When and where did you start playing hockey?
Started playing when I was 5 years old at HC Alphen, where my parents live. Changed club when I was 13 to HV Victoria. Changed to THC Hurley at my third senior year.
Fun fact; I wanted to play soccer when I was younger but my daddy refused that because he thought soccer was for boys.
What got you into the game?
My dad played hockey so that why I started playing hockey instead of soccer.
What position do you play? Have you always played there?
Used to play in the midfield. Mostly on the right side, at my club in the center as well and sometimes left as well. Just running all over the place.
I started playing as a striker so I could do the long rushes, but it turns out better to be midfielder.
When did hockey start to become a big part of your life?
When I changed club and started at HV Victoria. The trainings where 3 or 4 times a week and my parents took me to training every time by car so a lot of investment and time at an age of 13. That’s when I wanted to get bigger and better.
Was there a moment when you decided to really push for the Dutch nation team?
Not really, there was a moment when I thought I reached the top with playing Hoofdklasse and was satisfied with that. I think because of that, I let the pressure go and played more on intuition without any pressure I putted myself on. From then on I just enjoyed playing hockey. So and then Alyson Annan called me, that’s was the moment I realized I didn’t reach my top yet.
When did you get into the Dutch youth team? (If you made any of the youth teams)
Never been in a youth team, funny part. Trained with the team in May because there were lots of injured girls. So actually this match was my move to the National squad.
How long have you been a part of the Dutch squad?
Never before. Keep chasing your dreams.
When/how did you find out you were going to make your debut?
A week before after training Alyson Annan told me that I would be part of the selection.
How special was it for you to play in Orange?
Amazing, very special. Never played in Dutch teams or youth teams so this was my first time playing in the orange jersey, first time anthem, first time so many supporters. Such a special moment and especially in Holland with family and friends in the stadion.
How do you think your first game went?
Did the best I could. Started a bit nervous but after the first quarter I just enjoyed every minute of it. Focused on the things I needed to do, and play with intuition. That worked out. As I am, I’m never satisfied, made some mistakes as well. But for a first game, I think a made a good impression.
Hockey is obviously a big part of your life, what else inspires you/interest you outside of the game?
Family and friends are the most important to me, my biggest support of course and I love to hangout with them whenever it is possible. A part from hockey, I work in the hospital as anesthetic nurse so doing the narcotics at the operating room, trauma’s at the ER and life support.
What do you do when you're not playing?
Hanging out with family and/ or friends, working in the hospital. Otherwise I will be busy making good meals to treat my bod well.
What's the next step for you? Paris Olympics? Milestones? What drives you?
Keep it small, step by step. Doing more game, because important for the team and hopefully play the world cup. From then on we will see, just keep it realistic with small steps first.
What do you love most about the game?
The tempo in the game. I just love that every single time its unpredictable, no matter if you are playing against Olympics, debutants or experienced, there always a chance to win.
]]>“I was extremely lucky in the sense that things seemed to line up at the right time for me.” Within 18 months of that first Queensland appearance at u18 level Renee had then debuted for the Hockeyroos. From there Renee’s game only continued to grow, “it allowed my progression to continue and be pushed by the caliber of players I had around me. It also meant that I didn’t quite have time to think about how quick my progression was, I just had another challenge and opportunity ahead of me”.
For the young fans out there; while it may seem that this just happened overnight for Renee, this wasn’t the case and in fact started years earlier when a choice was made but more importantly there was dedication to follow through and do what it took to achieve it. Despite being told by a few that she wouldn't make it, at 16 years old Renee made the decision that she wanted to play for Australia. “I started to really focus on hockey and started to put in extra work outside club/school/representative training”. Renee also explains how it was a friend and coach of hers, Kristin, that would come to her house at 5:30am, 3 times a week to run and prepare for her first u18s selection. It was the diligence to do whatever it took, that meant Renee’s aspirations would eventually come to fruition.
Debuting in Sydney against China, Renee pulled off quite an impressive feat by representing the country before representing her state at Senior level. “I don’t remember much about the actual game or how I played, but I remember feeling immensely proud and that I had finally achieved my goal of playing for Australia” says Renee. Unfortunately this pride wouldn’t quite go to the next level in 2016, when Renee was selected only in the squad for Rio so didn’t get to. But at such a young age the Olympics were still very much in reach. Renee tells us how “it really drove me to not want to miss out again”, and surely enough come 2021, Renee’s next goal would be achieved. “The Olympics was something I wanted to be a part of since I watched the Kookaburras win Gold in Athens in 2004. It was always a dream to make the Olympics as it is the pinnacle of hockey”.
With a week left until the opening ceremony that day has nearly come for Renee. When asked what she was most looking forward to about the Olympics, Renee answered “I’m looking forward to it finally happening and being able to walk out there with the girls and test ourselves against some of the best teams in the world”. But of course the ultimate goal for Renee is of course coming home with a Gold medal. “while it was exciting to be selected, it was a box that needed to be ticked before I got to the main dream of playing on that last day in Tokyo and competing for the Gold Medal”.
So we wish Renee and the rest of the Hockeyroos all the best in Tokyo and we will be cheering her on for Gold along with the rest of the nation.
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Firstly, where were you when you found out you were going to Tokyo?
I was staying at a hotel that my mum had originally booked for us to be together in to receive the news…unfortunately she couldn’t be there because of the situation with COVID in Victoria, but I still went and stayed there with my best friend for a few nights when I received the news!
Who were the first people you told when you found out?
As soon as I opened the email and saw my name I called my family. My sister had been excused from class for 10 mins so that she could meet mum and dad out the front of school and hear from me all together. As soon as I called them I was smiling from ear to ear. This caused them to burst into tears because they knew it meant I had made the team!
What were you feeling when you found out the news?
Initially I think I almost had a sense of relief because of the huge increase in tension and pressure leading up to the selection, but as soon as I called my family and told my best friend it was pure excitement. I remember thinking oh my gosh, I am going to be an Olympian and I am going to play at an Olympic Games, this is so cool, crazy, amazing and honorable all at the same time.
What does the next month or so look like for you leading up to Tokyo?
The next month is going to be pretty busy. We are play New Zealand for Pro League games, then have a week of training and intra-squad games with VAA (Visiting Athlete Agreement) athletes, who are selected interstate players in development and junior squads. After that we head over to Darwin for a week to acclimatize before we fly to Japan!
What match-up are you most looking forward to at the Olympics? Player and/or country? Why?
I am looking forward to playing against the Argentinians and Dutch because they are both very strong teams that work really well as a team and as individuals. I haven’t had the opportunity to play the Dutch before and have only played in one game against Argentina, so I think that these two teams, which are both very very good and ranked highly, will be the most exciting ones!
How do you feel about the Olympics being behind closed doors?
I think it will be a very different experience, but still a spectacle for the world. The Olympics can hopefully be something that people can watch on their TV’s at home, and look forward to watching, remaining hopeful that COVID won’t be around for the next games! One thing that I do think will be very weird though is that people watching in the crowds won’t be able to cheer, but only clap. Just imagine someone scoring a crazy good goal and all the crowd is able to do is clap…seems pretty funny to me.
Other than the hockey, what are you looking forward to most about the Olympics?
I think I am looking forward to the village experience, although I went to the Youth Olympics in 2018 and got to experience this, I believe Tokyo will be a completely different environment because of COVID. Although this is the case, Japan is a very technologically advanced country, so I am sure there will be lots of interesting things within the village to see and do whilst remaining compliant with social distancing rules etc.
Was going to the Olympics always the ‘ultimate’ goal for you in your career?
It was definitely always a long-term goal of mine, and something I had wanted to do since I was a kid. I think the next part of this journey is to come home with a medal too! That would really just be the cherry on top!!
You’ve achieved this at only 19 years old, what are you striving for after this?
I am definitely hoping to compete in a few more International Series such as Olympics, World Cups and Commonwealth Games, but I also want to just keep enjoying playing! I love the girls and the environment we get to spend each day in, and I think that’s the most important thing. If I am enjoying it, staying fit and healthy with people I like spending time with, then it’s something I want to keep doing…especially if I can play international games on the way!!
I also really love the thrill of playing International Hockey. Not only is it intense, fast and clinical, it is also damn exciting. Playing in front of people, putting on the uniform, pre-game nerves, singing the anthem. These are all things that I absolutely love about playing International hockey.
What would you attribute to your success at such a young age? Other than your JDH stick of course, that's a given.
Haha, yes my stick is definitely the key to all of my secrets!
But seriously, it was definitely the support of my family and coaches back home in Melbourne. Jesse Workman is the coach of Southern United Men's PL team and has done many hours of work with me. We often worked together outside of my other sessions in the week to really pin point areas of my game that I needed and wanted to be better at. His knowledge and teaching ability is second to none, and definitely something that helped me become the player I am today.
My family was also my biggest support network, but also my harshest critics. My mum and dad would drive countless hours taking me to and from school and training throughout the weeks. They were always super organized with dinner ready to eat in the car on the way home, after school snacks and extra layers for the cold nights. They provided me with honest feedback about my games, whether that was positive or negative, and helped guide me to be the person and player I am today.
Who was your inspiration growing up?
I don’t think I could really pin an individual inspiration, but I aspire to have attributes of many great sportsmen and women.
If I really had to pick an individual hockey player though, I would definitely choose Luciana Aymar. I want to try and be as good as she was.
How does it feel that you are now an inspiration yourself to the next generation of potential Hockeyroos?
I just find it so crazy that people look up to me. I still can’t even get my signature right half of the time when I am signing kids shirts after the games, and the fact that people want to be like me is super cool!
Did you have any sort of message to these next gen girls/boys?
I just want to wish you all the best of luck with your hockey. Enjoy it and keep practicing. Maybe in a few years we will be playing in the Roos together! See you then!!
Wishing Amy the rest of the JDH family and the Aussie teams all the best for Tokyo, we'll be cheering you on the whole way!!
]]>South African national player, Dirkie talks about the current lockdown in Europe.
I have tried to make the best of this crazy time we find ourselves in. Sometimes it’s times like these that bring out the best in us because it drives us out of our comfort zones. I have had some good time to self reflect and work on areas on my life that needed attention. I was lucky enough to start up my own online fitness coaching business called DC Coaching (@fitnesswithdc). With this launch I was approached by an online fitness company called Jeff Life (www.jeff.fitness) where I am one of the fitness instructors giving weekly classes online on Facebook Live. Its is an incredible platform which includes nutrition, guided runs, healthy cooking tips, nutritious recipes and yoga sessions. I am grateful and blessed that I can work in an environment that I love and doing what I have always wanted to do!
I also got given the opportunity to play hockey in the best league in the world again. When the pandemic hit the world a lot of leagues got cancelled and this brought with it opportunities for players like me to turn negatives into positives and doubts into hopes. With the postponement of the Olympic games it brought an opportunity for me to join HGC this season, a hockey club in Holland. I really wanted to place myself in the best environment leading up to the Tokyo Olympic games and this decision has payed off greatly. It was a great new challenge playing at HGC, as one of the more experienced players, I wanted to bring experience to youngsters and grow together with this team in reaching our goals. I have really enjoyed the season here so far and been able to make a difference in an environment that constantly asks the best of me. As a striker there is also pressure of scoring and I get the chance to drag flick at short corners, having my JDH concave has really been the best because I absolutely love how this stick complements my skills, style of play and drag flicks. Knowing that I am taking the field every game with the best stick & gear gives me so much confidence. I could not have asked for better support and love from Jamie and the JDH family!
Looking back on the last few months and where I am now, I can be proud of what I have achieved during a time where it could have been easy to fall into a negative mindset. I am really happy with where I am at and super excited about where I am going. The future is bright and even when days look gloomy always remember its all about how you approach a situation and your perspective. Stay positive and smash your goals!
If you are in Perth you can come and watch the Australian Intra squad matches and see the athletes battle it out for Olympic Selection. These games are very high quality and you can watch them for free if you are in Perth. For more information about the games and the times of the games pleases check link below.
https://www.hockeywa.org.au/news/free-entry-to-hockeyroos-and-kookaburras-intra-squad-matches/
We wish the athletes all the best in these matches, play hard and always try to be your best!
]]>Lola and Seffie, you are each other's hockey buddies, how did you get to know each other?
Seffie: We got to know each other via Instagram because we both posted trick hockey videos. That's why we started to befriend each other and that's how I discovered that Lola, like me, also went through the NK shootouts on HC Pijnacker. That was the first time we saw each other. After that, it clicked well between us and we started to meet more often, to train and to make videos. We even participated in Holland's Got Talent together!
Lola: Yes, indeed, I saw Seffie for the first time on Instagram and I liked the videos she made so I started doing it myself. We then made a lot of calls. That was really about everything and so we found out that we both were through to the NK shootout in Pijnacker. We even sat together in the group (of course I won from Seffie, haha). Then we also started making short films together and we usually stay together during the holidays.
Lola plays at Berkel & Rodenrijs and Seffie, you play at Hoekse Waard. Do you play against each other in the competition?
Lola: No until now unfortunately not. I would like it but we are not in the same class. Hope that it will happen later or even better, together in the team, but Seffie lives in Verweggistan
Seffie: No we are not together in the group or competition because Lola plays sub-top and I play 1st class. Too bad for now, but someday we will come together in the Dutch team (at least we hope we will). I play less high than I would like because the distance to all clubs that play in a higher class (such as HCR, HCDB, AHBC, etc.) are more than an hour's drive for me. But that will change soon
How did you start with the hockey movies and how did you find JD Hockey (Jamie Dwyer) willing to sponsor you?
Seffie: I started making videos when I was not playing hockey. First I was swimming at a high level, but I had to stop because of an injury. I found that very unfortunate, but when I saw the videos of Team Streethockey I thought “I want to be able to do this too!” So then I took a very old stick from my grandfather and I started practicing. After a while I really got the hang of it and I registered at a club with me on the island, HC Goeree Overflakkee. I had a great time there and I really learned to play hockey! I started a really serious hockey account at the beginning, which was not such a success at the beginning, but after a while ran out to 11,000 followers (with help from accounts like @teamstreethockey, @hockeyfilm and of course the coolest. @Hockeystylmagazine, because the videos were reposted). When I posted videos for a while and already tested several brands I suddenly got a dm from JDH (Jamie Dwyer Hockey) with the question if I wanted to tell something about myself and if I was interested in their brand. At first I doubted it but then I did a video with JDH in the sea and now I never want to go back, it is a really great brand and we have already experienced a lot of great things such as: recording with Jamie Dwyer, being reposted, etc. We are very grateful for that!
Lola: I liked it and tricks are always fun, but when I saw Seffie I also created an account. First I was sponsored by Solo hockey. Many people did not know it, but they were fine sticks. After a while, someone I did not know through Insta asked what I thought about JDH and if I did not like JDH sticks much better than Solo. He sent me a link with an application form for a JDH sponsorship which I then filled out. And then it turned out that JDH wanted to sponsor me.
You can also often be seen through Team Streethockey. How did you get in touch with them and what do you think of the streethockey initiative?
Seffie: I came into contact with Team Streethockey because they posted very nice videos and I reacted to them. After a while they also started to follow me and also responded to me. After a few months they have edited a video of small fragments of my best tricks and have posted them. That has really become a fat movie! We also keep in touch because we are in a large group app with multiple skillers. They have also put the street hockey on the map and made it even bigger. That is of course super cool because with freestyling you have no rules and you can do endless tricks, it never gets boring. And I think that even more children should try it!
Lola: Team Streethockey was always my big example, so I also tagged them regularly. After the video that I placed on the beach in Scheveningen they contacted me. They wanted to reproduce the video. For me that answer was not very difficult: I was very happy when they asked. Now we also have a group app on Instagram with a few others where we use our videos. We miss nothing and can give each other lots of tips. I find Streethockey very cool because you can do it everywhere, you get a much better technique and there are always new tricks to practice. And if you can do a new trick, it just feels so good.
What do you think should continue to happen to get even more people to hockey?
Lola: Streethockey matches and even more hockey accounts on Instagram!
Seffie: To get more people to play hockey it is useful to advertise the sport and also to show a different side of hockey like urban and freestyle hockey: there are so many tricks that can impress people and them get excited to practice it too! Because you never get enough of hockey.
Another idea could be to give even more women an important position in the sport, as coach, trainer, referee, chairman and so on.
You are the future, how do you see that for you when you are grown up?
Lola: I hope that we are still one of the best in the world with the Dutch team and that the women in the sport will become even more.
Seffie: As for the future, I hope for a nice hockey career, but of course you have to work hard for that, step by step. So my goal for now is Dutch girls B or A and then move on to the Dutch national team! I also hope that, in the future, if I have met the Dutch team, there is a family that supports me. Because my mother is chronically ill and tired quickly. For example, watching a hockey game from me is too heavy, then she will be in bed for a week to recover. I just hope that she will one day experience me playing a game for Orange and that she will be able to see that I not only always work hard for my dreams but also that I have realized them! And without my parents I would not have gone as far as now: they take me everywhere and sometimes shoot for 2 hours, until a movie is finally succeeded. They support me and know that I will pursue my dreams. And if the Dutch team would not succeed, then I also see myself as a national coach or sports physiotherapist of the Dutch team! But suppose that if the Dutch team does succeed, then I also have to do something and that would be my own physio practice or working somewhere on the emergency room.
Which insta accounts do you like to follow?
Seffie: The accounts I follow are mainly hockey accounts of Dutch national team players, @teamstreethockey, @hockeyfilmpje, @hockeystylemagazine, etc.
Lola: @hockeystylemagazine, @teamstreethockey, @hockeyfilmpje, @selfpass, @ seffiebakker04, @ sebastian.hockeytricks, @jeroenthertzberger (especially on YouTube)
Which music do you prefer to stream?
Lola: I actually listen very little to music, when I listen it is usually during cycling or during homework and I just turn on the Top40.
Seffie: I am not a fan of music myself. I almost never listen to music but if it then I have to go for a bit of busy music to stay active!
What is your favourite food?
Seffie: My favorite food is risotto (but of course made by my mother).
Lola: Spinach with egg and aromat and pizza.
Lola, what is your ultimate hockey dream and what is your top tip for other hockey kids?
Lola: My dream is to get 100K followers, to get into the Dutch national team and to make the streethockey big. My top tip is to look very well at other movies (in slomo) and NEVER give up!
Seffie, what is your ultimate hockey dream and what is your top tip for other hockey kids?
Seffie: As you can already see, my hockey dream is to be in the Dutch team, get an even bigger following on my Instagram and just make people happy with my movies. Just do what you like because you will not get far without having fun. A thought that I always have with me is "without a goal you can not score" without a goal you do not achieve anything, and what you want to achieve, you have to work hard for that!
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Many players look forward to the winter break, to pack away your hockey equipment for a couple of months. For many of us that is not the case. Winter break is everything but time to relax. The intensity in your workouts drop slightly and there is a decrease in actual match play but don't be fooled, this is all balanced out by a lot of sprints, road running and gym circuits.
In search of much needed sun and warmth I decided to go back to South Africa and also spend time with my family during the most recent winter break. It was great to be able to see the people I love and spend the festive season with them. They always support my training schedule and understand how important it is which makes it easier.
It is nice to be able to train outside in the sun, run on the beach, go for hikes or mountain biking. It is good to stay active doing different types of activities and use other muscle groups that we don't always use in hockey. It keeps me energised and excited about training and also feeds my inner adrenaline junky.
I guess everyone is different but I love staying active and an ‘off season’ would not be the norm for me. I can get grumpy and anxious when I don't train or engage in some type of physical activity on a regular basis.
I get told many times to slow down because recovery is also very important for performance. Luckily I have a good balance and when I do the training I do because I love it then it always feels less stressful on the body and mind. I must admit warm weather always makes me train with a smile. This the best way to get my body ready to go full out again for the next part of my hockey season.
Dirkie Chamberlain
]]>My name is Izzy Petter, I’m 18 and I started playing hockey at the age of 5 at a small hockey academy called SJB run by Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Batchelor.
I am currently playing at Surbiton and I joined the club when I was 14. During my time in the Colts section we won 4 National Titles at U14, U16 and U18 level. My favourite memory of playing in the Colts is at the 2016 national finals where we won and I scored 16 goals overall. It was such a good feeling and I’ve never scored that many goals since! Playing for the first team was quite surreal as I was training with Olympic Gold Medalists who I had watched on TV and looked up to. Training at such a high level during the week really enabled me to improve and learn from other more experienced players.
I also had a lot of fun playing my school hockey at Cranleigh where we won four National Titles. I really enjoyed hockey at school as it was a time where I could relax and be more free to play how I wanted to. Cranleigh was very supportive of my club hockey and enabled me to go out of school to train and also leave early on a Saturday to get to games which has ultimately enabled me to play at a higher level and become a better rounded player.
I was selected at 14 to play for the England U16 team and I’m now involved in the GB EDP (Elite Development Programme) and England U21 programmes. I recently got a call up to the Senior Squad to play in a game against Ireland. This was an amazing experience and came as a complete shock to me as I didn’t expect it at all. I really enjoyed the experience and felt that the EDP programme had really prepared me well for the step up. Also I have recently gone to China and Belgium with the GB EDP squad, I really enjoyed these trips as it allowed me to travel and see different parts of the world as I had never been to Asia before, it was quite an experience! Probably my favourite moment since playing for England has to be winning the bronze medal at the U18 Europeans in July 2018. We were up against Germany in the third fourth playoff who we hadn’t beaten as an U18 programme for 7 years, we were down two players due to illness which included one of our captains so even before the start of the match it wasn’t looking good. We were down 1-0 until the last quarter until we managed to snatch 2 goals and come away with the bronze medal. The feeling when the last whistle went is something I’ll never forget and is one of the reasons I play hockey as I believe you can never really get that feeling in any other walk of life.
Teresa: I settled in very well and quickly and I feel very comfortable in Hamburg and especially at the UHC. There are of course several reasons for my change to Hamburg. I completed my bachelors degree in psychology in Düsseldorf last summer and thus I had the chance to start my master degree in a new city with a new environment. Another reason was that I had the feeling that my personal development was not as good as I expected when i moved from my home club Uhlenhorst Mülheim to Düsseldorf
JDH: You were awarded as best player at the Indoor Final 4 in Stuttgart at the beginning of 2018 but then later you didn’t get into the German squad for the World Cup in London. What is it in your opinion that contributed to you not making this squad?
Teresa: Unfortunately, I have to say that this year was not optimal for me. Of course it has started well when I became European Championship in Prague and received the personal award in Stuttgart at the German Indoor Championships, but after that i was set out of action for 6-8 weeks because of bronchitis and sinusitis, which also led me to completely missing the first two training camps with the national team. It was possible to participate regular at the Bundesliga season, but at the exact time of the next training camp I pulled my hamstring so I could not participate again. In the end I was only able to play the last training camp before the world cup selection was published, where I was satisfied with my performance, but it was not enough to fly to London.
JDH: Do you prefer indoor hockey or outdoor hockey? What is so special about indoor hockey in Germany? And are there differences in the way you played indoor hockey in Düsseldorf compared to the way you are playing with your new club UHC?
Teresa: I enjoy both, but especially the speed and the skills to perform in the smallest of spaces are the reasons why I love indoor hockey. In addition to this, especially at the Final Four, the emotions and the crowd, who create an incredible atmosphere, is much more noticeable in comparison to a Final Four on the field. I would say in Düsseldorf we played more defensively and focused on our counters, which was not unsuccessful. At the UHC we press earlier, which makes the games much more open.
JDH: In Japan, where the German National Team had a trainings camp in November, you were part of the team again. How satisfied are you with your national team career so far?
What are your goals and aspirations for the future?
Teresa: Overall, I am very satisfied. In my first year (2017) I got the chance to play all three tournaments and to complete nearly all international matches. It was an incredible value for me to gain experience at the highest international level. Now and in the future it is my goal to establish myself in the squad, to play as many games as possible, including the Hockey Pro League and to play the European Championship in Antwerp in August. And in 2020 the Olympic Games take place in Tokyo, which are an absolute dream for me and it would be a great honor to wear the DANAS jersey and to represent Germany there.
JDH: Teresa, thanks a lot for this interview. We wish you all the best for your career and for your future.
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