From Cold Emails to Captaincy: Marlena Rybacha’s Trailblazing Hockey Journey.
In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Marlena Rybacha, the trailblazing captain of Poland’s national field hockey teams. Marlena shares how her determination led her to the Netherlands, Marlena’s perseverance earned her a spot on the team, marking the beginning of her influential presence in European hockey en route, eventually, to Indoor World Cup gold. Join us as Marlena discusses the challenges she faced, the cultural transitions she navigated, and how her experiences have shaped her both as an athlete and as a person.
--------
24:37
Beating the Odds: Matthew Bell’s remarkable story.
In this months episode, former Irish hockey player Matthew Bell shares how hockey became his lifeline after a devastating brain cancer diagnosis in 2019. From early symptoms to a remarkable recovery, he reflects on resilience, the power of sport, and the support that helped him through.You can purchase his book here; https://excaliburpress.co.uk/product/second-chances-by-matthew-bell/
--------
22:03
Emily Defroand; Lessons That Last a Lifetime
Emily Defroand, the former England and Great Britain players shares how her school experience shaped her both on and off the field en route to Euro and Commonwealth bronze medals. From developing her hockey skills to gaining an outlook on life inspired by her family, Emily reflects on the profound role sports play in her personal growth.
Today in her working life with West Ham United Football Club's communications crew, she applies the lessons of teamwork, resilience, and leadership gained as an athlete to her professional career, proving that sport is about much more than what happens on the pitch.
--------
27:27
Shaping Leaders, Growing Teams: Joost van Geel's Impact on Sports and Talent
Joost van Geel is November's feature interview on the EuroHockey Institute Podcast, speaking to Jack Rolfe about elite performance.
Joost is an experienced leader in sports management and talent development, currently working with NOC*NSF and TeamNL. Before that, he has held a number of roles at the highest level of Dutch hockey, including national indoor coach and seven years - up until earlier this year - as the KNHB performance manager.
With over a decade of expertise, he specialises in coaching, leadership training, and building development programs for athletes, coaches and organisations.
He has also founded his own consultancy, delivering workshops and guidance on team and talent growth. His dedication to advancing sports excellence is rooted in his vision for fostering teamwork, strategic thinking, and critical leadership.
Tune in to hear the ideas and actions that he uses for shaping players to who they are today.
--------
21:04
Tom Drowley - Unlocking Elite Performance
Tom Drowley is this month’s guest on the EuroHockey Institute Podcast.
He is an elite physical preparation coach with over a decade of experience in international hockey with England and Great Britain and subsequently with Malaysia.
He has worked with some of the top athletes in the sport, helping them achieve peak physical performance on the global stage.
Drawing on his extensive background in strength and conditioning, Tom shares his approach to training, the mental and physical demands of high-level competition, and what it takes to excel in elite sports.
If you're interested in the science of athletic performance or the behind-the-scenes, this episode is a must-listen.
Welcome to the The EuroHockey Institute Podcast. In conversation with the biggest names in sport, generating insight and engagement around coaching, officiating and playing hockey.
Österreich