster and Surbiton maintain their 100 per cent records in contrasting styles on Sunday.
University of Exeter came close to ending their run of 11 matches without a win before H&W turned the tide to come from 3-1 down and prevail 4-3 at home.
After former Exeter student Matt Ramshaw had opened the scoring, the west country side rallied with three goals before the Londoners’ comeback, a double from Matt Guise-Brown and Rupert Shipperley at the death sealing the points.
Surbiton maintained their winning start – three from three – with a late show against University of Durham.
Last week saw Oxted produce a last quarter turnaround to beat Durham. A week on and Surbiton scored three in the last 14 minutes through Rob Farrington, Ben Park and Luke Taylor.
Old Georgians racked up a sizzling 7-0 win over East Grinstead, the Surrey side making it 16 goals from three games thus far and staying top on goal difference.
EG endured a tough afternoon, their plight made worse by being forced to put an outfield player in goal following an accidental injury to goalkeeper Sam Lloyd, who was motionless on the ground for around a minute before being helped off the field and taken to hospital. Sam Ward netted four times.
Meanwhile, Beeston rallied three times to finish 3-3 with Brooklands MU, summer signing Kai Aichinger scoring with three minutes left to give the Bees their first point of the season.
Oxted’s good start to the season came undone at home to Wimbledon as a Duncan Scott hat-trick contributed to a 6-0 victory for the south Londoners.
Surbiton let slip a win as Buckingham scored late PIC: Graeme Wilcockson
Hampstead & Westminster women are also on a roll in the Vitality Premier Division, racking up their fourth win from four and the only team with an unblemished record.
Lucy Hyams’ first strike of the season from a 17th minute corner on Saturday was enough to see Hampstead record the win and stay at the top of the table.
Behind them, three teams are on six points with East Grinstead now second in the table after beating Beeston 2-1 with goals from Chloe Palmer and Ellie Rayer.
Wimbledon beat Swansea 4-1 on the road, while a late Buckingham goal from Jo Day gave Buckingham a share of the points at Surbiton in a 2-2 draw.
Make: Y1 Model: Olympic Ltd X Shape: LB Bow: Dynamic Bow – 24.5 mm, 200mm from head Carbon: 95% premium grade Carbon Price: c. £260
Features:
Designed with a slightly thinned head profile allowing you to get under the ball more easily. It has the Y1 Dynamic Bow for the perfect slingshot action when drag flicking. As used by Belgium international drag flicker and top goal-scorer in the Dutch Hoofdklasse, Alex Hendrickx.
The 2021/22 LTD LB X is manufactured with specially enhanced Swedish Carbon to increase the power of the stick to a level above the usual 90/100% carbon sticks, whilst allowing the stick to retain an incredibly soft touch.
THP Verdict:
The stiff feel, look, shape and profile of this stick all make it ideal for the flair player. If you’re a forward who likes taking on defenders and using 3D skills before sending the ball rifling into the top corner, then this may well be the stick for you.
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