Trying to take a line from Anchorman (i.e. "Good Morning San Diego" - edit, d'oh! - the film makes me giggle on off days so who cares really) in a failed attempt to lighten your day, although it is actually appropriate, given that as I post this, it's approximately 2:40 AEST in the morning according to timeanddate.com (!), but either way, I just wanted to intro in a jovial way, the league system and talent on offer in Australia. I was planning on trying to provide coverage for this, but having not got my act together and the club game standard season pretty much over now that it's turning to winter, I'll have to plan ahead for next year after missing the boat completely almost.
Hockey is a massive sport of interest with a big following in Australia, a good reason why they have teams that have had quite the medal haul each decade for quite some years. But this is not just because they have a strong player to choose from (Canada has about 1400 - I think! - registered hockey players and yet can still compete to Olympic standard in the men's - where there is even less via the split - as well as women's formats, so few but incredibly talented athletes on offer), but because there is quality that is not always seen in other nations, perhaps because of the sports programme run even at state school level education. Another reason why the AHL (Australian Hockey League as opposed to the second tier below the NHL in the States' ice hockey leagues!), which is about to start at the end of next week, is considered one of the strongest league/tournament formats in the world, along with the Hoofdklasse.
Australia school representative standard squads actually compete against some of Europe's and the world's best year in year out, proving their quality in depth; if you think about it, this means their sort of C team at juniors is playing the A team of other country's national standard representatives. With forward thinking, progressive and able coaches who are pushing the game to its best, like Ric Charlesworth and a tried and tested method of doing things for bringing talent through rather than letting into plateau or stagnate. Todd Williams (an ex-Olympic) has also brought his skills and breadth of understanding of the game over to the British Isles, turning around the fortunes of Slough women's, then HWHC and Surbiton men's, just to prove another case in point.
And because of this, they also happen to have a history of strong depth in goalkeeping talent, and world class goalies, like Stephen Mowlam, who was considered the world's best for some time in his playing days. They also happen to stay patient with their goalkeepers, entrusting them with a chance to develop on time rather ahead of it, making sure their confidence is not shot to __ after perhaps struggling with the pressures of goalkeeping made even more substantial by playing at the elite level. With great talent comes great responsibility (as opposed to power, to rearrange that Spiderman quote - again with the randomness) and there is more impetus on letting goalkeepers mature before throwing them to the wolves, but at the same time, making sure there is competition for places, which is an incredibly important factor for success at the Olympics and similar, but ignored largely in another countries across the world. If you look at the squad right now they actually have 4 (yes, four!!), goalkeepers involved in the Olympic build-up training schedule, each given opportunities to prove themselves at international standard during a number of friendlies played over the course of the year outside league standard competition.
First impressions
Below are some quick thoughts on what I've seen so far on doing some independent research to try and get a feel for the hockey out in Australia and therefore have a better understanding of the way their goalies potentially play and know more about what's on offer for them.
Kit
In terms of playing kit, there is quite a lot of variation which is great to see. Rather than moulded copycats or "cookie cutter" goalies as they say in the U.S./Canada in ice hockey (relating to robotic goalies that look good but can't bring the goods when needed in crunch games where the odds are stacked against them), they seem to play in styles that suit their abilities and thus kit to match. Or possibly the opposite, going on what they have available, depends how you look at things I guess!
The helmet/cage combo that's more popular in Holland, Spain and Belgium, is quite popular, a solid but affordable option for those on a budget. With good ventilation for playing in the hot of Australian summers.
And an interesting alternative, is that ice hockey helmets seem more prevalent; Itech's plastic one being the one of choice seemingly, even at lower leagues. This along with Obo masks seem just as popular. So there is a good mix that you might not see so much of say anywhere else than Holland or Belgium perhaps (English goalkeepers seeming to prefer the ice hockey mask/helmets more now). Not sure on the objective data though! Guess it's quite a balance in lots of places.
It seems like although Obo are geographically closer, goalies have to rely on moreso domestically produced kit to play with. Which means there's more users of Gryphon, Mazon and Grays, which could be a good thing, but depends on if it does the job the goalkeeper wants it to and matches their playing style i.e. a tube glove for ground work, larger one for shot stopping upright and so on. And this is even at international level: where George is the only goalkeeper in Obo, 'Clemo' in Gryphon and Charter and Lovell in Mazon. Atlas is a new company in Australia that also makes goalie BA's (it's a good body armour apparently, need to have a look-see though!) and goalie shorts and sticks.
You can even see the goalie in this instructional video wearing all sorts of kit! Including the Brabo lhp which is (not sure how/where he !):
Jerseys
One of the minor things that stood out for me, was the professional looking standard of goalie tops. You get this in footie (soccer) and the Italian brands make great shirts (think Wapping brought them in for their first team), so I can't see why they can't be used in hockey. It also gives a sense of that competitive/pro outlook for players and motivational tools etc. Personally, I think they look pretty snazz and cool (but that's just me, and cool isn't probably called that anymore!) and look a lot like American Football or ice hockey jerseys with the bold, brash style and large size (with air gaps useful for keeping the kit not so sweaty!).
Technique
Technique is also an interested myriad. The stereotype of the "X stance" being widely used is not true as I had first believed. Although some of the junior international goalies do make good use of it to challenge the shooter through visual perception and taking away more of the goal visually by looking big and being closer to the ball as it comes at them. The "Y stance" seems more commonplace and put to use at lower levels, although the high, raised hand position at shoulder height for moving into high shots or drag flicks at penalty corners from a standing position, instead of having to lift them up in a shortened time frame. There is also a bit of inventiveness, with drop kicking used and more active glove use and a challenging style for loose balls (an innovativeness that is brought into equipment customisation as well).
Standard of hockey
The standard of hockey is very high throughout. You don't have to be incredibly talented to be working hard and have that competitive desire to take your hockey seriously. Leagues seem to be structured around townships and regional systems due to the ridiculously long distances to travel for a national league system, hence why the AHL is at a centralised location. You can see the action in one of these regional systems below, with Hamish Coates for the University of West Australia (he has played for Wimbledon and HWHC in the English national leagues as blogged about previously) in action in black and yellow Obo pads. The university sides are also very strong, like in Holland, with youngsters continuining on their high level of play whilst studying. Some of the Olympians are also supported in this way, with a sort of scholarship set-up to make sure they benefit in the long term for education and then career whilst taking time out of work for the serious commitments of playing at that level.
You should be able to find more footage of the league games for similar via banner links.
Thoughts
On review, there is a lot to offer Australian goalkeepers or overseas goalies that want to come over to experience a different culture and different style of play. The goalkeepers are of a high standard, especially at the elite level, and Australia has great depth throughout, which is something that should make other countries considerably jealous. Goalkeepers seem to play their own game in a way that suits them, aware of what kit they need and are serious about their hockey. And it will be fun to anaylse the AHL games over the next coming weeks to discuss this in more detail!
Hockey is a massive sport of interest with a big following in Australia, a good reason why they have teams that have had quite the medal haul each decade for quite some years. But this is not just because they have a strong player to choose from (Canada has about 1400 - I think! - registered hockey players and yet can still compete to Olympic standard in the men's - where there is even less via the split - as well as women's formats, so few but incredibly talented athletes on offer), but because there is quality that is not always seen in other nations, perhaps because of the sports programme run even at state school level education. Another reason why the AHL (Australian Hockey League as opposed to the second tier below the NHL in the States' ice hockey leagues!), which is about to start at the end of next week, is considered one of the strongest league/tournament formats in the world, along with the Hoofdklasse.
Australia school representative standard squads actually compete against some of Europe's and the world's best year in year out, proving their quality in depth; if you think about it, this means their sort of C team at juniors is playing the A team of other country's national standard representatives. With forward thinking, progressive and able coaches who are pushing the game to its best, like Ric Charlesworth and a tried and tested method of doing things for bringing talent through rather than letting into plateau or stagnate. Todd Williams (an ex-Olympic) has also brought his skills and breadth of understanding of the game over to the British Isles, turning around the fortunes of Slough women's, then HWHC and Surbiton men's, just to prove another case in point.
And because of this, they also happen to have a history of strong depth in goalkeeping talent, and world class goalies, like Stephen Mowlam, who was considered the world's best for some time in his playing days. They also happen to stay patient with their goalkeepers, entrusting them with a chance to develop on time rather ahead of it, making sure their confidence is not shot to __ after perhaps struggling with the pressures of goalkeeping made even more substantial by playing at the elite level. With great talent comes great responsibility (as opposed to power, to rearrange that Spiderman quote - again with the randomness) and there is more impetus on letting goalkeepers mature before throwing them to the wolves, but at the same time, making sure there is competition for places, which is an incredibly important factor for success at the Olympics and similar, but ignored largely in another countries across the world. If you look at the squad right now they actually have 4 (yes, four!!), goalkeepers involved in the Olympic build-up training schedule, each given opportunities to prove themselves at international standard during a number of friendlies played over the course of the year outside league standard competition.
First impressions
Below are some quick thoughts on what I've seen so far on doing some independent research to try and get a feel for the hockey out in Australia and therefore have a better understanding of the way their goalies potentially play and know more about what's on offer for them.
Kit
In terms of playing kit, there is quite a lot of variation which is great to see. Rather than moulded copycats or "cookie cutter" goalies as they say in the U.S./Canada in ice hockey (relating to robotic goalies that look good but can't bring the goods when needed in crunch games where the odds are stacked against them), they seem to play in styles that suit their abilities and thus kit to match. Or possibly the opposite, going on what they have available, depends how you look at things I guess!
The helmet/cage combo that's more popular in Holland, Spain and Belgium, is quite popular, a solid but affordable option for those on a budget. With good ventilation for playing in the hot of Australian summers.
And an interesting alternative, is that ice hockey helmets seem more prevalent; Itech's plastic one being the one of choice seemingly, even at lower leagues. This along with Obo masks seem just as popular. So there is a good mix that you might not see so much of say anywhere else than Holland or Belgium perhaps (English goalkeepers seeming to prefer the ice hockey mask/helmets more now). Not sure on the objective data though! Guess it's quite a balance in lots of places.
It seems like although Obo are geographically closer, goalies have to rely on moreso domestically produced kit to play with. Which means there's more users of Gryphon, Mazon and Grays, which could be a good thing, but depends on if it does the job the goalkeeper wants it to and matches their playing style i.e. a tube glove for ground work, larger one for shot stopping upright and so on. And this is even at international level: where George is the only goalkeeper in Obo, 'Clemo' in Gryphon and Charter and Lovell in Mazon. Atlas is a new company in Australia that also makes goalie BA's (it's a good body armour apparently, need to have a look-see though!) and goalie shorts and sticks.
You can even see the goalie in this instructional video wearing all sorts of kit! Including the Brabo lhp which is (not sure how/where he !):
Arm protection also seems to be used less at this moment in time, with a move away from the percentage based blocking style favoured oft times more so in the past. Merging styles with a more reactional, acting style for the better, with a hybrid with elbow pads and so on.
So all in all, it's a real mix of kit and styles rather than one specific approach. Which is interesting considering the idea of an established programme of coaching that often doesn't suit each goalkeeper's needs and sometimes become an instiutionalised way of thinking that doesn't work.
Jerseys
One of the minor things that stood out for me, was the professional looking standard of goalie tops. You get this in footie (soccer) and the Italian brands make great shirts (think Wapping brought them in for their first team), so I can't see why they can't be used in hockey. It also gives a sense of that competitive/pro outlook for players and motivational tools etc. Personally, I think they look pretty snazz and cool (but that's just me, and cool isn't probably called that anymore!) and look a lot like American Football or ice hockey jerseys with the bold, brash style and large size (with air gaps useful for keeping the kit not so sweaty!).
Technique
Technique is also an interested myriad. The stereotype of the "X stance" being widely used is not true as I had first believed. Although some of the junior international goalies do make good use of it to challenge the shooter through visual perception and taking away more of the goal visually by looking big and being closer to the ball as it comes at them. The "Y stance" seems more commonplace and put to use at lower levels, although the high, raised hand position at shoulder height for moving into high shots or drag flicks at penalty corners from a standing position, instead of having to lift them up in a shortened time frame. There is also a bit of inventiveness, with drop kicking used and more active glove use and a challenging style for loose balls (an innovativeness that is brought into equipment customisation as well).
Standard of hockey
The standard of hockey is very high throughout. You don't have to be incredibly talented to be working hard and have that competitive desire to take your hockey seriously. Leagues seem to be structured around townships and regional systems due to the ridiculously long distances to travel for a national league system, hence why the AHL is at a centralised location. You can see the action in one of these regional systems below, with Hamish Coates for the University of West Australia (he has played for Wimbledon and HWHC in the English national leagues as blogged about previously) in action in black and yellow Obo pads. The university sides are also very strong, like in Holland, with youngsters continuining on their high level of play whilst studying. Some of the Olympians are also supported in this way, with a sort of scholarship set-up to make sure they benefit in the long term for education and then career whilst taking time out of work for the serious commitments of playing at that level.
You should be able to find more footage of the league games for similar via banner links.
Thoughts
On review, there is a lot to offer Australian goalkeepers or overseas goalies that want to come over to experience a different culture and different style of play. The goalkeepers are of a high standard, especially at the elite level, and Australia has great depth throughout, which is something that should make other countries considerably jealous. Goalkeepers seem to play their own game in a way that suits them, aware of what kit they need and are serious about their hockey. And it will be fun to anaylse the AHL games over the next coming weeks to discuss this in more detail!
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