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Hans Dykstra - "reverse stick"

Pick up your hockey stick. Interchange your left and right hands so your right hand grips the top of the stick. Now flip the stick upside down and take your hockey stance with the stick positioned on the left side of your body.

That’s how Hans Dykstra first picked up his hockey stick at age 12 and has been playing that way ever since.

“I’m right-handed,” said Hans, but without formal coaching during his beginning years he played the way that felt most natural – with his right hand in control of the stick.

While many coaches later tried to get him to change his style, Hans admits he was stubborn in not wanting to change.

Hans Dykstra demonstrates his left-handed hockey stance - "forehand"

But why should he have changed? He was good. So good that at selections for the Dutch national team, the coach wanted Hans on the squad, but the other members of the selection committee wouldn’t allow it. He was told that the way he played “wasn’t normal” and that his style wouldn’t be accepted on the international level.

“It’s a pity that I couldn’t play,” said Hans, “but it was too late to change.”

Hans, however, was invited to play for Batavieren, a team composed of former Dutch international players, even though he has never played an international match as part of the national team. He is still a current member of the Batavieren team and has been playing with them for the past 15 years.

Hans Dykstra - "reverse stick"

His unconventional playing style has its advantages. He launches aerial balls with ease, even when under pressure, and his preference to play with one-hand gives him an extra-long reach as a defender.

“He’s a brilliant player, especially in indoor,” said Erik Reinhard, an opponent from the Roden Hockey Club. “Just when you think you’ve passed him his reach gives him an extra half yard and he comes up with the ball.”

“The most technical players aren’t a problem with my reach,” said Hans, who feels his style of play hasn’t affected his ability execute the necessary skills. What difficulty Hans does have comes with his age: “The next day, my muscles, that’s the problem.”

Hans isn’t only unique for his style of play, at age 56 he is also the oldest player in the Netherlands to play on a men’s first team.

“It’s amazing that he is still able to play at this level,” said Hidde Sikkes of the Roden Hockey Club. “Others his age play on the senior teams. I think it’s great.”

Despite his age, Hans has be playing on the first team for the Eelde Hockey Club for the past 6 years, and plays on the same team as his son Jelle, who played for the Dutch national Under-18 team.

When Hans is to retire is still to be determined; Ever year his team throws him a goodbye party when he swears he’s ready to retire his stick, but ever year so far he’s returned to the pitch.

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