Hi All,
Well I have been back from Europe for about 5 days now and have been back into work. Took in the under 16 girls games in Counties and Ngatea and a under 16 boys game in Tauranga. Covered half the region in a day to see our talent play.

Europe was an interesting trip and now the Olympic teams are finalised. There are some great blogs on the Midlands webpage from Rich Petherick, Gemma Flynn and myself. Have a read.

Few things to update you on.

1. NHL Program
Alan Galletly, Hymie Gill, Brad Bellamy and I have been running the Midlands trials over the past couple of days. These will be followed by the Midlands origin games between Waikato/Thames Valley/Counties vs. Bay/Tauranga over the coming weeks. The origin concept will be developed further and take over as the official trials for Midlands in 2009. These will be held over 5 matches in our 5 associations.

The trials have shown that the two teams will be very competitive in 2008. The men have the majority of the players back from 2007 including Blacksticks Lloyd Stephenson, Casey Henwood and Richard Petherick. Of much excitement is the addition of two internationals who will be joining the Midlands campaign in 2008.

On the women’s side there is much excitement over the return to the area of several players. Most notably the McGarvey sisters Tambra and Jol who have returned to Tauranga from down south and Claar Eshuis returning from playing in Holland. The team will be boosted with Blacksticks Gemma Flynn, Kim Green and Kate Mahon. We have one international player confirmed and will look to have another over the coming weeks.

NHL in 2008 is a 10 day tournament in Auckland from 18-28 September, The programs are finalised and can be found on the Midlands Webpage.

Please take note of the Origin games 2008. They are in Waikato Hockey 10.30am Sunday 6 July, Tauranga Hockey 10.30 Women 12.00pm Men 13 July, Rotorua Hockey 4pm women 5.30pm men. The only game which is in a little doubt is this Sunday because of injury, U18s and unavailability. Tauranga and Rotorua will go ahead. Get there and watch it.

This series will be grown in 2009 with 5 games, 1 in each of our associations over late May and June.

2. Player Well-being
For all coaches wanted to repeat the following from the last update. We need to be able to do is conduct our sessions in the players best interest. Particularly our very best players need to be looked after. This does mean that coaches need to communicate to each other to find out the intensities and programs their best players are doing. Also consider the following.

• Ask for a weekly diary from your key players who you know are doing multiple program • Take push ups, sprints and punishments out of your session taking out the flogging factor and leaving in the accurate crisp hockey factor
• Make the sessions high touch and tactical rather than drill based and running based (e.g.. Run to that cone and trap and pass, run to that cone and trap and pass)
• Ring the other key coaches and talk.
• Give them the night off
• Teach the players to look after themselves. Diet, injury, rest and workload

OUR BEST 15, 16, 17 YEAR OLDS ARE BEING WORKED HARD PLEASE LOOK AFTER THEM

3. Representative Tournaments
Best wishes goes to BOP, Counties, Tauranga, Thames Valley and Waikato 16s and 18s. Casey, Hymie, Lincoln and I will be watching your progress with great interest. In some cases we will be there. Hymie and I will be in Hamilton for boys 18s. Lincoln will be in Palmerston for girls 18s and I will be in CHCH for girls 16s. We are there as a resource to you if you want us to scout the opposition, look at a couple of tactics in your team or be a sounding board please ask. We will be approaching you during the coming weeks.

4. Blacksticks
Gemma Flynn and Casey Henwood are off to Beijing! Rich Petherick is 17th man. I’ll be with the team in a coaching and video analyst role. The teams leave in late July to Hong Kong then onto the village in early August. First match is 10 August for the teams.

5. Midlands vs. Queensland
After the 16s and 18s tournament we will be naming a team to play Queensland secondary schools in a two game series. These matches will be held on 4 October in Taupo and 5 October in Rotorua. The Midlands junior team will get together on 3 October for a little camp and then play the two games. The team will be coached by our High Performance Team. We will also be getting a shirt printed for each player involved. Good times.

6. Summer Camps
Over the coming 2 weeks we will be in touch with the dates and details of the Midlands summer camps. These programs are currently being revamped by Midlands High Performance coach Lincoln Churchill. The new camps will include off site evening entertainment, outstanding hockey coaching and some great ways to mix and mingle. Standby for all the information. WE ALSO HAVE YOUR TSHIRTS FROM 2008 CAMP! SORRY FOR THE DELAY. We will be in touch about these.

7. RCC 2009
I’m heading to Rotorua next week to catch up with Matt Dalton and look through the hostel at Rotorua Boys college. It is our desire to take RCC camps around Midlands.

We will continue to work with each of our associations to develop hockey in the area. Midlands as a region and Bay of Plenty, Counties, Tauranga, Thames Valley and Waikato need to strive to be ahead in players development. Our players need top competitions to play in, trainings to attend and coaches to train them. It is our desire to help implement this. Lincoln, Casey, Hymie and I will continue to be moving around the region supporting and coaching. We look forward to talking to all of you.

Darren Smith
High Performance Director
Midlands Hockey
E darren.smith@midlandshockey.co.nz
M 027 224 2216