For those that don’t know me, I’m Seb Mutimer from the Men’s State League 1 team and the new Sponsorship committee member within the club – I thought I would put up a post on the website

Since the end of the last season I have been in Europe: travelling, learning Spanish and playing hockey for around ten months – An amazing experience that I will never forget for the rest of my life.

My aim for the trip was to live in another country, become part of the culture, learn its language and discover a new brand of hockey to improve my game for Australia. In between all of this I have travelled extensively throughout Europe for 10 months including: Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, England, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Morocco, Portugal and Spain (where I live in Barcelona).

I have been asked a million times which is my favorite country, an impossible task to pick – If I had to choose though, it would be a dead heat between Portugal and Spain, purely based on the experiences, people and culture that these places hold.

During my time over here I have met some amazing people that will be lifelong friends as well as experiences I will never forget. The incredible music festival in Amsterdam on my birthday, La Carnaval in Sitges Spain, skiing the Dolomites of Italy, Las Fallas Festival in Valencia, Las Semanas in Sevilla, Oktoberfest in Munich Germany, Paris whilst it is snowing, New Years in Barcelona, watching the greatest soccer team of our time (Barcelona FC) playing in Camp Nou, the parties in Scandinavia, the mind-blowing culture shift of Morocco and the beautiful beaches of Portugal as well as skydiving over the Algarve coast – just to name a few!

On to the hockey!

The dream to play and live overseas was helped along by a good Spanish friend I met and played against a few years ago in Melbourne – Borja Campos who played for Doncaster SL1 and also plays for the National Barcelona team and is my roommate. He organized me to play for the Masculina Primera Barcelona Equipa, my registrations, licensing and accommodation – which made everything amazingly easy for me!

Before Christmas two of my best friends (from Amsterdam) and I were playing for the Segundo division, as we arrived 2 rounds into the season and due to licensing and international player rules we were not allowed to be promoted until after Christmas – during this time we bought the Segundo division to the top of the table.

We now play for the Primera Division in a tightly contested 12 team division where the next three rounds can decide between playoffs and relegation for 6 teams (two up two down relegation system). So the stakes are high at the moment and training as amped up a bit!

The Barcelona FC has been a great club for me and is well organized with 2-3 trainings a week, a physical trainer for an hour before training, two water base grounds (with one commencing resurfacing recently) as well as free access to the Barcelona physio (same one the soccer players use!) in Camp Nou. We also travel around Spain to play clubs in other cities, such as Valencia and Madrid. These trips are all expense paid over the weekend and are a fantastic experience.

I have around 3 weeks left in my trip and it’s going to be busy. A trip to Valencia to play Valencia HC, a flight to Nice to visit some Australian friends, watching the Champions league of Barcelona FC as well as the Handball for Barça, heading to Amsterdam for Queens Day with my Dutch mates and another skydive!

It has been something I will never forget and urge all younger players to consider it after their schooling or graduate programs as a gap year. If you want any info or have any questions im always around the club to have a chat and share my tips and experiences. I will be seeing you all around the club very soon!

FORÇA BARÇA!

Ciao ciao, bueno suerte equipos de Waverley!
Sebástian

Click on any picture for the full size, have toooooo many pictures to upload but here is a couple.

U17 Boys Practice Match vs Southern United
7:30pm Friday 9th April (6:45pm warmup) at Waverley HC

All players in the U15 and U17 squads are expected to attend.

Hockey Victoria is looking for help to further promote and develop the game of indoor hockey by providing an indoor competition that is attractive and accessible to as many players as possible. We would like to be able to offer all affiliates an indoor competition that will encourage as many players as possible to participate.

Your feedback is important in helping us to plan a competition that will make this possible. The information that is submitted by you will be considered by the Indoor Sub Committee. If you are interested in joining the sub committee please look on the HV website.

With this in mind a survey has been created. HV asks that all clubs and the previous indoor season’s team contacts complete the attached survey and return to HV by June 30th (end of the month). It is attached as both a word document and a pdf document, so that it can be completed and sent back via return email if desired.

Indoor hockey is a fast paced game that hones the basic skills needed in outdoor. It can be enjoyed all year round by all ages and all skill levels.

FYI – In case you have missed it, there is an article on the HV website advising that an Indoor Sub Committee is currently being formed. HV is seeking expressions of interest form all interested persons.

Survey link: indoor-competition-survey 2009/10

Please note that training is tonight from 630 at the club!

As it is going to be so hot this week we might try and organise a pool session on Thursday or maybe even head to the beach for some fun on the sand.

Will keep you up to date.

See you tonight

Well last night we begun our campaign for season 2009 – and those that were there met out SL1 coach, Andrew Steele (Smokey).

Thank you for all of those who made the effore to come down last night, it was nice to see all the same smiling face and in particular nice to see some new faces down at the club. A special thank you to Stacia Joseph who came down to run the session, it was nice of you to offer us some encouraging words while we are slogging it out and you are standing and watching us!!! Ha ha

Smokey will not be there for the next week as he is venturing off into the sea on a sailing boat – doesn’t really sound like a lot of fun to me. But upon his return he is really looking forward to getting to know all of us…and please make him welcome in our true Waverley style!!! Good luck Smokey

For those of you that can make it on Saturday some of the girls will be meeting down at the club at 9am for a 30-40 min jog. If you cannot make it please ensure that you are going for a run on your own, Smokey has already made it very clear that one of his main priorities will be having fit players in his squad. So if you are aspiring to play SL1 this year, which you all should be then get running girls!!!

Next Wednesday 14th Jan we will be meeting at the club at 6.30pm – please be there on time so we can get going straight away. Those who are interested somr of us will be meeting at 6.15pm to do the Huntingdale Road run before, all welcome!

See you next Wednesday

Chook

The first session will commence at 6.30pm at Waverley Hockey Club.

These sessions are designed for all aspiring Pennant E players and Metro players for season 2009. If you are planing on playing any higher catch up with Brett and the SL1 guys and do some real training haha.

All 2009 Under 17’s wishing to play seniors in 2009 are also welcome to attend training as it is a great chance for you to meet some of the older players at the club and build on your fitness and skills.

Please find attached a timetable of the sessions being conducted over the next 6 weeks. We will be doing running as part of all the sessions as well as some strategic fitness testing. In February depending on field availability we plan to do skills as well as part of training.

Hope to see you all down there. Please contact Skillsy for more details. 0430 297 896

We will have a good variety of running, games, swimming and beach fun through out the sessions. Wednesday nights will be at varied locations around the Waverley area and Saturday mornings we will be branching out for a bit of change. Locations such as, the Tan, Albert Park, Brighton Beach, Thousand Steps and Carlton Gardens.

All welcome! Hope to see you there

So training for tonight is not on the ground. Get there about 7 and some running is on the cards.

Also the game on saturday is not going to be at waverley, just waiting to find out where the game is.

PD – 12.30pm
PA – 2pm
SL1 – 3.30pm

Please confirm your availability tomorrow night at training (running from 7pm as the ground is being fixed). If you are not able to get to training please confirm to Lou for SL1, Rachel for PA and 0450 485 800 for PD/Metro.

See you all there.

For the women section to get more professional on and off the ground this year we have engaged a personal trainer with us for the preseason training, so she can get us fit for the season ahead, if things work out we may keep the personal trainer with us for the winter season.

We all need to improve our fitness level form last year by at least 30% or more for all of us to be able to run out a game, our warm up needs to improve before games, including proper stretching before and after games. The personal trainer’s role will also manage player injuries, during game day and at trainings nights and report back to me before selection.

If any girls wishing to play in State League 1, Pennant A or Pennant D, a maximum attendance rate is required at preseason training.

Practice matches.
Hockey Show Tournament Dates to be advised.
March 12th Waverley Girls will play U18 Girls at the SHC – 6.00pm to 7.30pm.

Extra – curricular activities during preseason will include swimming, ladder work, hurdles, basketball and boxing.

Please let all your team mates know about our training, we are looking for a big turn out on the 5th of Feb

Look forward to seeing you all at training.

Training for Men’s State League 1 & Pennant A players started back on Tuesday 15th January. Our fitness coach Nathan Heaney is back too. We have been training mostly at Electra Reserve on Tuesday and Thursdays at 7pm. If you are wanting to come along please call Brett Thompson on 0402181250 and I will confirm the venue

Cheers

Both the men and women have enterd teams in the Hockey Show Cup – Round one is on Saturday 8th March

Stay tuned for more details

Anyone available to assist with the Units, junior coaching or whatever, please contact Brenda Powell on 0433 170 001 or bpowellz@optusnet.com.au

All current and aspiring State League players are asked to attend the first night of pre-season for the 2008 season.Details are: Tuesday 4th December 7pm @ Waverley Hockey Club. We will have a short meeting followed by a light fitness session. Please call Brett Thompson on 0402181250 if you can’t make it. Training throughout December will be on Tuesday and Thursday nights at this stage from 7-8pm. It is recommended that you should go for a minimum of 4-5 runs before our first session.

Look Forward to seeing you there.

The 2008 season will kick of this Thursday at 44 Springfield Rd Box Hill North. Andrew and Shaun invite you to their place to go for a run and a BBQ around the tree lined streets.

Time: 6.30pm Start. Bring runners – no need for a stick.

BYO: Meat for the BBQ

For more details of the pre season program speak to Skills – 0430 297 896