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EuroHockey is delighted to announce the two Hockey ID Championship trophies will be named in honour of Norman Hughes and&nbsp;Elsbeth&nbsp;Ruys, two pioneers of the format.



The trophies will be presented for the first time in August at the EuroHockey ID Championships in Mönchengladbach, a city synonymous with the rise to prominence of inclusive hockey for all abilities.



This year&#8217;s EuroHockey ID Championships will run from August 11th to 13th&nbsp;with the initial phases taking place at Gladbacher HTC before the finals take place in the SparkassenPark stadium.&nbsp;



*** &nbsp; The Championship 1 trophy will be named after Hughes who followed up a successful playing career, reaching the Olympic Games with Great Britain, to become one of the leading lights in promoting inclusivity in our sport through EuroHockey and, now, within the FIH.



It is a passion which has seen him awarded the Etienne Glichitch award for his work developing ParaHockey ID across Europe, leading the charge to make it a fixture at the EuroHockey Championships since 2011 in Mönchengladbach.



Fittingly, Hughes was honoured with a EuroHockey President’s Award at the same venue in 2023 and he continues to find new ways to grow the discipline.



At Easter, the first Hockey ID-specific umpire course took place in Den Bosch where he was also pitchside pulling the strings to make instructional videos as part of the EU funded Love is All project.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="689" src="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FU22308239656-1024x689.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6125" srcset="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FU22308239656-1024x689.jpg 1024w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FU22308239656-300x202.jpg 300w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FU22308239656-768x516.jpg 768w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FU22308239656-1536x1033.jpg 1536w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FU22308239656-2048x1377.jpg 2048w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FU22308239656-1x1.jpg 1w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FU22308239656-200x134.jpg 200w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FU22308239656-500x336.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Norman Hughes receiving a EuroHockey President&#8217;s Award from Marijke Fleuren in 2023</figcaption></figure>



Gino Schilders – one of his colleagues on the project – said there is no more fitting name to be placed on the trophy: “To me, Norman is the ultimate ambassador for Hockey ID.



“We first crossed paths some 40 years ago, when I was a young kid and he was playing for&nbsp; Wakefield, facing off against my father&#8217;s team.



“After decades apart, we reunited through the Erasmus Love is All project, collaborating closely to develop a toolkit for coaches, umpires, and event organisers supporting Hockey ID. He has a unique talent for encouraging those around him to go the extra mile.



“For many, Norman is Hockey ID, and the community owes him deep thanks. That’s why I’m thrilled to see one of the key tournaments now named in his honour. Just a word of warning from personal experience: never let him near a dessert tray—he may not leave any for the rest!”



Steven Bradley from England Hockey concurs, adding: “Norman has campaigned, pushed, encouraged and supported so many countries and so many coaches across the globe to give Hockey ID a platform.



“What sets Norman aside is his absolute care for the athletes, the first managers meeting I was in his first words were: ‘We are here to make sure these athletes create lifetime memories’.



“At any tournament, players will say hello and, no matter how busy he is (which he always is), he will find time to ask about their games, their team or their own performance, always with a smile and encouraging words.



“This is a person who has total and complete respect from officials, umpires, coaches, families and of course players.



&#8220;Norman has played hockey at the very highest level possible, he is humble, supportive and always at the end of a phone or an email away to offer support, a solution or another way of doing something.



“Norman is not just the person who leads so much of the global Hockey ID work, he is a friend to so many of us, the person who has driven Hockey ID and the person who has created a lifetime of memories, friendships and new opportunities for so many athletes with a disability.” &nbsp; *** Championship 2 will be named after Dutch pioneer&nbsp;Elsbeth&nbsp;Ruys who has been a driving force behind hockey for people with disabilities across the globe for 30 years.



From her early childhood&nbsp;Elsbeth&nbsp;had a passion for hockey and sports in general which she transferred to both her children. 



In the early 1990s, when she was a board member at her club MHC Zoetermeer, her eldest daughter was also a player but her other daughter was not able to join in initially due to her disabilities.



She did, however, see her daughter play with a few other kids with disabilities play on the field like all the other kids in their own way, having fun&gt; It gave a first-hand view of the transformative power of sport.



In 1993, when she witnessed a boy with Down Syndrome was not able to keep up due to his limitations, an unshakeable belief and determination evolved that hockey should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elsbeth-Ruys-en-Charlotte-1600x1600-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6124" srcset="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elsbeth-Ruys-en-Charlotte-1600x1600-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elsbeth-Ruys-en-Charlotte-1600x1600-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elsbeth-Ruys-en-Charlotte-1600x1600-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elsbeth-Ruys-en-Charlotte-1600x1600-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elsbeth-Ruys-en-Charlotte-1600x1600-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elsbeth-Ruys-en-Charlotte-1600x1600-1-1x1.jpg 1w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elsbeth-Ruys-en-Charlotte-1600x1600-1-200x200.jpg 200w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elsbeth-Ruys-en-Charlotte-1600x1600-1-500x500.jpg 500w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Elsbeth-Ruys-en-Charlotte-1600x1600-1.jpg 1600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elsbeth with her daughter Charlotte</figcaption></figure>



Seeing an opportunity,&nbsp;Elsbeth&nbsp;took action and founded the first G-hockey team at her club, laying the foundation for what would become a national and, later, a global movement.



The “G” in G-hockey stands for “gehandicapten” (Dutch word for “disabled”), but Ruys’s approach always focused on ability, joy, and belonging.



In the early days, things were challenging. Many doubted whether people with intellectual or physical disabilities could learn the game or enjoy it in the same way as others.



Ruys, however, was steadfast. recruiting parents and volunteers, adapted training methods, and created a welcoming environment where every player was valued.



The success of the first G-hockey team inspired other clubs to follow suit. She became a tireless advocate, traveling across the Netherlands to share her story, offer guidance, and encourage clubs to embrace inclusivity.



Her friend Marlène Döderlein de Win said of her impact: “Her attitude is taking people with disabilities seriously in their striving to improve their overall- skills.&nbsp;Elsbeth&nbsp;always sees the potential of every player.”



Elsbeth&nbsp;went on to work closely with the KNHB, serving as a committee member and technical delegate, to ensure G-hockey was fully integrated into Dutch hockey culture.



Her approach was hands-on, tailored to the players and their needs and abilities, organising tournaments, provided coach training, and built a network of parents and volunteers.



By 2025, more than 80 clubs across the Netherlands have established G-hockey and Parahockey teams, making the sport accessible to hundreds of players.&nbsp;Her dedication did not stop at the Dutch border, becoming involved internationally with other hockey federations and, later, with the Special Olympics, serving as a technical delegate and advisor.



She has helped shape international standards and practices for inclusive hockey worldwide and played a pivotal role in organising and supporting international tournaments at the Special Olympics World Games, helping to elevate the profile of inclusive hockey.



Her daughter Stefanie pays the ultimate tribute, saying: “Her legacy is not just the more than a thousand of players with disabilities worldwide now enjoying hockey, but the cultural shift she inspired—a shift towards greater acceptance, and an inclusive community in the sport.



“Her work reminds us that the true spirit of hockey—and of any game—lies in opening the field to all who wish to play.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.eurohockey2025.de/en" target="_blank" rel=" noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="407" src="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EuroHockey-Championships-2025-Banner-1024x407-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-6010" srcset="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EuroHockey-Championships-2025-Banner-1024x407-1.png 1024w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EuroHockey-Championships-2025-Banner-1024x407-1-300x119.png 300w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EuroHockey-Championships-2025-Banner-1024x407-1-768x305.png 768w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EuroHockey-Championships-2025-Banner-1024x407-1-1x1.png 1w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EuroHockey-Championships-2025-Banner-1024x407-1-200x79.png 200w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EuroHockey-Championships-2025-Banner-1024x407-1-500x199.png 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>

Hockey ID trophies to be named in honour of pioneers Norman Hughes and Elsbeth Ruys

The match schedule for the EuroHockey Championships 2025 has been set with a series of mouth-watering encounters on the agenda for next summer.



The event is the highlight of next year’s hockey calendar, taking place from August 8th to 17th, 2025 at the SparkassenPark in Mönchengladbach. It features 40 games between 16 teams, all of whom are in the top 25 in the world.



This includes the current top four men’s side and three of the top four on the women’s world rankings.



The announcement of the schedule (see links below) gives fans even more motivation to purchase tickets nice and early to avoid disappointment. Half of the tickets have already been sold for the finals weekend on Saturday, August 16th and 2025 and Sunday, August 17th, 2025.



Like in 2025, the classic Germany vs Netherlands women‘s fixture on Monday, August 11th, is also likely to sell fast.



Speaking about the schedule, DHB sports director Martin Schultze said: &#8220;We are looking forward to an extremely exciting, top class tournament. We can look forward to thrilling games, close results and unforgettable emotions &#8211; a real highlight for all hockey fans!&#8221;



EuroHockey Director General Angus Kirkland added: &#8220;The EHC 2025 is one of the biggest highlights on next year&#8217;s international calendar and the fixtures announced today illustrate the quality of teams facing each other.&nbsp;



&#8220;We look forward to continuing to working with the DHB and all involved at the SparkassenPark to make it another memorable festival of our sport.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.eurohockey2025.de/en/schedule" target="_blank" rel=" noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="462" src="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Match-schedule-1024x462.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4904" srcset="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Match-schedule-1024x462.png 1024w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Match-schedule-300x135.png 300w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Match-schedule-768x347.png 768w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Match-schedule-1536x693.png 1536w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Match-schedule-2048x924.png 2048w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Match-schedule-1x1.png 1w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Match-schedule-200x90.png 200w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Match-schedule-500x226.png 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Click image for full schedule</figcaption></figure>



Opening night on August 8th sees Poland’s men return to the top level for the first time since 2017 to face 2023 finalists England before reigning World Cup winners Germany face France in Pool B.



Men’s Pool A – featuring Belgium, Austria, Spain and Olympic champions the Netherlands – begins the following day along with women’s Pool A which also the Netherlands along with Ireland, Germany and France.



Women’s Pool B sets the ball rolling on day three on August 10th when England, Scotland, Belgium and Spain start their campaigns.



The top two from each round-robin group will advance to the semi-finals and the subsequent medal matches.



Further information about the tournament and tickets can be found at: <a href="http://www.eurohockey2025.de">eurohockey2025.de</a>.



*****



For those unable to travel, the tournament is one of the marquee offerings of the 2025 EuroHockeyTV Season Pass which is currently offering a range of festive bonuses from partners of Osaka and HocSocx for those who purchase before November 25th.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.eurohockeytv.org/en-int/page/eurohockey-festive-pass"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="284" src="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1200-x-333-1024x284.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4898" srcset="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1200-x-333-1024x284.jpg 1024w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1200-x-333-300x83.jpg 300w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1200-x-333-768x213.jpg 768w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1200-x-333-1x1.jpg 1w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1200-x-333-200x56.jpg 200w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1200-x-333-500x139.jpg 500w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1200-x-333.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>

Match schedule confirmed for EuroHockey Championships 2025

The EuroHockey Championships 2025 group stage line-up has been confirmed following the live draw this morning, setting up a series of mouth-watering clashes from August 8th to 17th 2025 at the HockeyPark in Mönchengladbach.



On the women’s side, hosts Germany will face the reigning champions the Netherlands in the group stages for the first time since 1991 in one particularly mouth-watering battle.



They are both in Pool A along with Ireland and France, the latter qualifying for the top tier of the competition for the first time since 2005.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4617" srcset="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1-300x169.png 300w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1-768x432.png 768w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1-1x1.png 1w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1-200x112.png 200w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1-500x281.png 500w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1.png 1366w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



In Pool B, 2023 finalist and Olympic semi-finalists Belgium have been pitted against world number seven England, eighth ranked Spain and Scotland who won their August qualifier in Glasgow.



On the men’s side, the Netherlands and Belgium meet in a rematch of their thrilling 2023 semi-final encounter which the Dutch won 3-2. Olympic semi-finalists Spain and qualifiers Austria make up a competitive Pool A.



In Pool B, Germany face another rematch of the 2023 semis when they come up against England.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4619" srcset="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2-1024x576.png 1024w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2-300x169.png 300w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2-768x432.png 768w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2-1x1.png 1w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2-200x112.png 200w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2-500x281.png 500w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2.png 1366w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



World number 10 side France will push for a first final four spot since 1970 while Poland complete the pool following their incredible run to qualification, eliminating three higher-ranked nations.



The full match schedule will be announced in due course.



EuroHockey Championships 2025 group stages (Mönchengladbach, August 8th to 17th 2025)



Men



Pool A: Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Austria



Pool B: Germany, England, France, Poland



Women



Pool A: Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, France



Pool B: Belgium, England, Spain, Scotland



***



The EuroHockey Championships 2025 takes place from August 8th to 17th at the HockeyPark in Mönchengladbach with 40 elite matches taking place over 10 days in the German city, the third time the competition has been hosted at the venue.



Early-bird tickets, including 10-day passes, are already on sale for the event.



<a href="https://www.eventim.de/noapp/eventseries/3692063/?affiliate=EUP&amp;utm_source=EUP&amp;utm_medium=dp&amp;utm_campaign=hockeypark">Buy your tickets here</a>

EHC2025 set for huge battles as group stages confirmed

The EuroHockey Championships will increase to 12-team tournaments in 2027 with the continent’s marquee event taking on an exciting new knock-out format.



It is the biggest change to the format in two decades with an eight-team format deployed for the past 10 editions.



Speaking about change, EuroHockey President Marcos Hofmann says: “To go from eight to 12 is an opportunity for more teams to compete for the title while also bringing a responsibility to perform at this level.



“We are taking our Every Match Matters mantra to the extreme with all games being played on a knock-out basis!”



The decision was confirmed by the EuroHockey board last month, making the move to widen the opportunity to compete in elite international competition. The move will also open further potential qualification avenues to events like the Olympic Games and the World Cup go a wider breadth of teams.



New format in 2027



The expansion will be applied to both the men’s and women’s competitions in the same way with each qualifying side contesting a new-look format.



The sides ranked 5th to 12th will play a preliminary knock-out match with the winner going through to quarter-finals. The remaining quarter-final places will go to the winners of matches between the losers of that preliminary fixture and the top four ranked nations.



From there, the winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals and subsequently either the final or bronze medal match.



Quarter-final losers will then play for ranking positions from 5th to 8th. The remaining sides will play for 9th to 12th&nbsp;positions. This results in each team being ranked from 1st&nbsp;to 12th&nbsp;at the end of the Championships based on their performances.



Qualification for 2027



The increase from eight to 12 nations has a significant knock-on effect to the qualification process with extra significance added to events this summer and in the next two years.



The 2027 edition of the EuroHockey Championships will comprise, per gender, of:



·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All eight teams from 2025 EuroHockey Championships (8 nations) in Mönchengladbach, Germany



·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Winner and Runner-Up from 2025 EuroHockey Championship II (2 nations)



·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Winner and Runner-Up from the 2026 EuroHockey Championship Qualifier tournaments (2 nations)



Currently, six men’s and six women’s nations have pre-qualified for the 2025 EuroHockey Championships in Mönchengladbach based on their performances in 2023.



The last two places for that event will be determined at the EuroHockey Championship Qualifier tournaments from August 22nd to 25th, 2024.



For the men, the qualifiers take place in Vienna, Austria and Dublin, Ireland; the women’s events are in Glasgow, Scotland and Douai, France. The winner of each event will win a golden ticket to the 2025 top tier competition and, by extension, to the 2027 edition.



&#8212;



** Each national association will be invited in due course to a webinar outlining the new process.

EuroHockey Championships to expand to 12-team knock-out format in 2027

EuroHockey is delighted to announce the EuroHockey Championships will return to HockeyPark in Mönchengladbach, Germany from August 8th to 17th, 2025.



The Deutsche Hockey Bund will organise the championships and it will be the third time the venue has hosted the continent’s biggest event, most recently in 2023 when over 70,000 fans enjoyed a 10-day festival of hockey.



The event will see 8 women’s and 8 men’s teams from across the continent contest 40 games to determine who will be Europe’s best, bringing with it the added bonus of a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.



“We are thrilled to bring the EuroHockey Championships back to Mönchengladbach and Germany,” said EuroHockey President Marcos Hofmann.



“Building on the success of 2023 we look for an even better 2025. We saw the Hockeypark come to life last year as one of world hockey’s great stadiums as an audience from around the continent enjoyed all the excitement of the event.



“We already know from the DHB’s excellent work last year that they know exactly how to run an amazing event and that knowledge also allows us to grow the event even further.



“The EuroHockey Championships are the pinnacle of our calendar and will be one of world hockey’s elite events in 2025. It is one European fans cannot afford to miss!”



Major of Mönchengladbach Felix Heinrichs added: “Last year, we proved we can host great EuroHockey Championships here in Mönchengladbach together with the DHB. We would like to build on this together.



“Mönchengladbach received a great deal of attention from the EuroHockey Championships 2023 last year and – with our accompanying project ‘Meet and Greet@Hockey-EM 2023’ – we, as a city, were able to deepen our ties with our Dutch neighbours once again.



“As a city, we are therefore looking forward to supporting the organisation of the EuroHockey Championships 2025. We will certainly use our experience to further develop the event and turn it into another great major event for everyone, especially in connection with our 50th anniversary as a city.&#8221;



DHB president Henning Fastrich, meanwhile, said: “2023 showed us that we, as the German Hockey Federation (DHB) can host successful EuroHockey Championships.



“When talks about the EuroHockey Championships 2025 began, we quickly agreed internally that hosting again would be a great opportunity for the DHB.



“This will allow us to continue our strategic approach of presenting world-class hockey on our doorsteps to the people of Germany every year. We are delighted that we were awarded the hosting rights by EuroHockey.



“It was and is important that we have strong supporters at our side like the city of Mönchengladbach. Of course, one argument in favour of hosting the event again was that we gained a great deal of know-how last year which will help us to organise an even better event next year. Sports fans in Germany can look forward to another field hockey festival.&#8221;



Twelve of the competitors are already known having pre-qualified for the event by finishing in the top six in 2023.



On the women’s side, they are the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England, Ireland and Spain; for the men, the Netherlands, England, Belgium Germany, France and Spain are confirmed as well.



The remaining two place in each competition will be determined this summer at qualifier events in Vienna and Dublin for the men and Glasgow and Douai for the women.



Once the final line-up for the event is confirmed, tickets will subsequently go on sale.



In tandem with the main event, the five-day EuroHockey ID Championship will take place at GTHC (Mönchengladbach Hockey Club) with the finals taking place in the HockeyPark.



** Angus Kirkland (EuroHockey Secretary General) and Raphael Thelen (DHB Executive Board Member). Picture: DHB / Björn Kames

Mönchengladbach to welcome 2025 EuroHockey Championships

EuroHockey has completed the acquisition of shares held by SFG Group B.V. (Southfields) in the Euro Hockey League in a move which will strengthen the governing body’s commitment to the world’s best club hockey competition.



EuroHockey President Marcos Hofmann said of the agreement: “With the acquisition of 33,3% of EHL&nbsp;shares&nbsp;controlled by SFG GROUP B.V., reaching a controlling stake of more than 83% of the company, EuroHockey strengthens the commitment with its premier club’s competition and with the club community around Europe.



“This new position will allow EuroHockey to make the required steps to reinforce the soundness of competition by opening new strategic options going forward.



“I want to thank SFG GROUP B.V for 12 years of loyal and proactive partnership. This agreement has been reached with the good collaborative spirit that has guided our relationship over the past years, allowing us to further collaborate in the years ahead.”



Southfields will continue to be part of the EHL story. The Dutch sports production company will continue to be the primary provider of EHL broadcasts, one of the vital elements in creating the story around the famous club competition



Speaking about the healthy collaboration with the EHL over the past 12 years, Southfields owner Arthur Zuiderwijk said: “We have been involved in the EHL from its inception, the last 12 years of which as shareholders.



“We are now returning to our natural position, that of production company. We of course remain involved in the best continental club field hockey tournament in the world.”



** The ABN AMRO EHL FINAL8 is the next Euro Hockey League event, running from March 28th to April 1st at the Wagener Stadium, Amsterdam. Find out more about the event on www.ehlhockey.tv

EuroHockey acquires increased shares in Euro Hockey League

Marcos Hofmann was elected as the new President of EuroHockey following a vote at the 35th General Assembly of the organisation.



The Spaniard &#8211; from the Junior FC club in Sant Cugat &#8211; takes over the reins from Marijke Fleuren whose tenure came to an end after 12 wonderful years at the Assembly.



Hofmann becomes the sixth president of the federation, winning the majority of votes in a well-contested election with Peter Elders.



In an emotional speech, he spoke about the strength of the hockey family and how much it means to take on the role of helping guide EuroHockey and how he hopes to serve ‘his tribe’.



“I am grateful for the support and humbled by the challenge in front of me to lead EuroHockey, the big house of European hockey where no one is left behind and everybody should feel like it’s their home.”



He also paid a fulsome tribute to Marijke Fleuren, acknowledging he will be standing on the shoulder of a giant of the sport and European hockey.&nbsp;



Earlier at the assembly, she was awarded the title of Honorary Lifetime President &#8211; a title only bestowed to the late Alain Danet before.



“Thank you very much for the inspiration &#8211; I wanted to congratulate her for being Honorary Lifetime President but I think it is also fair to congratulate all of us for getting Marijke as our Honorary Lifetime President &#8211; an asset to this federation and the best ambassador we could get.”&nbsp;



He takes over the role from Marijke Fleuren who steps back after 12-years, her journey going full circle &#8211; elected to the Presidency in 2011 in Mönchengladbach, the host city of the assembly once again.



In addition to receiving the Honorary Lifetime Presidency, FIH President Tayyab Ikram announced she will be put forward as a nominee for the International Olympic Committee’s Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion. She was also bestowed with and FIH Excellence Award.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marijke-Fleuren-with-her-family-1024x768.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-2105" srcset="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marijke-Fleuren-with-her-family-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marijke-Fleuren-with-her-family-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marijke-Fleuren-with-her-family-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marijke-Fleuren-with-her-family-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marijke-Fleuren-with-her-family-1x1.jpeg 1w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marijke-Fleuren-with-her-family-200x150.jpeg 200w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marijke-Fleuren-with-her-family-500x375.jpeg 500w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Marijke-Fleuren-with-her-family.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Her immense contribution to EuroHockey was showcased through a video of her 12 years in the role with special tributes from the likes of Jamie Hooper and Julia Müller for her range of initiatives, chief among them her passion for promoting HockeyID, the #EquallyAmazing campaign and her introduction of the Hall of Fame to honour elite athletes.



It all took place in front of not just the delegates of the assembly but with each generation of her family in the audience for a fitting tribute.



Others to be honoured were Simon Mason, Mika Rihtila and Sabine Zampetti whose time on the board came to a close following incredible service to the organisation.



The meeting also saw the election of a number of new board members. Belgium’s Levi van Havere will take on the role of Treasurer with Cathelijne Rockall (from the Netherlands but supported by France), Magdalena Nazaret (Poland), Bruno Santos (Portugal) and Christos Sideridis (Greece) all joining the board.

Hofmann elected new EuroHockey President

EuroHockey begins an exciting new era today as the first major phase of the Digital Transformation goes live with the launch of a fresh identity, brand and website.



The “single point of identity” will be at the forefront of EuroHockey’s ambitions to deliver the sport to the fast-paced and diverse sporting landscape, showcasing its vibrancy and dynamism.



The new brand is a product of extensive briefings, discussions and fine-tuning over the past year – as part of the EU-supported Erasmus+ Digital Transformation project – and sees EuroHockey adapt to a new public identity to match our sporting aspiration.



Speaking at the launch, project leader and EuroHockey Head of National Associations Tom Pedersen-Smith said to the delegates at the EuroHockey General Assembly: “We are delighted to show you the conclusion of 18 months of work and consultation of the board and experts within European hockey from both small and large commercial organisations, this is how we will now appear to the outside world.



“It is always a challenge to change the identity of such a significant organisation, never more so one that has over half a century of tradition and history.



“Two different design processes, multiple amendments to briefing notes, disagreements and re-work have finally created something that our board and the relevant committees are proud of. That pride is very important, it was not enough to settle on ‘it’s OK’ – we all care passionately about our sport and want an identity to stand behind and alongside.



“What you will see is the essence and feeling behind the outcome. The process identified the need for a single point of identity – a simple logo that could translate across multiple elements within the business of EuroHockey.”



The new EuroHockey logo puts players at its heart, in essence a hockey stick that is easily seen and recognised while the secondary shape adds animation and movement. The wording, meanwhile, provides a unique, searchable term with instant recognition.



This new look and feel underpins the fan-focused website which went live during the brand launch, one which aims to bring our sport to the front and centre on its digital home.



“It will bring all the match elements into one place,” Simon Mason, EuroHockey board member and presenter of the new brand at the General Assembly.



“Every match matters and every game will be covered. Not on a separate platform, hidden and hard to find. Every goal, every game, every player. Identified and noticed.



The website was built by leading company Skylark who engaged with all stakeholders in the sport to address what they wanted and needed from EuroHockey’s website.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="215" src="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EN-Co-funded-by-the-EU_POS-1024x215.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4067" srcset="https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EN-Co-funded-by-the-EU_POS-1024x215.jpg 1024w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EN-Co-funded-by-the-EU_POS-300x63.jpg 300w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EN-Co-funded-by-the-EU_POS-768x161.jpg 768w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EN-Co-funded-by-the-EU_POS-1536x322.jpg 1536w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EN-Co-funded-by-the-EU_POS-2048x430.jpg 2048w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EN-Co-funded-by-the-EU_POS-1x1.jpg 1w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EN-Co-funded-by-the-EU_POS-200x42.jpg 200w, https://admin.eurohockey.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EN-Co-funded-by-the-EU_POS-500x105.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Players, spectators, volunteers and new visitors; what do they need? The site creates a solution pulled from their needs rather than pushing out a solution based on preset opinions.



“Those needs will be boldly addressed, obviously putting information at your fingertips,” said EuroHockey Director General Angus Kirkland



Each delegate at the launch received a goodie pack which contained the new brand guidelines, a document showcasing the diverse range of EuroHockey events and how it fits into the tapestry of the sport.



“Because every match matters, it is important we have a set of guides that help all our members,” Kirkland added. “So a player’s first experience of EuroHockey at U-16 Hockey5s is the same as when they progress to adult club and international events, that joyful moment when they put a medal around their neck, but still knowing and feeling that it is a EuroHockey event.



“Giving us and you, as an organisation, the ability to have a single identity and to be able to compete as nations and as a continent on the world stage for our sporting space.”



It is the culmination of a large body of the Digital Transformation work but the project continues into 2024.



The second phase will see the complete modernisation and streamlining of EuroHockey’s organisational structures via a new “platform” for our member national associations, players, partners and officials.



“What you are seeing is part of the transformation of the European Hockey Federation into EuroHockey, one which serves its public in a modern, efficient and exciting manner,” Pedersen-Smith concluded.



“We have history and tradition, knowledge and experience. Now, we are putting ourselves in a position to secure our future with a vibrant, energised identity that engages each and every one of us!”

Brand Launch

The EuroHockey Institute was presented to the hockey public for the first time today with a clear mission to deliver world class education to support national growth for our stakeholders.



The Institute was formally launched in Monchengladbach to delegates of the 35th EuroHockey General Assembly.



It is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union and is the culmination of 30 months&#8217; work from initial set-up to this date. EuroHockey will now sustain the institute and the programmes as the co-funded element comes to an end at the close of 2023.



The EuroHockey Institute is formed across seven strategic pillars with over 40 programmes able to be accessed by national associations and their members, ultimately working towards the global impact in tandem with the FIH Academy.



The seven strategic pillars are:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Athletes</li>



<li>Coaching</li>



<li>Governance</li>



<li>Innovation</li>



<li>Officiating</li>



<li>Sustainability</li>



<li>Workforce</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="EuroHockey Institute" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZKCMi59xSds?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



The EuroHockey Institute will enable the societal role of sport to be presented by encouraging, promoting, developing and supporting growth of hockey through education in Europe at all levels.



This will be done by sharing knowledge through teaching, mentoring and facilitating the correct programmes and environments tomaximise understanding, implementation and application.



Marijke Fleuren, President of EuroHockey stated: “The institute will enhance governance standards through leadership and management. It will enable an athlete centred approach to dual careers and academic support. The provision of career guidance and support via academic and business opportunities for athletes’ dual careers.”



Angus Kirkland, Director General of EuroHockey added: “Creating this framework addresses support on a national, regional and continental level. The strategic intent is to create tools and resources that provide transparent and accessible learning for people at all levels of the sport.”



Tom Pedersen-Smith, Head of National Associations who has managed the project since inception, is delighted to see the Institute come to fruition: “The project has built on and enhances good practice structures by developing the EuroHockey Institute strategic pillars to facilitate sustainable, high quality national growth across member national associations in Europe.”



Nathan Kipp, Expertise Manager of the KNHB, is a key element in the Institute’s development; he added: “The project has established the EuroHockey Institute with an educational structure that will now form a bridge between national qualifications and the European Qualifications Framework.



“It will, therefore, allow easy freedom of movement for coaches across nations. The development of this pathway for member national associations develops coaching and ensures the correct structured, qualified workforce to deliver against training needs.”



Strategic support



The EuroHockey Institute project partners have strategically supported the formation of these pillars and programmes over the three-year term of the co-funded partnership by the European Union.



This was done in conjunction with Association Royale Belge De Hockey, Fédération Française De Hockey, Copenhagen University, Stichting Orange Sports Forum, Royal Dutch Hockey Federation, Deutsche Hockey Bund, Hockey Magic, Slovenian Hockey Federation, Swiss Hockey Federation.



During this time, the partnership has also delivered nine intellectual outcomes that have allowed the institute to be formed via strategic and academic reviews.



Highlighting the importance of education, learning and skills transference in sport has been an integral focus in the project alongside the analysis of key findings to enable a sustainable business model. All the findings will be published towards the end of 2023 on the new EuroHockey website.



Intellectual Outcome 1: Led by Copenhagen University



TITLE: International Sports Federation Frameworks for Education



DESCRIPTION: An insight report on the education programmes and processes used in international sports federations



Intellectual Outcome 2: Led by Copenhagen University



TITLE: Educational Framework for the Teaching and Learning of Good Governance



DESCRIPTION: A resource and training information pack for national associations to adopt and implement good governance policy.



Intellectual Outcome 3: Led by EuroHockey



TITLE: European Hockey Leadership and Management



DESCRIPTION:&nbsp; A platform for the development of skillsets to create purposeful learning for those in decision making roles within hockey.



Intellectual Outcome 4: Led by Belgium Hockey and the Orange Sport Forum



TITLE:&nbsp; Athlete Dual Career Development



DESCRIPTION: Implementation of a duty of care pillar for athletes, in sports or business across administration, marketing and communications



Intellectual Outcome 5: Led by KNHB



TITLE: Coach Development Pillar for Europe



DESCRIPTION:&nbsp; Developing a fit for purpose coaching framework that supports national growth (and new) access to coach education across national hockey associations.



Intellectual Outcome 6: Led by DHB



TITLE: Creating the Future Fit for Purpose Workforce



DESCRIPTION: Development of standardisations across workforce needs for educational pillars of the European Institute for Hockey



Intellectual Outcome 7: Led by EuroHockey



TITLE: Global and Public Launch of the European Institute for Hockey (EIH)



DESCRIPTION: The formal launch campaign for the opening of the European Institute for Hockey



Intellectual Outcome 8: Led by Copenhagen University



TITLE: Findings of the European Hockey Frameworks for Educational Output



DESCRIPTION: An insight report on the education pillars created for the EIH; which processes should and can be used in international sports federation educational development



Intellectual Outcome 9: Led by EuroHockey



TITLE:&nbsp; Legacy and Future Impact



DESCRIPTION:&nbsp; A deep dive review on the sustainability and transferability of the intellectual outputs of the EIH

Category: Press Release