Sporting your life vicariously - the return

MissPdubyah gave up playing Club Hockey 18 months ago, and all Hockey at the end of her time at College. Much to the despair of MrsPhil and myself. After all she's fairly handy and capable.

But it's her life and like all things you have to encourage and enjoy it.

Got herself a new job too, working in a Menswear shop where she's selling some nice suits, shirts and ties (ask me how many Ties I got for my birthday)

A Summer paper at University, and 8 months into this year, where she's doing very well and enjoying herself, all of a sudden she get's it into her head to go and re-join the Hockey club and start playing again.

In the Premier Reserves grade, where she's happy and seems to have fitted straight back in.

And this made MrsPdubyah and me smile. We haven't been invited to watch yet, this seems to be the new protocol, but we will. Probably Finals day.

Sporting your life vicariously – the last Tournament – Pictures and Video

Some of the pictures from the last game of College Hockey for #2 Daughter - Federation Cup 2012 - Carterton - there is a YouTube too, just because I discovered how to do that !

The movie has the sequence in order of an obstruction call that she didn't get given and ends with some hand waving and chirping of the umpire. Wonder where she get's that from :-)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFnIfV7YgoA]

The game Rangitoto College against Palmerston North Girls for 13/14th place. It ended 5-2 to Rangitoto who were altogether the better team.
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Sporting your life vicariously – the last Tournament - Aftermath

The Final Federation Cup Hockey Tournament for the #1 Daughter is done and dusted.

After the two games on Monday the dye had been cast and the girls were then in the bottom half off the draw - the bottom 8, which was confirmed after a further loss on the Tuesday.

Wednesday's game, against, surprisingly Whangarei GHS, meant that the loser would effectively be relegated from the tournament the following year.

It didn't go well, the Rangitoto girls turned up to play in a very terse, nervous and sombre mood. And this translated to a ponderous and withdrawn match that they lost easily to a very motivated Whangarei team.

Thursday then, nothing to lose and a match against Kristin School, who, ironically are the closest school to Rangitoto College in Auckland. They have "the wood" on them and 1-0 doesn't really do justice to a match that Rangitoto dominated for he large part

And so to a final game, in the pouring rain, and #1 seeding for the Marie Fry tournament next year, and a comprehensive 5-2, smiles and high fives all round.

• Mon 3rd Sep  Round 1 Pool C Rangitoto College Craighead Diocesan  LOSS 0 - 2 


• Mon 3rd Sep  Round 2 Pool C Rangitoto College Villa Maria College LOSS 2 - 4 


• Tue 4th Sep    Round 3 Pool C St Cuthbert's College Rangitoto College LOSS 3 - 0 


• Wed 5th Sep  Crossover Round 4 Whangarei Girls' High Rangitoto College LOSS 4 - 0


• Thu 6th Sep   Crossover Round 5 Rangitoto College Kristin School WIN 1 - 0 


• Fri 7th Sep   Final Round Rangitoto College Palmerston North Girls WIN 5 - 2 

Final Results and Placings

• 1 St Cuthbert's College


• 2 Wairarapa College


• 3 Diocesan School


• 4 Rangi Ruru Girls


• 5 Villa Maria College


• 6 St Margaret's College


• 7 Epsom Girls Grammar


• 8 St Hilda's Collegiate


• 9 Whangarei Girls' High


• 10 Craighead Diocesan


• 11 St Matthew's Collegiate


• 12 Christchurch Girls High


• 13 Rangitoto College


• 14 Palmerston North Girls


• 15 Kristin School


• 16 Gisborne Girls High

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Sporting your life vicariously – the last Tournament

Next week my daughter will be playing for her College team at the 2012 Federation Cup Secondary School Tournament in Carterton. It will be for her, and many others, the final schools tournament they get to play in. Of course there is always faint hope of age grade representative teams, and other honours, but this one is a final hurrah before she embarks into the real world!

Rangitoto College are this year seeded #6 based on the 2011 tournament results. The Federation Cup is for the top schools Hockey teams, and is pretty mercenary, the bottom 4 teams drop out of the tournament the following year, and the top four teams from the  Marie Fry Trophy Secondary School Tournament are added, this year: St Hilda's Collegiate , Craighead Diocesan, Christchurch Girls High, and Gisborne Girls High. The Schools that now play in the tournament below -The Marie Fry Trophy Secondary School Tournament -  are : Westlake Girls High, Hillcrest High School, Tauranga Girls College,  and Nelson College for Girls, and they go in as the top 4 seeds for that.

The Federation Cup  is played in a tournament format of 16 Team 4 teams per pool, and then Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Finals.

In recent years, since they qualified after the 2007 Marie Fry Trophy Tournament,  Rangitoto College have finished 8th (2008), 4th (2009), 2nd (2010), and 6th (2011).

This year then the seeding and pools look like this

Pool A	Pool B	Pool C	Pool D
Wairarapa College	Diocesan School	St Cuthbert's College	St Matthew's Collegiate
Whangarei Girls' High	St Margarets' College	Rangitoto College	Rangi Ruru Girls
Epsom Girls Grammar	Kristin School	Villa Maria College	Palmerston North Girls
Gisborne Girls High	Christchurch Girls High	Craighead Diocesan	St Hilda's Collegiate

And seedings

Team	Division Seeding
Wairarapa College	1
Diocesan School	2
St Cuthbert's College	3
St Matthew's Collegiate	4
Rangi Ruru Girls	5
Rangitoto College	6
St Margaret's College	7
Whangarei Girls' High	8
Epsom Girls Grammar	9
Kristin School	10
Villa Maria College	11
Palmerston North Girls	12
St Hilda's Collegiate	13
Craighead Diocesan	14
Christchurch Girls High	15
Gisborne Girls High	16

And for me? A Few days in Carterton where there is plenty of Wine to drink ! oh and I'm urged to consider these activities whilst there, inbetween games:

• Paua World, a terrific paua factory and store


• The Parkvale Mushroom Factory


• Vineyards at Gladstone


• Stonehenge Aotearoa


• Country gardens - like Daysh Country Garden at Clareville and Assisi Gardens high in the Gladstone hills


• and as a bonus


• For an outdoor adventure hike in the Tararua Forest Park and the Waiohine Gorge, which has an brilliant swing bridge.

All of which could happen.

Sporting your life vicariously – the one where they end in tears.

It's down to the final few games of College hockey for Ms17 (MS18 in 37 days she informs me), and last night was the final of the local secondary schools tournament.

I'd forgotten how intensely competitive Ms17 is, her not playing grade or club Hockey this year has meant that I've not seen her play since the pre-season ANZAC tournament thing a few months back.

Last night, having lost 4-0 MS17 arrived in the clubroom clearly very upset. At a point midway int he second half, the coach had changed the on field formation taking off one of the 'inner' (and captain) and a 'striker'.  Now either this didn't register with MS17 (who plays at 'back') or wasn't communicated very well on field. It did lead to some dis-array as the opposition made a bit of hay and mayhem as positionally the team were all set up wrong.

She says that after the game she approached the coach, Dave, and says she said that "it would have been nice to know about the changes" and had received not the reply she expected along the lines of "get over it".  Which is where, it seems, she loses composure.

In the clubroom she tells us that although she really enjoys the school hockey she hasn't gotten over the fact that Dave, the coach, and age grade selector, had told her in the past that "she wasn't fit" and that "she couldn't hit a ball" and that her "grade level opportunities were limited." Coupled with the fact that he's chosen s strange combination of co-captains, one of whom is clearly not a teams player makes Ms17 a bit tetchy.  That the co-captains are picked at age Grade level might be why they are co-captains, and that MS17 chose not to trial for the teams may also be the reason.

It's clear though that there is a lack of something in the relationship that MS17 expects with the coach/selector, and it's clear that she lacks the tools to be able to deal with and get the answers / feedback / input that she's looking for. It's all very challenging.

I've no idea how to fix this, but I'll work at it though.

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Growing up – the one with the frustration.

I care about my children a lot, and whilst by no means the best parent I think that between me and MrsPubyah we did an okay job.

Currently #1 son is looking for a full time job. His motivation is increasing as his desire to leave home and move in with his girlfriend increases. But it's not an easy ride, and he seems to lack a get-up-an-go that perhaps I'd like him to have. Now this isn't to say that he isn't truing I'm sure he is, it's just that he'd rather slope off to his room and play online games in the evening than try a conversation.

#1 daughter is a totally new frustration. Having given away top grade hockey because "she didn't like it" was given a chance to go do some top grade umpiring for the National U18 tournament. This means that she needs to put some top work in umpiring the top grade hockey that she gave away. Frustratingly she doesn't get that she can't keep passing up opportunity, they sometimes don't knock again.

She also doesn't get that you have to commit to people if that's what they expect.

She also doesn't get that she has certain things like a fully insured car and petrol based on her past activity level. Also a pretty expensive gym membership. And she wants to go to the ball, and needs a ball gown, and no doubt shoes, handbag, makeup  and all sorts.

She also has an idea that she wants an 18th birthday party.

There are some things that I can accept, that after a lot of hockey you need a rest, but to forgo being with high performing people at a time that you need motivation in your life isn't a good idea. We support her not playing hockey, it's the right thing to do, but I'm struggling with supporting her lifestyle choices at the moment, particularly as she's prevaricating and making it difficult for her and others to organize around.

Just frustrating. It's not my life to live, but if I had had the opportunity and exposure that she's had to things then I'm pretty sure I would have enjoyed them. And I'd hate to look back on my life and wonder what would have been if I hadn't given it all up.

From the St Cuthbert's ANZAC Hockey Festival.

I wrote about the saga of the School Uniform blazers. These are just a few of the picture I took of MissPdubyah at the St Cuthbert's ANZAC Hockey Festival which is a secondary schools pre-season 3 day event, attracting visiting teams from all over the country.

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Jolly Hockey Sticks - the College edition

[caption id="attachment_1684" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Rangitoto Hockey"][/caption]

Every year there is a pre-season Inter-College "tournament" at St. Cuthberts College in Remuera. It's called the Anzac tournament and is by invitation only.

As part of promotion the College hosts the ANZAC Tournament, which is an invitational festival competition of teams from through out New Zealand.

Rangitoto College are the only public school to be invited to participate.

There is a traditional festival dinner held on the first evening of the two day event. Rangitoto College girls broke with tradition a few years a go and dressed "formally" in school uniform for the dinner, and in subsequent years this has become the norm.

This year however having changed school uniform through the year to some new fancy affair the 1st XI Hockey Girls won't be able to wear a school blazer as the school "pool" of blazers is short the number they need.

Blazers are an optional item of school wear and they are not in common usage other than at formal events and occasion and the school rents them for use for events.

Daughter is besides herself. She feels that not being able to dress up for the festival dinner is a poor signal from the school in a couple of areas. Firstly she thinks that this is an indication of the "worth" of the Hockey team to the School.

The team is in the premier grade, and has won or been in Intercity and National Finals consistently for many years.

Secondly she feels that being able to dress up to represent the college carries with it more kudos and mana among what you could consider a list of élite private schools. She has pride in spades

So she wrote a letter to the head of sports, her coach, and a couple of other teachers in the school. All for the cause. Like I said to her "If you do nothing you get nothing"

I hope something comes of it, she thinks it's important enough, I hope the school does too.

5th of April update

Having presented her letter to he Dean and her Tutor, as well as the HOD Sports blazers became available. She's not taking any credit for it of course,  but I told her she should even if she doesn't believe it :-) My activist daughter, who knew!

Growing up and letting go – sporting your life vicariously - Update

Well it seems I lost the good fight to Keep daughter into playing Hockey this year. Having had all the advantages, support, encouragement and backing of many people, having had access to some of the best mentors and role models, and playing with some of the finest élite players we have in the best team for the best club, it seems isn't enough. I tried.

Growing up and letting go - sporting your life vicariously

At 17 it's come down to a battle of wills.

Miss does not want to play club hockey this year. We already agreed that the representative competitions weren't going to be a feature, it still  seems to be about favouritism and who knows who, who's the coach and who's the manager, I'm not saying that the daughters of the various "officials" get picked, it might be the other way around, that it's accidental that the players are picked then oh can mum or dad be the coach/manager/etc.

Anyway we long ago decided that it wasn't fair or proper to insist on Miss participating in a short season of representative grade hockey, and frankly it's a cheaper option.  She has played for various A grade and occasional B grade teams over many years, and this year enough is enough, there wasn't going to be enough excitement in it. Besides which it could encroach on earning opportunities and a part-time job

School Hockey is fine, we're down with that, and I think she was hoping to be captain of the 1st XI this year, secretly if not openly. It may come to pass, she has a reasonable chance, but then it's down to the coach. And the coach is the same one that coaches the rep team. We'll see how that plays out.

But club hockey is another thing altogether. She played for the championship winning team last year, as probably the youngest team member, alongside a couple of very good current and ex black-stick and junior black-stick players, acquitted herself well, scored a couple of goals and generally seemed to enjoy it.

This year though after the summer break it seems that the fun isn't there any more.

And this is where, as a parent, it gets tough. I think we've been pretty fair and even in pushing and insisting on sports and achievements. Not to the point of forcing her to play, but making sure that we supported and encouraged where possible and supported the decisions that she wanted to make. It's cost us a fair bit of money too, it's not cheap, kit, travel, turf fees, club fees , physio visits, gym memberships etc.

With age and experience I'd prefer that she continued, at least for this year, at least untill she went to University, or got a job, and then I'd be happy to let it go. Accept that adulthood and decision-making has arrived and needs to be respected. I've even suggested that she start the season and then decide.

On reflection though this would be quitting, and I've never let my children quit half way through a team commitment.

So I have a quandary, give up and let go, or push because that's what I'd like to see happen.

Living your life vicariously - the sporting edition

I may have covered this already. But daughter shows a surprisingly good aptitude for field hockey. She's been playing years and has gathered a fair number of player of the day's, player of the year, most improved, and best team member awards. Some of them against 'international' teams (that's other school teams on the world tour) but still hey they chose it not me.

She's also a farily well thought of umpire and has picked up a number of age grade awards and medals and is a New Zealand grade umpire, and she umpires at a high level.

So fair to say we think her achievements are pretty cool, and that we pretty proud of her.

This year was rather difficult however, she wasn't picked in the Under 18A team, the reason given was fitness, which turned out to be pretty accurate, but she did get to go umpire the same tournament as the youngest umpire. Yeah we're proud.

The U18 team did go on to win the tournament,  despite being a player short through injury - daughter having pulled out from the "b" team wasn't considered as a replacement.

And as with all age grade sporting codes it's come down to not what you do it's who you know. There was some very contentious decisions to take average ability players into a U21 team, and there is a very clique-like "elite" sports clinic that is by invitation only.

There is also currently a "Senior" squad that is made up of "up and coming" players again by invitation only, and daughter although made aware of the team invitation (she was copied by email), wasn't invited.

Seems she's offside with at least one of the selectors.

But we've always said that it's her choice to play or chose to play or not, and that we'd support her decisions and actions.

Today though the "Senior" squad finds itself a bit short and they've come cap-in-hand to get her to play against a Queensland team. And this is where it gets interesting since I'd like her to play to prove a point and to have some fun, and she is saying no.

It's not easy living your life vicariously!

I did a bad thing

I had a tanty rage at an umpire last night. They were bad to the point of worthless, with poor decisions and even worse interaction with the players. Arrogant and inept the worst kind.

Anyway it ended up as two idiots arguing as I kindly and politly told him he was inept, and being arrogant and stupid he reacted badly, and this is an umpire who's fair, impartial and accurate.

So I'm not proud and I've been fretting on it since.

In my poor defence I have to say that I had a lot of support for my sentiments if not my actions.

I've been grounded for a week :-(

Watching

So this time we're hiding in plain sight, in the sun, with the other parents, but this time she's a player not an umpire.

Watching

After the chop-shop (the hairdresser) I stopped at the Hockey to have a look at the umpiring skills of the daughter. After all it's what a father does.

Apparantly she can see quite well as I was seen from about 150 meters. D'oh

 

 

 

The sport of watching sport

I watch my daughter at hockey. Shes progressed through the years aand plats a respectable level for a decent club, in fact premier Womens level.

The game today was marred by poor umpiring. Not the type of poor umpiring where the umpire wants to be involved in the game, but generally poor umpiring decisions and decision making,

Which is a shame.

They won 3-2, and were denied a penalty corner at the end of the game because the poorer of the two umpires was time keeping and being very pedantic about that if at least nothing else in the game.

Now I'm not an umpire, don't claim to be one, but other umpires I was sitting with also made comments and observations, so I feel righteous in my whine.

The sport of watching sport

I watch my daughter at hockey. Shes progressed through the years aand plats a respectable level for a decent club, in fact premier Womens level.

The game today was marred by poor umpiring. Not the type of poor umpiring where the umpire wants to be involved in the game, but generally poor umpiring decisions and decision making,

Which is a shane,

They weon 3-2, and were denied a penalty corner at the end of the game because the poorer of the two umpires was time keeping and being very pedantic about that if at least nothing else in the game.

Now I'm not an umpire, don't claim to be one, but other umpires I was sitting with also made comments and observations, so I feel righteous in my whine

I Made good my bet

I had, on reflection, a rather daft bet with Ms16 (then 15) about her ability to score a goal in hockey. As a "back" I was confident that I'd manage to win that.

The payback? Well foolishly "score and you get a car" - since at the time she wanted to learn to drive, and well it seemed a safe bet that I couldn't lose. Her team of much senior players, some black-sticks, and some very good quality players, meant that there was no chance, no chance in hell, of her being in a position to score.

Until the tail end of the season and coach, for no reason that I can fathom decides to put her on as a forward. Might have been teenage legs and run for everything.

So she scores, her first senior goal, and I'm not kidding that at least 20 people turn to me and say "ooh that's just cost you" Seems like a lot of people were in on the bet!

Not the coach though she was as happy and surprised as anyone.

So I got some reward for the weeks of watching - seeing Ms score a senior goal,  she got the car.

The car being the lost and found one, which we pick up on the weekend. It's a nanna mobile and is ideal.

oh and for the record Ms scored the following week for her School team. good things come in pairs

I Made good my bet

I had, on reflection, a rather daft bet with Ms16 (then 15) about her ability to score a goal in hockey. As a "back" I was confident that I'd manage to win that.

The payback? Well foolishly "score and you get a car" - since at the time she wanted to learn to drive, and well it seemed a safe bet that I couldn't lose. Her team of much senior players, some black-sticks, and some very good quality players, meant that there was no chance, no chance in hell, of her being in a position to score.

Until the tail end of the season and coach, for no reason that I can fathom decides to put her on as a forward. Might have been teenage legs and run for everything.

So she scores, her first senior goal, and I'm not kidding that at least 20 people turn to me and say "ooh that's just cost you" Seems like a lot of people were in on the bet!

Not the coach though she was as happy and surprised as anyone.

So I got some reward for the weeks of watching - seeing Ms score a senior goal,  she got the car.

The car being the lost and found one, which we pick up on the weekend. It's a nanna mobile and is ideal.

oh and for the record Ms scored the following week for her School team. good things come in pairs

Sporting your life vicariously

 

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Image by Luther College Photos via Flickr"][/caption]

As you may know I'm big on supporting my children in their endeavours, particularly sporting ones.

Ms16 plays a mean game of field hockey, and it's between seasons now so all she has on is an 8-a-side thing and a social league thing, so we're down to 3 visits a week to the turf (one of for a sporting academy thing).

Making sure that it's important to have the best (we can afford) equipment we notice that the hockey shoppe has a sale on, so a chance to buy a new stick at a reasonable price, even if it's exactly the same as the one you have now it's still a lot cheaper than a '11 model. Makes sense.

Having traipsed to the shoppe on a weekend to try out some new(old) sticks we get a shrug and an "I don't know". Something is afoot,

Seems that there is a new kid in town - www.toahockey.com - a couple of kiwi blokes who are trying to break into the market with a small range of sticks, and MS16 has a friend that uses one and loves it - hey even the block in the hockey shoppe whispers to us that they are great and he has one - but would get sacked if the boss heard him say so.

So Ms16 arranges with them to try out one. And guess what - the one they put up is their best one, which is "ok". But worse! they take it away and are "gripping" properly for her - clearly they've discussed her preference.

At $349 there had better be wriggle room - after all this is a this year model and not an '11, and it will be nice to have something that players she knows, and international level, are advising her and telling her what's what. You never know they may suggest the cheaper one

- I'm not holding my breath.

Sporting your life vicariously

As you may know I'm big on supporting my children in their endeavours, particularly sporting ones.

Ms16 plays a mean game of field hockey, and it's between seasons now so all she has on is an 8-a-side thing and a social league thing, so we're down to 3 visits a week to the turf (one of for a sporting academy thing).

Making sure that it's important to have the best (we can afford) equipment we notice that the hockey shoppe has a sale on, so a chance to buy a new stick at a reasonable price, even if it's exactly the same as the one you have now it's still a lot cheaper than a '11 model. Makes sense.

Having traipsed to the shoppe on a weekend to try out some new(old) sticks we get a shrug and an "I don't know". Something is afoot,

Seems that there is a new kid in town - www.toahockey.com - a couple of kiwi blokes who are trying to break into the market with a small range of sticks, and MS16 has a friend that uses one and loves it - hey even the block in the hockey shoppe whispers to us that they are great and he has one - but would get sacked if the boss heard him say so.

So Ms16 arranges with them to try out one. And guess what - the one they put up is their best one, which is "ok". But worse! they take it away and are "gripping" properly for her - clearly they've discussed her preference.

At $349 there had better be wriggle room - after all this is a this year model and not an '11, and it will be nice to have something that players she knows, and international level, are advising her and telling her what's what. You never know they may suggest the cheaper one

- I'm not holding my breath.