Hockey Newsletter No.2

Hi Hockey Moms and Dads!

Judging by the response received, it seems that the hockey mailing list is working fairly well and that the news and arrangements are reaching our VIP’s. Latest news is that the Club is insisting that none of our players will be allowed onto a Hilton hockey playing surface without shinpads and a gumguard for both practices and matches – this has long been our recommendation, but the latest cut to Rory Murtagh’s lip at a First Team practice has now forced the issue to become a rule. Coaches will check players at the start of practice and umpires will be tasked with checking gumguards and shinpads at the start of each match. At penalty corner practices and in matches it will be compulsory for the second wave and post player to wear a mask provided by the school. This is similar to cricket where batsmen are not allowed to bat without a helmet. Facial injuries in hockey are serious and we need to ensure that damage is kept to the minimum by our players wearing the correct protection.

This coming weekend we have a full Saturday of Coaching Clinics and matches for our teams as outlined below. The U14A and U16A teams for the Nomads Easter Festivals are almost finalized and details will be sent to the parents early this week. The U14’s will be at Maritzburg College and the U16A’s at Jeppe in Johannesburg. The cost per player for each of these Festivals is R700 and banking details will be provided by Mike Todd and Mike Mill.

Pre-Season weekend:
Over the weekend of the 14-16 March we have arranged a number of coaching/match activities for our teams:

U14A Squad:
08h15 Depart for St John’s Astroturf
09h00 Coaching session with Mike Mill, Matt Coombes
12h00 Lunch
13h30 Match vs DSG
16h00 Return to Hilton.

U14B Squad:
09h15 Depart for Treverton with Andrew Lewis
11h00 Match at Treverton Astro vs Treverton U14A
13h30 Return to Hilton

U16A Squad:
09h00 Coaching session with Mike Todd and Ant Chantler – Beckingham Astro
11h00 Match vs Hilton Village team – Beckingham Astro
12h30 Lunch

U16B Squad:
09h15 Depart for Treverton with Mike Green
12h00 Match vs Treverton U16A
13h30 Return to Hilton.

U16C Squad
09h00 Coaching session with Ryan Fensham
10h00 Match vs Treverton U16B at Beckingham

Second and Third Team Squad:
08h30 Depart for Michaelhouse with Francois Morgan and Nick Holtzhauzen
09h30 Match vs Michaelhouse Second Team
11h15 Depart MHS for Treverton
13h00 Match vs Treverton
14h30 Return to Hilton

First Team Squad:
Fri 14 March 14h00 Depart Hilton College for Durban International Airport with
Gavin Thomson and Bruce Nozaic.
17h00 Depart Durban International for Port Elizabeth
20h00 Match vs Grey High School Port Elizabeth
Sat 15 March 10h00 Match vs St Andrews at Grey PE
16h00 Match vs Alexander Road at Grey PE
Sun 16 March 11h30 Depart PE for Durban
13h00 Depart Durban for Hilton College

Tour to Spain and Holland: 2009
An advanced warning is that the First Team will be touring Spain and Holland next year at the start of the Easter holiday. For those who followed the 5 Nations Hockey Festival in Potchefstroom in January you will appreciate that these two countries are ranked almost permanently in the top four nations of the hockey playing world. As with all the tours we plan our first aim is to expose our players to the best hockey we can find and secondly give them access to the best coaches while on tour. Thirdly, we also believe that touring is a cultural experience and we will blend in a number of activities that will help expand their horizons. The tour group will comprise 16 players plus two staff members. Although there are a number of the present First Team squad returning in 2009 there will be a few places “up for grabs”. It is hoped to announce the tour squad by the end of May 2008. The players beyond the First Team will be kept fully updated on selection policy and what will be required for selection for this tour. The selectors will be Ant Chantler, Mike Mill, Mike Todd, Francois Morgan and Gavin Thomson.

The Hilton coaches attended a working seminar with Adrian Caroline, the South African Women’s Hockey Technical Advisor, on Friday afternoon to gain insight into the Gamebreaker software that the club will be using for video analysis of teams in the first third of the season. A 6m scaffolding tower will be erected at the Eastern End of the Beckingham Astro to video Saturday matches which will then be viewed by teams as part of their hockey education. A veteran was overheard remarking to his team of golf-shirt veteran buddies that he does not need a 6m tower, he gets all the height he needs out of his cooler box – I become more and more baffled by these statements from the veterans.

Have a great week and if there is any way that we can help please contact me at gt@hiltoncollege.com

Gavin Thomson