Before the age of the astro, do you remember Boxing Day matches on grass? In the days before ACHC, when I played with Chalfont St Peter, there was traditionally a match on Boxing Day down at Chalfont Park, usually against either Amersham or Gerrards Cross. It used to bring out all sorts: die hards; fitness freaks who had had too much turkey and christmas pudding the day before; students back from college who had endured a couple of days at home with their embarassing families (I make a point of embarassing my boys whenever I can); and neer-do-wells who just fancied a bit of hockey between bouts of excess.
We arrived after lunch, starting off with a pre-match whisky, and someone usually brought a bottle of brandy for half-time. Generally, we played on the near pitch, so as to preserve the (1st Team) far pitch and reduce the groundsman's irritation with the idiots churning up the ground. On a number of occasions I believe our President Sam volunteered himself as goalie, on occasions playing in what looked like old cricket leg guards, and wicket-keeper gloves, and sometimes even disdaining a helmet. It has to be said, the ball was not hit quite as hard as modern sticks allow, no kevlar, or exotic stick shapes, and stick reinforcement was limited to taping the logo back on your stick. Still, some of those shots still fairly fizzed through the air when teed up on a divot: goalies knew when they'd saved a shot, and defenders nursed bruises from hits on their shins through their bamboo shin pads. Sticks were held vertically and there was no need for rules on edge hitting, after all, you try a reverse hit edge shot on a bumpy grass pitch and see where the ball goes. Matches were as competitive as the massive over-eating the day before and festive clothing would allow, and after sluicing the mud away in a hot shower, everyone adjourned to the bar.
Participants returned to their families after some beer, and frequently some singing, usually willingly, but at least reinvigorated and refreshed. If you remember all this, you must be a Vintager, in which case you enjoy a similar approach every Saturday, just without the mud!
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Snow stops shiny new stick start
Last week I justified to myself that I needed, NEEDED, a new stick: my son Dan has been growing, and has recently been borrowing mine; and I find myself less able to bend as low at speed as I used to, although in truth 'speed' is now a relative term and just bending is probably the issue. I decided to (generously I thought) give my son my old stick, and that I would buy a new longer stick.
So I went up to the Bucks Goat Centre, where you can try the sticks out; it should only take a few minutes I thought, after all I remember when all sticks were the same length and you just bought a lighter or heavier one according to preference. Today, choosing a stick you are now faced with a bewildering array of possibilities: length, weight, balance weighting point, bow depth, bow position, head shape, composite proportions for stiffness and damping, grooves, skill zones, not to mention the choice of colour and design (I saw one with some nice pink swirls but in the end decided against it). I think this is to optimise the drag flicking for internationals, but as this is a skill I've never been good at, I'm probably not best placed to judge what is good or not. In the end I chose a 37.5" light Kookaburra red and black stick with some carbon, kevlar and fibreglass in it, a small bow and a normal flat maxi head. Did I do good? You can let me know!
Yesterday, having been invited to play for the Vintagers the previous weekend, I was expecting my stick's first outing at Newlands. Friday we were (a little optimistically I thought) still due to play, but Saturday morning, after Nick and I had taken the dog for a walk (see below), the inevitable was finally accepted and the match was called off. It's not what it used to be. I can remember playing with a cricket ball in 4 inches of snow on the top grass pitch up at Berko. I seem to recall the final score was 1-0, as the ball only made one length of the pitch before we were all too exhausted and had a snowball fight instead. So, alas, my stick awaits the new year for it's first trial.
Have a great Christmas, and see you all for the second half of the season.
So I went up to the Bucks Goat Centre, where you can try the sticks out; it should only take a few minutes I thought, after all I remember when all sticks were the same length and you just bought a lighter or heavier one according to preference. Today, choosing a stick you are now faced with a bewildering array of possibilities: length, weight, balance weighting point, bow depth, bow position, head shape, composite proportions for stiffness and damping, grooves, skill zones, not to mention the choice of colour and design (I saw one with some nice pink swirls but in the end decided against it). I think this is to optimise the drag flicking for internationals, but as this is a skill I've never been good at, I'm probably not best placed to judge what is good or not. In the end I chose a 37.5" light Kookaburra red and black stick with some carbon, kevlar and fibreglass in it, a small bow and a normal flat maxi head. Did I do good? You can let me know!
Yesterday, having been invited to play for the Vintagers the previous weekend, I was expecting my stick's first outing at Newlands. Friday we were (a little optimistically I thought) still due to play, but Saturday morning, after Nick and I had taken the dog for a walk (see below), the inevitable was finally accepted and the match was called off. It's not what it used to be. I can remember playing with a cricket ball in 4 inches of snow on the top grass pitch up at Berko. I seem to recall the final score was 1-0, as the ball only made one length of the pitch before we were all too exhausted and had a snowball fight instead. So, alas, my stick awaits the new year for it's first trial.
Have a great Christmas, and see you all for the second half of the season.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Festive Matches
Unusually, this weekend was one where in 24 hours I saw players from every Men's side, and several of the junior sides, either as umpire, player, coach, spectator or fellow pub crawler.
Just prior to umpiring the Men's 4ths I saw the last few minutes of the Men's 1sts, who had their best win of the season, winning 7-0, including 3 goals in the few minutes I watched, one a spectacular flowing end-to-end move with the ball roofed to finish. Then I umpired my first match officially, and saw our 4ths match the 1sts with another 7-0 victory, and Andy celebrating his first ever hatrick. Over to Becky High for the Men's 5ths in which I was due to play, and caught the last 10 minutes of a cracking Badgers game: 3-2 in the end to Gerrards Cross, with 16 juniors aged 12 and 13 in the two teams, supported by Tony and a couple of our 1st XI who had doubled up and 3 Gerrards Cross 1st XI players also doubling up. For Pinky and Russ (our 1st XI seniors) playing their first Badgers, they were very impressed by the standard of play in the match and by all the boys. Then my match, playing the top of the table side, and despite conceding 5 goals in the first half to a strong all-adults side, we held them to 0-0 in the second, to keep the score at 0-5, again fantastic effort by everyone in the side, especially the 6 lads we had playing. Andy and Alastair who were also umpiring officially for the first time, having also just passed their Level 1 exams with me, kept good control of the game.
Back at our clubhouse, the Vintagers were drinking Rebellion, and pursuaded me into joining them in their last match next week, mainly as I claimed to have actually run back to make a tackle today, although when quizzed about it, my son who was playing with me in the 5s couldn't recall it. Hannah and Dave were, as usual and beyond the call of duty, helping get the clubhouse ready for a 40th birthday party for one of the cricketers, to help the club make some much needed cash. Off to Amersham for the Men's curry, and having arrived a little late I sat down and quickly ordered mine and a Kingfisher. Looking down the table, I realised that it was all 1sts and 2nds, and many of the guys I was expecting to see, weren't there. On enquiring, I found that they had been unable to get everyone in one place, and my team had booked elsewhere, so in fact I was at the wrong restaurant. However, with a beer in front of me, good atmosphere, and having already ordered, I stayed. Finishing up, we all went down to Old Amersham to meet up with my team-mates from earlier and Ben and his 3rd team, ending late after the Kings Arms, Swan, and Eagle, at the Elephant and Castle. A fantastic turnout.
Sunday morning, I took Nick over to Newlands for his U12 training, where in fact they played a Christmas mini-tournament. Apparently Nick scored 5 goals, though as usual I managed to miss them all. While there I saw some under 8s looking great in elf costumes and antlers, and a number of the U10s and U14s also looked festive in Santa hats and tinsel, as did many of our coaches. Mince pies were a welcome accompaniment in the pavilion to a cup of hot tea. Some of the hockey they were playing at all ages was really good, and shows how much they have all learned.
So I managed:
Men's 1sts - watched a few minutes, curry and beer
Men's 2nds - curry and beer
Men's 3rds - beer (missed the curry)
Men's 4ths - umpired, tea in the clubhouse
Men's 5ths - played, and beer
Badgers - watched a few minutes
Vintagers - tea and Rebellion in the clubhouse
U8s, U10s - watched
U12s - watched, coached a bit and helped kit-up the goalies
U14s (and a couple of U16s) - watched briefly
Phew. Hopefully next time I'll get to see some of the Ladies' sides. And so to Christmas. Have a good one, and try and stay fit for the second half of the season.
Just prior to umpiring the Men's 4ths I saw the last few minutes of the Men's 1sts, who had their best win of the season, winning 7-0, including 3 goals in the few minutes I watched, one a spectacular flowing end-to-end move with the ball roofed to finish. Then I umpired my first match officially, and saw our 4ths match the 1sts with another 7-0 victory, and Andy celebrating his first ever hatrick. Over to Becky High for the Men's 5ths in which I was due to play, and caught the last 10 minutes of a cracking Badgers game: 3-2 in the end to Gerrards Cross, with 16 juniors aged 12 and 13 in the two teams, supported by Tony and a couple of our 1st XI who had doubled up and 3 Gerrards Cross 1st XI players also doubling up. For Pinky and Russ (our 1st XI seniors) playing their first Badgers, they were very impressed by the standard of play in the match and by all the boys. Then my match, playing the top of the table side, and despite conceding 5 goals in the first half to a strong all-adults side, we held them to 0-0 in the second, to keep the score at 0-5, again fantastic effort by everyone in the side, especially the 6 lads we had playing. Andy and Alastair who were also umpiring officially for the first time, having also just passed their Level 1 exams with me, kept good control of the game.
Back at our clubhouse, the Vintagers were drinking Rebellion, and pursuaded me into joining them in their last match next week, mainly as I claimed to have actually run back to make a tackle today, although when quizzed about it, my son who was playing with me in the 5s couldn't recall it. Hannah and Dave were, as usual and beyond the call of duty, helping get the clubhouse ready for a 40th birthday party for one of the cricketers, to help the club make some much needed cash. Off to Amersham for the Men's curry, and having arrived a little late I sat down and quickly ordered mine and a Kingfisher. Looking down the table, I realised that it was all 1sts and 2nds, and many of the guys I was expecting to see, weren't there. On enquiring, I found that they had been unable to get everyone in one place, and my team had booked elsewhere, so in fact I was at the wrong restaurant. However, with a beer in front of me, good atmosphere, and having already ordered, I stayed. Finishing up, we all went down to Old Amersham to meet up with my team-mates from earlier and Ben and his 3rd team, ending late after the Kings Arms, Swan, and Eagle, at the Elephant and Castle. A fantastic turnout.
Sunday morning, I took Nick over to Newlands for his U12 training, where in fact they played a Christmas mini-tournament. Apparently Nick scored 5 goals, though as usual I managed to miss them all. While there I saw some under 8s looking great in elf costumes and antlers, and a number of the U10s and U14s also looked festive in Santa hats and tinsel, as did many of our coaches. Mince pies were a welcome accompaniment in the pavilion to a cup of hot tea. Some of the hockey they were playing at all ages was really good, and shows how much they have all learned.
So I managed:
Men's 1sts - watched a few minutes, curry and beer
Men's 2nds - curry and beer
Men's 3rds - beer (missed the curry)
Men's 4ths - umpired, tea in the clubhouse
Men's 5ths - played, and beer
Badgers - watched a few minutes
Vintagers - tea and Rebellion in the clubhouse
U8s, U10s - watched
U12s - watched, coached a bit and helped kit-up the goalies
U14s (and a couple of U16s) - watched briefly
Phew. Hopefully next time I'll get to see some of the Ladies' sides. And so to Christmas. Have a good one, and try and stay fit for the second half of the season.
Monday, 7 December 2009
Mud vs sand
Sunday I was reminded of the advantages of astroturf. My eldest son is, alas, a footballer rather than a hockey player. His last 2 games have been cancelled because of the state of his pitch, but his manager was determined that if at all possible they would play their twice postponed cup match.
Saturday night it rained heavily again, and was still raining when I left for junior training at Newlands. By the time I arrived, the skies had started to clear, and although the car park was still full of puddles, the pitch was looking fine. By midday when I umpired an U14 Boys Development match it was a beautiful crisp sunny day. Unfortunately our boys lost in a good match to a stronger Reading side, but our senior U14 joint side with GX did very well to draw 3-3 with Surbiton, a very strong club. A quick stomp of the feet to shake off any sand, and we were off home, expecting to find my eldest on Facebook with another cancelled match, but no, he wasn't there and they were playing. Although surprised, as I don't get to see him play much these days, I thought I'd nip down and see the end of their match.
Fortunately, the two teams' shirts were white and dark, because otherwise you'd have had a hard time telling them apart. Jamie had been got out of bed by his Grandad just after I had left for hockey to go and fork over the pitch to help it drain, but it didn't seem to have made much difference, because what I saw looked like the battle of the Somme. The centre of the pitch was a mud-bath: exhausted boys covered in mud to their waists and higher, slipping all over the place, as they frantically dug the ball out of the sticky clay mud, trying to find a bit of grass they could get the ball onto to kick it properly. 3-3 and extra time; boys with cramp lying on the ground, one boy sick with the effort put in, and still they played on to penalties with the sun sinking behind the Chiltern hills, with several boys so tired they just lay on the ground in the mud. Finally it was over, and Jamie had lost 5-4 on penalties. I borrowed a dog rug to put over my car seat to take him home.
Those of you old enough will remember playing hockey on grass pitches in the winter: the Saturday morning weather inspection to see if we'd be playing that day, the ball skipping up off a hillock of muddy grass, carefully putting the divots back after the match, the boot bag full of mud. I know on occasions it gets a bit wet and windy and cold at Newlands, but aren't you glad now that we play on astro?
Saturday night it rained heavily again, and was still raining when I left for junior training at Newlands. By the time I arrived, the skies had started to clear, and although the car park was still full of puddles, the pitch was looking fine. By midday when I umpired an U14 Boys Development match it was a beautiful crisp sunny day. Unfortunately our boys lost in a good match to a stronger Reading side, but our senior U14 joint side with GX did very well to draw 3-3 with Surbiton, a very strong club. A quick stomp of the feet to shake off any sand, and we were off home, expecting to find my eldest on Facebook with another cancelled match, but no, he wasn't there and they were playing. Although surprised, as I don't get to see him play much these days, I thought I'd nip down and see the end of their match.
Fortunately, the two teams' shirts were white and dark, because otherwise you'd have had a hard time telling them apart. Jamie had been got out of bed by his Grandad just after I had left for hockey to go and fork over the pitch to help it drain, but it didn't seem to have made much difference, because what I saw looked like the battle of the Somme. The centre of the pitch was a mud-bath: exhausted boys covered in mud to their waists and higher, slipping all over the place, as they frantically dug the ball out of the sticky clay mud, trying to find a bit of grass they could get the ball onto to kick it properly. 3-3 and extra time; boys with cramp lying on the ground, one boy sick with the effort put in, and still they played on to penalties with the sun sinking behind the Chiltern hills, with several boys so tired they just lay on the ground in the mud. Finally it was over, and Jamie had lost 5-4 on penalties. I borrowed a dog rug to put over my car seat to take him home.
Those of you old enough will remember playing hockey on grass pitches in the winter: the Saturday morning weather inspection to see if we'd be playing that day, the ball skipping up off a hillock of muddy grass, carefully putting the divots back after the match, the boot bag full of mud. I know on occasions it gets a bit wet and windy and cold at Newlands, but aren't you glad now that we play on astro?
Monday, 30 November 2009
Rain, rain, rain
Sunday morning I went up to Eastcote with two bags of goalkeeping kit for our two U12 Boys teams for a mini tournament. One of our original 'keepers, Oliver, was down with swine flu (we wish him a speedy recovery), so we needed a volunteer to stand-in.
Most players would agree that when it is cold, raining and windy, standing still waiting for an occasional ball to kick is not top of the list of priorities, but up stepped Jack, keen to help. With Ravi kitting up the other keeper, one of the other parents and I struggled with straps and shorts from an adult kit that had got mixed in that came down past Jack's knees, but eventually got Jack ready as the first match was starting. 8 minutes one way and off they went, Jack's team drawing (a couple of kicks required). On the second match, Jack's team won with some excellent hockey. I was watching our other team at the same time so I didn't see it but as our boys dominated I don't believe Jack had much to do. The third and final match was against the other joint top side. Our boys attacked repeatedly, but couldn't find the goal, then with just a minute or so to go, the opposition broke out with a clear field towards our D and Jack. Out Jack stepped to meet the onrushing opposition attacker and met the shot with a perfect kick to clear the ball away to the right. Cheers and thumbs-up to Jack from all the watching parents, Ravi and I. Soon after, the final whistle went, and a 0-0 draw. Both teams equal on points, and goals scored, and goal difference, and joint winners.
High fives and pats on the back from his teammates, grins all round, and despite struggling to get the kit off in time for the presentations, Jack went up for his certificate with the adult shorts dragging round one leg.
Sometimes all it needs is someone to step up and make that one kick in the pouring rain.
Most players would agree that when it is cold, raining and windy, standing still waiting for an occasional ball to kick is not top of the list of priorities, but up stepped Jack, keen to help. With Ravi kitting up the other keeper, one of the other parents and I struggled with straps and shorts from an adult kit that had got mixed in that came down past Jack's knees, but eventually got Jack ready as the first match was starting. 8 minutes one way and off they went, Jack's team drawing (a couple of kicks required). On the second match, Jack's team won with some excellent hockey. I was watching our other team at the same time so I didn't see it but as our boys dominated I don't believe Jack had much to do. The third and final match was against the other joint top side. Our boys attacked repeatedly, but couldn't find the goal, then with just a minute or so to go, the opposition broke out with a clear field towards our D and Jack. Out Jack stepped to meet the onrushing opposition attacker and met the shot with a perfect kick to clear the ball away to the right. Cheers and thumbs-up to Jack from all the watching parents, Ravi and I. Soon after, the final whistle went, and a 0-0 draw. Both teams equal on points, and goals scored, and goal difference, and joint winners.
High fives and pats on the back from his teammates, grins all round, and despite struggling to get the kit off in time for the presentations, Jack went up for his certificate with the adult shorts dragging round one leg.
Sometimes all it needs is someone to step up and make that one kick in the pouring rain.
Friday, 27 November 2009
More rules than you think
When my son was umpiring a juniors hockey match for the first time a couple of weeks ago I told him that there were only 3 rules in umpiring to worry about:
As the course was in our clubhouse, there was a good turn-out from ACHC, in fact several captains and both our players' reps attended. The course was over two evenings: the first a presentation on some of the basics and finer points of the game (if a ball breaks in half and only one half crosses the line, is it a goal? - has this ever happened to anyone?), the second a video demonstrating competency and incompetency in umpiring (I know which I was previously closer to) and then ... an exam. 26 years after I sat my last exam, I sat with my colleagues answering questions on "the height of the backboard", "personal qualities required by umpires" and "when to award a bully other than an injury" (the ball breaking in half of course). 60 marks out of 90 to pass.
When I was last in an exam, silence was the order of the day. In this case, after our Men's 2nd XI captain had moved to a table by himself so no one would laugh at his answers, the Ladies adopted a collaborative technique on one table, while the remainder of the men furiously and competitively scribbled in silence trying to be first to finish (it was me by the way) in between clarifying certain aspects of the exam paper with our tutor.
Thanks to Lynn for running this for us in a very entertaining way. Hopefully some more players (or parents) might like to learn to umpire too - it is much easier than you think, enjoyable and you'll be contributing to the success of our club too.
So now we await the results of our exams, though one of my 'umpiring colleagues' announced that he would regard anything less than 90 as a personal failure. In the meantime you will see us on the Hockey pitch in the coming Saturdays and Sundays, completing our match experience and assessments, at which point we may be the most qualified club in Bucks.
- Blow loudly
- Signal clearly
- You're always right
As the course was in our clubhouse, there was a good turn-out from ACHC, in fact several captains and both our players' reps attended. The course was over two evenings: the first a presentation on some of the basics and finer points of the game (if a ball breaks in half and only one half crosses the line, is it a goal? - has this ever happened to anyone?), the second a video demonstrating competency and incompetency in umpiring (I know which I was previously closer to) and then ... an exam. 26 years after I sat my last exam, I sat with my colleagues answering questions on "the height of the backboard", "personal qualities required by umpires" and "when to award a bully other than an injury" (the ball breaking in half of course). 60 marks out of 90 to pass.
When I was last in an exam, silence was the order of the day. In this case, after our Men's 2nd XI captain had moved to a table by himself so no one would laugh at his answers, the Ladies adopted a collaborative technique on one table, while the remainder of the men furiously and competitively scribbled in silence trying to be first to finish (it was me by the way) in between clarifying certain aspects of the exam paper with our tutor.
Thanks to Lynn for running this for us in a very entertaining way. Hopefully some more players (or parents) might like to learn to umpire too - it is much easier than you think, enjoyable and you'll be contributing to the success of our club too.
So now we await the results of our exams, though one of my 'umpiring colleagues' announced that he would regard anything less than 90 as a personal failure. In the meantime you will see us on the Hockey pitch in the coming Saturdays and Sundays, completing our match experience and assessments, at which point we may be the most qualified club in Bucks.
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