Footscray Hockey Club

Team Performances
At the half way mark of the season the junior section had an incredible 13 of its 19 eligible teams sitting in the top four! Good luck for the run home everyone. Hopefully plenty of FHC kids playing finals hockey this year.

More Victorian Representatives
Congratulations to Olivia Colasurdo and Libby Birch who have been selected in the recently announced Vic U13 girls team and congratulations to Amy Scott Vic U15’s. Our 2010 Victorian representatives are: Alexandra Leeder, Olivia Colasurdo, Libby Birch, Samuel Leeder, Georgia Hopkins, Bethany Russ and Amy Scott. Congratulations to Patrick Meaney and Gabriel Smith who are emergencies (‘train-on players’) in their respective age groups, and well done to the many children who came close to state selection. And most of all, a great WELL DONE! to the 86 volunteers who are running the FHC junior section this year (see list on the junior notice board). Without the hard work of our volunteers year in year out we would have no junior players, let alone brilliantly trained ones.

State League 2
Many would be aware that the Ladies and Men’s State League teams are excelling in their first year in SL2 (both sitting third after 14 rounds – that’s one place off promotion to SL1!), and the main reason is easy to see. In the Ladies SL2 and 2nd eleven teams, 9 of the 13 players in each are from the FHC juniors, and likewise 9 of the 15 Men’s SL2 squad are from our juniors. Take out the overseas guest players, and the proportion of FHC juniors playing Men’s SL2 at FHC would be the same as the ladies. The rewards that we are reaping are coming principally because of the hard work that we’re doing at junior level (and through the excellent mentoring of these children through their senior teams). Get involved with the junior section everyone -its the guaranteed way to ensure that senior team success continue to come our way.

Thank You to the Men’s State League Coach David Audeshio and overseas recruits Javier, Gaston and Robbie for their terrific commitment to our junior players. The group are just about to finish their two month super-skills program which has involved all of our Shield level players. The men have also spent many hours at specific team training sessions helping the team coaches add polish to our young champions.

Junior Presentation Function
Confirmed Date of Sunday October 3 for our junior presentation functions (one group 10.00 -11.00 am, the second group 12.00 – 1.00 pm, rep player photo in between).

Welcome to super-coach Peter Nalder who has stepped in to the U15 West (Red) coaching void now that Fidz has gone overseas to run the Asian and Commonwealth Games. Welcome to Tom Griffin & Robbie Smith taking the U15A side for the last 4 rounds.

Junior State Championships
Many flattering reports have been coming back to me about the performance of FHC kids over last week’s Junior State Championship (U13 and U15). Not just that, but the performances of the FHC coaches involved have drawn top marks also. Footscray contributed just over 50% of the player numbers for the Western Wildcats, which was one of only two districts (from 10 in total – 6 metro/4 country) who had all four teams make it to the semi-finals on Friday. Particular congratulations to the U13 girls team who took off the State title. Well done to all of our 10 girls in that squad, and to head coach Lisa Anderson, and coaching assistants (and FHC U17 stars) Lexie White and Lauren Hopkins. Early this week the Victorian selectors will announce preliminary squads of elite performers who will trial over coming weeks for Victorian team selection. Good luck FHC boys and girls. Also, nominations are now open for players that would like to trial for the boys and girls U17 squads. You must be an U17 player to be able to trial. Find the nomination form on the Hockey Victoria website, and act now!
Also you can check out and purchase a number of photos from the event here: www.sportsonline.net.au

Running Technique Training
Want to learn how to run like an elite performer? Here is your chance, because the fantastic Sonia Kiernan is coming back to FHC to run her 5 week master-class in running technique Monday week (July 12th). The sessions will run for 1 hour each of the five Monday nights (6.00 – 7.00 pm), and the cost to participate is $10 per session. This course only comes around ever three or four years, so get involved now is you think that added speed will make you a better hockey player. All bookings through Linda Chambers bearace@bigpond.net.au

Best of luck Fidz
Popular club personality Mohommed Hafidz (Fidz) has left for six months work overseas involving equal time with the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games respectively. One of the most important recruits to come to the Club in recent years, Fidz will be a hard man to replace. Have a great time OS Fidz, and we look forward to seeing you in 2011.

Strong Start to the Season
Footscray teams are flying in almost all divisions. Congratulations to all players, coaches and administrators on achieving a very successful opening to the season. We have a record 240 children representing us in 19 teams (including representation in 6 of the 7 ‘A’ grades!) plus a healthy Minkey program.

FHC Second Largest Hockey Club in Victoria
Our expanded junior numbers over recent years is the key reason while the Footscray Hockey Club is now the second largest hockey club in Victoria (there are 60 or so clubs in Melbourne alone). The top three rankings are: Camberwell (47 teams), FOOTSCRAY 41, Southern United 40.

Wildcat Reps
In recent years the highest number of U13 and U15 Western Wildcats (the western metro regional representative teams that play at the Junior State Championships each June) was 24 last year. This year – 33! Well done to all players who trialled for selection, and best wishes to those competing later this month. FHC are supplying a little over 50% of the Wildcats players.

Victorian Reps
The Victorian U12 (Vic. primary schools) teams have just been announced, and we have two new Vic representatives (as well as Georgia Hopkins who is selected for the second time). Congratulations to Bethany Russ and Samuel Leeder! Samuel is another product of our highly successful goalkeeper development program which has produced half a dozen Victorian goalies over the last 7 or 8 years.

No Junior Hockey
Whilst mid-week training continues as usual, there is no junior hockey over the long weekend (June 11/12).

Super Skills Clinic
Super Skills Coaching: Under the leadership of senior mens division coach David Audesho, we have commenced a 4 week Super Skills Development Program, initially available to 15 selected girls and 15 selected boys. To be repeated for other talented children later in the year, the program utilises the availability of our international guest players Gaston and Javier (both from Argentina) and Robbie from the United Kingdom.

20 Teams to Begin in 2010
The junior section has entered the new season with a record 20 player squads (including an expanded Minkey program), and we are now represented in all ‘A’ divisions for girls teams, and up to U15 ‘A’ in the ‘mixed’ grades. Our inaugural U15 ‘A’ team will hopefully win us U17 ‘A’ entry in two years time by finishing above 9th position in U15 ‘A’ in 2010.

Wildcats
Wildcats trials began on the weekend and FHC has provided 50% of the nominations for the Western Region. Good luck in coming weeks kids!

Junior Umpires
FHC junior umpires are now receiving pocket money for their umpiring endeavors. Above U9 level, our umps receive between $10 – $15 depending on the grade umpired. The cost of this program is covered by Junior Grant Sponsorships received.

Torquay Hockey Club
FHC are a major benefactor of the new Torquay Hockey Club which has been established by FHC Veteran and former coach Andrew Crowley. FHC donated goal-keeping equipment and sticks to help Torquay HC get moving!

Pre-Loved Sale
Thank you to Lisa for arranging our sale of pre-loved hockey goods. There were some amazing bargains available in the shoe department with many pairs of near new runners. For the sake of spending $10 – $20 why not grab your child’s next pair of quality sand-shoes now from our pre-loved goods.

Goal Keeper Training
U17 goalkeeping ace Alexandra Leeder is helping the club train-up three new U11 GK prospects. Thanks Alexandra!

Results
Our junior teams have started the new season in pretty good style. Rd 1 results were 13 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses (77 goals for, 26 against), and Rd 2 = 12 wins, 2 draws, 4 losses (69 goals for, 22 against). More importantly we’re seeing terrific player growth and development across all age groups. Keep up the good work kids/coaches/administrators/parents!

Registration Thanks
Thank-you to Karen Veitch and Nicole Virtuoso for their fantastic work in helping get FHC kids registered on the new Hockey Victoria player database.

Fees
If you haven’t already paid your fees for the 2010 season, it’s time to see Heather and either complete your payment or discuss a payment scheme.

FHC have smashed their previous (recent era) record (4) of selected Victorian junior representatives by having an incredible 7 children earn their ‘Big V’ for 2009.
In age order the children are:

• Georgia Hopkins (U12)
• Kaitlin Grimaldi (U12)
• Reid Sargent (U13)
• Oscar Allan (U13)
• Olivia Colasurdo (U13)
• Sarah Breen (U15/U18)
• Alexandra Leeder (U16).

Add to this total Monday’s announcement that Sarah Breen and ScotShaw have been selected into next Summer’s Vic U18 Indoor hockey teams. Congratulations kids, and congratulations to the unsung heroes – the FHC junior coaches that taught these kids to play hockey! All of these junior families have received a generous grant from the Club towards the cost of their State tracksuit.

Season to date: The juniors continue to break our own junior section records at FHC: In 2009 – We have our highest ever number of junior teams – 20 (incl. ‘Minkey’), have had a staggering 75 new players to Rd 9, have our highest ever number of junior players – 236 (up from 201in ’08), have a majority of girls in the junior division – 119 girls / 117 boys, have had a record number of players selected for this years U13/ U14 /U15 Junior State Championships (‘Western Wildcats’) – 38, We have had a record number of FHC coaches placed in charge of Western Wildcats teams – 4.

State Championships
Currently the Junior State Championships are on at Royal Park (Monday June 29th – Sunday July 5th). Played on mid-week evenings and the following weekend, the championships will showcase the best juniors in Victoria, with Footscray being the best represented Club on display. Check out the fixture on the Hockey Victoria website, and come along and support the FHC kids!

Representatives Honours
We’ve had two new Vic Primary School (Vic U12) reps announced – Kaitlyn Grimaldi and Georgia Hopkins. Another product of Michelle Leeder’s magnificent junior goalie development program, Kaitlyn just got across the line from our own Ebony Pugh, whilst Georgia adds another chapter to the fantastic Hopkins / Thomas hockey story. Well done to all involved, particularly the FHC coaches, officials, umpires and administrators who have created the circumstances in which these kids have been able to develop their skills.

Reminders and Other Matters

1. There will be no junior training during the school holidays unless otherwise arranged between a coach and his / her families.
2. Check out the HVic website for notices re: Vic Junior Indoor Team Noms (close 29 July).
3. Have you heard about the Local Sporting Champions program that is now available nationally for individuals and teams? This Australian Government initiative has been designed to provide financial assistance for junior sportsmen and women towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing at an official national sporting organisation (NSO) endorsed state sporting organisation (SSO) or national school sporting competition. More Information: www.ausport.gov.au/champions. Applications for the 2008/09 grant cycle close 30 June 2009, so be sure to get your application in soon!
4. A special big congratulations top Mark White and Heather Shaw who are spear-heading FHC’s management this year of the Western Wildcats process. Keep up the great work guys.

FHC dominate Western Wildcats Selections
The Footscray Junior Section has broken its Western Wildcats player rep total for the fifth consecutive year. A massive 36 children have been selected, plus two further players have been named as ‘train-ons’ and are therefore emergencies for their Wildcats teams. The Wildcats teams will be training each Sunday from now until the State Championships in July and will then contest four games across that first week of the school holidays.

To underscore our current status, we also have a record number of FHC coaches with Wildcats appointments. Congratulations to Hernie Isorena, Les McAlinden, Mohammed (Fidz) Hafidz, Geoff Peacock and Lisa Anderson. Team Manager positions have been awarded to Piere Scott and Barry Allan. Thanks also go to the people that represented FHC as Wildcats selectors – Alex Grosz, Daryl Jahnke, Barry Allan, Anne Robinson and Lisa Anderson. Mark White and Heather Shaw are the mainstays behind the regional organisation of the Wildcats this year and are doing a fantastic job this far.

And the biggest thank-you goes to the people that give up hundreds of hours a year to make these kids the best that they can be – our outstanding group of junior team coaches at FHC. Take a bow all of you!

The children selected this year are:
Holly Azzopardi, Mahalia Bailey, Annalise Bettiol, Olivia Colasurdo, Melanie Corless, Georgia Hopkins, Chelsea Pugh, Ebony Pugh, Isabelle Skilbeck, Stephanie Thompson, Oscar Allan, Reid Sargent, Peter Wroblewski, Nicola Hancock, Ahried Isorena, Hayley McAlinden, Melissa Morton, Amy Scott, Joanna White, Tayla Williams, Tyson Breen, Riley Damnics, William Leeder, Angus Robinson, Vinny Sharma, Sarah Breen, Sheridan Corless, Ellen Druce, Caitlin Duggan, Gabrielle Lewis, Shannara Main, Ally Sheehan, Neil Duncan, Weston Howell, Patrick Meaney and Morgan Stephens. Trainons are Georgia Cutrale and Liam Braithwaite.

Several children were very unlucky to miss out, but our recent track record shows that our kids make it to representative honors eventually if they keep working at their game.

Coaching
Our coaches are certainly not resting on their laurels though. Last week former international star and Aussie assistant coach Jim Irvine was here running the first of two best-practice coaching strategy sessions with our coaches. Jim returns Wednesday week (May 27) to run his follow-up session on specific skill teaching.

Player Safety
Whilst we are determining our protocols for the use of the Junior Training Area, could all junior players be aware that they are responsible for the safety of younger children that they might be sharing the area with. We have already had one very unfortunate accident in there and that’s one too many.

Most of the Junior teams (non Shield teams) do not have badged umpires allotted to their games. Most of the home games are covered by Graeme Veitch, but we have a problem with the away games particularly U17 Girls North, U15 Girls North and U15 West Mixed. Junior teams cannot afford the situation where the coach has to take to the field to umpire. Is there anyone who may be able to help us out—teams may be able to cover the cost of petrol for any willing volunteers? Please contact Steve Pattie steve.pattie@dsto.defence.gov.au