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Sally Bell appointed Women?s National Coach?

Sally Bell will join the Canadian team in Vancouver this May where the team will centralize immediately. Sally has a Bachelor of Education, with a Major in Physical Education and is an Australian Level 3 Hockey Coach. Sally has held a number of coaching positions in Australia, USA, and most recently in Northern Ireland. She was responsible for the coaching of Irish athletes in the Field Hockey Program at the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland. Some of Sally?s other key responsibilities while at the Sports Institute in Northern Ireland have been to manage the athlete?s programs with regard to strength and conditioning, injury management, sports science initiatives, video analysis, nutrition and sports psychology.

Sally will be tossed right into international competition with the team during a series of matches with Australia, who are stopping in Vancouver, June 13-21, en route to the Champions Challenge. However realistically for Sally and the team will be a successful performance at the Pan Am Games in 2007.

Field Hockey Canada welcomes Sally and her family to Canadian hockey.

Summer Sport Funding?

Recently, Suzzanne Nicholson, Senior Manager asked a few questions of the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) regarding the future position of Summer Olympic sports considering the increased funding going to winter sport via the Own the Podium program and if there was a plan to pursue similar funding for summer Olympic sports. Chris Rudge, the CEO of the COC responded to Suzzanne and his response has recently been circulated more broadly to the sporting community. Below is just the first few paragraphs of Chris? response, the complete response can be found at http://www.fieldhockey.ca/e/partners/index.htm

?There have been many questions from the sport community and media as to what the plan is for high performance summer sport in Canada in light of the Own the Podium - 2010 program (OTP) and the increased funding for winter sport leading up to Vancouver 2010.

Let me first provide some background observations. Sport has struggled for many years with significant under funding in Canada, particularly from the federal government. Recently, there has been a confluence of events and activities which are changing the way high performance sport, our athletes, coaches and NSF's, and their needs are perceived. The sport community in general: COC, athletes, coaches organizations, NSF's, Sport Matters, and Athletes Can, have been lobbying more frequently in Ottawa with a consistent message and a united voice. This is extremely important as we move forward.?


Commonwealth Games ? Melbourne, Australia ? 15-26 March 2006 http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/

Commonwealth Games Canada (CWG) is pleased to announce Executive Worldwide Travel as the official Canadian ticketing agent for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. Already the official travel agent for CGC, Executive Worldwide Travel?s excellent service will extend even further to deal with all ticket co-ordination and purchases on behalf of CGC.

Women?s Rabobank Champions Challenge?
The Rabobank Women?s Champions Challenge will take place in Virginia Beach, USA from July 8 to 16, 2005. For additional tournament information, ticket info, etc., visit the tournament website at www.womenschampionschallenge2005.com/

FHC Call for Nominations?

Field Hockey Canada would like to announce the 2005 Call for Nominations. Election forms and more information can be found on our website at: http://www.fieldhockey.ca/e/administration/governance/2005NoticesofMotion.htm

The deadline for the receipt of Nominations is 5:00pm Friday, April 8th, 2005

International Appointments?

Derek Sandison has been appointed as a member of the PAHF Competitions Committee. Derek has valuable experience in both indoor and outdoor hockey both as an umpire and tournament director and will be an excellent addition to this committee. Derek is also currently the Chair, Business Management for FHC.

National Teams?

Junior Women?s Pan American Championship?

The Women?s Junior team is in Puerto Rico at the Junior Women?s Pan American Championships being played from March 16th to 27th. The top three teams from the Championship will go on to compete in the 2005 Women?s Junior World Cup in Chile, September 14th ?25th. Canada has a chance to finish in the top three but it will be a tough play-off series on March 24 and 27th.

Sue Jameson and Wendy Stewart, who has recently been nominated for her International badge, were appointed as Technical Officer and Umpire respectively to the Junior Women?s Championship.


Scotland and Australia in Vancouver?.

The men and women?s national teams will be hosting Scotland and Australia respectively this April and June. Scotland?s men?s team will be in Vancouver and will play Canada as follows at UBC Wright Field (schedule subject to change):
21 April Scot vs Can Selects 2pm
22 April Scot vs Can Selects 7pm
24 April Scot vs Canada 3pm
25 April Scot vs Canada 3pm
27 April Scot vs Canada 12 noon
28 April Scot vs Canada 10am

The Australian women arrive 13 June and matches are schedule with our women?s senior team at 6:00 PM on June 15th, 16th, 18th and 19th at UBC?s Wright Field.

Be sure to check our website closer to each event for the final schedule and team lists.

Indoor 5 Test Series

Canada invited the USA Men?s and Women?s indoor teams to participate in a 5 Test Series over the weekend of March 18th -20th, in Toronto, ON. The matches were full of high-paced action. Canada rounded off the Men?s series winning all 5 games, while the Ontario Training Centre?s Women?s squad had 2 wins, 2 losses and a draw.


Coaching and Umpiring Courses?

USA Field Hockey is pleased to announce the opportunity for Pan Am and USA umpires to attend the Pan American Umpiring Course in conjunction with the Rabobank Champions Challenge presented by Longstreth, July 8-10, 2005, in Virginia Beach, Va.
Jane Nockolds (ENG) will be the lead clinician. Jane is the former FIH World Cup Umpire and Umpire Coach. She currently holds the position of National Development Manager for Umpiring England Hockey and comes to us as a dynamic seasoned course conductor. Richard Kentwell (USA) will be moderating the course. His umpiring background includes service as an FIH Olympic Umpire and FIH Umpire?s Manager. In 2000 he was the Umpire?s Manager during the Sydney Olympics. He is an active FIH Course Conductor. More information at http://www.womenschampionschallenge2005.com/news/umpire_course.htm
Coaching Resource
Visit http://www.coachinghockey.com. A great online hockey coaching resource.

National Schools Program?

The second year of the National Schools Program was again very successful ? the provincial programs introducing hockey to approximately 5000 children and gaining some new volunteers and coaches. Field Hockey Canada distributing $50,000 received from the Sport Canada, Sport Development Program to the provincial associations to promote hockey within schools. The provinces vary in their delivery of the program ? some run 8-10 sessions in four or five schools, others 3-4 visits but with more schools, etc. Over the last two years FHC has realized and distributed a total of $90,000 for the provincial national school programs.

Thanks go to the provinces for all their hard work making this program a success. Tony Stewart, Sherry Doiron and Suzzanne Nicholson make up the administrative work group receiving and reviewing the applications from the provincial associations.

Field Hockey Canada has applied for further funding from the SDP to continue the program in 2005 ?2006.

Special Notes?

Thanks to Monica Voight at Carlson Wagonlit for taking such good care of all our FHC travel needs. As a reminder the contact information for Monica is 1-800-465-4040.

Special thanks to Field Hockey Ontario and Alberta, as well as all the volunteers and officials for making the 2005 Indoor National Championships a success.

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