Barcelona News

Barcelona 2009

The Senior hockey squad headed to sunnier climates for pre season hockey training this year and all 21 players and 2 coaches headed to Barcelona for 3 days intensive training at Athletic Terrassa Hockey Club.

Arriving late on Wednesday night we were shown straight to our rooms and quickly settled for some sleep before the next days training. Our super spanish interpretor, Vicky, helped us to navigate our way around the fantastic facilities and we arrived after breakfast to began our first training session on Thursday morning with Arseni Sani. A two hour training session began with the girls showing excellent concentration and progress and by the time the afternoon session arrived they were eager to continue. Ex Spanish international Mark arrived to coach the girls on every thing from footwork to dinks and lifts and most important scoring opportunities. Our 3 goalies, Sadie, Ciara and Sophie also benefited from one to one training and certainly enjoyed a new style of coaching with frisbees, rugby balls and swingball props!

That afternoon was our first match and despite some weary legs from a full days training the girls put into practice all they had learned and came away with a 1-0 win against Teressa Ladies. After watching a mens hockey match before a team dinner, we then relaxed with a few hands of cards but it wasn’t long before all 21 players (and coaches !) retired to bed, exhausted.

Friday began with the sun splitting the skies but a cool down in the swimming pool wasn’t going to be rewarded until after training, this time with a current Ladies Spanish international. Again, along with the goalkeepers, we were shown new skills to bring to our game while all the time increasing the pace at which we carried out these exercises. Another match that afternoon provided stronger opposition and we went down 3-0 but full marks to the girls for commiting until the final whistle despite the intense heat and tired legs. A trip into Barcelona and Hard Rock Café that night brought everyone back to life and a great nights food and a birthday celebration for Sarah was enjoyed.

The following morning we were delighted to be introduced to one of the most capped players in Dutch hockey, Sander van der Weide. He showed the girls why he gained 180 caps in his career and provided some invaluable coaching tips. The girls showed him every respect and attention and enjoyed a final practise match with Mr Van Der Weide playing along too. Finally another trip into Barcelona allowed for some shopping and sight seeing on Las Ramblas before heading to the airport and returning home late on Sat night.

Hopefully this trip will hold happy memories for all those who travelled but more importantly will provde the groundwork for a successful 09/10 season.