A View From the Side

A new monthly feature from Andy Jackson, our Coaching Guru. Please tune in to read the "Great Ones" words of wisdom.

 

 

Thank you, and once again I thank you.

Appreciation and gratitude, old timers might say, are a thing of past. Compassion, courtesy and the odd doffing of ones brow in acknowledgement are relics of history. Young people these days ….you know how it so wrongly goes.

Hockey is a hard game, both mentally and physically. But the reason we do it is two fold –

1. to avoid shopping and

2. to avoid shopping.

Well this is not strictly true as the real motives are truly based on well-being, through social contact and physical exertion. With it hockey brings about recognition, a sought of kindred spirit best explored and illustrated on tour (hey Brighouse Boys loved nice mauve coloured funnel!!!).

When all said and done, none of the above can occur without two things, these being

1. you never see them, and

2. you do see them.

Firstly, is the person who starts thinking of the new season as the old finishes, who knows people at every club in Yorkshire, who cajoles clubs to play us in pre-season, someone who arranges pitches, arranges for the lights to be switched on, who organises cup games etc. In our case MIKE LEYLAND (oh and he umpires as well).

Secondly, we have those in subtle shades of pink or blue!! These are the men and ladies who whistle in all our games. As players we always know best, but spare a thought …are we doing anything for the club like they so often are doing? Exactly.

Without both we would not be able to enjoy our pastime. So next time your off to the game just spare a thought for those who give time so that we can enjoy a session away from the White Rose Centre. And may be show your appreciation and gratitude for the effort the umpires and Mike put in….buy them a pint and say thank you.

Action

NB – Huddersfield HC has a code of policy which states that abuse of umpires and officials will not be tolerated. So after the softly softly comes the big stick, treat officials with respect.